On October 27, Interstellar, the Santa Monica restaurant owned by husband-and-wife team Chef Angie and Daniel Kim, reopens with expanded breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, shochu-based cocktails, and an interior renovation by Noni Design House. Upon the restaurant’s original opening in April 2020, Interstellar became known for its daytime offerings, high-quality coffee program, and to-go service during the pandemic. Two-and-a-half years later, Angie and Daniel have expanded upon these offerings and reimagined the Santa Monica restaurant, creating the elevated dining experience they’ve always envisioned.
Guests can now enjoy dinner and cocktails in a moodier evening atmosphere, with interiors that feature darker textural green tones, gradient wallpaper reminiscent of the dusk sky, and beautiful green marble top and black oak finishes. The newly enclosed kitchen, which sits behind an arched glass wall and is framed by several lush pothos plants draping from pots above, is where Chef Angie Kim will be cooking up her signature global cuisine inspired by destinations that have influenced the husband-and-wife duo, both of Korean descent. Chef Angie blends Korean and American ingredients together with Japanese and Italian flavors to create new, innovative twists on classic comforting dishes.
Angelenos will be thrilled to know that Ginza Nishikawa, the Japanese bakery behind Los Angeles’ most sought-after shokupan, is providing their artisanal milk bread exclusively to Interstellar. The bread, which has garnered a cult-like following and sells out daily, is featured on the new lunch menu in the form of 4 Japanese style sandos including a BLTA ($22), Chicken Katsu ($23), Tuna ($26) and Fried Pork Loin (in limited quantities, $25)
Additional highlights from the new menus include:
- Lobster Roll, sambal, nuoc mam, cilantro, aioli, brioche ($18)
- Ganjang Gaeren, soy sauce marinated egg, Thai Chili, serrano, garlic, rice sesame seeds ($8)
- Tamago Natto Kake Gohan, truffle ponzu marinated egg yolk, Hokkaido natto, scallions, sesame oil, rice ($14)
- Acciuga Toast, French baguette, spicy tomato anchovies, burrata, basil ($14)
Returning favorites include:
- Chicken and Belgian Waffle, Japanese panko fried chicken breast ($23)
- Korean Bulgogi Burger, garlic soy sauce marinade, mozzarella, onion, aioli ($23)
- Breakfast Club Croissant, D.O.P Parmacotto ham, arugula and citrus honey vinaigrette, cheddar scrambled eggs ($24)
Interstellar’s beverage program, led by Daniel Kim, is comprised of their popular coffee and tea offerings with beans sourced from Onyx Coffee Lab, a sustainable coffee roaster that prides themselves on transparency and fair trade within the coffee industry. With the expanded dinner menu comes an expanded shochu-based cocktail list including creations such as the Earl Grey Highball with Earl Grey Infused syrup, lemon peel, Kinzo Shiro shochu ($13), Shochu Mule with lime juice, ginger ale, ichiko shochu ($13) and the Tamarind with tamarind, lime, sweet and sour, tajin and Chamisul soju ($12).
Interstellar is open for breakfast Monday – Wednesday and Sundays from 8a.m.-11a.m.; Lunch Thursday-Saturday 11a.m.-3p.m.; and Dinner Thursday-Saturday 5:30p.m.-10pm. Reservations can be made on Resy. For private event inquiries, email info@interstsellar.com. A renovation of the patio will be underway and unveiled in winter 2022/2023.
