This place kept coming up on our IG feeds, so we decided to come by. Made a reservation, and were seated at a huge booth table right away. Ordered some drinks (my partner and my cousin got special autumn drinks, I got a non alcoholic cocktail - also seasonal - they were all very good). We got the crying tiger salad with tofu, which was very nicely fried to a crispy outside and sliced. We then got the royal fried rice (with the seafood inside and roe on top) - this was SO good. Also got the short ribs, which was solid, but I might pass on these next time. And the veggie curry, which my partner said was a bit heavy on the tomato, but was delicious. They make their own green house sauce - kind of like a salsa verde, which has a huge kick. Marissa was our server and she was great! At the end of the meal, we got a dessert, and she gave us all free tote bags. We felt so special for a few minutes.....until we realized that the totes are offered to everyone. Womp womp. read more

Visited Star Leaf after seeing an Eater LA post about it. Before we get to the food, let's talk about the vibe. The restaurant is trendy and feels high end without being too stuffy. We had early dinner reservations on a Friday night and I could tell it was already getting busy. Everyone was so nice, from the hostess, servers to manager. Even though they recently opened, they seemed to have everything down. The food was great; a really great mix of south East Asian cuisine. We ordered the Siam Beach Club Egg Roll, Thai Royal Curry (with lobster tail) and Madame Noi's Pork Collar. All dishes were fantastic, my personal favorite was the curry though. Prices are a bit high, but considering this is supposed to be a higher end restaurant, not surprising. I'd definitely come back to try their other dishes. read more

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Most of the Thai restaurants in SoCal, if not the U.S., serve what is considered street food that one would typically find in traditional markets and at street vendors. So it was really nice to finally have an upscale Thai restaurant in Pasadena that reminds me of the nicer restaurants in Bangkok like Aksorn and Nahm. Star Leaf took over the space that used to be occupied by Roy's. It looked as if they spent a lot of time and money on the interior design yielding the ambiance of a restaurant one would find in Thailand in one of those European colonial buildings. A stark contrast to a place like Holy Basil. The menu is equally upscale. There is no pad Thai or pad see ew. The Thai ice tea came with a scoop of ice cream on top. A nice touch. The Royal Crown Fried Rice looked and tasted decadent with a layer of flying fish roes on top. The fish eggs popped as I chewed; very interesting texture. The Royal Crown curry with soft shell crab came with 2 large crispy crabs and the curry was thick and flavorful. The pork collar was tender and the lettuce wrap was fun to make. The food was on point and service attentive which made the entire experience quite pleasant even though they were technically still in soft opening stage. I expect they will become quite popular soon. read more

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This is a great new spot in Pasadena! I would highly recommend coming here for lunch because they have offer a lunch pre-fix menu which covers a lot of their popular entrees and appetizers at a great price! The service is great and our server knew we needed to finish within the hour so she was very attentive and made sure we got our food and our check in a timely manner. I really enjoyed the decor inside the restaurant. During the weekday, it was pretty busy and most of the tables were full, but we didn't have to wait too long to be seated. My favorite dishes were the Summer Rice Paper Rolls and the Royal Crown Fried Rice. I saw that they have happy hour too, will need to come back again for Happy Hour! read more

Apparently this place had a bad review from a friend of mine and in comparing experiences ours was not near hers. We came for a birthday dinner and immediately ordered drinks. We also got the shrimp skewers as an appetizer. It went great with our drinks. We also ordered the Chilean sea bass, the curry, and the house fried rice. The curry was perfectly spicy and it went well with the rice. The Chilean sea bass melted in your mouth. It was good eats. The service was good too. We were offered more drinks because of the wait time between foods but it did not seem to be off in timing but we took them anyway. The dessert was great too and on the house due to the birthday. The ambiance is retro style but present as well. It was a nice mix and gave pretty cool vibes. read more

One of the best dating spots in town, the fusion food here great taste and great vibes. Services are on point and quick. Their special ribeye is extremely juicy and delicious. Other than the food the vibe is insanely good and also the drinks are on point. Love every bit of this place. Highly recommend! read more

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Marissa our waiter was awesome The food phenomenal, everything was so good. From the crab curry, the whole fish to the deserts. And if you don't get a cocktail you're mad. All was wonderful. Thanks read more

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Just moved to Pasadena, and found my new favorite dining spot Food is divine, atmosphere is delightful and service is impeccable. Ask for Deja as your server; you won't regret it read more

