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

THE MENU: (2/20 - 2/24)

HOW+WHY: Our Story / LQ@SK

LQ @ SK / PARKING / CATERING / ARCHIVES

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

dineLA.. @dine_LA ..DINE LA!! (actually begins next week, Jan 23rd to Feb 3rd… but why not get excited now, right??)

(Pssssst- we WILL be serving this menu at Dinner too during dineLA, and please don’t be alarmed if you see dinner listed somewhere else online @ $28 since our food is not THAT expensive. Our Din-Dins dineLA menu will remain at $16+tax! ^_^)

So while you’re enjoying your Japanese Garlic Noodles, VIET MINCED BEEF-LICIOUSNESS & the now eternally served (aka FOREVER) CRISPY TOFU BALLS for a lil lunchie-munchies this week, why not consider SK’s 4th run at dineLA Restaurant week conveniently startin’ next week folks (with all sorts of seemingly clever verbosity and pretty pictures below ;D).

And if you don’t know, the way it works is:

1. Choose 1 Appetizer
2. Choose 1 Entree
3. Choose 1 Dessert 

Voila.. you gots a MEAL! (ok, enough jibba-jabba, onto more pictures “foo!” haha)

APPETIZERS!

• CITRUS SESAME SILKY TOFU

Have you ever yearned for that delectably delicate dish you just wanna share with someone special while listening to some smooooooth love songs (you know which station I’m talkin’ about y’all!), well look no further because this just might be that one for you. OH YES! It’s so silky smooth with a lil citrus zest “here,” a lil sesame leaf puree “there” to satiate your appetite before the possibility of “you making love.. outta nothing at all” (we’re just sayin’ ;D)

• SAVORY PORK WONTONS IN CHILI OIL-LICIOUSNESS 

A classically delicious Chinese dish w/ hand-wrapped wontons (oh yeah, we do that) filled w/ sake+sesame marinated ground pork in cute lil wonton morsels pleasantly swimming in a lightly sweet+spicy+f’ing SAVORY (but simply) delicious chili oil mixture. It’s a classic for a reason (i.e. it’s frickin’ GOOD.. and like wonton-CRACK!)

• VIETNAMESE EGGROLLS 

Unlike the (kinda crappy) cabbage eggrolls most of America has gotten used to from the “A,B, and/or C “variety of take-out Chinese across the US, Vietnamese Eggrolls pack a LOT of punch and FLAVA! Inside each lil roll we have: ground pork, ground shrimp, taro, carrots, vermicelli, cilantro, mushrooms and then marinated+seasoned. (now it sounds like an SNL commercial) Then it’s served w/ fresh BUTTER lettuce (thems the “good stuff”), mint & pickled carrots+daikon to wrap with, and the obligatory housemade Vietnamese fish/dipping sauce FTW (aka “for the win”)

ENTREES (O’LE!)

• BURMESE GALANGAL CHICKEN WINGS 

OK, it’s not an actual traditional Burmese dish (and let’s also forget that “technically” Burma is now Myanmar, but who cares ‘cause it’s still another home of Asian deliciousness!) The Kitchen Ninja decided to take the Burmese flavors she’s super in love with (galangal/young ginger, kaffir leaves, coco milk) and combine them into a flavor super power w/ her ultimate culinary love+obsession: CHICKEN WAAAAANGS! And whatchu get you ask: frickin’ “finger lickin” flavor. (which is all we really want from our food, right?? ^_^)

• THE VIETNAMESE MINCED BEEF-TACULAR (w/ the DINELA EXCLUSIVE FRIED EGG!)

You want flavor? We GOTS yo’ flavor right here in a minced Angus (yup, I said Angus) beef chuck smothered in all sorts of “secret” ingredients *cough* lemongrass, Thai chilis, Viet Nuoc Mam/fish sauce & curry *cough* topped w/ cucumbers, chopped mint, crispy ass fried shallots and then finally topped w/… BAM an ooze-licious FRIED EGG FTMFW (you know what’s up y’all!)

• BRAISED COCA COLA JACKFRUIT 

We take our favorite unusual, green & un-sweet exotic fruit and braise that mo’fo in a super savory combo of soy sauce, rice vinegar and Coca Cola to make a “meaty” Vegan dish unlike any other (and yes, it’s VEGAN+tasty!)

