This dumpling spot is a gem in South Pasadena. Every time I'm in the area, it's a must-stop for me…read more The dumplings are consistently flavorful, fresh, and perfectly prepared -- you can truly taste the quality in every bite. The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between modern and cozy, with a clean, relaxing atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer. Service is equally impressive -- the staff is attentive, welcoming, and genuinely hospitable without being overbearing. Overall, a standout experience from start to finish. Highly recommend if you're craving top-tier dumplings in a comfortable, well-run setting. They are great for takeout as I did for this nice rainy evening.

I was in the area and found this place on Yelp. Turned out to be a good find. Parking looks like it…read morecould be a little rough at busy times, but we showed up a little after lunch and found street parking. We were seated right away. The place is clean and bright. No one was playing anything on their cell phone speakers, which is something that I will leave a restaurant for immediately now. I think restaurants should be mindful of the atmosphere for their guests. The menu was fairly broad, lots of choices of things that were vegetarian. But there was a real lack of dumplings, which the place is named for that didn't contain beef or pork. There was really only one chicken choice, and one veggie. We ordered the Dan Dan noodles which were really good, but the serving size was skimpy. We also ordered the chicken soup dumplings which were very good and the shrimp wontons also really good in a chili oil and soy sauce. The Szechuan spicy chicken was uninspired. Deep fried nuggets of chicken with some szechuan chili powder sprinkled on them. I wouldn't order it again. The scallion pancakes were also good, but were not served with any kind of sauce. Perhaps this is authentic, but I'm used to them having hoisin sauce on the side. Service was attentive and fast. Everything arrived quickly and was hot and well prepared. I would definitely return and try some new things.

I visited Star Leaf for lunch on 5/14 for the first time and I loved every bit of it. I started…read morewith a lychee martini and 2 appetizers: the bakka salmon in Thai vinaigrette ( I wish I ordered another one of these) and the Saigon summer rice paper rolls. Both were very refreshing, and I really loved the sauce on the bakka salmon in combination with the mint leaves. Since I'm a huge seafood lover, I ordered the Thai royal curry with lobster tail, lime steamed Chilean sea bass and the royal crown fried rice. This was my first time trying curry and I found it delicious, I'd love to visit Star Leaf again specifically for this dish. I really enjoyed the texture of the fish roe on top of the fried rice - I've never had something like this before. I also ordered the truffle wok seared noodles with beef (I liked the mushrooms in this dish). For dessert, I had the Vietnamese coffee flan and the pink mekong. I loved the presentation of the pink Mekong, and the various fruits were yummy. As for the atmosphere, it was very cozy and I took a lot of nice photos in the front of the restaurant by the pond. This restaurant would be perfect for a romantic date night or a lunch with the girls. The service was great - everything was very timely and detail-oriented. Everyone was kind and attentive, I felt very welcome.

Star Leaf came across my Resy search and ended up being a spot I try for my birthday. I went on a…read moreSaturday at around 2:00 pm as a walk-in. I was able to find metered parking on the street; not sure why but I didn't need to pay that day! Upon arriving, we were fortunate that there was no wait time and got seated right away. Their menu was quite extensive so we took some time to browse before we ordered. They had a main menu and also a special menu. We pointed out some allergies to the staff and he helped us work around it. The orders came out quickly and he checked in on us frequently to see if we were okay. Great service! Bakka Wild Salmon - This salmon had a lot of things going on for it, in a good way! The combination of flavors felt very refreshing, especially on a hot day. The lime and basil played a big part there. Crispy Short Rib with Lime - Even initially before coming here, this was the dish that caught our attention. I will admit the portion size was a bit smaller than I expected and was even skeptical when it came out. However, without a doubt, this was the highlight of the visit. As someone that loves savory foods, this really hit the spot. The burst of flavors settles in right away. Truffle Wok Seared Noodles - We wanted to pick this noodle dish as a balance to the protein dishes. It did its job but it tasted okay. Not something that stood out. Slow-Drip Vietnam Coffee Flan - I liked the caramel that was layered on the flan, it was crunchy and added a nice texture. It was a nice presentation but tasted okay. Thai Tea - This was my personal drink. It was a standard Thai tea but came with ice cream on top. It was not too sweet but didn't stand out compared to other items. Strawberry Pandan Lemonade - This was my girlfriend's drink. I had a small sip here but found it was refreshing and not too sweet. However, I didn't really get any pandan flavor, mainly strawberry. When it all comes together, it was a good experience. The interior of the story is more dimly lit and felt like a romantic night dinner, despite being the middle of the day. The dishes had a balance of standard and hidden gems. Everything was more than sufficient for two people to share. Service was great and very attentive. Will come back for the Crispy Short Ribs! American Express is accepted here.

