- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Starry Kitchen
Category: Restaurants Asian Fusion Asian Fusion [Edit]
350 S Grand AveLos Angeles, CA 90071
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 617-3474
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm
Thu-Fri 6 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
425 reviews for Starry Kitchen
Review Highlights
"I got the nom nom pork in a banh mi and loved it."
(in 22 reviews)
"Their Banh Mi is done uniquely with their twist on it."
(in 111 reviews)
"sides- we both chose the japanese garlic noodles."
(in 17 reviews)
Loading...
424 reviews in English
-
Review from Alexis L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
There's such a great attitude and energy here! Only 5 stars can be appropriate for this place.
The menu changes every couple weeks--and that's both wonderful and a tragedy. Because everything they make is so good!!
Their little pandan donuts are like crack. Order them *.*
I wish I worked near this place so I could eat here all the time. -
Review from Emily S.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Starry Kitchen did not really wow me. I am not sure what the big deal about this place was, it reminds me of a PF Changs, just a step above it. Even their desserts were not that good... and you can rarely mess up desserts. Well, we tried two of their desserts this green one that just seemed... funny and their donut one which was super deep fried oily.
Their Banh Mi sandwiches were not the best I've had and I could care less about their cold noodles. Even their fried rice was too hard. I don't get it did we go to the same Starry Kitchen, Yelp? -
Review from Linda T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012
I LOVE the story of how Starry Kitchen came to be. And when you eat here, it really showcases the love and passion the Nguyens have for food, cooking and life in general.
The Good:
- Tofu balls: Holy mother of god, those are good. We ended up going back fro seconds.
- Sweet ginger double fried chicken wings: Great texture. Wish we could've ordered seconds, but they were completely out. Figures.
- Pandan flan: The creamy texture played well with the soft, nutty vanilla notes of the flan.
- Pandan pancakes: A great snackable dessert. And Oh. My. God. Condensed milk sauce *drool*
- Japanese fried chicken: How can you go wrong with fried chicken?
The Bad:
- Vietnamese salad: A misnomer for under-seasoned raw veggies.
The why-god-why:
- Bacon mac and cheese - "A gourmet blend of 4 cheeses" my ass. The texture of the macaroni was complete mush and the cheese congealed into tiny solids that clung for dear life against the pasta. And, honestly, Velveeta? I couldn't eat more than 2 bites before my gag reflexes kicked in. Remove it from your menu, guys!
I cannot wait to come back and devour a small village's serving size of tofu balls. -
Review from Scott G.
After an epic failure of Bull Kogi's debit card machine, I immediately went into triage mode. I needed a new destination, stat. At first, I hesitated upon returning to Starry Kitchen, not because of the food. No, because of the mounting pressure I fell to continue to churn out new reviews. Then, it dawned on me, "Scott, you're an Elitist now, kick back and ride those coat tails..." Plus, I really wanted to try their food again, as I wasn't convinced my last visit offered the best they had to dish out. And, I was RIGHT!
Went with the crispy tofu balls, fried rice, weekly salad and upgraded to the soba noodles with veggies and other colorful additions. First, those frickin' crispy tofu balls were AWESOME. They look like something out of Doctor Seuss'Green Eggs and Ham (see picture), but tasted delicious. You get 5 or 6, which is more than enough, those suckers expand in your stomach. I thought the rice was good, but honestly I struggle with the $1 upgrade for what it was; just didn't have enough POW factor for my taste. The salad and dressing; best part of the meal. I know, weird, huh? So, good. The noodles, hmm... Well, this is the second time around and both times I haven't been impressed with the noodles. However, it's ok, I mean we can't be good at everything and SK you do so many other things right. Even though the noodles are bland and kinda pasty, the rest of the meal more than made up for it.
Oh, plus I got the skinny on the Aqua Fresca, which is free to Yelpers with a check-in. It was as good as last time and now I have a little more insight into its contents: mint, cucumber, key lime, sugar and then and then, I lost focus, as the owner continued to list stuff off. I know, I have the attention span of, well, a man...
THIS is my new favorite lunch spot. I want to shout from the rooftops and streak like Will Ferrell in Old School. He is my hero...
Don't worry Starry; I will be back AND with clothes on!Listed in: Bling Bling, With a little Yelp from my…, Downtown Smell A, Of the Asian Persuasion, "Sans Face" Food Options
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/3/2012
Another shout out for the Yelp Community! Without you, I may have NEVER discovered this place and… Read more »
-
-
Review from Annie G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
When friends asked where we ought to eat in DTLA, the first place that came to mind was Starry Kitchen! I'd read about the place a few weeks ago and was pretty darn intrigued. Upon entering, everyone's greeted with a giant HELLO and the staff will cheerfully walk you through their colorful chalkboard menu, which changes weekly.
Since a couple people had mentioned on yelp that banh mis here are the bomb, I opted for a nom nom pork one. It was the last day they offered the nom nom anyway. :) The egg rolls were ordered on a whim purely for the sake of sharing them with my friends. (Best decision ever)
Our food showed up so fast, I was all like mehh??? But I was starving so a quick mental note of appreciation was offered before digging into the cute little plate of (6) spring rolls sitting in front of us. Nguyen (owner dude!) gave a brief set of instructions and info regarding how to assemble the spring roll and what's all on our plate. Sounds silly, I know, but seriously it was the most complex (or perhaps sophisticated) spring roll I'd ever eaten. And I'm Chinese. You pluck off a couple mint leaves and a pinch of shredded daikon, stick it on a butter lettuce leaf, then roll the spring roll inside and dip it in the delicious garlicky tangy sauce. The spring rolls were more meaty than I was expecting, but they were oh so amazingly juicy, not too salty, and not overwhelmingly oily. I would have been content with just eating spring rolls.
