Pamela Rouse [Flickr]

"Spicy Korean Black Pork Belly" is a new menu item at Starry Kitchen this week.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When Nguyen and Thi Tran began a new "legal" phase of Starry Kitchen in February earlier this year, dinner was a far off consideration. "Every morning I'm scared no one's going to show up," Nguyen said. It's that little bit of fear that keeps him working hard every day.

Those work hours expand this week as Starry Kitchen adds its first evening service. The casual eatery will be open from 6 to 9pm on Thursday and Friday nights, and the Trans hope to add Saturday hours for Grand Performances concerts this summer.

"We're still new at this," Nguyen reminded blogdowntown, saying that they want to "keep things manageable."

At the start, dinner will feature the eatery's lunch items plus one featured addition. "We'll have at least two items from the lunch menu and at least one item not served at lunch," Nguyen explained. What will that item be? As of Monday, Nguyen said that even "Team Starry Kitchen" didn't know.

Nguyen hopes the dinner hours will open the eatery up to a new audience. "A lot of people can't come to lunch," he said. Those working elsewhere during the day now get the chance to try out Starry Kitchen's much lauded Asian-Fusion casual style, with items like the "Free-range Lemon Grass Chicken", "Crispy Tofu Balls" or the totally new (as in never served even in their secret kitchen days) "Spicy Korean Black Pork Belly." Menu options are rotated out every two or three weeks.

Dinner entertainment is also on tap. For Thursday, Nguyen said he's bringing in a retired chef from France who also plays the harmonica.

Starry Kitchen / 350 S. Grand Ave / 213-617-3474 / facebook.com/starrykitchen / @starrykitchen / Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11am - 3pm / Dinner: Thurs and Friday 6-9pm / Two hours validated parking available (arrive before 7pm)