DESSERTSIES

• LYCHEE PANNA COTTA W/ SALTED PLUM SAUCE 

One of more well known Asian fruits out there enjoyed by all.. or at least most (but did you know eating 9 Lychees would meet an adult’s daily recommended Vitamin C requirement.. it’s on Wikipedia and it’s true we tell ya!) We take the strong sacchrine sweetness of the Lychee, make a nifty Panna Cotta w/ that sucka and then top it w/ a little salty-sweetness to CUT (“hiYA”) that powerful lychee for some tantalizing tastebud bliss (because all our tastebuds deserve tantalizing bliss from time-to-time ;D)

• COCONUT PANDAN PANNA COTTA W/ RUM BANANA JAM 

If coconuts could consumate their perfectly delicious relationship w/ the aromatic+green pandan leaf (definition below if you dunno what pandan is ^_^) while on holiday in let’s say…ITALY, we’d like to think THIS twist on the classic italian cream dessert could happen (with a lil bit of South-east Asian fruit on top for good measure too of course)… and now with (Meyer’s) RUM Banana Jam.. “HUZZAH!”

• PANDAN FLAN

Pandan is like the South East Asian version of vanilla, and we take the extract of the leaf to make our very own flan that we make creamier (i.e. less “egg-y”) and slightly more aromatic resulting in complete green deliciousness (that’s o’ so SMOOTH!)

And there you have it.  For the lone person that has actually read this far… HOORAY!  You get a gold star (or at least a breath mint if we have any left by the time you stop by).

See ya in soon.

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

DineLA, PANDAN CHICKEN and/or possibly even more important.. SPAM FRIED RIIIIICE!

While the rotation IS important, DineLA Restaurant Week starts (for us) TODAY and that is the exception to the rule (i.e. we’re gonna be keeping the same menu for the next two weeks.. BUT the CRISPY KIMCHI RICE is the next one to go… when it DOES go ^_^)

Btw, we got new drinksies (Honest Ade/Teas & the Collectors Coke Aluminum Bottles) too, but more on that later!

With that said, enough mumbo-jumbo! Here’s a (for the most part) pictoral representation of what kind of tastiness we have to offer for DineLA (that you should partake in ^_^):

(and if you want the FULL & REALLY LONG menu descriptions, you can click HERE and/or the DineLA pics above too ^_^)

Choice of APPETIZERS:

• PANDAN CHICKEN <-DineLA Menu ONLY

• SK MAC+CHEESE (+BACON!) <-DineLA/Din-Dins Menu ONLY

(One w/ the veggies)

(One w/ out but with a much CLOSER color to what the cheese is not, just in case you were judging based upon color ^_^)

• CRISPY KIMCHI RICE CAKES (aka Game Changer #1) <- For our Veggie and/or fans of this dish in general: you CAN have this AS an entree too. :D

Choice of ENTREES:

• SPICY KOREAN BLACK PORK BELLY <-DineLA Menu ONLY

• LEMONGRASS TOFU <-DineLA Menu ONLY

• BRAISED VIETNAMESE/VN BEEF (from “Bo Kho”/Beef Stew)

(until I take/find a “tastily sexier” picture, cause it is VERY good…)

Choice of DESSERTS:

• PANDAN FLAN

• YOUNG BANANA & TAPIOCA IN CARAMEL COCONUT MILK <-DineLA Menu ONLY

OOOops, I still don’t have any pictures of this dish (yet), so I guess you’ll just have to live with my tantalizing description! ^_^

This was our TEST KITCHEN dessert: very traditionally Asian, the name is almost verbatim of what you should expect. Delicious (also carmelized) young banana cooked and served in a rich & creamy mixture of caramel and mouth-watering coconut milk. uh huh huuuuh (I mean, if you like this kinda thing ^_^)

• DURIAN FLAN CHEESECAKE (aka “Stinkylicious”) <-DineLA Menu ONLY

(Look how it smiles at ya LOL)

(phew) That’s a LOT of food. And again, if you want descriptions ‘cause the pics are still not convincing enough (damn!), feel free to click HERE!