Then they roll up with my nom nom pork banh mi. Omfg. Slightly sweet on the outside, flavorful and tender on the inside, those slabs of pork were great. And the bread? Chewy and fantastic. My only slight disappointment was the spicy vietnamese salad, however, I don't hold this against anyone because I don't like lots of salad dressing in my salads; it gets too tangy/salty for me. Barring the dressing, the salad was quite good, kind of like an Asian cole slaw.
After we were all quite full with doggy bags in hand, we were offered the best surprise any restaurant could proffer: complimentary dessert! Between the choice of donut holes and apple fritters, we went for the latter. Several minutes later, they popped out all crispy and hot with a small dish of banana jam (whoaaaa) for our dunking pleasure. There are pieces of baked apple hidden within the ball of dough, and they're not too sweet (I suppose this is true of most Asian desserts, too). Delicioooouuuuussss.
This place made my day. The food was lovely and full of all sorts of flavors. The staff was attentive and helpful. The company was great. I swear I had a giant grin on my face the whole time I was there... I can't wait to go back and get more spring rolls. The bomb dot com no joke. -
Review from Melanie B.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/24/2012
Got to go back and can say that it's still amazing. Maybe more amazinger because of the tofu balls!!
I could swim in a vat of their garlic noodles!!! To die for!!!
Love you guys!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
6/14/2010
Seriously - if you haven't been here, you need to get your bums over there and order some out of… Read more »
Comment from Nguyen T. of Starry Kitchen 5/4/2010
Hi Mel, I've been meaning to make a reply since you posted… More » -
-
Review from Bryan Y.
San Gabriel, CA
Updated - 12/29/2011
I've been meaning to update this review--I was too generous in giving it 3 stars, and upon further thought, I really don't think I'll be coming back here.
Again, the food is okay, but not worth what they are charging (but hey, it's downtown, so I get why it's expensive). Nearly $10 on mediocre food just ain't gonna cut it.
I forgot to mention in my original review that I saw one of the female workers (the owner's wife?) preparing the food in the back and she tasted the noodles with her bare hands and went right back to preparing food. It kind of grossed me out. At least wash your hands afterwards, or use a plastic fork.
I see the owner replies to some reviews on here (including my original review) and quite honestly, some of the replies are downright rude and unprofessional. If something goes wrong, be the bigger person and graciously accept responsibility instead of getting defensive, making excuses, or trying to place the blame on your customers.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/4/2011
I've been wanting to try Starry Kitchen for a long time, after reading reviews here on Yelp and on… Read more »
Comment from Nguyen T. of Starry Kitchen 10/4/2011
Hi Bryan, How's it going! First of all, thanks for coming… More » -
-
Review from Kimthy D.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I came here for dinner last Friday evening since we stayed at the Hilton and this place was convenient, photos looked good, and had really good ratings. The menu is a little confusing but was easy to figure out after it was explained, if that makes any sense.
All three of us ordered the wrap, some eggrolls, and the tofu balls.
Miles was very attentive and made sure everything was perfect. My gf and I weren't very happy with our pineapple fried rice so he exchanged it for the japchae noodles without any hesitation. They were just too heavy on the spice and we liked our other gfs noodles. The eggrolls were good and so was the pork wrap. There were a few things I liked in their photos but I guess their menu changes pretty often.
After we were finished with our food, Miles came by with their delicious apple fritters with a banana custard, complimentary since our rice wasn't good. He definitely went out of his way to make our experience even better. BTW, the apple fritters were BANANAS! I really enjoyed them.
The portiions were so big, we ended up taking half of our food to go. I would definitely recommend this place to others, I love the simple decor, the fresh food, and the great service! Thanks guys! -
Review from CP P.
Santa Clarita, CA
1/29/2012
Love Starry Kitchen! Great food, people, and customer service! Delicious Asian Fusion food. Flavor will have your taste buds wanting and craving for more!!! My fave..well too many to list!
-
Review from Diana L.
Updated - 12/9/2011
Yay, finally got to come back to try the regular menu, since the last time I came was during Restaurant Week. The staff was a happy, fun-loving bunch, as usual. And the food was FLAVOR EXPLOSION, as usual!
Since they were retiring the Malaysian chicken today, I just HAD to get it. I'll be honest with you, I'm usually pretty wary of chicken because it becomes dry very easily, so it's not my favorite type of meat and given the option I'll usually steer away from it. But this chicken dish did not disappoint. Tender and juicy, savory but also sweet, with kicks of spicy here and there. I got it over rice, which was a great recommendation from my cashier, because the rice could soak up all that coconut milk sauce! MMmmmmMMMMMMmmmm! How do they pack so much flavor in there without making it heavy? Magic!
I was also excited to try their famous green tofu balls! I was surprised when I bit into it; I was not expecting that texture. It doesn't feel like tofu... it's more dense and sticky. I'm yet to make up my mind whether I'm a fan of that or not, but the taste is good. Definitely smother it in that spicy sauce! I mentioned it briefly in my last review, but SK is really, really good at sauces. I'm usually not a sauce or condiment type of person, no ketchup on my fries and no A1 on my steak, but dude, I will gladly gobble up any sauce they make. Do not underestimate the power of the sauce in bringing food to the next level.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/8/2011
PORK BELLY. DUCK. MELON SOUP!!!!! Oooohhh how these reminded me of my granny's cooking, and that's a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Ari K.
