WHERE: Los Angeles (DTLA) / What happened to NoHo??

THE MENU: (2/13 - 2/17)

HOW+WHY: Our Story / LQ@SK

LQ @ SK / PARKING / CATERING / ARCHIVES

Contact us (anytime!): info@starrykitchen.com

Hello again SK KARA-GE (aka “Japanese Popcorn Chicken”)

And Bye-bye (after this week) BRAISED COCONUT JACKFRUIT & Coconut Rice!!

(sorry, no sexy picture of Coconut Rice ‘cause it kinda looks just like white rice in pictures! LOL)

And if no one noticed, I did… I don’t think we’ve had THIS much chicken at the same time on the menu before… which is WEIRD (but the SK KARA-GE’s pretty tasty though, so it’s worth it)

WHERE TO EXPAND/OPEN NEXT?

I know we’ve been talkin’ about this for a while, but while you’re waitin’ to see if we REALLY do expand (we will.. I promise/think!), if you don’t Facebook stalk us check out and chime in on the Facebook survey on where you (or something else you know that might like us more ^_^) want us to go next. Check it out (& maybe even vote) HERE!

Otherwise not much to write today. I was out drinking, eating silkworms, wearing my banana suit at birthday parties and eating tacos so… that’s how the cookie crumbles today.

And if you REALLY want something (I know you prolly don’t, but I’m gonna offer it anyway), here’s a whole collection of the GI Joe Public Service Announcement Parodies. You know, where they used to end is “And now you know, and knowing is half the battle GI JOOOOOOOE!” Yeah, those:

Enjoy while I recover from my hangover. LOL ;)

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

I dun know what it is about today.. but I’m ready to start the weekend (aren’t you?) Well, in order to keep to the lazy theme (i.e. I am feeling a lil lazy), let’s do this quick and simple, m’kay:

• Lunchie-Munchies BYE-BYE: BRAISED COCONUT PORK, Coconut Rice and SK Chopped Side Salad
• We are CLOSING tonight (i.e. NOT OPEN), and thanks for all the FB’ers who helped us with this decision… no seriously, there’s a thread right HERE!
• ummm… we AIN’T open LABOR DAY either.. I mean, why would we want to Labor on… LABOR DAY!!
• hmmm… what else? Oh yeah, while today is the LAST lunch day to get you some BRAISED COCONUT PORK, you can also try out recipe we actually released this week HERE! ^_^

If you’re still here (on the blog), you must be bored and just waiting for Labor Day weekend to start (when will the Laborious Laboring Labor EEEEEND?!?!?) And if you ARE bored, I’m quite sure you’re wondering, “What do game nerds who have free time and above part editing and camera skills do with themselves?” (I know, cause i think that ALL the time… and this was the best video I could find without exerting too much finger typing energy on that-there internetS)

Well, here ya go.. and what this has to do with our food, again.. I have NO idea! ^_^

And if you want something… ANYTHING relevant to our food, here’s the KN giving her THUMBS UP to the DOUBLE-FRIED SWEET GINGER GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS (assuming you’ve actually read this far too… and sham-WOW if you did!)

Toodles,

TEAM SK

Hello.. HELLO!

Time’s awastin’, so no time like the present to just jump into the rotating (i.e. I gots actual restaurant stuff to DO’S and have no time for my seemingly witty banter today ^_^).

Let’s start with what’s going away because it’s gonna a sad one and a near mass-exodus too!!!

BYE-BYE:

• BRAISED COCONUT PORK
• Coconut Rice
• SK Chopped Side Salad

Of these these, I’m definitely going to miss the first AND second (because together they are a flavor SUPER-POWER!) the most.  Damn, and I waited 6 months for that dish to come back, and now you know… even I am subject to the emotional rollercoaster that is SK too! LOL

HI-HI:

• BRAISED COCONUT JACKFRUIT

The vegan cousin of my favorite dish, and a unique one because… it don’t taste ANYTHING like fruit too. AMAZING!

