Modern, Dining at Santa Monica’s Interstellar

Where To EatAsian FoodWestsideSanta MonicaFoodFood and Drink

Apr 9

**Modern, Dining at Santa Monica’s Interstellar**

The Summary: Interstellar deserves to be on your hit list. With dark, gradient colors (we couldn’t agree on exactly what color the walls were) and classy stone tables, the restaurant’s sophisticated atmosphere appeals to the senses as much as its Korean-inspired dishes appeal to my taste buds. I can still remember how delicious, and cozy the food was as I type this (yum!). Now open during day time and on weekend evenings; perfect for daytime coffee, lunch, or dinner. It’s a hidden gem. Limited seating so reservations are highly recommended.

*Creamy mentaiko pasta with seaweed, shiso, and Parmesan*

During the day, their coffee program is headed up by one-half of the husband-wife,Angie and Daniel Kim team. Daniel has been in the coffee industry for over a decade (EaterLA), and sources beans from Onyx Coffe Labs in Arkansas. Apparently, Onyx’s co-owner Andrea Allen earned Best Barista in the USA in 2020 (and yes I’m impressed!) and many reviews praise Interstellar as the best coffee in Santa Monica! Food-wise, day menu options include everything from chilaquiles and waffles to equally impressive bulgogi burgers and Vietnamese-inspired lettuce wraps.

As soon as dinner service was offered, my food bestie and I were making dining plans for a much-needed after-work, catch-up sess. Sounds like the wife half of the team, Angie Kim, We arrived promptly for dinner service on a weekend evening, 5:30 PM. As other couples trickled in, it became clear, many people were on a date. My friend and I were surprised to find we were the only two girlfriends eating at the time (ha!). Things started picking up at 7 PM, but they appeared to be a busy little restaurant. Across the street from Ocean Ave, and the cliff-drop-off ocean views of Palisades Park.

Fun fact: Interstellar means a place between two stars. So they named it thus as they see themselves as between American and Korean culture. It’s a celebration of the melting pot of America. Pretty darn cool IMHO.

Mentaiko Pasta at Interstellar Santa Monica

The dinner menu includes a few highlight dishes including:

Creamy mentaiko pasta with seaweed, shiso, and Parmesan. The mentaiko sauce is made from pollock roe, which gives it a rich and creamy texture. The pasta is tossed with seaweed, shiso, and Parmesan cheese, which adds a bit of saltiness and umami to the dish.
Black truffle kimchi fried rice with pork loin and a fried egg. The kimchi is a Korean fermented cabbage dish that adds a bit of spice and acidity to the dish. The rice is fried with pork loin and a fried egg, which adds a bit of protein-y richness
Finally, the seared branzino in a shiitake-kombu dashi is more light and refreshing . The branzino is seared and served in the Japanese shiitake-kombu (seaweed) dashi [broth].

seared branzino in a shiitake-kombu dashi at Interstellar Santa Monica — *Seared branzino in a shiitake-kombu dashi*

And the atmosphere is just as cool as the food, with elegant interiors, and reflective lighting (that looks more out of 1960s space movie) that's perfect for hanging out with friends or for making a cool impression. Both my friend and I agreed, that we felt a little under-dressed for the venue! That’s a compliment. But being as it is beachy, Santa Monica, where casual is cool - we quickly moved on to more important matters (like the new job, and life updates).