12/8/2011
Wow my second five star rating comes days after my first. Stuck on jury duty 10 blocks away and hiked my way down here to enjoy some amazing nom nom (pork) ban mi.
The sandwich is delicious. The bread is the perfect thickness and is so fresh and crisy and the crispy noodles and the sandwich help to give it a great crunch. The pork itself has an amazing flavor and is cooked to perfection.
I got the fried rice as a side and it was pretty good but not amazing. I would love to try the glass noodles when I go back.
Nestled in the water court this hidden gem is worth hunting for. Only open for lunch, expect to get in for about $9 depending on what you choose. Well worth every penny. -
Review from Nichelle W.
Culver City, CA
2/3/2012
went today with some friends from work on the last day of dine l.a. worth every step of our 0.7 mile walk from our office.
Comment from Nguyen T. of Starry Kitchen 2/3/2012
HOLA, First, thanks for coming in and trying us… More » -
Review from Two D.
Canyon Country, CA
Updated - 12/31/2011
It's been a while, so we don't remember the exact.
We used to go there for lunch because of the few vegan choices you have and the kindness and witty humor you used to have before you insulted us one day when we asked you something along the line what you have Vegan on the menu today. You had no options that day. Just some salad. I asked you how come there are no choices like before. That was the first day that we didn't have at least 2-3 options. Your response was loud and rude (don't remember the exact) "we don't cater to Vegans"
That made us feel horrible as your regulars that support your business, told many about your place and even reviewed it nicely for you online so you get more business.
If not for loyal customers like I was, you would not be able to run a business.
That day, you made it clear to us that you don't really cater to us. I'm in customer service myself and would never say that to a business supporter.
It's unfortunate, because we even actually liked your humor - but that day you made us both feel unwanted - VERY unwanted.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
12/14/2011
After moths of being a loyal diner - the owner himself managed to be so rude to both of us that I… Read more »
Comment from Nguyen T. of Starry Kitchen 12/31/2011
UPDATED Reply to the publicly updated review! :D -Ahhhhhhh!… More » -
-
Review from Noah A.
Los Angeles, CA
11/28/2011
Yes. Starry Kitchen! Check out Laurent Queniox in Starry Kitchen's Kitchen doing his 18 course truffle dinner!
http://www.goodfoodpre... -
Review from Jonathan C.
Monterey Park, CA
The concept is nice... rotating menu, pick a protein (veggie options available), a vessel (wrap, bahn mi, salad, etc.) and a side... (was really hoping to try the TOFU BALLS but they weren't in rotation... next time I guess)
The one staple seems to be the LEMON GRASS CHICKEN. http://www.yelp.com/bi... We got it as a BANH MI which seemed to be a popular option.
Staff was very friendly and helpful. Knew exactly which protein when well with each side and was able to recommend sides and top sellers to make sure first time visitors don't miss a thing. She recommending upgrading to the CILANTRO SCALLION MEAT BALL SOUP http://www.yelp.com/bi... since we had all the sides already. Great idea consider it was bit chilly outside.
Show'em your Yelp check-in and get a free AQUA FRESCA. Had the CILANTRO LIME http://www.yelp.com/bi... today, very refreshing.
Came across this place while noticing a note about the owner eating a giant fried burrito through another Yelp post. He was nice enough to come by and say "HI, DO YOU KNOW OUR STORY!" Love the energy. Great guy.... told me he ate another burger after eating that giant burrito. I appreciate a guy that can eat... means you know he cares about his food. He polished off TWO Banh Mi sandwiches while we were there. Plus he takes pictures of his food... I think many of us can appreciate that :P.
He also let us know all the items were freshly made in their kitchen. You can tell. The flavors were crisp and robust like my THREE CUP TOFU http://www.yelp.com/bi.... Even though it was fried, it wasn't greasy... just flavorful.
Will be back.
BTW, they validate for parking at the California Plaza. It's still $3 after validation for lunch and free for dinner. -
Review from Brittany B.
Santa Clarita, CA
1/27/2012
3.5. Went with a group of friends. I had the tofu ball banh mi sandwich with the salad and key lime drink, and truly enjoyed my meal. I'd have to say that next time I think I would prefer the balls loose; bread was good but too filling and I'd like to just enjoy the balls. Okay, enough of the innuendo. Reason for the 3.5 rating: every time I go with a group I try to factor in everyone's responses to the food. Two really enjoyed their meals (beef plate and lemongrass chicken salad), ranking each a 4. One had the popcorn chicken banh mi and felt the chicken to be dry: 3.5. One had the popcorn chicken as a meal and was not impressed, to the point where he would not return: 2. So it really makes a difference what you order. Staff is super-friendly and candid about their preferences. Dining room is a little small but they keep folks rotating enough that you can find a seat, though I think there should be someone going around bussing and cleaning the tables, since the one guy was having to serve food and bus. I would return for the tofu balls.
-
Review from Downtown Dining Divas L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012
THANK DA LAWD the tofu balls are back forever!! One of our favorite Banh Mi sandwiches with the garlic noodles...can't go wrong with those and the spicy mayonnaise. Dining Diva 1 says she would literally drink that alone :-). The only reason we gave them 4 stars is because they forgot my (Dining Diva 2) jalapenos and soft drink but other than that...love the place!
-
Review from Eugene C.
1/1/2012
I like the concept of this place--accessible Asian fusion food in a fast food setting. But IMHO, the food suffers from a lack of focus in the attempt to achieve "fusion." I asked the cashier, which was a popular/recommended dish to try. He recommended the Japanese meatball curry lunch plate. So I ordered this with a side of chap jae (Korean sautéed clear noodles). It came with meatballs (which were a little chewy in my opinion), a curry sauce which was a little oily and overly spicy, and a sticky fried rice which did not seem to add much to the dish. The jap chae was okay, but did not seem to go well with the curry meatballs. There was so much going on in my plate, but at the same time, in isolation I did not feel any of the parts were spectacular. I may have to give this place another shot, as there are other items very different from the one I had, but I don't recommend the dish I had.