Yummy! I will be back! Star Leaf hits all of the 3 B's for me: great for Birthdays, Business, & Bae Dates. Short ribs, banana leaf chicken, & truffle noodles, & mango sticky rice were musts. Everything else was solid. Outstanding service & awesome ambience. read more

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Star Leaf brings a lot to this side of Pasadena! Think elevated Asian like Bone Kettle but leans even more into South East Asian flavors. Flavors and portion sizes are very family style, shareable. The spice level on their menu is really quite mellow and it was more like a little bit of heat (1 chili pepper level). For two people, we ordered one starter, three entrées, and one dessert item and we were super stuffed - probably should've ordered one less. The Thai royal curry was delicious, the curry was very flavorful; we had the softshell crab add on, and the two softshell crabs that came in the curry were absolutely ginormous. It was about the size of your hand each, so that was a pleasant surprise. There is also a layer of mashed potatoes on the bottom that is deceivingly filling. It also comes with baguette, so don't make the same mistake as us and order another side of rice for the curry. Another thing that I loved was the Madam Noi Pork Collar for the lettuce cup:filling ratio that they give you... if that makes sense. There were enough whole piece lettuce cups and filling variety to go with the pork! I really dislike when restaurants don't provide enough filling to wraps/ vice versa I actually thought the Siam Beach Club Egg Roll recommended by our server as one of their most popular starter was not that great because the crispy bits all arrived pretty soggy except the corners. The fried skin portion on the body of the roll was pretty much just kind of a soft, wet wrap texture. It's still a relatively new restaurant so there were some weird timing issues with the kitchen and bar. Our drinks came out after an entree came out. And our first dish to the table was that entree, not our starter. Our two drinks also arrived with quite a bit of gap in between as we watched other tables receive their drinks... maybe forgotten? I think our starter actually arrived after two of our entrees arrived. Our server was really nice but between her and some of the other bussers, they were really on top of trying to take our plates away to clear the table despite still having food on those plates. In that sense it felt rushed even those it was a Thursday night and plenty of empty tables still available. Despite the kinks, food is still delicious and there are other dishes I'd like to try at another time. There are lots of tables inside, as well as outside and at the bar. The vibe is very tropical, super cute, vacation vibes. Parking can be found on the street or in the lots around Playhouse district. read more

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Wow! Came here with 17 people for my son's bday lunch today. The food and ambiance were incredible! The service was spot on and our server was so attentive. The food came out together at the same time. The cocktails were heavenly: peacock margaritas and Singapore sling are a must have. Hidden gem in Pasadena where Roy's Hawaiian restaurant used to be! The cappuccinos were also perfectly balanced. You will not be disappointed. read more

The dishes here are unique and the service is pretty great. The ambiance seems casual and the dining room is a little loud. For the price, the portions are huge! We had a lot of leftovers. The crab served here is spectacular! read more

Star Leaf - Shrimp cake skewers - Asian Fusion Near Me - Pasadena, California

Walked in to a stunning location with great service! The attention to detail was amazing, from the ceiling lights to the glasses down to the small hot towel before the meal was impressive. The ambiance was perfect for a meal setting. Our service was Cameron - he was impressive! And his hospitality made us easily feel at home! His suggestions were superb and did not disappoint. The hostesses were very friendly and the manager, I believe his name was Wichita? (already one glass of wine in) stopped by to make an intro. That was a nice touch point. Our send off was just as warm as our welcome. Looking forward to coming back again and try more of the menu items. Parking is street or the multiple public parking lots in the area. read more

Star Leaf - Asian Fusion Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We were a party of ten (10) for Xmas eve. Beautiful restaurant, mostly delicious food, and a great waiter. The only issue we had was the timing of serving the food. It was just too overwhelming & inconvenient as we had the equivalent of 20 mains plus appetizers/salad served almost at the same time. THIS IS FAMILY STYLE and we are a real family. So yes the table was completely covered (not to mention we had drinks too) and platters were being tossed around rapidly. Fastest sit down proper meal ever. For the high price point, the manager really should consider timing: for example, serve appetizers first, then salad, etc., etc. It was stressful to try eat all that food before it got cold. (Lastly, don't bother with the pineapple fried rice--no bueno. And if you order short ribs, the crispy short ribs are much better than the 12 hr short ribs.) read more

Delicious South East Asian food! I got the steak, crab pineapple fried rice, shrimp curry, caviar fried rice- salmon sashimi was killer. Old fashioned was perfect I'll be back for sure read more

