Great service and great food. Loved the dumplings and hot fish. We also loved the Spicy Thai Beef.

Best restaurant in OC for Asian fusion, Thai... just delicious with fantastic service!!!

Rolled on in to check this place out upon getting a recommendation. Cool set up. Nice ambiance. My man Neil hooked me up with some delicious concoctions! When the place was closing he had some good suggestions of where to go next... he nailed the perfect place. Trust in Neil... That's my new motto. I wonder if he gives advice on other life things? What should I invest in Neil? Neil, which gal at the bar should I hit on? Does this shirt match? Diagnose my injury. I think people should be asking these questions... Lets put his advice to the test! Only other thing to note is that on. Thursday night I think the average age is like 75 years old. Maybe its younger on the weekends. read more

We went for restaurant week. Our reservation was confirmed the day before. We were promptly seated at a high top table next to the bar. The cocktails were 12 or 14 each so I passed, just got a glass of wine. I started with the salmon poki salad, hubby had the filet salad. Mine was just ok. The seaweed was good, but the dressing didn't add anything to the salad and the pieces of salmon were cut really big. Hubby felt the same about his filet salad. Second course I got the Korean galbi tacos. When they first came out they were cold. Our waiter insisted on taking them back to make new ones, and gave me some of the papaya salad to have until the tacos were ready. I thought that was really nice of him. My husband got the ribs - and hasn't stopped talking about them since! He thought they were AMAZING! We will definitely be back for more ribs. My chicken curry had just the right amount of spice, and the cocunut rice was really good too. I would order it again. Hubby got the beef pad thai. I had some leftovers and it was excellent. The beef was perfectly flavored and tender. We both got desserts that were not memorable. The pudding I had was actually gross- weird mouth feel. Overall an excellent meal and we will be back for the ribs, curry and pad thai. read more

This place is hidden in an old shopping center across from the Montage. You'd never know how great the ambiance is inside. The bartenders are some of the best at making the typical drinks like Lemon Drops and their own signature mixed drinks. The korean beef tacos are fantastic. You'd like them to be a little bigger, but if you take your time to really taste them, you'll be satisfied until your meal comes. The appetizer ribs are hit or miss depending on the day. I always get the ox tail soup, which is served pho style. The banana peel sea bass is one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. It includes a lemongrass sauce, but even the wild rice they serve with it is some of the best rice I've had in a restaurant. This place is a must-try. read more

Starfish is my Happy Place! The bartenders are wonderful, food options are very large for Opium Hour. Lots of clean, healthy choices. Guests are always fun to visit with. Owners are amazing!! read more

Amazing food & beverage, and love hospitality nights on Mondays! Always such quick and accurate service too.

I had such high hopes for this place but what a disappointment. The owner for some reason cut us off! I've never been so insulted! Which is a shame because we didn't get to try the whole menu and would have possibly gone back, but never again! My husband and I were there Saturday. We needed a night out with 2 young children at home, hired a sitter, got an Uber and made in there in time for happy hour. We had a reservation for 6:00 but we're seated at 5 when they said you can have happy hour at your table. So far, great! Then William, our server came over, another plus. I ordered the Lychee martini and my husband a beer. The martini was good but a bit too sweet. We also ordered the Calamari which William assured me was crispy. He was right, it was crispy and the aioli and cocktail sauce were yummy. Then we ordered the spicy tuna roll, nothing special but fresh. I then tried another cocktail, the West Side old fashion, it was so strong, which I usually like, but had to add a lot of club soda to it, my husband had another beer. Then happy hour was over and ordered the mint chicken roll, chicken satay, and the most popular, the lobster macadamia roll. I don't know why, but the lobster was not good and didn't taste a all fresh. The other chicken apps were just meh. Here's were it goes all wrong, some drunk old lady sits at our table, could barely stand and says she just needs to sit and wait for her sister to get out of the bathroom. She's was slurring her words then proceeds to drink my cocktail, after that I was like no thanks. William quickly rectified the situation and brought me a vanilla vodka and ginger ale, which you can never go wrong with because it tastes like cream soda, anyway, I digress. After that I had one more cocktail, so 5 in total, with food, when Gretchen the owner comes over and asks if she could get us an Uber. I thankfully declined, order another cocktail then we were told NO, we were cut off! Mind you it's now about 8:30 we've had quite a lot of food, yes they were apps, but we were full Didn't ask if we were driving, just came over and said no more. I told her we weren't being unruly or disrespectful or even acting drunk which she agreed with but said you still can't have any more alcohol. Then says she's not kicking us out, I can have chocolate cake. How is she not kicking us out by trying to order us an Uber. Anyway left in my own damn Uber and will never be back! read more