-
Review from Sara C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/20/2011 3 photos
When I first heard about Starry Kitchen, I pictured a restaurant boasting a gigantic mural of Van Goh's Starry Night painted on its ceiling.
But Starry Kitchen, as it turned out, did not have this mural. Instead, they had signs written in loud green ink spelling out slogans such as "Please enjoy our balls in yo mouth" and "May the 'balls' be with you."
I was a little confused. But then I remembered Starry Kitchen is famous for its crispy tofu balls which were, unfortunately, not on the menu at this time.
Hence, the ball references.
This wasn't the end of the road though, not in the least bit. After a good cry over the fact that there were no crispy tofu balls, I went to the cashier and ordered a lemon grass tofu banh mi with of side of shallot fried rice.
The wait... was nothing. The food came out looking better than I expected. I took my first bite and was pleasantly surprised. I took my second bite and I was obsessed. It's better than any banh mi I have ever had. The firm tofu ginger infused olive oil and fresh scallion on a light baguette... delicious. The shallot fried rice was lightly seasoned with soy sauce and every bite had a good measure of shallots, corn, and scallions. Simple yet so good.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw what looked like the popular owner dash into the restaurant, throwing his hands up in the air and exclaiming "I'm here!"
Later on, he came over to our table and answered our questions while entertaining us with his explosive personality and hilarious stories.
When we left, he took the time to eagerly wave "goodbye" to us, even though he had other customers to attend to.
Starry Kitchen is one of those eateries you cannot judge by its cover. It's not a ritzy establishment, but the food and the personalities abounding in SK do more for customers than a fancy-schmancy ambiance. Not to mention, the prices are very reasonable and the service is fantastic. I'll be back to try their crispy tofu balls!!!Listed in: DTLA
-
Review from Melanie K.
Garden Grove, CA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yowza! The lemongrass chicken is to die for! And the Basil Rice isn't too bad either! I rarely give anything five stars but since my visit a couple of weeks ago I've been craving it almost daily. So, so good!
http://metropolitanmon... -
Review from Rusty U.
Los Angeles, CA
11/15/2011
Great food, but not a big fan of the cussing, mainly because it's cussing for cussing's sake, as in, "check me out, i like to fuckin cuss." And yes, there's a difference. Kinda like a white guy trying to talk like a black guy... it just doesn't work (unless you're Eminem). Anyway, it's unnecessary and unprofessional, and it's so forced it gives me and my friends/coworkers the heebie jeebies when we hear it because it's the feeling bystanders get when they collectively witness someone embarrassing themselves and not realizing it.
Anyway, the food is great though like I said. The staple chicken is great in a wrap. Rice is good. The garlic noodles could be a little saltier for my taste, but still yummy. Actually, really everything is good here. Just be prepared to interact with the new breed of food service anti-establishmentarians who like to assert that they will cuss freely and openly because it's as hip as vinyl records and food trucks to do so. -
Review from adrian robert h.
Beverly Hills, CA
89%
Great 'LQ @ SK' tasting dinner at a $45 bargain!
***Short Review
Came here in Oct'11 for Starry Kitchen's limited 'LQ @ SK' tasting dinner.
The emphasis is more of a refined modern French bistro cooking, as opposed to Starry Kitchen's regular Asian fusion menu.
The chef is from Bistro LQ.
Not including the amuse and a comprehensive cheese board,
This is a solid 5-course tasting menu for a very reasonable $45/head.
Cooking is refined & creative.
Everything was consistently very good to excellent.
I enjoyed the cod fish and our Persimmon cake dessert the most.
The foie gras w/ smoked eel was my least favorite, but still very good.
No alcohol or pairing are available unfortunately,
but you can bring your own drinks without corkage charge.
We stopped by famima close by & got a $15 Kenwood Pinot Noir that worked nicey with most dishes.
Dining environment is a bit unlikely for this type of cooking,
but it's very comfortable.
Service is good.
It's very laid back.
Pacing is consistent although a tad quick.
Be sure to check out Starry Kitchen's website for updates.
It will continue, but I have no idea what the schedule is like.
***Detailed Review
To the dishes;
Amuse Bouche of:
carlsbad oyster, lemon tapioca.
(Dish Rating, 86%)
http://www.yelp.com/us...
This was a raw oyster with a citrus like sauce that has a consistency that's a bit heavier than whipped cream. I usually don't care for raw oyster at all due to it's prominent briney nature. Here I felt that wasn't too much the case. The smaller oyster's flavor was relatively mild, delicate and delicious. The flavor of the 'lemon tapioca' sauce carries over from the oyster well. It blends very well. Flavors appear more straightforward but they work great.
Oxtail grilled cheese, radishes pico de gallo
(Dish Rating, 87%)
http://www.yelp.com/us...
This resembled a creative re-interpretation of a grille cheese sandwich. Also used is gruyere cheese, bechamel sauce, toast, & carrots. Most prominent flavor was that of the tender & juicy shredded oxtail w/ carrots mixed in. It's served on top of grilled cheese w/ gruyere & bechamel sauce. These are very robust savory & sweet flavors. Flavors appear very straightforward, but the ingredients are well though out and the flavors blend seamlessly.