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Must give Star Leaf a try if you are near Pasadena. The food tastes amazing and service was exceptional. We felt very welcomed and the resturant's deco felt like Royal Thai setting. Overall; I highly recommend this resturant and would like to come back to try other dishes such as the sea bass and lobster curry. Thanks Star Leaf and Cameron for your hospitality. read more

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I really wanted to enjoy my food here. However, everything is basically deep fried in order to cover up the lack of freshness in the ingredients. I ordered a soft shell crab curry: the soft shell crab ended up being stuffed crab and the curry was extremely bland. Way better places in San Gabriel Valley to get Asian Cuisine read more

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Overall the dining experience was great with creative cuisines and delectable taste in food. Our server, Lee is professional and congenial. He even told us a story about the Tom Yum Soup. Food: - Siam Beach Club Egg Roll 5 stars - Spicy Tom Yum 5 stars - Royal Crown Fried Rice 3.5 stars - Grilled Lamb Chops 4 stars - Ikan Bakar 4 stars It's a global chain that started in Shengzen, China and there are total 40 restaurants now! This is their first one in the USA. I like the interior decor and atmosphere, too. Another good place in Pasadena to hang out with friends. They also have lunch and happy hours (3-5 pm) from Monday to Friday! read more

Star Leaf is a great addition to Pasadena. Flavorful food and a lovely ambience, service by Lee was fast and efficient, only the table was a bit small for large plates. My favorite dish of the night was the fish Ikan Bakar, whole fish pan fried, tasty on its own but elevated with the green and red sauces. Tom yum soup was also good, I'm not usually a fan of sour soups but this was well balanced. Table side mixing of ingredients was a nice touch, with a nice little history of the soup. Fried rice with roe on top -- I'm inspired to put roe on my home cooked fried rice now! Lamb chop was well cooked, as was the shrimp egg rolls. Thai iced tea (free with yelp checkin!) was probably one of my favs, with perfect sweetness and coconut ice cream added to the top. read more

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Lychee martini was awesome! Highly recommend the salmon and braised ribs. Service is impeccable. Great dining experience

A beautiful interior matched by wonderful service and unique flavors. We tried several dishes and really loved the mango salad, sea bass, and the short rib. Nice bright flavors with some acidity. The captain's curry was just okay. Next time we will try some noodle and rice dishes. read more

1st Time Visit After Pisitive Reviews Increasing. The Restaurant Serves Very Good Quality Premium Dishes. Branch From China. Order Bakka Salmon In Thai Vinaigrette (Excellent) , Singaporean Chili w Lobster (Delicious) , Lime Steamed Chilean Sea Bass (Delicious) , Southeast Asian Ribeye (Excellent) , Royal Crown Fried Rice + Prawn Cracker (Complimentary). Great Service. read more

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Had a wonderful prefix Thanksgiving lunch at Starleaf for a party of 5. The interior is modern and sophisticated, would be a lovely place for a night out. The service was above and beyond as well, with the staff taking extra notice of our party size to make sure everyone had their fill. The food was delicious and carefully prepared. Highly recommend. read more

Starleaf is an absolute gem in the heart of Pasadena, offering what I firmly believe is the best Thai-style dining experience in the continental USA. From the moment you step inside, the warm ambiance and welcoming staff set the tone for an unforgettable meal. We will come back again read more

Star Leaf - Starleaf store front - Asian Fusion Near Me - Pasadena, California

I understand that it's Christmas, and service might be impacted due to staffing issues. However, during the two hours we were there, we only saw our server once. She never checked in to see if we needed anything, and we experienced long waits for both our food and the check. The dessert we ordered never arrived and had to be removed from the bill at the end. Most of the dishes were overly salty. The most disappointing was the Royal Crown Fried Rice--it looked amazing in the picture, which is why I ordered it, but what arrived was nothing like the photo. On the plus side, it was the only dish that wasn't too salty, though it still wasn't appetizing. This was our first time here, and unfortunately, it will also be our last. read more

Star Leaf - Royal crown fried rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Pasadena, California