Scrambled eggs are mixed throughout, adding a soft texture and a mild richness that complements the…read morerice. Green onions bring a bit of freshness, while soy sauce ties everything together with a savory, umami depth. What makes this dish shine is its simplicity--nothing is overpowering, yet every bite is balanced. It's often used as a side, but a well-made version can easily stand on its own.

I love the food here very delicious and great quality. The service here is nice and very well…read more Highly recommended to my family and friends very likely to visit again.

Tugged away in South Pasadena, a friend told me about Shiro a legacy contemporary French Japanese…read morerestaurant that's been serving delicious fine dining for over 40 years! The decor is very classy and elegant, soft lighting with background piano music but you can still have conversations. They have daily fixe menu specials for Thursdays as well as their regular menu. First timer so we had to try a variety of dishes to get a good feel of their cuisine. Wine and cocktail options: had the Shirotini which is a twist similar to a lemon drop. My friend had the pink crane which is bourbon based. Both cocktails were well balanced and tasty. Appetizers: Their famous ravioli: had very creamy sauce over 4 wobton skin ravioli with plump shrimp inside topped with shiitake mushrooms on top. It's a mini meal in itself! Also tried their grilled octopus, cooked perfectly with a nice crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. The main star was the fried catfish sitting in what tasted like a ponzu sauce and please is big enough to feed 4 people! Also had the scallops which were delicious but truly the catfish stole the show. *The main dishes come with a medley side dish of broccoli, carrots and scalloped potatoes. Dessert was the crepes with strawberries and glazed pecans for the filling. The wait staff was attentive but also the owners were there to check in with all the guests to ensure everything was top notch. Learned that the co-owners are best friends. The original owner/chef was Shiro and his niece is one of the co-owners while one of is staff became the other co-owner. What a unique story. Definitely happy to support a legacy business and hoping others will too from this review.

I didn't realize Shiro was still around. Boy did this bring me back down memory lane when I passed…read moreby during my week long stay in So Pas. I had to make a reso before we left So Cal and it was available for the next night. So happy we came bc WOW. I remember why I loved this quaint restaurant over 2 decades ago when we used to come for every special occasion. If memory serves me correctly, it's the same host. She was so hospitable and made us feel right at home. Our server was amazing. Gosh, I forgot his name. Tall skinny guy. Nightly specials. Truffle ravioli with spinach ricotta. Delicious. Had to share as it was a bit rich for a starter. Shaved truffles and blanched spinach. 5/5 Chilean Sea Bass 5/5 light and flaky Crème Brûlée with berries and bananas I didn't know I needed until I had the very first bite. Wow. So good and full of vanilla bean specs. Chocolate soufflé was more of flourless chocolate chocolate. Not too rich. Scoop of bold coffee ice cream. I just needed a tad more ice cream to finish the cake with. I didn't get it to try the crepe special since nephew ate most of it. Crispy wonton with poached pear. Raspberry sauce and orange custard was so unique and tasty 5/5 Both Hubs and Bro ordered the Mary's chicken and absolutely loved it. Well seasoned and garnished well. Filet was perfect cooked and seasoned even for an 8 yr old to finish on his own. DD ordered the salmon. It was so tender and fork soft. Her broccoli was so full of flavor and not overly creamy. I remember even saying out loud that this was a more decadent experience than TFL and Per Se without feeling so overstuffed and heavy feeling upon leaving. So glad I found Shiro again. Will definitely return again.