The radish adds a nice crunchy texture & spice, and touch to the presentation. I wish there were more radish. Toast and gruyere bechamel sauce very tasty. We regret not having a wine at this point. I rushed out to get a bottle of cheap pinot noir close by.
'Cod, lobster bouillon, kumquat fennel jam'
(Dish Rating, 94%)
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Not mentioned is that the lobster bouillon broth has chopped chorizo & bacon. There is an assortment of herbs including chevril, which I always enjoy. Excellent dish, the strongest of the evening.
The cod fish is very sweet, moist, and flaky. It's cooked perfectly. The light, yet aromatic, robust lobster bullion sauce with chopped meat complement the tasty fish nicely. Adding a balanced bit of sweet and bitter was the kumquat on top. Very balanced and fun dish. I enjoyed it with my pinot noir.
'Foie gras, smoked eel, green apples'
(Dish Rating, 81%)
http://www.yelp.com/us...
The seared foie was cooked nicely. It has a nice sear and the foie was very tender, buttery, and rich. Although a tad oily, I think the preparation was otherwise very good. Portion size was generous. The was very good quality foie.
I'm not sure I cared for the condiments too much however. The wasn't enough of a presence to work with the heavy foie. The smoked eel was very delicious with a prominent smokey flavor, and actually worked well. Unfortunately, the portion of eel was rather small relative to other things on the dish. Apples offered a very subtle sweetness, but the flavors were overpowered by the foie, especially since it was served at the very bottom & it got soaked with the foie juices into more of a mush. Perhaps serving it on the side would have retained the apples' flavor and textural crunch. Nonetheless good dish, albeit my least favorite of the evening.
Review to be continued, please refer to 'earlier review'.Listed in: Best dining deals, ranked in…, Best tasting meals, ranked…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/26/2011
Scottish wood pigeon, vin chaud varnish, lentils, parsnip, chanterelles, poirvrade
(Dish Rating 86%)
… Read more »
-
-
Review from Bryan W.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Erin surprised me with a dinner during an LQ @ SK night. That's Laurent Quenioux at the Starry Kitchen. Then Chef Quenioux surprised me with a menu that challenged my self perception as a foodie and open minded eater.
Here were my challenges in the order presented;
Amuse bouche was a head cheese wrapped in phillo dough. I had the misconception that head cheese is derived from brain when it's simply face flesh of a pig.
The brain was the next course. Calf's brain - although deep fried I could only manage one reluctant bite.
There were sweetbreads in yh next dish. Man, this guy!
I was pleased to have my sensibilities so disrupted, but I did not eat that much.
The Starry Kitchen lunch menu looked much more enticing. -
Review from Michael U.
Dublin, OH
Full review in blog. Hard to cover 18 courses of white truffles in 5,000 skimpy characters. A few wow dishes below.
--
Titled "Cold Poached Quail Egg Mold in Oxtail Aspic with Sunchoke, Fresh Truffles" and aromatic with shaved white truffle on the outside and a slice of truffle inside as well what truly set this dish off was actually the jellied egg laced with sunchoke puree and how it balanced lightly with the gamey gelatin. Deep and heady on its own and certainly enhanced by the truffles a touch of maple jus and micro orchids lent just a touch of sweetness and the slightest bit of levity to this otherwise powerful composition.
--
Getting a bit more aggressive with both the portion and preparation of the truffles as he progressed "Truffle Pana cotta, Sea Urchin Emulsion, Tosaka Seaweed" would prove to be another favorite for the evening with the panna cotta a veritable cloud of truffle essence and acting to support surprisingly thick slices of the truffle resting atop a tongue of fresh Santa Barbara Sea Urchin. Not shy to focus on the semi-sweet brine of the urchin the base of the plate was further filled with a creamy uni emulsion mixed with snappy seaweed - a nice vegetal note largely serving to add texture to the otherwise light and creamy dish.
--
Course seven, "Scottish Hare Truffle Consommé - Boudin Blanc, Hare Shu-Mai" would arrive next and aside from the consommé being a bit tepid it was quite stunning. Beginning first with the consommé, clearly imbued with both truffle and stock from the Hare, it was deep and complex while still clear and clean - a brilliant balance. Moving next to shu-mai, deep and rich with just a bit of game, and then to the Sweetbread Boudin Blanc which was probably the smoothest white sausage I've ever tasted this was the sort of dish that reminded me of something I would have found in Paris from the likes of Gagnaire or Robuchon.
--
Served up for our 14th plate of the evening another sparkling dish with an impressively large protein component would arrive as "Wood Pigeon from Scotland, Fresh Fig, Green Lentils, Parsnip, Miso, Nameko" and with my tablemates receiving leg and thigh my portion included breast, neck, and head of the gamy bird, nicely cooked and quite lean resting in a truffled miso soup laden with lentil, parsnip, and earthy mushrooms. A heavy dish but with the hot broth carrying the aromatics high and wide the fig was a much needed bit of sweetness particularly as I dissected the bird and the soup became red with the retained juices.
--
Course fifteen would present Veal Sweetbreads, Duck Foie Gras Soft Taco, Chanterelles - talk about gilding the lily. Small but dense this dish began with a pillowy tortilla resting atop chanterelle mushrooms cooked down with butter and a touch of truffles and then proceeded to pack the tortilla with two of my favorite ingredients, each prepared with the utmost care and nicely balanced despite their characteristic individual hefts. While I cannot say I really tasted the truffles sprinkled atop the taco I could most assuredly smell them and as a exercise in excess at the end of an excessive meal I really liked this dish.
