Chef
Kris Morningstar

Los Angeles

About Kris Morningstar

A native of Southern California, Kris Morningstar’s love affair with food began as a child watching his father cook meals for the family. By the time he was in high school in New Jersey, he was already wowing his family and friends with meals he created for holidays and large dinner parties.

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Accolades

Rising Star Chef
Gayot
Nominee for Rising Star Chef
James Beard Foundation

Two and a Half Stars (Ray's & Stark Bar)
Los Angeles Times
Two and a Half Stars (Blue Velvet)
Los Angeles Times
ChefsFeed Winner
One of the Best Things to Eat in LA

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Where I Go Out

Octopus carpaccio

K-ZO Restaurant

$$$, Japanese, Asian, Sushi, Sake Bar, Downtown

"K-ZO does awesome sushi. The octopus is perfect and simple. They serve it sashimi-style, then fry the tentacles and serve it with yuzu kosho (a spicy, citrusy, salty condiment). The monkfish liver is also great!"

Chef

Kris Morningstar

Al pastor tacos & El Chato

El Chato Taco Truck

$, Mexican, Food Truck, Tacos, Mid City

"The tacos from this truck—which parks Monday through Saturday evening at the corner of Olympic and La Brea—are spicy, caramelized, and lightly saucy. There is always a line, but it's the perfect food after a hard day in the kitchen."

Chef

Kris Morningstar

Green curry mussels

Jitlada Thai Restaurant

$$$, Indian, Thai, Little Armenia

"The flavor of these has inspired other dishes for me. There's a depth of flavor, heat and balance that makes you try to dissect the flavors and figure out why it's so amazing."

$$$, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Wine Bar, Italian, Happy Hour, Tapas, Beverly Grove

"It might be the perfect hangover food at breakfast, lunch or dinner. The brioche is slathered with butter then cooked on the deck of the wood oven. It's topped with gruyere, frisée, prosciutto and a sunny egg. The bitter greens balance out the richness."

Chef

Kris Morningstar