LB Food Review

We have an abundance of Southeast Asian cuisine in Long Beach, which makes sense given that there are more people of Cambodian descent here than any other locality outside of Cambodia. If you’ve never delved into the delights of Cambodian food, now’s the time to step into Sophy’s Cambodian and Thai Cuisine. A wide variety of delicious options awaits you in a friendly, inviting atmosphere.

My first trip to Sophy’s was very recent. It is located on Pacific Coast Highway between Redondo and Obispo in a large space with plenty of room for banquets and large parties. After you are seated in a large, comfortable booth, take the opportunity to peruse the menu. They serve a decent selection of bottled beers, including Tsingtao (Chinese) and Singha (Thai). I don’t claim to be any sort of aficionado when it comes to Cambodian (with apologies to my brother who spent a large chunk of time there), so we asked our server for his recommendations.

The chef at Sophy’s works wonders with noodles, but they also have a large variety of dishes that consist mostly of meat. Our server suggested the Beef Lok Lak, a spicy beef stir fry with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions in a pepper lime sauce atop a bed of lettuce. This by itself would have been an indulgence, as the plate was piled up with a very generous portion. A dab of chili sauce mixed in and a bed of steamed rice provided delicious balance to an already tasty dish.

Sophy’s also offers frog legs prepared in a number of ways, which our server also highly recommended. I opted for the Black Peppered Frog, which turned out to be very large frog legs (the thighs were almost as meaty as a good-sized chicken drumstick) that were seasoned with Sophy’s “secret spices”, lightly breaded and fried, then drizzled in citrus and served over sliced jalapeños and bell peppers. These were slightly spicy and very delicious, but probably could have been split between two people with no trouble. Sophy’s also serves Ginger frog legs and Cha Kroeng frog, sauteed with curry paste, basil and jalapeños, and I look forward to trying both very soon.

Although we were already stuffed, once we saw our neighboring table’s dessert we knew we had to try the Mango with Sticky Rice. The rice was just sweet enough to bring a smile to your face, with rich sesame seeds on top to mellow things a bit. The kicker came in the form of four large slices of mango, smooth and sweet with a delightful texture. This surprisingly light dessert made for an excellent finish to a satisfying meal.

Sophy’s serves up delicious Cambodian and Thai dishes, from stir fry to seafood, in an elegant atmosphere at a reasonable price. There is plenty of seating inside, so come by for dinner and you shouldn’t have to wait very long to get a table. Try something new, and you’ll leave full and happy.

Sophy’s Cambodian and Thai Cuisine – ONLINE MENU
3240 E. PCH
Long Beach, CA 90804
562-494-1763
7 Days a Week 9AM-10PM