The food was amazingly delicious…read more Wife and I came to try the brunch as wife has been wanting to come. The appetizer we opted to get bone marrow. Let me tell you, this place has beautiful selection of bone marrows. The bone marrow was fatty, buttery, and melts in your mouth with the sliced baguette. I would recommend getting the rendang omelet. The rendang packed inside omelet crossed my mind as weird initially as I am more used to eating it with rice. But the flavor profile worked and loved every minute of it. Park in the raymond parking structure nearby, easy parking.

We were walking around Old Pasadena looking for a late lunch spot on Saturday after 1:30pm and…read morestumbled upon Kettle Bone. It seemed quite popular, so we decided to give it a try. ​To start, we ordered the Bali Chilaquiles (Asian-style nachos). They came out pretty quickly and were absolutely delicious! Highly recommend those if you go. ​Unfortunately, the rest of our experience completely went downhill. We also ordered the Passion Orange Guava French Toast, but it never arrived. While we were sitting there waiting, three different hosts came by to check if we were still waiting for something. After a long 30-minute wait, we just couldn't wait any longer and decided to cancel it. ​When we told our server to cancel the French toast and just bring us the check, he suddenly rushed out with the French toast immediately. It was obvious it had been sitting around because it wasn't fresh or hot. We asked for a to-go box, but the biggest shock came when we looked at the bill, they had already automatically included a 20% tip. ​Even though the nachos were amazing, the terrible service wait time and the automatic gratuity for a party of two left a really bad taste in my mouth. I won't be coming back.

5 Stars - A Hidden Culinary Gem in Alhambra! I brought some…read moreold friends to Sage Bistro in Alhambra once again, and we were treated to another incredibly satisfying feast. I am genuinely thrilled to have such an upscale, quiet, and relaxing restaurant right here in my neighborhood. You can truly taste the chef's passion and dedication in every dish. Every time I bring friends here, they are absolutely amazed and delighted by the flavors. We ordered quite a few dishes today. The highlight was the Chilean Sea Bass. The chef served a massive, beautifully thick cut--which is actually the hardest to execute. If overcooked even slightly, Chilean Sea Bass becomes dry and tough. But the timing here was absolutely perfect. It had a gorgeous, golden-brown exterior, while the inside remained incredibly moist, tender, and delightfully springy. The seasoning was spot-on and never overpowering; it wasn't too salty, perfectly preserving the natural, fresh flavors of the sea. We also had the Chicken Bowtie Pasta. I typically avoid chicken dishes at restaurants because they often turn out dry and lack the rich aroma you get from beef or lamb. However, Sage's chef elevates chicken to another level. Rather than using the traditional Cantonese technique of quickly flash-frying in oil (which yields a smooth texture but sacrifices the natural meat aroma), the chef here expertly pan-sears the chicken over extremely high heat for a short time. This creates a deliciously crisp exterior that locks in all the juices and rich flavor. Tossed with perfectly cooked bowtie pasta and cheese, the result is so flavorful and well-balanced that we simply couldn't stop eating! Another great thing about Sage is their incredibly generous portion sizes--we left completely satisfied! We finished our meal with a great cup of coffee and the chef's handmade Tiramisu, drawing a perfect, sweet close to our evening. Highly recommend!

Finally got to try this spot and it didn't disappoint. Excellent service and good food. We went on…read morea Sunday for lunch for a party of 3 and got seated right away. We ordered the following items: - deviled eggs - garlic bread - butternut squash soup - shrimp pesto pasta - spinach pasta with chicken. The food was really cooked well but a bit saucy for me. I would definitely come back.