I'll start by saying that I'm not a huge fan of Thai food because I don't eat spicy food however this place is special. I expected to eat pad thai and call it a night. instead, I had a wonderful culinary experience. let me start with the desert because it was so unique. We had pink mekong- the presentation, the taste, the ice cream, the ingredits (even real dragonfruit)- would go there just to eat this again. I also had the tropical panna cotta coconut bowl- loved it. The banyan tree ice cream- happiness. Now the food- we tried all of the appetizers- the ones that really stuck out to me were the tofu- melted in your mouth even though fried on the outside. The eggrolls were so good it disappeard. The tropical mango fish could have been someone's entire dinner. The chilean sea bass everyone loved, the pork collar wrapped in letus with the sauce and cucumber was delightful. The banana leaf chicken was well cooked, the asian ribeye was delicious. We all had a wonderful time. Parties of 6 are an automatic 20% service charge. This place has made me changed my mind- I like Thai food! read more

First, the decor in this restaurant is beautiful. It's definitely a place to go to if you want to impress someone or to bring a mother in law with high expectations or a date night. The food here is excellent. We went with two other couples and everyone enjoyed their food. The items are on the pricey side, so go after payday when you have a full bank account. It's worth it. The drinks are beautiful and delicious. We were told the chef is a Michelin star chef in Singapore and Hong Kong and the bartender trained a lot of the bartenders in Pasadena. Food is served family style, however, I will point out one thing... if there are dietary restrictions in your group, I would suggest telling your group you do not want to participate in family style. That you rather order your own entrees. If not, you will go home hungry. Our group of friends love seafood. My husband doesn't eat seafood. I am vegetarian. Although we ordered a ton of food, 4 other people got a portion of our chicken and vegetarian dishes. I tried ordering a double of the lettuce cups towards the end, but they ran out. At the end, my husband and I were still starving. We agreed we will go back, but not share our entrees :D or order double of whatever we order in advance, so everyone else has one to share. What we ordered: Spicy Thai som yum salad Lime Chilean sea bass Royal crown fried rice Seafood pineapple fried rice Truffle wok seared noodles Vegan beef lettuce cups Night market shichimi tofu Captains Banana leaf chicken And a bunch of drinks Parking in around the corner on Madison. My friends parked at a lot where I believe was validated, but they had trouble getting out after and had to wave down someone to help them. I parked also on Madison at a medical center parking lot and parking was $6 with very easy in and out. Overall, I enjoyed our visit and would come back for a special occasion. I did see they have happy hour so make sure you stop by for that. I did not see any vegetarian items on the happy hour menu, so you may have to call and ask to confirm if you are a vegetarian. read more

I came here without any anticipation the food portion is huge. I didn't like the bbq chicken as much as wanted to but I would come back the chicken sautéed was yummy. The salad was yummy too! The server was nice and tried to help me with the Indonesian style food I use to order. See my photos read more

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Starleaf is well put together and has a great atmosphere. We've gone before during dinner and lunch hours, definitely do a reservation ahead of time to guarantee a spot. The Royal Crown Fried rice had good flavors and the small crunches from the roe were a welcome texture. Their signature cocktails are also a hit. We didn't get any during our lunch but have enjoyed their Muay Tai Kick at a different meal and were blown away. read more

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Went to dinner last night with some friends and was pleasantly surprised! I've passed by this place for some time so I'm glad I finally got to try it! First, the vibe and aesthetic were fire, and the drinks were too goood! We sat in the bar area tucked away, and we loved that. My favorite dish of the night was the Thai prawn ceviche, addicting! I haven't always been a fan of soft shell crab things but I was tearing up their soft shell crab curry!! Our waitress and bartender were super cool and attentive, especially for a larger party! Great experience, will be back to try more things on their menu! read more

My husband picked this restaurant for my bday. Great choice. So many great choices in the menu. Elegant but simple. Tofu appetizer - crunchy on the outside but velvety on the inside. The batter they used bursts of flavor that you just want to keep on eating more. It's accompanied by cubes of watermelon and pineapple. So refreshing. Mango fish appetizer - so lightly breaded and flaky fish on the inside. We devoured that as well. Longanissa mussels - that was really delicious as well. I wouldn't have expected this combination but it worked. The broth is filled with the pork longanissa so it's very flavorful. Noi's pork - the pork was very tender. It's basically make your own lettuce wrap. Delicious as well. Flan for dessert. Light, creamy, and the candied sugar on top adds crunchiness. I just wish that the coffee flavor is intense. The atmosphere is very welcoming and elegant. Service is very attentive. We parked at the lot near Urth Cafe - a short work across the street. This place is where the Roy's restaurant used to be. read more