Happy Restaurant Deal Huntin’ y’all,

TEAM SK

No matter how big or small the print… @LosAngelesMag (-azine ..just in case you ain’t the twitter readin’ kind) listed us in the Best New Restaurants issue this month , and I would assume listed us as (Best New) “Downtown Lunch” from this picture above… but just the text, not the pic. That’s FORAGE which we still haven’t gone to (but I’ve heard nothing but AWESOME things), which is still.. SWEEEEET that someone even thought of us for that!!!

I can’t believe anyone still remembers us after almost a year of legitimate operation! LOL

…

But enough of that self-promotional BS… onto OTHER self-promotional BS…

We’re doing DineLA RESTAURANT WEEK (Jan 23rd - Feb 4th)… AGAIN! woo HOO

Our menu isn’t quite up on their website yet… but here’s the short version just in case you’re curious (and basically it’s Pre-Fixe and you pick one from each category, m’kay? m’kay!):

(pic courtesy of Mr. @KlubChen)

Appetizer:

• Pandan Chicken (Pictured ABOVE-one of our 9 courses from TEST KITCHEN, and probably the most universally loved)
• Crispy Kimchi Rice Cakes
• The normally Din-Dins ONLY: SK Mac + Cheese (+Bacon)

Entrees:

• Spicy Korean Black Pork Belly (btw, this is Restaurant Week ONLY - this will NOT be in the rotation that week.. I mean, I’m just sayin’ just in case you want some of dis!)
• Braised VN Beef (from “Bo Kho”/Beef Stew)
• Lemongrass Tofu (I think Restaurant Week ONLY too… I THINK!)

Desserts:

• Pandan Flan
• Young Banana & Tapioca in warm Caramel Coconut Milk
• Durian Flan Cheesecake

And there you have it.. you heard it hear first… all three or MAYBE even four of you reading the blog that is! LOL

So hopefully you come out for it (because that Pandan Chicken is almost worth it by itself… it’s pretty damn good), and we’ll see you soon.. maybe even today, if you are inclined and/or hungry, just for normal lunchie-munchies!

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

So MAYBE you didn’t see the @NYTimes article that included us.. so we thought MAYBE we would just go ahead and link it today if you didn’t. I mean, how SWEET is THIS! All the other places mentioned on here, pretty fancy-schmancy and then there’s… US! NICE! (and btw, it’s an honor… but enough of that mumbo-jumbo!)

And if you didn’t know… DIN DINS (aka “DINNER) is back on tonight & tomorrah (6-9.30p)! You can get some of these delectable morsels… and more!

Hopefully see ya tonight! And if you didn’t make it to TEST KITCHEN and haven’t seen any pics of that yet (why haven’t you?!?!).  Here are some “choice” pics! ^_^

Toodles,

TEAM SK

PS - and yes, I’m in a tuxedo AND banana suit. It’s what winners wear… right?!?!

HUZZAH! Dins Dins is back on tonight and tomorrow night (except no Din Dins this Saturday, m’kay!).

FYI- this pic above is NOT real… well, the little guy is, but the logo on him (or her) is not real… YET!  I just photoshop’ed it and had a little fun (one can dream, right? ^_^)

Aside from that tangential comment…

SO come back from the SK Mac+Cheese(+BACON!), Double-fried Sweet Ginger Chicken Wings and MAYBE even the Pandan Flan! (pretty please?)

And don’t forget, we’re not open this Saturday (and don’t forget we do validate if you get in before 7pm too!)

Okay, gotta go… but just thought I’d leave you w/ something related to the DANISH WAY TO ROCK video from a couple of posts back. It’s actually REALLY cute & interesting how this Japanese group is routing for Denmark at the World Cup… but it’s so DAMN CUTE!!!

Enjoy,

TEAM SK

PANDAN CHEESECAKE (and let’s try it for both lunch & Din-Dins since I made a decent amount if you want to try you some!)… that’s what that mysterious green stuff is above (at least the underbelly of it) and what GQ is eyeing in the corner of the picture (ahhh he’s a dastardly one that dog… he’ll eat almost anything!)

And that does unfortunately mean…

no DURIAN FLAN CHEESECAKE tonight (I forgot to bring home the durian last night.. DOH!!) Maybe Friday night.. but we’ll see about that.