--
For the last dish of the evening we were warned, needlessly, that this would be the most "intense" course of the evening - I say needlessly because you could literally smell this dish from a table-length away as the group next to us ate theirs. Entiled "Beer taffy, Truffle and Barley Ice Cream, 'Hop Caramel Fleur de sel Cremeux,' Beer Truffle Varnish and topped, stuffed, imbued, and lacquered with white truffles this was astonishing. Generally not a fan of beer as I find its flavor a bit overwhelming and bitter this dish negated that not only with the potency of the truffles but also by balancing everything with a substantial degree of sweetness and mild salinity. With the cremeux akin to a savory panna cotta and exploding with hops while barley ice cream acted to lend some balance the true stunner of this dish was the varnish and taffy components, each strong in the hops department but dramatically more so in the truffles which were almost (and I stress almost) too potent when taken on their own but marvelous along with the dish's other components.
--
An epic meal both in concept, length, and quality I left Starry Kitchen that night impressed as ever by Laurent's talents and although I cannot say every dish was superlative the vast majority were and while I cannot say every single dish benefited from the truffles, they certainly never hurt. As it is always difficult to place a "price" on an experience or on exotic ingredients I can say that even without the truffles I would have preferred the vast majority of our 19 courses that evening more than the vast majority I had at a couple of Michelin ** and *** star restaurants in Paris and in Napa earlier this year and as such the $350/pp tab inclusive of tax and tip was well deserved, particularly to such a great chef and host.Listed in: Most memorable meals.
-
Review from fran d.
Long Beach, CA
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
good, quick service. their menu varies in items (although they do rotate back) from time to time. some folks may frown on this but it's not unlike an artist that must try new and different things in order to stay relevant. i can see the same dictum being applied to cooking.
dishes i enjoyed were the curry meatball bahn mi and the mac and cheese. their chicken wings are pretty good as well. possibly the tastiest you can find in all of los angeles. the food prices are reasonable (for downtown) and no need to worry about parking, they validate. -
Review from Lisa W.
10/3/2011 3 photos
Asian fusion-ish food! I had the tofu balls in a burrito form with thai curry noodles. Tofu balls are really yummy. I like it with the jalapenos and sriracha sauce! :)
The owner is really awesome, enthusiastic and fun to talk to. Great personality and really enjoys his work.
Really cool, chill place to grab a quick bite. -
Review from Egan Y.
10/28/2011
I'm kinda mad that I'm just now discovering this place.
The concept of the simplified menu is great. It's also a sneaky way to get customers to return regularly to try the new dishes.
I order the porkbelly cobb salad today and I love it. The pork belly was 55% fat and very flavorful. They didn't skimp on the bacon, bleu cheese or egg. Surprisingly, their slices of baguette is very crispy and soft; so much better than some places with dense bread that cuts the inside of the mouth.
I eat a lot, and I'm pretty stuffed. So there's no need to worry about small portions.
The staff was friendly and helpful to first-timers. Guests can also help themselves to spicy pickled vegetables and sriracha sauce near the entrance.
I'll probably be back soon to see what new meats they come up with. -
Review from Rapha F.
9/13/2011
Great concept. Delicious Food. Reasonable Prices. Tasty Flavors.
Starry Kitchen serves comfort Asian food.
I got the galbi in a bahn mi and the shredded pork wrap. They both hit the spot. -
Review from Katalina W.
Los Angeles, CA
11/5/2011
I discovered Starry Kitchen about a month and a half ago, and I don't know what I'd been doing wrong to deserve a life without it until then.
I've been once for lunch. Everything was delicious. Standouts were the salted plum chicken confit, pork wontons and garlic noodles. I plan on returning so many times I can't remember what the standouts are, and just begin to beg everyone I know who ever eats food to get here as soon as possible.
I've also been twice for the LQ@SK dinners. I'm a huge fan of everything Laurent Quenioux does, and I'm so happy this exists to fill the void left by Bistro LQ. The menu changes every two weeks so it's pretty rude of me to rant about the buttermilk fried quail, clam smoothie and oxtail grilled cheese, but at least Laurent is so talented you can count on his next offerings to be just as magical. Don't bother coming unless you're brave (or would like to learn to be). -
Review from Patty Y.
Los Angeles, CA
10/23/2011
I studied how to order my meal before going so I won't be one of those who hold up the line. But no worries, the friendly guys give you no pressure and I ended up ordering way more than I need. I had the meatball soup for appitizer, the Mahn Mi sandwich with Malaysian chicken curry, and the flan for desert. I love each and every dish! Wasn't crazy about the side noodles though.
This is a lunch joint but open till 9:30 pm on Thurs and Fri nights. Next to Casa it feels super mellow. -
Review from Mina K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012
Had the Dine-LA lunch menu. Their vegetarian options were all really yummy and very satisfying. The service was great. The owner, Nguyen, was super friendly. He came out to ask us how we liked the foods.
-
Review from Jamie C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/25/2011
Y U M
Love the concept of the rotating menu, the obsession with balls, the frequent F bombs and most importantly the quality of the food!
Well done Starry, well done. -
Review from Brian V.
Harbor City, CA
10/20/2011
When my former company moved from our downtown office, this was one of the lunch spots I missed most. (fortunately for me I'm back in downtown and working much closer to it). Lunch is great and the line moves fairly quickly, They host dinners on Thursday night and their dinner menu is great (get the fried chicken wings).
The owner is good with faces and will remember after your first visit, so even if it's been weeks since your first visit, he won't be quick to call you out as a newbie when it comes to deciphering the menu.
*if you read this review however, I'll mentally prepare you: The menu is always changing and some items you may never see again. you first pick your protein, and yes they do have a vegetarian item always. Then you choose their vehicle (Salad, Sandwich or Plate) I often get the plate because the korean glass noodles and asian slaw are awesome side dishes.