I have to say, the flavors in the food were better and more authentic years ago. We brought guests and tried some of the new menu items, steamed dumplings were very good. Sadly some of our favorites mushroom garlic noodles, calamari, and sunset sushi roll were not flavorful, missing seasonings or better yet lacking adequate seasoning and fresh bright flavors. We had the same sunset sushi roll two weeks prior and it was very good, definitely inconsistent preparation and diminished plate appeal on this occasion. Moo shu pork was average, Salt & Pepper Shrimp & Scallops were lovely. Curry Mussels were very good however we were not asked if we would like rice, ordered coconut rice which arrived much too late to the table to enjoy with mussels broth. The servers and support staff do a very nice job, we love your professional and helpful hostess team as well! Were wishing to really show Starfish off to our guests on this early evening, however there were too many cuisine misses to call the night a success. read more

Great flavors on every single dish, and we over ordered because so much sounded great. Standouts: Ribs and the fun cocktails, but everything we got was excellent and inventive. I'm definitely coming back. read more

Great, varied pan-asian menu, unique and tasty specialty cocktails, and friendly service. A bit pricy to be an every day option but good for a tasty treat. read more

Very nice staff. Clean and great food. Ambiance is amazing. We felt welcomed by everyone. We enjoyed our time and food. We definitely go back there. read more

Amazing atmosphere, great drink choices and food. If you go earlier, the happy hour is fantastic.

*Insider's tip: Located in a strip mall across the street from Montage Resort in Laguna Beach...you'd be surprised to learn the interior design of the space is quite stunning (see Avec nightclub HB)...don't judge peeps, I'd totally host a bday party here, rent the entire space, and never complain that there's not enough parking. Give it a couple of months and I'd say they there menu should be up to par with the best of Asian fusion spots in South PCH* Ma Po Tofu Lettuce Wraps: fresh shiitake mushrooms, tofu, roasted cashews, caramelized onions, garlic, glass noodles, crisp lettuce cups: Soggy noodles + soft tofu = flimsy rolls...A for effort, C for execution. I'd have opted for hard/baked tofu instead...this dish definitely called for a mix of textures instead of a mushy pile of soy on soy. Kobe Banh Mi Beef Sliders: Vietnamese seasoned kobe beef, sweet baked mini buns, pickled carrots, daikon, sriracha aioli, cilantro: Love the concept of this dish. If y'all have yet to taste authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi, you're totally missing out. Love that Starfish attempted the pickled veggies synonymous with Banh Mi O, the aioli is a pretty genius substitution for French mayo/butter...a solid A. The bf complained that the veggies weren't pickled enough, but I gave them a point for adding beansprouts to the mix. No one around here does that anymore! Slow Cooked 5 Spice Baby Back Ribs (half order): Dry rubbed star anise, cinnamon, pickled veggies, katsu dipping sauce: The bf's fave dish. Falls off the bone, tastes authentically Chinese, no need for extra sauce, jam packed full of flavor. No complaints here. Wok Fired Mussels: pei mussels, crushed lemongrass, spicy Thai basil coconut broth, bell peppers, roasted garlic, micro opal basil: Tastes better than it looks. If you like green Thai curry, you'll love this dish. Very authentic to the typical flavors you'd find in Thai dishes, save for the fact that it's a bit heavy for an appetizer. Instead order this dish with a side of brown rice, perfect for drenching your carbs in yummy curry sauce. I have a feeling Starfish is gonna blow up in the next coming months. They still have to perfect their menu, hopefully adding more variety and focus to the coastal Asian fusion concept. Less bells and whistles, more concentration on authentic flavoring should do the trick. Bon Appétit my beauties! read more

Incredible Asian food. Loved the tofu lettuce wraps more than the shrimp lettuce wraps. The chicken satay was amazing. The halibut was well cooked but could have been flavored better. Will try the sea bass next time. Loved the edamame starter. read more