And just in case you were bored and were wondering about how our popular response has been recently, here’s one response we got recently (and I promise I didn’t write this either… I PROMISE! ^_^)

Oh yeah, one last thing: last chance for LEMONGRASS TOFU awesome-tastic-vegan-riffic-ness tonight/tomorrow night for Din-Dins!

See ya!

TEAM SK

PS-“technically” the dessert should be called a Pandan Flan Cheesecake… BUT, that would be so confusing since we DO serve a PANDAN FLAN.. just in case you were still bored (how bored are you anyway?!?! LOL)

Din-Dins tonight+tomorrow night = LAST NIGHT(S) for NEBRASKA ANGUS JAPANESE MEATBALL CURRY (aka our geographically and ethnically confused [yet TASTY] fan fave ^_^)

Here’s another (but not entirely as purdy) picture just in case you’re considering a brief (or LONG) visit to SK tonightS or tomorrow nightS (6-9.30p w/ Validated parking until 9pm y’all… I mean, just in case you needed that reminder) to tantalize your tastebuds (in your MIND) so that you may want, crave and/or DEVOUR ya a lil smidgen of this tast-liciousness. It’s very comforting, I promise! :D

Other than that, I think I need to get the dinner menu represented up on this here blog a lil better (if not some other stuff too). Ach, I’ll get to that (meaning a redesign or something else fun) sometime in the future.. I think. Til then, here are pictures of food you can eatsies ONLY at Din-Dins (w/ the exception of the flan.. that’s always avail now!):

And there ya go… oh, you dunno what these pictures are, huh? (oh yeah, only 4-5 people read this! haha) WELL, starting from the top left:

1. DOUBLE-FRIED SWEET GINGER GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS (my personal fave appetizer… nom nom nom nom!!)
2. SK MAC+CHEESE(+BACON) <-which is on our DineLA Restaurant Week Menu!
3. Vietnamese Eggrolls (which is a pretty big fan fave actually.. I mean, I’m just saying that’s all ^_^)
4. and… PANDAN FLAN!! (aka dessert)

Alrighty, that’s about it.. and don’t forget we’re doing RESTAURANT WEEK too. Click the logo below if you want to read the menu in all it’s verbosity (no really, after reading the other menus… WOW, I write a lot! LOL)

(Psssst- we gots PORK BELLY on the menu :D)

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

“Hey little sister” did you know we serve Pandan Flan at lunchie-munchies now?!?! Ahhhhh YEAH!

(so was did that cheap segue from the Billy Idol video to the Pandan Flan work?!?!? :D)

Interesting and useless fact: when I was growing up (as a ethnically confused Vietnamese-American kid “Am I Vietnamese… Am I American… WAIT, I’m Vietnamese-American!), a lot of Vietnamese weddings I went to that had their own wedding band would almost ALWAYS play this song. WHY? I have NO idea, but who CARES ‘cause WHITE WEDDING is… AWESOME (oh yeah, “Wedding” is in the name, maybe THAT’S why they played this all the time LOL)

Well, it’s NEW WAVE WEDNESDAY, and this is what I have for ya today… and just remember, BILLY IDOL makes Pan-Asian Comfort food taste better. (it’s a proven fact.. proven by… ummm… hey, let’s watch that youtube video again!)

Alrighty, got to get an early start today ‘cause I gotta get to USC and spread the gospel of SK (i.e. give them FREE food so they might come to SK later… when they can afford it and/or are not spending their money on booze! ^_^)

Xoxo,

TEAM SK

Thursday = Din Dins = Pandan Flan!

(does it get any simpler than that?!?!)

If not, if you miss your beloved NOM NOM PORK (I know, you’re prolly tired of seeing that pic all the time now, right??? I still haven’t gotten a new camera yet!!!), well here’s your last chance at Din Dins this week. ^_^

Also, don’t forget it’s the last lunchie munchies week for (I’m just gonna do it via purdy pics):

and did I mention the fairly “garlicky”…

And on the topic of BALLS (what, do we need a segue for every video we have?!?!), I present this video that was lovingly shared to us by a new fan, Dante Snaidero

(I haven’t seen this clip in AGES… and oh how I adore it so now.  Have fun with our… BALLS! mwahahahahahah…AHAHAHAHAHA)

BIG Xoxo,

TEAM SK