NIGHT + MARKET // Kris + Sarah
NIGHT + MARKET is one of our favorite LA Thai spots. The food is bomb and chef owner Kris and his girlfriend Sarah make this spot extra special with their glowy vibes.
Kris Yenbamroong, the 33 year-old chef and owner of NIGHT + MARKET and his girlfriend Sarah, manager of the restaurants, are creating culinary magic with their wildly popular establishments. The restaurant is Kris' creation...born and raised in Los Angeles, he has no formal culinary training, but grew up in his family-owned restaurant, Talesai (which is also incredible!!) Kris attended New York University and graduated with a degree in film, but his heart and soul were in the world of food. So Kris created NIGHT + MARKET with the aim to make "the most delicious and authentic Thai food to facilitate drinking and fun-having amongst friends." With two spots, in LA, in Weho and Silverlake, NIGHT + MARKET is consistently packed and, rightfully so, is ranking up on tons of best restaurant lists and such. Kris himself was named Chef of the Year by Los Angeles Magazine, and has gained national recognition for his ridiculous skillz in the kitchen.
Kris met his now fiance and manager of his restaurants, Sarah St. Lifer, while living in NYC. When she isn’t running the two eateries, Sarah's busy penning stories for Cherry Bombe magazine, Angeleno, and many other lifestyle-based outlets. Once an editor at Huffington Post’s Style page, Refinery29, The Zoe Report, LA Times, and Elle Decor, Sarah's roots are in the fashion business. But drawn by her love of Kris, and of course his insanely delicious food, Sarah has become an integral part of NIGHT + MARKETS' incredible success. On any given evening you can find her hosting guests at either Night + Market Weho or Night + Market Song.
Now let's get to the eats-- NIGHT + MARKET delivers consistently delicious Thai street food. From perfectly fried chicken wings, to crispy rice salad, to an innovative take on a fried chicken sandwich, the food here is casually some of the best eats in LA. Our mouths are watering just writing this!! Wash the spicy, flavorful dishes down with a crisp, refreshing beer tower and you'll be in Thai heaven. Make sure to bring your appetite because there's nothing on the menu that isn't worth getting. We personally crave this food on the regular... so we'll probably see you in there :)
| NIGHT + MARKET NIGHT+MARKET Song 3322 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 NIGHT+MARKET Weho 9043 Sunset Blvd W Hollywood, CA 90069 @NtMRKT // www.nightmarketla.com |
HOW THEY GLOW QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: Kris Yenbamroong and Sarah St. Lifer
PROFESSION: Kris: Chef and owner of Night + Market restaurants. Sarah: Manager of Night + Market restaurants.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
Kris: Los Angeles and Bangkok. Sarah: Westfield, NJ.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? We live together in Mid-City. Near LACMA
WHEN YOU’RE EATING HEALTHY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL…
BREAKFAST: Kris: black coffee Sarah: our homemade kombucha with plain scrambled eggs and avocado slices (both from the Hollywood Famers’ Market)
LUNCH: Kris: Sugarfish (in general — healthy or not!) Sarah: coconut water and a protein bar
DINNER: Kris: Brown rice, salmon sashimi, blanched broccoli, avocado, tiny drizzle of good olive oil and a tiny pinch of Malton salt. Sarah: spinach salad with balsamic vinegar and a touch of olive oil. Whatever veggies are around the house (tomatoes from the backyard, peppers, carrots, garlic)
SNACK: Kris: never a snacker! Sarah: charcoal lemonade from Juice Served Here
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO EAT HEALTHY? Sarah: Syacmore Kitchen on La Brea is the best of a lot of worlds — it’s convenient when I’m running around town, it’s quick, and I usually grab one of their super bountiful salads. It’s hard for me to resist the salted babka roll though!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE? Kris: Queso.
WHERE ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO INDULGE? Kris: Bar Ama (see above)
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL ON EARTH? Kris: Omakase at Shunji.
WHAT IS THE BEST DISH YOU COOK/ YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE? Kris: Nam Khao Tod (our crispy rice salad). Probably my favorite dish and a lot of people who visit the restaurants would probably agree.
WHERE DO YOU GROCERY SHOP? Sarah: The Hollywood Farmers’ Market for produce (we’re so spoiled here in LA!). We also love going to Grand Central Market for meats at the Belcampo counter. We’ll also grab cheese from DTLA Cheese while we’re there. Wine takes up a ton of real estate in our kitchen — for that we go straight to Lou in Los Feliz or DomaineLA on Melrose.