The only issue I may have is that I always spend more than $10 on myself guranteed, but it is in downtown afterall. -
Review from Emma Y.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/23/2012
Well, props to the restaurant for being active on Yelp. An extra star for their professionalism in handling my criticism. The bad tuna probably wasn't their fault (could be the supplier) but I still think this place is too bland for my tastes.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/14/2011
The first few times I got the sandwich which was okay, but very plain. But it seems healthy and this… Read more »
Comment from Nguyen T. of Starry Kitchen 12/15/2011
Hello Emma, Well first of all, thanks for trying us so many… More » -
-
Review from John D.
San Francisco, CA
10/14/2011
I had taken a break for a while from writing reviews basically because I have just been lazy. Starry Kitchen was the kick in the ass I needed. The food was so good I couldn't help but write. I have repeatedly asked myself would I want another meal from here or an hour with passion and I have to say....I keep coming back to the Starry Kitchen. The experience was almost inexpressible in words but through my ramblings you may get the point. I was able to enter the kingdom of SK two times in two days as I could only get there by dinner and they are only open two nights for dinner.
With the price point what it is, it is quite possibly the best all around Asian meal I have ever had. Sure I have had great meals in the $100-$300 range but this was $10...no joke. Night one I had the coconut pork belly dinner plate. This comes with rice, Garlic noodles, small salad, pickles and of course the pork belly. It is rather fatty but ohhh so good....dare i say better than S*E*...well you get the point. ( See's Candy of course!).
Night two chicken curry dinner plate with desert... some donut like things with Banana Puree which was phenomenal. I would love to just dine on these things
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SK
It has been a while that I have had an emotional experience while eating and you have provided me just that. In addition, your fun attitude and non pretentiousness is sublime
I wish you the best of success as you hopefully expand soon
I am now sad as I don't believe I will make it in again on this trip...It's not good by...it's see you soon. I love you SK and can't wait until you expand. Come to SF and check out the underground you'll love it! -
Review from Sara S.
9/7/2011
Yes, yes the owner of this place is hilarious. He has a potty mouth, but that just adds on to the hilarity. "FK WHAT YOU'VE HEARD!"
Anyways, I really wish that I could give Starry Kitchen a better rating but my food experience there was, well simply "A-OK." I got the Kalbi Banh Mi with the garlic noodles as a side= no no no, get the spicy vietnamese salad! The garlic noodles had no flavor to them... well except for "garlic" but seriously it was like spaghetti noodles in bland garlic cream sauce. The Kalbi was okay but a little tough. I was gnawing at it for a bit. Overall it was decent but I was not wowed. My friend got the Ox fried rice or whatever for $1.50 more as a side and it looked pretty plain.. aka something I would not pay extra money for. I think the appetizers looked yummy so I will have to try those next time!
Parking is free with validation, which is good because otherwise it's like $4 for 15 min 0__0. But now I know where the Grand Performances live music venue is! Hahaha Eureka, I have found it! Also you know what else is free here at SK? A refill on your soda! BAZINGA!
Now, by no means am I bashing on Starry Kitchen... I like the concept and it has potential! IN fact, I tried my friend's Crab Cake Banh Mi and her spicy vietnamese salad..... FACE PALM. WHY did I not get crab cakes or the salad??? These were pretty tasty and I think if I had gotten those for myself I would have given this place a better rating... but I guess that will have to be for next time! TTFN tata for now SKListed in: DTLA= Down to Lunch Allthetime
-
Review from Carol L.
Los Angeles, CA
"hey is it your guys' first time here?"
- yes
"welllll thennnn... F%$K what you've heard! F#$K what you've read! F@#K! F$#$K!#$#F$#!$K#F$K#F$#K!" ............. oh and welcome to starry kitchen! :) :)
ahaha i'm hoping the owner tweeks his greeting a bit if i ever decide to bring my mama here! lol overwhelming it definitely was, but i loved it, and the owner's personality is just great. you can really tell how much he loves his place, loves his food, and absolutely just loves what he does :] ( i saw this little asian family come in, and he recited his whole crazy speech laying on top of the counter. lolol, love it.)
important stuff:
-street parking, or i'm guessing there's a structure within this building and according to other reviews, they validate so you're good to go!
-menu changes weekly? monthly? not quite sure, but it changes often! kind of sad if you find something you really like, but i'm pretty sure everything on the menu is really yummy so you won't ever leave here unhappy.
-choose your protein, choose your wrap/bahn mi (bread)/plate/salad, and then choose your side.
-each meal is around.. $7ish?
-garlic noodles=yum, especially drenched in siracha sauce! dooo it.
-they're located in the building right above the little bench park in "500 days of summer" kind of cute :]
-oh! another cool tip, i guess this is a byob, alcohol friendly place, cuz i noticed several people who brought their own wine bottles as well as cans of beer to sip on while they ate their meals.
"enjoy the balls in yo mouth!" , reads a sign on the wall. (just trying to give you a little feel of the restaurant and it's whole ambiance and all) but yeah, i came here with mr.eav for dinner one night, and after contemplating the menu, arranging and then rearranging different combinations of all the choices, we finally came to our decision:
*first dish
-spicy crab cakes (SO GOOD... like...so....good!) with the bahn mi (really fresh, soft, and chewy) and the garlic noodles (i already told you how to eat this, one word, siracha!) this plate overall was like.. 10 out of 10. everything about it was really good...
