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Starry Kitchen - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Asian Fusion Asian Fusion [Edit]
11049 Mc Cormick StSte 205
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Neighborhood: North Hollywood
(818) 396-6461
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
32 reviews for Starry Kitchen
Review Highlights
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"...by their little pooch GQ and the owners Nguyen and Thi." In 3 reviews -
"This is NoHo's best kept secret, at least for the time..." In 3 reviews -
"...the honey panko-crusted fried tofu balls I just had) will..." In 3 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from G. S.
North Hollywood, CA
11/22/2009
This is NoHo's best kept secret, at least for the time being. It's almost like a speakeasy, word of mouth really got this place going. After reading all the reviews I was very excited to go on Sunday. Quite the foodie experience.
To the timid, yes, this is not a sit-down restaurant (yet). There's no tables or waiters or menus. Waitstaff is overrated anyways ;) But, there is food, made to order. It's like getting invited over to a friend's house and dining with other guests.
The friendly couple who created Starry Kitchen setup outside their apartment in the courtyard, take your order, tell you a few good stories and ten minutes later, voila`, the meal of the day.
It's suggested to look on their website (facebook, twitter, here) to see what they are serving that day or if they sell out. It happens. But don't fret, I heard they're looking at a downtown location where I'm sure will be a big hit.
For the meantime, just remember, the password is #141. -
Review from Joe T.
Burbank, CA
11/10/2009
Starry Kitchen is a place for all you foodies out there looking for something different. The food itself combines the comfort eating that you get from Mexican style street food with an asian flair all their own. I had a chance to have both of their meat and veggie dishes, soy-ginger braised garlic chicken and sesame crusted tofu tacos. Both types of tacos were amazing and you can tell that the marinating was done well in advance as the flavors gushed into my mouth with every delicious bite. Mmmmm yum!
To think, I almost didn't get a chance to eat there because I got confused when I got on location. It's in the residential district of NoHo so you'll need to press "# 141" at the door once you get there. Just ask for Starry Kitchen and the owners will buzz you up. Ride the elevator to the second floor and head to #205. You'll be warmly greeted by their little pooch GQ and the owners Nguyen and Thi.
From my understanding, Starry Kitchen dishes change all the time which always keeps you on your toes in wondering what culinary delight will touch your palette this time around. I'm looking forward to going back and trying something new. -
Review from Kathryn E.
West Hollywood, CA
4/12/2010
~ !! UPDATE BULLETIN !! ~
Starry Kitchen has closed their North Hollywood location as of November 20 2009 (source: Starry Kitchen blog)
Their new address is in Downtown:
350 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90071 -
Review from Anderson L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2009
"Starry Kitchen" is a new project that my friends, married duo Thi and Nguyen, are working on that is starting off as an experiment that could potentially take off into a new culinary business venture for them.
I have to say, I'm rooting for them because their food is simply divine. Asian-influenced, but simple, home cooked, and very healthy in that wonderful SoCal slow food way.Their weekly delicious entrees that they are testing out in their digs in North Hollywood, are light and filling at the same time. Influenced by their surroundings, they conjure up interesting fusion food, bringing in Latin influences as well.
And if you're Vietnamese, then forget about it! Amazing! Comfort food taken to the next level.I'm a big fan of the bo kho tacos. Awww, man, so savory!
If you are a foodie, then I highly recommend checking them out. Follow them on fb, twitter, etc at http://starrykitchen.com. -
Review from Gene B.
Los Angeles, CA
8/2/2009
BIG POTENTIAL. As I understand it, the starry kitchen is still in the early stages of its development and I can't wait to see how big they get.
So my friend brought me here right after I had eaten a full meal somewhere else so I wasn't planning on really eating anymore. After seeing my friend's reaction to the ground garlic chicken tacos they were serving I had to give it a try. It was perfect... whatever sauce or marinade that was in that taco was incredible and the ingredients were very fresh. The flavors were very new and unconventional for a taco yet it worked so well as a taco. It tasted fairly healthy as well. The fact that I was already stuffed from my previous meal did not take anything away from the enjoyment of this taco. To my surprise, there was also a little treat beneath the tacos: Milk...Sweet...Fried. Don't ask me how they did it. I still can't figure it out but I loved it.
Starry Kitchen - If you need a taste tester I'll be more than happy to eat your food anytime.
GO EAT IT NOW -
Review from Jessica R.
