Star Leaf
Restaurant · Downtown ·
Upscale Southeast Asian dishes and craft cocktails
Upscale Southeast Asian dishes and craft cocktails
"A dining spot described as full of mysteries by critics, with a notable criticism that its dishes lack the expected level of spice, leaving reviewers puzzled about its flavor profile choices." - Kayla Stewart
"In Pasadena, Starleaf earns a critical review from Los Angeles Times columnist Jenn Harris, who finds the restaurant’s sometimes confusing history reflected in the food: she questions the origins of dishes such as the “royal” Thai curry and ultimately says many flavors feel muted and muddled, with a failure to deliver the punch, spice, and funk typically associated with Southeast Asian cooking." - Matthew Kang
"DineLA is a great chance to try Pasadena’s Star Leaf with its $35 three-course lunch. The menu includes dishes like tom yum soup, Thai Royal Curry, pineapple fried rice, and coffee flan." - Rebecca Roland
"One of Pasadena’s most recent stunners is Star Leaf, an upscale Southeast Asian restaurant. The group behind the restaurant already operates 43 other locations throughout Asia, but this is the first in the U.S. On the food menu find Thai and Singaporean dishes, while the cocktail options include the Raffles Singapore Sling with gin, cherry heering, benedictine, pineapple, and lime juice, as well as a lychee martini." - Rebecca Roland, Mona Holmes, Eater Staff
"Southeast Asian chain Star Leaf has opened a colonial-inspired restaurant at the former Roy’s in Pasadena. The menu is mostly Thai but occasionally Vietnamese, with cocktails inspired by the grand hotels of Singapore and other former European colonies scattered across southern Asia. So far, the cooking seems to resonate with well-heeled Pasadena diners looking for an upscale dinner chock-full of aggressive Thai flavors and luxe ingredients. Consider the lobster-topped royal curry and the roe-topped fried rice with glazed pork collar as a lead-up appetizer. — Matthew Kang, lead editor" - Eater Staff