*second dish
-fried tofu balls (sadly, i'm gonna have to say that these did not live up to all the hype i read about, nor did they live up to the super enthusiastic recommendations from the owner... he told us they were only there on the menu that night and they wouldnt be back for at least another month) the texture was a bit too... interesting for my liking. i liked the crispy outside, but the inside had a surprisingly cheese-like texture that i wasn't expecting, and it weirded me out just a bit....but anyways, so fried tofu balls with the wrap, and the spicy viet salad as our side. maybe because we ate the first dish, first and the crab cakes were just so... bomb... it really made this second dish a bit disappointing.. maybe like.. a 5 out of 10. this one just didn't work for me.
so MY recommendations: i say, firstly choose the BAHN MI cuz the bread is just really yummy and so good with i'm sure any kind of protein you end up choosing. if the crab cakes are there, trust me, get them, and then i'd def recommend the garlic noodles, but i am however an incredibly huge fan of garlic flavored...anything.. lol but yeah, i'll definitely be back to give this place another go, and then another until i've tried everything on the menu! see you next time my lovely star people! -
Review from Tuan T.
We were hoping to try their infamous tofu balls, but they didn't have it. Between 2 of us, we shared the bulgogi burger on a banh mi and a lunch plate with the malaysian curry chicken. The bulgogi was good, but I think we picked the wrong vessel for it. The banh mi got soggy quick, but rather than that it turned out nicely. The curry chicken was good, some of the bigger pieces were dry (good thing they gave you curry sauce on the side) and their SK fried rice was surprisingly tasty. What stole the show for us was the side of japanese garlic noodles. Probably the most simple thing on our lunch plates, it was creamy, flavorful and just a delight to eat. I would go back just to eat a big plate of those!
A very simple and easy set up. The menu is sort of small but they change it every week. Anyhow, a really cool place to check out if you're in the area.
Recommendation: share food -
Review from Jenny H.
Los Angeles, CA
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's hard to find the time to eat at Starry Kitchen. If you don't go to school or work in Downtown, you basically have to fight Thursday/Friday rush hour to come here. Luckily, I had a day off and knew exactly where I wanted to go. :)
I was slightly disappointed by my timing because the tofu balls weren't on the menu when I came, but the Bulgogi Burger made up for it! I chose the banh mi as my vessel and ordered it with a side of garlic noodles. The sandwich was really flavorful-- it had crispy pickled veggies, jalapenos, kimchi, sauce, and of course, bulgogi. The garlic noodles really surprised me. They look totally plain, but actually pack a bunch of garlic flavor. Probably one of the best sides offered at SK!
The staff was super friendly and the prices are really reasonable considering the portions you get. I'm going to plan my next visit around the time the tofu balls are back on the menu. :) -
Review from Jayson O.
Marina del Rey, CA
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Downtown LA is slowly becoming the cool spot for nightlife and dining. There's plenty of variety for eats and drinks...you can go to your trendy spots, holes in the wall, fine dining, and even the food trucks. Now, DTLA has something else wonderful to enjoy: Starry Kitchen!
If you've followed Starry Kitchen, you've learned that one upon a time they operated as an underground, illegal restaurant. Yes, you heard me right...an underground, illegal restaurant in North Hollywood. Here's how it went down according to LA Weekly:
"Arriving at a monolithic apartment complex in North Hollywood at the appointed time, you follow the directions given out in the hyperverbose e-mails sent to select bloggers and food followers. The elevator carries a few other people who seem uncertain of what they will find as they try out this "underground, covert culinary establishment" for the first time. But with the opening of the doors comes the smell of Asian comfort-food cooking and the sound of happy people. You're at the right spot.
This is Starry Kitchen, a "restaurant" that began by serving food out of one couple's apartment. In the intervening months the venue has taken an unlikely and unpredictable road to restauranthood, one that wouldn't have been possible in a thriving economic climate. Whether it's desperation or creativity, it's working."
Fast forward 2 years later. Starry Kitchen is now an established restaurant located in the California Plaza in good ol' downtown LA. Parking is very simple, just pull in the covered lot, and SK even validates for up to 2 hours, FTW!
Outside, it's right in the heart of the plaza near the concert stage. Easy to find, and you can't miss the big Starry Kitchen star logo.
Inside, it's big, open, bright, and vibrant. The smells of delicious food are permeating through the air, making your mouth immediately water. On the left, the giant chalk board reveals this week's menu, and they politely cross out the dishes that aren't available any more. You choose your protein, which consists of a nice variety of interesting choices. You then choose your vessel which could be a wrap, salad, sandwich, or lunch plate. Finally, you pick your sides.
For dinner, we decided to order a few different things and get them plated.
Ginger Something-a-rather Chicken Wings - so crispy, tangy, and delicious. Holy F*CK were these good!
Spicy "Crack" Krab Cake - yes, using the term "crack" with this dish was appropriate. I wanted more and more and more. Outstanding.
Taiwanese fried pork chop - Unbelievably good. Crispy AND tender at the same time. Whaaaa?
Spicy Vietnamese Salad - refreshing, delicious, and tangy!
All of the dishes we got came with garlic noodles, which were UH-MAZING! I could live off of just those if need be. Be sure to head back by the door and help yourself to the homemade pickled jalapeños. They are made daily, and are incredible. INCREDIBLE!
My favorite thing about Starry Kitchen was the friendly vibe there. Nguyen (the owner) came out, chatted with us for a while, and made us feel like family. He's great, as is everyone else that works there. I want to hang out with them all the time.
Be sure to check out Starry Kitchen. They change their menu weekly (or close to), so please be sure to taste the deliciousness coming out of that kitchen. Who knows, maybe you'll catch Nguyen wearing his banana costume talking about his delicious balls...
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1)