Quite an experience. I came with my bf for date night. Stepping into their space is like removing yourself from Pasadena. I was disappointed that my Nimm's Cup was very heavy with carrot juice - I wanted it to be lighter with the ginger beer. My bf's drinks were better. He started with the Kamata Club Blues which was very interesting and then the Hello from Hanoi which wasn't what he wanted it to be but was still tasty. For food, we got the * Night Market Shichimi Tofu - a unique dish with tender crusted tofu bites and watermelon and pineapple cubes. I just wished the fruit were more ripe. They didn't really taste like anything. * Thai Royal Curry with shrimp - wasn't as spicy as I wanted * Madame Noi's Pork Collar - very good! * Lime Steamed Chilean Sea Bass - surprisingly spicy and so tender! The standout. We finished with the slow-drip Vietnam coffee flan which was beautiful and tasty but didn't taste like coffee at all! read more

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I will say I been dying to try this place for awhile! I'm currently on lent so I wasn't able to eat the dish without some modifications . With that being said overall a great experience. Service was on point, beautiful restaurant inside and out. I ordered the vegan lettuce wraps and those were amazing ! The curry dishes were flavorful and but sweet but that's because of the coconut milk. The lunch menu was great for the price, not sure if the dinner menu is different. Of course the start of the show is the crab fried rice with the fish roe eggs on tops the crunchy delight was fabulous! Blue crab was done perfectly and the shrimp in the curry was great! I did get the maya curry the rice wasn't the greatest so advise to switch to white rice for that dish. I'll definitely be back once lent is over! They also validate parking if you park in the back lot behind them read more

This is one of our new favorite restaurants! The food is wonderful and the staff is friendly and helpful. When we went for dinner on a Sunday night, they had a magician that came by the table and did card tricks. It was a fun diversion! The cocktails are creative and tasty. But, the main show is the food! We've tried a variety of dishes and never been disappointed! My personal favs are the Royal Crown Fried Rice, Mango Fish, Lime Steamed Chilean Sea Bass and the Bakka salmon. The Fried Rice has large pieces of perfectly cooked shrimp and scallops and a generous layer of roe. The green sauce on the Sea Bass and Bakka Salmon is delicious! Can't get enough of it! read more

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Whoa! This is a must visit restaurant here in Pasadena. Food was amazing!! As well as presentable and definitely appetizing. Service was friendly and fun. There was even a Magician, VIN Chee that popped out of nowhere and did some fun entertainment. Ambiance was definitely popping good for friends family or date night! Will visit again ! read more

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Had the best time here with the girls--this spot totally delivered. The ambiance was perfect for a night out: warm lighting, not too loud, and just the right amount to keep it cozy. We started with the Saigon Summer Rice Paper Rolls (we added soft shell crab. It was light and fresh with a bit of a kick--so good. The Royal Crown Fried Rice came out next, and wow... the popping fish roe on top? Total game changer. Every bite had texture and flavor. Madame Noi's Pork Collar was packed with Thai spices--tender, juicy, and ridiculously flavorful. We couldn't stop picking at it. And the Banana Leaf Chicken might've been my favorite--crispy skin, super juicy meat, and just the right amount of char. Service was super attentive but never in-your-face. They noticed when we needed more water or plates without us having to ask. You can tell there's attention to detail here, not just in the food but in how they run the place. Honestly, everything felt thoughtfully done. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit read more

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Terrible service. The food is mid at best and way overpriced. Very bland and basic, nothing unique or outstanding for the price. Better off getting Thai takeaway from a local spot. read more

Good combo and pricing for their lunch specials but pretty pricey for dinner time. It's expensive Thai food more for presentation than quality for some of orders. Service is prompt and attentive. Ambiance could be super loud and hard to carry a conversation. read more

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We stumbled upon this Asian joint in Pasadena after walking around the art fair on Green Street. The decor as we walked in is upscale and classy. There's a lot to choose from the menu. We tried the Captain's Curry, Longanisa Mussels, Eggplant Steak and Royal Crown Fried Rice. I had the Thai Ice Tea with Coconut Ice Cream... it was good but I wish they served it in a bigger cup so there's more room for ice tea. All dishes were delicious and very flavorful! Would love to try the other items on the menu next time. The table next to us had the Tom Yum Soup served table side and recommended it! Service was quick and friendly. read more

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Omg...the Crying Tiger Steak salad is so delicious. The steak was marinated to perfection and it melted in my mouth. This place is more upscale and classy. Love all the decoration and excellent customer service. I will definitely be back to check out the rest of the menu read more

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