B Star — Restaurant in San Francisco

B Star gets high marks for its friendly and attentive staff. They were incredibly accommodating when we requested to move our reservation to an earlier time, which was a huge plus. The restaurant itself offers two seating areas – a standard indoor space and a patio area in the back. The patio looked charming, but we opted for the warmer indoor space on this particular visit.

Their SF Restaurant Week menu was a delightful exploration of Pan-Asian flavors, with Burmese influences taking center stage. We tried a variety of dishes, with mixed results:

Laksa (traditional Burmese soup): This coconut curry broth-based soup was a flavorful adventure. The combination of rice noodles, grilled shrimp, crispy tofu, and fresh herbs offered a delightful mix of textures and tastes.

Burmese lamb curry platter: The lamb itself was beautifully tender, and the pickled mango added a nice tangy counterpoint. However, the overall curry flavor profile felt a bit muted. It could have benefited from a bolder, more complex spice blend.

Tea leaf salad: This classic Burmese salad was a textural and flavor explosion. The fermented tea leaves provide a unique savory base, while the nuts, fried garlic, and fresh vegetables add delightful contrasting textures. This was a definite highlight of the meal.

B Sprouts: The Brussels sprouts were delicious and cooked well but the crunchy bits (furikake) were too crunchy and after a few bites, we were just simply picking the brussel sprouts and getting rid of the furikake and the popped rice.

Rice pudding: As we were one of the first tables seated after opening, the lychee panna cotta wasn't ready yet. We could only opt for the rice pudding instead. While the rice pudding itself was creamy, it lacked any real standout flavor. We were also full by then.

Thai iced tea: The Thai iced tea was watered down and lacked the rich, bold flavors.

Overall, B Star has a lot of potential. The staff is fantastic, and the menu offers intriguing Pan-Asian options. However, the execution of some...

I've been wanting to dine here for a long time, and I'm glad my dad and I were seated quickly even though we didn't make reservations. The place was empty, but in my experience at other places, no reservations means dining at the bar, or putting names down on a list, even if the place was empty. I've even had a hostess at another restaurant give me a disappointed look, and recommended getting reservations for the next time even though the restaurant was completely empty.

Not at B Star. Excellent and welcoming service.

We ordered the B sprouts, basil tofu, shredded chicken jook nook, lychee iced tea, and the platha dessert with nutella and ice cream. If you've read the other reviews, you'll notice that many recommend the B sprouts, and I do too! It comes with crispy rice that gives the charred sprouts a really good texture. The basil tofu is good for two people, and I thought the level of spiciness was just right. I didn't try the jook nook, but my dad ate the whole thing without any complaints.

I also recommend getting the lychee iced tea. It's not too sweet, and went well to calm the spiciness of the basil tofu.

The dessert was so delicious and ended the meal well! It's platha bread stuffed with nutella, condensed milk, almonds, and coconut ice cream. My mouth is salivating right now as I'm typing this.. It's definitely big enough to share with another person, but I imagine I could devour it on my own. The platha was crispy, yet had soft layers. And you can't go wrong with nutella. I was afraid the condensed milk would make it too sweet, but it actually didn't.

The restaurant is small, so I do recommend getting reservations ahead of time if possible. My dad and I were there right before the 6pm dinner rush, so we were lucky to get a table.

I'm definitely coming back for...

Served raw pork and shrimp - Manager did not address it.

I contacted the company with this review to privately resolve, however I received no reply.

3/7/25 Tonight we had dinner at B star for someone's birthday. When we received the wontons, I noticed they were raw. Not just a little uncooked, but, without question, cold with pink/purple raw shrimp and pork in the middle. Two people in our party already consumed the food and prevented others from eating it. I called the attention of the server, who profusely apologized and took it off our bill. She was very kind.

Later, the manager, Angelo, came to drop off a dish at our table, did not mention the raw dish and walked away. After paying, we politely approached Angelo to ask if he was aware of the raw dish that was sent over. He said he was aware and he halfheartedly apologized. He admits he saw the raw dish, yet at no point in the dinner did he come over and directly address a serious food safety concern with the guests. I'm appalled by his apathetic reply. He only acknowledged the issue after we brought it up. He showed no sincerity apologizing for serving raw food to our group. It was clear from his tone that he felt inconvenienced that we chose to talk with him or bring up any concerns whatsoever.

I'm completely disappointed in how this situation was handled. I understand that mistakes happen, but as a manager, to not actively address raw dishes and food safety concerns is a real red flag. This makes me feel that management does not care about the food, safety or the experience.

I appreciate the other staff that was caring and doing their best, but I have serious reservations about patronizing this restaurant or recommending it to others given...