Until then, watch this video (that ain’t for kiddies ya’ll… unless your kiddies talk like sailor’s all.. day.. LONG) that one of our friends thought was appropriate for us (i.e. ME) because of ummm… my love for the use of the F*Bomb (but I only use it to convey passion, m’kay!)  Enjoy this, it’s pretty funny.. if you like expletives that is LOL:

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

DAMN that’s one nice looking CRISPY TOFU BALL! LOL

(Beautifully taken by kevinEATS and his INCREDIBLY thorough Plate-by-Plate coverage… HERE)

So, it’s Tuesday, I’m late (as usual) and my favorite-st dish of all is on the menu (Braised Coconut Pork)…

I don’t feel like I need to say anymore than that today (because I can’t give you anymore ;p) ^_^

Toodles,

TEAM SK

Auf wiedersehen my dear Braised Coconut Pork! Since today is your last day with us (for a lil bit, prolly not too long, maybe… I think), I dedicate this video (of extremely questionable quality) from The Sound Of Music! “Why?” you ask?  Well maybe cause I LOVE that movie, and you should just play the video foo’!

(yeah, I am a straight guy that likes The Sound of Music… btw, did you know… that… “the HILLS are aliiiive, with the sound of MUUUUUUSIC… LaaaaAAAaaAA”… is that so WROOOOOONG!)

So we bid Adieu (like how I’m saying “goodbye” in all these European languages, it makes me sound so worldly and wise! ^^) to my favorite dish, and today… we’ve made a whole SH-T LOAD of it too. (A “SH-T LOAD” IS a quantitative measurement in certain countries and districts of LA County if I’m not mistaken LOL)

So pack your bags, bring your appetites and get ready to be very confused by our parking structure (if you’re driving, it’s on Olive between 2nd and 4th labeled 350 S. Grand ^_^)

If you can make it, don’t be too shy to say “Hi!”

Au revoir (Coconut Pork!)

Team SK

Today we take a break from our regularly scheduled NEW WAVE WEDS!! for…

our ACTUAL 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING LEGIT!!! (HOOOLY MOOOLY!)

On Feb 16th, 2010, we started something we had NO IDEA would work.. we had NO IDEA if people would tolerate a rotating menu.. and NO IDEA if people would tolerate a little bit of cursing and passion with their food at lunch time too. It’s not to say EVERYONE is into it, but obviously enough have been for us to survive at least a year. And for that we’d like to say…

MWAHAHAHAHAHHAHA…

…

and THAAAAANK YOOOOOOU! ^_^

There’s so much to say, and so little time (plus if you come into the restaurant already you should I know I have a LOT to say anyway) so we’ll just get into the dish “du jour” for the Fan Fave/”Best of”-foolery:

BRAISED COCONUT PORK… BELLY

aka

While ALL the dishes this week are our signatures, this dish is THE dish that was the catalyst for EVERYTHING!!

This was the one that we started experimenting with.

This was the one we started the illegal+underground with.

This was the one that helped us get CRAZY #’s of pre-orders outta our apartment at one point in time (we’ve had double the amount displayed in the pic below before)

This was also one of the original dishes we started “legitimately” with as well. (and THIS dish is pictured WAAAAY above too! LOL)

Without The BRAISED COCONUT PORK (aka “THIT KHO”), we possibly could have never started Starry Kitchen (and used this crappy flyer above to start it!)

Oh yeah… this waivers at being my FAVORITE dish of all possibly because

• I AM Vietnamese!
• I grew up with it all my life 
• And now because we’ve decided to stick with PORK BELLY I think ALL the way through from this day forward with this dish!

It’s been an incredible ride.. and we’re still here so if you’ve actually read THIS FAR take heed my advice ONCE AGAIN (come EARLY or CALL EARLY [w/ 4 orders minimum during the lunch rush) if you want you some. Or you’re gonna get this crappy look on my face (sans sombrero since that was SO yesterday!)

The last and one time we did this with pork belly, it was an OVERWHELMING response to… well pork belly which was surprising to us (we thought the area would be too corporate for that!), and especially to my stomach because I DIDN’T even get to eat this dish that one time. haha

Either way, hope you come out (even though there’s cruddy rain) and come try it. It’s REEEEEAAALY comforting… and so FREAKIN’ DELICIOUS too!

…

And since I HAVE been doing it for a year.. I lied on the NEW WAVE WEDNESDAY stuff. Let’s do an easy one that EVERYONE knows (to cheer us up maybe a LIL bit on this crappy rainy day!)

Xoxo (for EVERYTHING),

TEAM SK

WELCOME Sept 1, and what better way to usher in..umm.. SEPTEMBER than with New Wave Weds (is anyone bored of this idea yet?!?! LOL) too bad..

YAY!

Well, not much time to post because we literally have our BUSIEST day ahead of us with caterings, private parties and… LUNCH ahead of us ALL today. So gotta go head out and act like I’m working, but while you’re waiting enjoy this pleasant cover by Six Pence None the Richer (she has such a soothing voice!) of another 80’s classic (and an AWESOME karaoke song if I might add!)