TOP 3 ITEMS YOU ALWAYS HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN? Kris: Maldon salt, some type of chile, shrimp paste.
WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS REGIMEN? (how often & what you do) Sarah: My schedule allows for me to be pretty flexible with workouts — a lot of my colleagues go to the same gym every morning. Me, I like to switch it up. I jog in the neighborhood if I can’t swing a Pure Barre class or a hike. My all-time favorite hike is Bronson. It’s a pretty quick drive, and it’s quiet compared to some of the others. Obviously, the best hike here in LA is Malibu, but I sadly can’t swing that drive as often as I’d like!
WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? (products, facials, etc) Sarah: My side of the sink is littered with different products. Kris, meanwhile, is happy with a bar of Dove Soap, toothpaste, and hair gel. Every morning I wash my face with SJAL Balans Deep Pore Cleanser — it makes my skin feel clean, while still feeling super moisturized. [Side note: I bought this from Violet Grey in Beverly Hills. I went in there one day, and I unloaded all of my skin woes. They were able to pinpoint my problem (it was my face wash) and recommended this instead. Since that visit, I’ve been so happy with the way my face looks!]. Then, I use SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Then, Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate. Then, Eau Thermale Avene Antirougeurs Day Redness Relief Soothing Cream SPF 25 — SPF is so necessary in LA, and the lightweight formula masks any redness. Before bed I wash with Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser. This literally washes the day away. It also smells so good — the citrusy scent is calming before bed. Once per week I will use Fresh’s Black Tea Perfecting Mask. It’s so un-sexy, but I’ll use Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream on my cuticles before bed!
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MAKEUP/NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS? Sarah: I hardly wear makeup, but if I do it’s NARS “Rita” or “Vesuvio”. That’s it!
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 PRODUCTS WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU?
Sarah: 1. Number one would be a tie between Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and Aquaphor. Both are great for burns, cuts, and dry skin. 2. Diptyque Protective Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15. 3. Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme (Hair Oil)
WHAT PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY/HEALTH/FITNESS/SPIRITUAL GURUS DO YOU SWEAR BY? Sarah: I don’t really have a guru, but I listen to the women who know best. Kerry Diamond, for example, (my editor at Cherry Bombe Magazine and NY restaurant owner) worked as the Beauty Director at Harper’s Bazaar and did PR at Lancome before creating Cherry Bombe. When she recommend a product, I go out and buy it the next day.
TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS?
Kris: 1. Neil Young - On The Beach 2. War - Slippin’ into Darkness 3. Kanye West - Can’t Tell Me Nothing
Sarah: 1. Grateful Dead - Ripple 2. Bruce Springsteen — Thunder Road 3. Neil Young — heart of gold
MOST-WATCHED MOVIE? Kris: Godfather 1 & 2, tied.
MOST LIFE-CHANGING BOOK? Kris: Kinski Uncut
FAVORITE SHOPS/BOUTIQUES? Kris: www.mrporter.com
COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER VISITED? Kris: I just got back from Georgia (the former soviet state) and that blew my mind in every way.
FAVORITE HOTELS? Kris: Any hotel that provides a nice bathtub and bathrobe. The Metropolitan in Bangkok is pretty great. Plus, David Thompson’s restaurant is right downstairs.
WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? Kris: The best gifts are the ones that you would never think to get yourself, but that end up having a profound effect on your life or on your happiness.
MOST PROFOUND HEALING EXPERIENCE YOU’VE EVER HAD? Kris: For a while I would go hiking in Mammoth with my friend’s family every summer. I’m not a super outdoorsy or sports-oriented guy. I’m not into sitting around and looking at stuff. So these hikes were really intense for me. But every day when we came back to the condo, we’d take a dip in the hot top, drink a few whiskeys, open a nice bottle of wine and eat some good steaks, then pass out. That was the most restorative routine I’ve ever experienced. The same routine is definitely way less cool of an experience when not preceded by a full day of intense exertion.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY. Kris: Surfing in Hawaii. I just picked it up on my last trip. I figured ‘better late than never.’ Now I can’t wait to get back.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE BEAUTY TIP/SECRET? Kris: A few days off the bottle makes you less puffy.
FAVORITE QUOTE? Kris: “Ugliness is in a way superior to beauty because it lasts.” - Serge Gainsbourg
WHAT MAKES YOU GLOW? Kris: Being amongst my loved ones.
Photography by: Emily Knecht