Some time ago, I heard about Starry Kitchen but everything I looked up had no address. That’s because they were on the DL- downlow if you will. They were operating out of their house and the one-dish specials got so popular, they eventually had to go way underground complete with a password to get any information.

lemongrass chicken on curry fried rice

Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to sleuth very hard to find their brand new Downtown Los Angeles location. I arrived the first week it was open last week with a pal, the Hungry Hanh. I’ve subsequently been back twice this week.

As of right now, they have lemongrass chicken, coconut pork, short ribs and crispy tofu balls. These four items then can be ordered four ways; as a wrap, banh mi, plate or salad. Starry Kitchen plans to rotate the menu every few weeks and most likely will keep the lemongrass chicken as a staple.

coconut pork banh mi

Hanh and I shared the lemongrass chicken and the coconut pork banh mi. Nguyen and Thi Tran own Starry Kitchen and Nguyen explained to me that coconut pork is a homestyle food that rarely makes it to any Vietnamese restaurant menu. I had never heard of it and was glad to try it. I loved it as a banh mi.

short ribs on pineapple fried rice

I’m all about their fried rice. They change it up every week. Last week was curry fried rice and this week is pineapple fried rice. The short ribs were very tender and perfect atop of the rice. A friend had it in the salad but I think the small pieces got a bit lost in there.

short ribs salad

I’ve been hearing about this “game changer,” the Starry Kitchen’s crispy tofu balls. Although I’m not vegetarian, I’m really into veggies and tofu. They are a bit spicy, definitely crispy and wholly wonderful.

crispy tofu balls

A friend had these in a banh mi but I think they’d go equally well in a wrap.

I can’t wait to go back next week to see how the menu evolves. I hear kimchi and mushrooms are in the works. And everyone knows kimchi makes everything better!

Starry Kitchen

350 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 617-3474