A Refined Southeast Asian Restaurant in Pasadena, LA 🌿🍽️

Visited Star Leaf again—this Southeast Asian gem is truly one of the most beautifully designed restaurants in the area! Perfect for dates or catching up with friends 🧑🤝🧑👭. The teakwood tones, lush tropical plants, warm gold lighting, and woven rattan furniture create a vibe that’s both retro and modern ✨. Plus, the front staff and some servers can communicate in Chinese—so convenient! (And maybe it’s because the chefs are Chinese that the food tastes so amazing 😆) 🦞 What We Ordered: 1️⃣ Saigon Summer Rice Paper Rolls (Vegetables) | $20 Vietnamese rice paper rolls filled with carrots, cucumber, crispy soft-shell crab bits, and a spicy green mango dipping sauce. The rice paper is soft yet chewy, the veggies are fresh and crunchy, and the mango adds a perfect tang! Comes with eight pieces—great for sharing! 2️⃣ Truffle Wok Seared Noodles | $19 This stir-fried noodle dish was a delicious surprise! It’s like a gourmet version of classic convenience store noodles 😆, served with little Brussels sprouts. So flavorful—I could finish a whole portion myself! 👌 3️⃣ Thai Royal Lobster Curry | $53 Generous portion! The lobster was springy and coated in a rich, aromatic curry sauce with eggplant. Not overly heavy—we even took the leftover curry sauce home and enjoyed it with noodles the next day! 🍛🔥 4️⃣ Spicy Malacca Sambal | $16 A classic Southeast Asian stir-fried long bean dish with serious wok hei (breath of the wok)! Spicy, savory, and packed with flavor—a must-try veggie option! 💵 Total for two: ~$140 #DinnerTonight #HiddenGem #ExoticCuisine #RestaurantRecommendation #LAEats #LosAngeles #SoutheastAsianFood #Pasadena #PasadenaEats #DateNight #FoodieShare #UpscaleDining #AsianFusion #TropicalVibes #LALifestyle