After a long day of walking around, we decided to warm up at Noodle St. Being able to check-in with…read moreYelp was super helpful and gave us a good idea on wait time. Once we were seated, we were met with a friendly server who offered recommendations to our party depending on spice levels. I tried their beef fried rice and the portions were huge for the price! I had to get a braised egg and it made for such a great combo. I also tried their chili oil and loved how spicy it was. I wish there was a Noodle St. close to my city!

Great quick service. It was a chilly day so we wanted something soupy…read more You get options from appetizers, noodle soup, and rice dishes. There's an option to choose what type of noodle you want: round, flat, triangle, or knife cut. No matter the type, the noodles were very fresh, you can even see them making it through the large clear room in the back. I ordered the signature beef noodle with triangle noodles. The soup needed a tad bit more seasoning but it was good, especially the noodles. Temperature was perfect. Great quick place to drop by if you're shopping in Pasadena. I would probably come back and try the other items in the menu.

Not sure what is going on with Kue's. I noticed for a while that they've been closed. Stopped by…read moreand saw a note posted saying they'll be making some renovations, so only time will tell. We usually enjoy stopping by for the laid back vibe in the bar area and enjoy their happy hour drinks, small bites and friendly customer service from the bar staff. It was once again becoming a regular hang out spot like the old diner so I hope that don't stay closed for too long.

The food and service were great here! Parking wasn't a problem. They have their own parking lot…read more Restaurant looks great inside! The lights were low lit and it looked very classy inside. We got the House Chicken Salad, Mongolian Beef, Sauteed Choy Sum, and Golden Creamy Baked Shrimp. All of the dishes were great, but the House Chicken Salad was the standout. I recommend getting their House Chicken Salad if coming here. There were so many different textures going on with the vegetables, crunchy things in it, and the chicken. The sauce they used for the salad was soo good too.

When i want to eat healthy, this is where i go. This would probably be the healthiest food id eat…read morewillingly. Their brussel sprouts are soo good. I love the sauce they give. I will always get this and end up packing the rest to go for later. Poke with x2 salmon is always good. I decided to get the imitation crab instead of the spicy tuna this time. The eel bowl was really good as well if i want to eat rice. Parking is pretty easy. Theres always parking at the place witht he ramp. At least all the time ive been there were space

Delicious food and large portions. The space was bigger and nicer than I was imagining from the…read moreoutside. Tonkotsu Black ramen had a nice combo of flavors and ingredients (the crunchy kale and onion was a great addition). The Green Bean Tempura dish was good, larger than expected, and came with kabocha chips. The only aspect that wasn't great was the service was pretty inattentive, even though they weren't that busy. We had water glasses that remained empty and I had to ask for various things.

Yum! Everything was hearty and good! The chicken was super tender, the sauce on it was good, the…read moreeggs were perfection, and the hash brown was crispy! A bit of a wait on a Sunday afternoon but we walked to the farmers market down the street to kill some time. Yummy food just a bit in the pricier end

The kind of restaurant where a tiny plate comes out and everyone leans in and says "wtf is this?"…read more Tomato salad - This was good but it's a pitiful portion of like 5 spoonfuls. Steelhead tartar - Just ok, a tartar paste on a big thin cracker. Difficult to share. Pork Jowl - Did not like the sauce. The meat was kinda like a chasiu but just not very good. Easy to share. Chicken wings - This is the only thing that was well portioned as they give you 5 whole wings, but they are plain. The wings from Baccali are so much better. Grilled fish collar - Not bad but the mint didn't really go that well with it. Dan dan campanelle - Disappointing. Not good dandan flavor and it's a small bowl. Hainan Fish - WAY overpriced and it's just whatever. Why ruin something so simple and good? Duck drumstick on taro - WAY overpriced. One drumstick on a bed of taro mash with taro fries. It's cool the food is locally sourced and blah blah blah but it's hard to appreciate when it is not good. The price is 3x more than a real Chinese restaurant where you can get more skillfully cooked food, so value-wise it's quite poor and the reason for my low rating. Less then 10 minutes away you have access to some of the greatest Chinese food in America so why would you come here? Also the small restaurant is insanely loud and made for a poor atmosphere. Service was good.