"I'm totally buying what they're selling!!" Corny, i know... But this place is on a very short list of my favorite places to eat. Guess that is why we drive 90 mins to come eat here. Staff is super nice. The Manager/Host is super friendly and welcomes great conversation. You may remember him from the Real Housewives of OC when they came in to eat. Very attractive female staff as well. My favorite person though is the bartender, short, polite young man. Great craft cocktail ability, pours are spot on and really makes you feel welcome. We come in usually on Mondays as it also is Industry Night here. 50% off the bill. Totally awesome. Best thing on the menu: Spicy Udon. Warms you up and leaves you wanting more. Worst thing on the menu: The Pho is bad, like i'd take the pasta in prison over it. Other food: Calamari is good. Really enjoyed the Crab Rice. My g/f ALWAYS gets a side of the coconut rice, and it is pretty good to go with your meal. Spicy Tuna roll is my favorite of the sushi, but none of them are bad. The sliders and garlic noodles are my next items of interest to try. Overall, if you want to go somewhere with a wonderful staff, great food and the restaurant itself is gorgeous, come here. read more

If you want to know where locals Dine for great wholesome dishes? This is the place. Delicious meal , lots of varieties and all good. Friendly and fast service. Beautiful Decors. You can't go wrong with this choice. read more

I was surprised that the restaurant itself was pretty small. It is dimly lit, with mirrors on all the walls which made the place look bigger than it really was. I personally didn't like how the tables were set up, it was too close to the neighboring tables, and you can basically listen in on everyone else's conversations nearby. I came by during restaurant week, and they had two different dinner menus to choose from. I was able to try the following: Garlic Noodles- the noodles are okay, there wasn't anything that stood out to me, i thought it was a bit oily, and i like it with the thicker larger noodles compared to the thin ones Baby Back Ribs- the sauce was amazing, but i thought my ribs were a little burned on the top. it would of been perfect if it wasn't so charred Salmon Poke salad- the salmon was really fresh, and was so good with the spring mix and seaweed salad. Sea Bass- the sea bass with cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning and sauce. filet mignon salad- the filet mignon itself was really good, but when combined with the salad and dressing, it didn't taste like i expected. All in all, it was definitely worth going during restaurant week, but I'm not sure if I'd return again if there weren't any deals going on. Maybe it would be a good place to go for happy hour, since I did see some good choices on the menu for that, but the prices are still pretty steep for mixed drinks. read more

AMAZING! Everything on the menu sounded delish! We started with the shrimp spring rolls, had the best cucumber salad, The korean filet mignon tacos, the mussels with coconut rice and the lava cake. My favorite was the tacos, but everything was terrific including the decor. I am going back for round 2 tonight! Highly recommend this spot. read more

Great experience! Fantastic decor, food and service. We knew Friday night would be a busy one so we planned to hit this place for an early dinner/ late lunch. We walked into Opium Hour, their version of Happy Hour. What a menu. He had planned for dinner but so much here to choose from we stayed with the happy hour menu for the most part. Lobster tail tacos, the veggie Saigon roll. California crab roll, cucumber salad from the main menu and chicken lettuce wraps. All really good. Our server was Chris and he took great care of us. Great servers seem to be a given here as everyone from the bartender to the bus servers were on the ball and very friendly. We even left some room for dessert, the phyllo baked banana with caramel sauce, ice cream and berries was so good! And fresh sorbets; pink guava and mango. What a great find! Can't wait to visit again! read more

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Everything looked great but some of the happy hour apps were kinda bland. Liked the restaurant overall. Just possibly didn't order the best stuff read more

Coming in on a Thursday night for happy hour. Waited 5 minutes at the front. No sign, no hostess. Walked in and seated ourselves. Drinks were great, fresh and creative. Service was painfully slow and food marginal and took much too long. Not worth even the happy hour prices. I will not be going back. read more

Kristy made us stay...she is the best bartender we've met in a long time! THANK YOU for your spectacular hospitality read more

Starfish - love this pic - Asian Fusion Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Took wifey out for date night. I wish they had more stars to give to this restaurant. We were treated like royalty. I called 20min earlier to see if there is a wait. Kaylee said there is a wait but took my name down. We arrived and she had a special table waiting for us. Then came Alexis our waitress. The best waitress we have ever had. She made great recommendations and served us with perfection. The food was over the top. She even offered us free desert this being our first visit. We were so full she said no problem I won't charge you for an appetizer. This is definitely my go to restaurant. read more

This my favorite place in Laguna beach. It is a little bit pricey, but the food is super tasty, the staff is incredibly friendly and the whiskey blossom is amazing. read more

Everything I have tried here has blown me away. So tasty, aesthetically pleasing and service always top notch. Really good! One of my favorite places to eat. read more