West Los Angeles, CA
11/11/2009
So the Mr. and I just got back from our first visit to Starry Kitchen.
Hot. Damn.
Talk about a mouthgasm! It's like eating sunshine and rainbows and pure happiness. Each dish is a perfectly orchestrated masterpiece of flavor and texture. The Asian Fusion thing is really exploding in LA but no one brings the awesome like Nguyen and Thi, their food is just fantastic!
I love that they constantly rotate and introduce new dishes. Tonight we had Vietnamese baked ground garlic pork (they were out of the veggie option by the time we got there) in all three forms: sandwich (banh mi), taco, and burrito. Oh man I am obsessed. The sandwich was my favorite-- plus I got the very last one so I was really savoring it-- and Curt would probably elope with that burrito if I wasn't in the picture. Plus the garlicky noodles and the AMAZING sauces. MMMMMMM....
The thing is, it's not just the food, it's the atmosphere too! Sure, it's just a courtyard in an apartment building, but there's something that feels really secret and underground about it, which is awesome. And the food literally travels about 15 feet (and 15 seconds) from the kitchen to your mouth. Now that, my friends, is FRESH. We showed up on the later side, around 8:00, so the hungry mob had already dispersed. But even with the small crowd that was left, Starry Kitchen felt like the coolest spot in the city. Nguyen is incredibly entertaining, Thi is pure genius in the kitchen, and their dog GQ ("the ladykiller"... so true) is one of the cutest pooches you'll ever meet.
Turns out Nguyen and Thi are going to be taking over a restaurant downtown near MOCA. While we can't wait to check it out, selfishly we want Starry Kitchen to stay just the way it is. So we're definitely planning to go every Wednesday and Sunday that we possibly can, before the rest of LA finds out about this place!
Oh, on our way out Nguyen handed us a paper bag with a burrito and yet another taco... they wouldn't stop feeding us! But of course we didn't argue (at all) and happily grabbed the deliciousness. And yeah I'm totally planning on eating that burrito for breakfast in the morning, don't judge me.
P.S. Check out my husband's review on his blog, http://aucoti.wordpres...... just search "starry kitchen".
Update: I ate the burrito this morning and it was STILL INCREDIBLE. Didn't even get soggy overnight in the fridge. Just wish I had taken a little more of the special SK sauce with me... sooooo goooood. -
Review from Po L.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 10/23/2009
YUM! I can't wait to eat more Starry Kitchen food.
Their Chicken Meatloaf with their Yum Yum SK Sauce is AWWWWESOME! I definitely recommend it.
Yum Yum SK - Made with spices, sticky rice and other secret ingredients. Trust me, it's gooood.
I WANT MORE!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/28/2009 First to Review
Truly a hidden gem. Shhhhhhh... don't tell anybody about it. Are you looking for that secret spot… Read more »
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Review from oakley b.
Los Alamitos, CA
3/6/2010
Lisa N., another friend, and I went on our little DTLA lunch adventure. Lisa had heard about STK before but haven't been there. So we did.
I said hi to Nguyen as we tweeted each other earlier. Unlike any other restaurateurs or chefs I've talked to, he actually hoped that my expectations weren't too high. LOL. It's home cooked food, he said. This is what *we* like to eat and we want to share with you. Dude, I TOTALLY respect that.
And in true foodie style, three of us ordered completely different things and passed the plate around. (Yep. Only best friends and fearless foodies would do that.)
I spotted the pork belly on the board. Do you even doubt the power of the pork belly had over me? Of course, I ordered the coconut braised pork belly, banhmi style. Lisa had the meatballs in Japanese curry atop kimchi fried rice. Nadiya ordered the lemongrass chicken with a side of Indonesian stir-fry macaroni. (All of us actually had the mac.) I also ordered the seared tuna salad for my boss.
The mac, we're all so-so on. The kimchi fried rice, we loved. The curry+meatball was good as well. The ladies also liked the lemongrass chicken but I wasn't hot with that. I stole a few bites out of my boss' salad--with her approval, of course--and the dressing was really, really tasty.
The coconut pork belly, however, was the end game. Melt in your mouth good with all the right flavors. And putting it on a bahn mi was a totally win because you have the crunchy veggies to provide the texture and chewy bread to sop up all the goodness. My Vietnamese boss totally approved! I understand that they usually do this with just pork, not the belly, but I'd eat that too.
