Star Leaf

“I visited Star Lead on 5/14 for lunch. I have zero complaints about the food and service. I ordered two appetizers: the bakka salmon with Thai vinaigrette and the Saigon summer rice paper rolls. My favorite was the bakka salmon, I’d rate the salmon an 11/10 and the rolls a 8/10 - I would’ve loved a sweet dipping sauce for the rolls. My favorite dish was the Thai royal curry with lobster tail. This was my first time ever trying curry and I have a feeling that it set the bar very high. I really liked the royal crown fried rice - the texture of the fish roe was very enjoyable in my opinion. The lime steamed Chilean sea bass was also amazing - the sauce was very similar to the bakka salmon. The manager recommended I try the truffle wok seared noodles with beef - it was delicious and I especially loved the mushrooms in this dish. They also suggested I get the pink Mekong for dessert and I’m so glad that they did - the presentation was very fun and the fruits were tasty. I also had the Vietnamese coffee flan and it was everything I expected because I love coffee and flan. I had one drink, the lychee martini. As for the food portions, it was shareable/family-sized. I dined alone so I had plenty of leftovers which I enjoyed at home. The service was great - very attentive and timely. I felt welcomed here. I would absolutely visit again, maybe for a lunch with the girls or a date night.”

“Came here with friends and was SO impressed by the pork collar and royal fried rice (with fish roe)! The crispy fried shrimp cakes and the lime branzino were insanely good as well. Definitely recommend the tropical coconut panna cotta for dessert - it’s incredibly rich and creamy. The entire space is huge and great for large groups. The environment is super clean and elevated (pet friendly patio too)”

“Star Leaf is a beautiful spot in Pasadena with a modern, stylish vibe. The staff was attentive and friendly, and I really appreciated the attention to detail when they explained the different dishes and ingredients throughout the meal. The food here is excellent. My favorite dish was the Chilean sea bass — perfectly cooked, soft and tender, with a sauce that tied everything together. I also really enjoyed the curry soft-shell crab; the curry sauce was flavorful and rich without being too heavy. For drinks, the Thai tea with coconut ice cream was a standout — sweet, refreshing, and something I’d definitely order again. Overall, Star Leaf delivered on both quality and atmosphere. Between the beautiful interior, thoughtful service, and delicious food, I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience in Pasadena.”

“My four stars are entirely for the food. We picked carefully and the food arrived fast and in good portions. The soft shell crab royal Thai curry was amazing. The papaya salad was traditional and good. The duck salad was weird (arugula in Asian?) but tasty. Bread with the curry was strange. The chicken in banana leaf was genuinely good though I would’ve liked duck cooked that way. The beverage menu was average and some unavailable. The decor is tasteful, perhaps upscale for Asian. While food was good, the service was so meh. Our server was either overworked or distracted. He was distracted taking orders, explaining the menu items (go to the website and see pictures decide for yourself) and ultimately never checked in through the meal until it’s time to bring the check. It was a birthday dinner and I had noted it on the reservations. Forget that, the sever didn’t even bring a dessert menu. Thankfully we enjoyed the food in itself and decided to call it a night right after. We’ll celebrate the birthday dinner next year at a better place I’m sure.”

“Saw this restaurant on several social Media websites so we decided to give it a try. We went there on a Saturday afternoon, around 4ish, before the dinner crowd. Got in right away without any wait. The menu was very interesting. Dishes are the best varieties from Southeast Asia flavors. We ordered the yellow chicken curry with choices or breads or rice and salted egg crispy shrimp. The shrimp dish came with about 8-9 shrimp and that was it. So veggie or rice or anything comes with it. The yellow chicken curry was meh. Nothing too excited about. For the price that you pay for each dish, it’s not worth the money. The place is decorated tastefully and very relaxing atmosphere. They have a good size patio dining area as well.”