Oh yeah, if you don’t remember…

THREE MORE DAYS FOR BRAISED COCONUT PORK

“Oh how I love you SOOOOO much my… PRECIOUS!”

I will mourn it’s loss… well, once it’s gone! Til then, I’m STUFFING my face with it every day (it is my favorite-st dish ya know, ESPECIALLY w/ Coco Rice!! ;D)

Toodles,

TEAM SK

Since the SK KARA-GE is leaving the “lunchie munchies” menu in 3 days, I’m sure if it could talk (which would be WEIRD) it would not only talk… but SING:

“Don’t… don’t you want me?!?!”

…

(pause)

Ok, I know that was bad (LOL), but that doesn’t stop me from continuing on with NEW WAVE WEDNESDAY! And who doesn’t love them some Human League when it comes to the 80’s (I feel like I’m about to do one of those Time-Life Music Collection commercials), because hey… Pan-Asian comfort food just tastes better with ‘em (and w/ numerous F*bombs too… it’s a proven fact… maybe ^_^)

On a completely unrelated note (hey, at least I give you a warning to segue into…)

So, I’m still FRICKIN FULL from being stuffed at The Foundry on Melrose last night. I couldn’t help myself. Chef Eric Greenspan enjoyed (and “swirled” <- his words, not mine! ^_^) some of our balls in his mouth over the weekend @ PbP, so we had to try the same! :)  What does ANY of this have to do with Starry Kitchen today? Well, it’s a good distraction from the heat (but it seems like it’s coolin’ off today).

Okay, enough jibba-jabba… just come get some BRAISED COCONUT PORK if you haven’t had any yet. I’ve literally been BEGGING my wife/Kitchen Ninja to bring this back for a while and WHOOOOOOA NELLY is it nice w/ some coconut rice too!

(insert mental sexy image of pork here)

Okay, I gots to go. See ya soon.

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

Haaaaappy AUGUST 16th!!!

(I know, *yawn* it’s August but we’ll get through this together, m’kay? ^_^)

First off, I want to thank Project by Project for inviting us to work their Plate by Plate tasting benefit this Saturday.  We had a lot of fun, and thankfully it gave us the opportunity to expose us to even more people that didn’t know about us… AND continue on with the “BALLS” jokes (because we of course served our Crispy Tofu Balls) as demonstrated here by our volunteers and booth (yup, THE booth!) YAY!

Awww yes… I think that’s enough “Crispy Tofu Ball-foolery” for today. Let’s continue, shall we? (Doh, you left the blog already didn’t you… why Jebus… WHHHHY!)

So another week, another rotation, right? WRONG! (but still “technically” right LOL).

Let’s start w/ the “BYE-BYE” first:

• SK KARA-GE

Otherwise known by it’s horribly anglicized (by ‘moi’) name: Japanese Popcorn Chicken (but it’s still KARA-GE in my chockos!). This one has proved to be very popular especially with its yum-tacular Housemade Ponzu + shredded Ginger sauce-liciousness. Thanks guys! (but it’s still gotta GO ;p) 

Hello… HELLO!

“Don’t call it a come back son” (even though again “technically” it IS a come back) because my favorite-st dish of all of ‘em is back after a near 6 MONTH hiatus!! We didn’t plan it that way, but that’s just the way it happened!

(SK disclaimer: even though it’s MY favorite dish… it doesn’t have to be yours.. and I think most of “us” here understand that.. I just want to make sure to let you know “it’s COOL kiddies… it’s COOL!”)

• BRAISED COCONUT PORK (aka in that-there Vietnamese lingo - “Thit kho”)

Maybe it’s ‘cuz I’m Vietnamese (I’d probably say it’s not JUST a maybe), but I love me some of this. You don’t know how LONG I’ve been asking the Kitchen Ninja to bring this back (so you see, she DOES make the decisions), and now we have it in all it’s PORKY and sliced HARD-BOILED EGG deliciousness.  Either way, I know some of ya’ll will agree with me on this (especially one by the name of JAMES who ordered this almost EVERY DAY when we first had it… WOW).

On top of that, we’ve brought in a special rice combo just for this dish:

• COCONUT RICE

Now, even though BOTH have coconut in the names, I assure you that BOTH do NOT have coconut flavors so they can actually compliment each other with each bite and juicy morsel in your mouth!

Alrighty, I think that’s enough for now. Have at it, and… PURDY PLEASE come back in and see us! ;)

Xoxo,

TEAM SK