Best of all, being a DTLA lunch joint, your food comes at you fast after you ordered it. Once you get through the line that is. We were there 5 till noon and we had no problem with line at all.
And the amount of food was proportionate to the price. Actually, quite generous for Downtown LA price points.
Looking forward to crispy fried Taiwanese style pork chops next week! :) -
Review from J. C.
North Hollywood, CA
11/1/2009
So my first experience at SK was fantastic - Taiwanese 3 cup chicken I believe it was. But being that they mix it up with something different every time, I wanted to try a few of the other dishes before writing up a review - you know, make sure they weren't a one hit wonder, be fair and balanced, all that jazz.
I can now say with certainty that Thi the kitchen ninja is cranking out consistently amazing food. My biggest complaint is that it's too damn hard to pass up the tacos (with lightly fried corn tortillas - half-way between a soft and crispy taco) because it lets me try both the meat and vegetarian dish. And this is only a problem because the bánh mì and burritos are so delicious, too! The succulent meats and crazy flavorful vegetarian options (like the honey panko-crusted fried tofu balls I just had) will leave you delighted each and every time.
Throw in Nyugen's super friendly service and hospitality and an always interesting mix of people (mostly regulars, because once you come you'll be hooked) and you can't go wrong. The only thing that would make it even better, especially after just crawling out of bed on a Sunday, would be some Vietnamese coffee (hint hint SK crew ;) ).
In summary, all these 5-star reviews are no fluke. When I first found SK on Yelp, I thought perhaps it was just friends and family padding the reviews. Not the case at all, these reviews are legit - it's just fantastic food served cheap and in a friendly environment. -
Review from JJ G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/8/2009
What a great concept! Pan-Asian dishes served in either burrito, taco or sandwich form.
We came on a night that they had Chicken or Tofu with lemon grass tacos, burritos and sandwiches. They cook everything right in their home kitchen so there's a limited menu, but that means that they put all of their attention toward those few items... and it shows. It was delicious! (i had the burrito, and i liked the addition of sushi rice into it!)
Prices are amazing, a $5 dollar donation to keep their costs down as they sort out their business plan. So my advice is try it now before it blows up and costs more!
Also, we rode the metro to the north hollywood stop, their place is a mere 8 minute walk from the stop.
Good luck guys! I hope it all works out for you!
(also I guess they do Wed. Dinner time 6-9 pm, Sunday Lunch time 12-3, but i bet their facebook page is the best way to keep up on the times they are serving) -
Review from Johnny B.
Burbank, CA
8/5/2009
I was Yelping last Sunday for places in NoHo to eat and saw this place with 5 reviews, 5 stars each and was intrigued. As I read the reviews about asian-y foods in taco, burrito, or bun form, my mouth started watering, but I needed more infoz. I went to their Twitter page and saw that they were out of food for the day. Bummed, I was intent on getting the goodness in me. It took a bit of digging to figure out all the details I needed to know when and where to go, but it was soooo worth the effort!
Don't let the entrance confuse you, just speak friend (or hit #141) and enter. Once you round the outside of 205, you will know you have found the goodness. Nguyen and Thi are super nice and once the deliciousness is in your belly (today was Taiwanese 3 cup chicken and garlic noodles..I had the taco version), you WILL have seconds. I bought seconds to bring back to share with a friend, but I ate it before they showed up. :P
Can't wait to come back on Wednesdays and Sundays to see what they've cooked up next! Delish! :9 -
Review from Phil C.
Alhambra, CA
1/31/2010
SK, I'm dedicating my first Yelp review to you! It was love at first bite, and I can't wait to see what's on the menu the next time I visit. I must say, Kitchen Ninja Thi got some mad culinary skillz. The Ninja style tofu balls were out of this world, and the chicken curry tacos with the veggies matched harmoniously together!
Great Service, exquisitely delicious food, and live performances from the one and only GQ.....I'm definitely going back for more = )!!! -
Review from Kenneth N.
Los Angeles, CA
11/16/2009
I know the food critique here is important, but I'll get to that in a second.
What I first want to say is that the experience of going to Starry Kitchen is so vastly different from any dining experience you'll ever encounter. It seems that everytime I've been to SK (5x's now), there seems to be the most wonderful people there having warm interactions with perfect strangers. The setup of the place is unique because the eating area is the courtyard of an apartment complex. So as you're eating, you feel like you're at a friend's house with a low key dinner party going on. It's a great new way to meet new people. I've made many new friends at Starry Kitchen as a result of their physical setup.
