B Star

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 dishes fell short.

Very very slow service was the issue here. Went in for dining week. Very familiar and love Burma Superstar but have not been to the sister restaurant before last night. It took us 2.5 hours to do a salad entree and desert. And more specifically took us over 30 minutes to get desert after finishing our entree (we actually paid the check 15 min before desert was out). The food was OK and the wait staff was attentive at points but overall it was a pretty miserable experience.

Unique flavors

In a word, phenomenal. In two words, food heaven. We enjoyed the B Sprouts brussel sprouts, Tea Leaf Salad and the Salmon Ochazuke.

What a sweet find. Delicious food. The samusa soup was fantastic. All the dishes we ordered were yummie and flavorful. We would definitely return and recommend. Vegetarian options: Yes, and a very inticing menu with options. Wheelchair accessibility: There is a lower level and small ramp to the upper sitting area.

If you are craving Burmese food, which if you are unfamiliar is the best of Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisines, B-star is a reliable workhorse. This is part of the same chain as Burma Superstar in SF and East Bay, i.e. same menu. Tea leaf salad is the must-have go-to dish at any Burmese restaurant. And B-star does not disappoint. For vegetarians, you can skip the fish sauce if you let your server know. The salad is prepared fresh by your table and adding some lemon brings out the best of the green tea leaf paste and the crunchy accoutrements that compliment the lettuce, garlic and sesame seeds. Another classic is the palatha with dip, which is the equivalent of a fried roti with chicken (usually) or coconut curry in B-star's case. Or you can skip it for a samusa soup (Samosa soup) that's hearty, savory and can be a meal by itself. If you have any room left, there's a bunch of mains, from Tofu to Catfish (Mohinga - that's a specialty), with flavors reminiscent from the Thai or Chinese cuisines. Parking is always a challenge on clement street and you need to call your parking angel to find metered parking. Tip: Try their $25 lunch special M-F available until 2.30 pm that includes an appetizer, main and a drink. Best value.

Very slow

We loved B Star! Being the sister restaurant of Burma Superstar (which I love), I was super excited to try B Star's fusion menu for lunch. We ordered the Fresh Spring Rolls, Pumpkin Pork Ginger Stew, Salmon Donburi, Salmon Ochazuke and Thai Green Curry Pot Pie. Everyone loved their dishes which were super flavorful and tasty, and we all felt that it was a great value, given that their prices were very reasonable for lunch. I especially loved the Thai Green Curry Pot Pie, although I would also get an order of rice to go with, if I were to get it next time. I wasn't sure about how green curry would taste in a pot pie form, but it tasted like a delicious green curry that was a little thicker than normal, which paired nicely with the flaky and crispy puff pastry. I will definitely be back!