I like going here for their Opium Hour (everyday 3-6) and sitting in their covered outdoor area, which is heated. My favorites to order are the cantaloupe martini, chicken lettuce wraps, and wok fired mussels. Service is typically friendly and attentive. When bartender Neil's working, we like to sit at the bar and chat with him - he's wonderful. read more

Great service, ambience and the asian fusion food was pretty tasty! We ate everything and our waitress was super nice and compt my friend her bday brownie and ice cream! Thank you! read more

I love starfish! Especially special are the spring rolls, lobster and chicken, are both delicious. I also like what they do with baby back ribs and the curry chicken and everything else I've tried there. It's not gonna be the same old same old that you might be used to. It's gonna be a wow! pizzazz! and a surprise With every delectable bite! read more

came here for my husbands birthday lunch, our waitress was so friendly i wish i could remember her name, it was our first time and she knew exactly what to recommend. food was delicious will be coming back. read more

Just left for happy hour and my husband and I loved it! Food flavors so tasty and bold. We ordered a variety of stuff from mussels, filet satay, pork buns, crispy egg rolls, to Korean tacos! Amazing all to wah them down with fabulous drinks. We sat at the bar and our bartender was super attentive and on spot. Prices on the regular menu seem expensive but their happy hour prices were a deal esp for quality and quantity. And must get their banana in philo dough!!! We will definitely be back. read more

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My wife and I celebrated her Birthday at the Montage Hotel In Laguna Beach for the weekend. Mario took care of us on Saturday Night. He ask us was this are fist time there. As it was he took his time went over menu with us. we started with Two of the martinis on there drink menu. we had two appetizers, two main dishes. finished with the deconstructed cheesecake. being in the hospitality industry for over Forty years, also Being owner operator of my stores. this place is Fantastic! Thank you for you Great operation . Brian G of New York Bagel and Deli. read more

One of my favorite restaurants on the O.C. Sexy, great music, fabulous happy hour 7 days a week , great prices! Really good food! The wait staff is some of the sexiest nice Peeps around ! I'm never disappointed! read more

Awesome people and service. Best ever. Food is out of this world. Probably the most underrated restaurant in OC

Starfish is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Orange County! Delicious and inventive food, great cocktails and their outdoor patio area is perfect for a birthday lunch or just the two of you. The Chilean Sea Bass with Thai Green Curry is incredible! The sushi rolls are terrific and the service is always top notch! read more

Amazing food! (Even for vegetarians) and amazing service. Love coming here. They have an amazing happy hour.

What a great find off the PCH in south Laguna Beach near the Montage. The food was fantastic, the service by Margarita was phenomenal (no, it was off the chart) and the desert Martini was NOT made by Neal but rather by Bryn. I've heard that Neal made the Starfish desert martini famous (ya da, ya da), but Bryn's version was EXCELLENT (sorry Neal). We ordered Edamame, Chicken Pot stickers, Lobster Macadamia Nut Roll and the Chilean Sea Bass and we left as very happy patrons. Can't wait for our next visit. read more

Enjoyed a nice evening here! Couldn't have had better service from our waiter William! He was an absolute pleasure to have and made our night even more enjoyable. Great personality and the most amazing service from him! Thank you! As well as the amazing food our party shared, I couldn't say better things! William had recommended the crab wontons which we ordered and I HIGHLY recommended everyone to try the if you visit here. One of my favorite dishes of the night! read more

An update...the owner Gretchen contacted me and was so apologetic and comped our meal...as a result we will definitely go back and give them another try... read more

I don't understand why more folks don't dine at Starfish. Today was my first lunch experience here (lunch served from Wednesdays on). The service was stellar, ambiance unbelievable and quality of the food superb! When in the mood for authentic Asian cuisine most often I drive to Little Saigon or Diamond Jamboree Plaza in Irvine. I'm glad great Asian fusion is a hop, skip and a jump from my front door. The tofu lettuce wrap - delicious. Fresh, crisp bibb lettuce is served with a huge portion of tofu, cashews and crispy noodles in a sweet Asian sauce. Ahi poke - the presentation is fit for a king. A layered tower of taro chips, micro greens and fresh corn kernels was subtle in flavor but left my palate satisfied. Kambucha cheesecake is rich, dense and sweet with a sprinkle of candied nuts and a handful of fresh raspberries. I enjoyed 3 courses (which I could have easily shared!), a Starfish Cooler herbacious cocktail and my meal was very reasonable. Happy hour offers $5 appetizers too! Cheers!! read more