And now for the food... I'm a big self proclaimed foodie. I would not even consider going to SK if the reviews were mediocre. The food is creative divinity. It's the authenticity of the old world mixed with the creative direction of the new country that makes the food unique. But then again, all of this is subjective. Go check it out for yo' self if you haven't.
Missing out on SK at this level is like missing out on a special time in a legendary restaurant's early history. SK will most likely move on to become a swanky five star restaurant sometime in the future. I'm glad I got to experience it at this point in it's infancy.
Oh, and did I mention price? My only complaint is that In these lean times, I wish SK would open on more days. -
Review from Christie H.
Pasadena, CA
1/19/2010
Dear Starry Kitchen,
I'm sorry for taking so long to write this, but I couldn't find the right words to express my obsession with your crunchy goodness. I still can't! -
Review from jin n.
Sherman Oaks, CA
3/1/2010
This location got shut down by health department...i just found out when i called to get their store hours.
Comment from Nguyen T. of Starry Kitchen 3/2/2010
LOL Hi Jin, I'm Nguyen, 1/2 of Team SK. Thanks for looking… More » -
Review from Nancy K.
1/7/2010
I just had to tell the world...... I LOVE STARRY KITCHEN!!! Thi is like a foodie's dream, an absolute genius in the kitchen. She takes asian fusion to a whole other level. She puts a lot of love and creativity behind her food. There's simply no means of comparison here, her concoctions are unique and you just can't find them anywhere else. Please go support this "mom and pop shop". Thi and Nguyen are the nicest, coolest people, and they make you feel totally comfortable and welcome. Take advantage now before they blow up and become too big and cool for you.
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Review from Christopher W.
Costa Mesa, CA
11/16/2009
Best food.. best people!
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Review from Justin S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/10/2009
I've been hitting these guys up every day they serve for the last month and a half. Every time I attempt to hold back, and every time I end up ordering 2, sometimes even 3 servings. So much for losing weight... (These are NOT small servings.)
I highly recommend the Vietnamese sandwich, which never seems all that popular but is by far my favorite. The tacos come 2 at a time, so if you want to try the meat AND the veggie option, it's a great pick.
If you're a foodie, and was as disappointed by the Asian fusion taco movement as I was, you owe Starry Kitchen a visit. It fulfills the promise of the other guys' hype.
Oh, and try the Jackfruit. It's the best meat substitute I've ever had. (But why you would deprive yourself of their godly, glistening, sauce-dripping dead animal product is beyond me...)Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Sanjay S.
Northridge, CA
11/1/2009
I went last wednesday with a reluctant friend who did not understand why we were going a) all the way to North Hollywood; and b) to a nice apartment building in order to grab a bite to eat. Needless to say he understood after we devoured our eats. Kalbi sandwich for him, kalbi burrito for me, and a crispy kimchi rice patty burrito to-go for my wife. Yum. Food is fantastic because it is homemade with tremendous patience and love. I am trying to get my wife to drive there for us today using the crispy tofu balls as bait!
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Review from Daniel D.
San Gabriel, CA
11/2/2009
This is a nice little hidden Gem in NOHO. A great concept of Fushion asian and mexican dishes. My personal favorite is the asian curry burrito. I can't type anymore as Im beginning to drool on my keyboards.
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Review from Diana T.
6/4/2010
I've had the chicken curry which was my all time favorite and the pork belly banh mi which was really yummy but remember its PORK BELLY so if you're watching the calories you might want to go with the chicken because you're literally biting into chunks of pork fat.
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Review from Lynn C.
9/12/2009
I had the opportunity to try a LEFTOVER lemongrass chicken burrito and even the next day, cold, it was amazing.
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Review from Larie N.
Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, CA
3/5/2010
I love SKNoHo. The idea, the execution and the food is so very LA. Call me a dork, but I think the whole underground best kept secret is so cool. The food is very good, fresh and unique. Tried all three 'vessels" and enjoyed each one . The owners are very friendly and accommodating. I'm disappointed that SKNoHo seems like it's definitely not gonna make it now that SKDTLA is taking up so much time. Come back to your roots guys! We miss you!
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Review from Liquid P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/7/2010
I had a great time here. The food was fresh, tasty and original. The best part was the atmosphere. Your friendly hosts genuinely make you feel at home, because you are at home. Imagine being at a restaurant where everyone is talking to everyone else! I would definitely go again!
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Review from Susan M.
Sherman Oaks, CA
1/2/2010 1 photo
How difficult it is to share a "best kept secret" -- but I am SO much a fan of this concept AND the food, that I must encourage you to NOT MISS the Starry Kitchen dining experience. Visit the website, read the instructions, figure it out and we'll see you there!! Just not TOO many of you before I get there!! ;-D
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Review from Natalie m.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2009
A must try!!! These guys are my neighbors and they have an amazing thing going on!! Their dishes are incredible. Just stuffed myself on some Korean beef short ribs and I am in heaven!! Come check it out!
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Review from Rachelle R.
Los Angeles, CA
11/15/2009
Seriously... so much fun and so f'n delicious! I highly recommend checking these guys out!
On your way over, it feels like you're heading to a friends house. You park on the street, buzz their apartment, take the elevator up to the second floor and walk to their sliding backdoor/commons area. They have chairs and a donation table set up (they ask for at least $5/per person, but don't be cheap... toss in a little more). :)
I went with a friend on a Sunday afternoon and there was a great mix of people ranging in all ages just chatting with one another and munching on their AWESOME dishes. Yummy... -
Review from Zachary P.
Glendale, CA
11/4/2009
First and foremost, the address on google maps is 11049 mc cormick st. If gps is sending you miles away from magnolia and lankershim, then you've gone to wrong place.
Secondly, starry kitchen only offers one to two dishes every evening, depending on if they're serving a vegetarian option.
Do you remember the scene from Rattatouille when the reviewer was transported back to his youth upon eating the signature dish? I've never eaten their hamburger curry vietnamese roll before, but gosh darn it, I wish my years had been filled with them.
Inside the roll, there was a sprinkling of crunchy veggies mixed with a delicious sauce and tasy hamburger. I would have immediately asked for more, except I couldn't bear the thought of them running out later.
The owners are currently asking for 5 dollar donations (a bargain for the quality), but please don't be stingy. This is exactly the sort of place North Hollywood needs more of. -
Review from dicky k.
Torrance, CA
1/20/2010
1st visit! 1 word only, "delicious", definately will come back as i was hoping they made dessert....yummy
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Review from Dao N.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2010
the clandestine circumstances and mystery surrounding a rendezvous for dinner only added to my excitement and anticipation for a secret supper as well as fear that perhaps it would not be as good as i had hoped. however, the familiar yet unconventional pairings of flavors in the home-cooked meal i enjoyed at starry kitchen not only lived up to expectations but surpassed them.
on this occasion, we had two choices of protein--a rich and earthy curry chicken and a tofu and corn formed into balls dipped in buttermilk and festive green sticky rice that is then deep fried--served in one of three possible ways--inside tacos, a wrap or on a french baguette. i tried the veggie balls with the baguette as well as in a taco and the chicken in a taco. both came stuffed with cabbage, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber slivers and cilantro. the tofu is enhanced by a mustard sauce, and the baguette is slathered with a bit of homemade buttery mayo. i loved the tofu on the baguette--the various crunchy textures, the little bit of heat and sweet savory balanced by the acid from the vinegar. i also love tacos, but frankly, i'm a bit taco'd out with the taco truck craze and everyone trying to put everything on tacos. the baguette was perfect with the tofu. unfortunately, they ran out of them, but i think the chicken curry would have been even better with the baguette, where it could have soaked into it. still, it had a nice kick and was quite tasty.
nguyen's enthusiasm and affable personality are infectious. he really made us feel at home. i'm looking forward to when their restaurant in downtown opens and seeing what thi does with her style of asian-vietnamese fusion cuisine. -
Review from Rude G.
Los Angeles, CA
9/6/2009
Definitely one of the best, if not the best Asian taco places ever created and tasted. Their kalbi-jim rocks the taste buds like no other. The best is when you've moved away from 4 hoofed friends... their vegetarian twist is absolutely fantastic also very creative, come on jack fruit?! Who would've thought fruit could be so yummy. I say go for it!!!
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Review from Courtney R.
Studio City, CA
1/25/2010
I love you Starry Kitchen; you always make me smile! Not only do I LOVE the food (I can't even pick my favorite dish, they're all so good!) but I always look forward to chatting with Nguyen about food in L.A., and I love getting a smile from the beautiful Kitchen Ninja. Oh Starry Kitchen, I will follow you wherever you go!
