First time here. Food: We were excited to try some Somali/African cuisine. For beverages, we ordered the chai tea and the mango smoothie. I was expecting a plain chai tea, but what I received was actually a chai latte. What a wonderful surprise! It wasn't the type of chai latte I might expect from a local coffee shop, but it was better than many I've had. We started with a couple of veggie sambusas. They were excellent. Hot, crisp, and fresh, with a generous filling and served with a side of mint chutney. Together, they made a fantastic flavor combination. We also ordered hummus and pita bread. Both were fresh, tasty, and well presented. The final part of our meal was the Goat Platter. It arrived hot and fresh, with generous portions. The goat meat was delicious and tender. The serving was large enough that I took half home, and it will make great leftovers. Service: The gentleman at the counter was friendly and efficient. He was very attentive, bringing each item to our table. He seemed genuinely proud of the food, its presentation, and our reaction to it. There was also a woman in the back, whom I believe was doing most of the cooking, and I had a chance to thank her as well. Atmosphere: The restaurant is small and unassuming. It was clean and well lit, thanks to the large front windows. It appears that most of their business is takeout, but there are several tables available for dining in. We were the only people eating there during our visit, so it was very quiet. Overall: We were super impressed with this little spot serving excellent Somali/African food. The quality of the food, the warm service, and the generous portions made for a wonderful first experience. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Sensational food, their goat mendi is in a different level. Spices are perfect combination! The beef soup is a must read more

Never thought I'd find good Somalian food in Milwaukee or at all. The goat was cooked perfectly and was still moist. I've been to other Somalian spots where they cook the lamb so long that it's tender, but stringy and dry. Not this place - it still had it's succulence. The seasonings were on point. Both the chicken and beef sambusas were tasty - but in my opinion lacked the punch compared to other sambusas I've had. The chicken one was especially bland, but the sauce saved it. The chicken one was dry and had a shredded texture. I suggest making small dices to the chicken and mixing it the slightest amount of gravy to keep the chicken moist before folding it in the pastry. The service was really friendly. Everyone needs to go here now! I'll definitely be back read more

Blue Star Cafe - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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A small hole-in-the-wall spot that offers fantastic food. I got a beef sambusa and a tender goat platter with pasta. The beef sambusa was delicious. The crisp, hot, flaky pastry surrounded a flavorful, nicely spiced beef and veggie filling. My friend and I could have eaten 12 sambusas between the two of us; they were that tasty. The tender goat platter was also great. It came with a generous portion of angel hair pasta covered in tomato sauce, which was decent and filling but nothing to write home about. The platter also came with some veggies. I especially enjoyed the potato chunks, which were soft and had a pleasing melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture. The tender goat - delicious and definitely something to write home about. It more than lived up to its name and was even better when dipped into that spicy green sauce. The food was served on paper plates along with plastic silverware, which added to the hole in the wall vibes. But the place was clean and the staff was friendly. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Tender goat platter - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ordered the salmon platter with basmati rice, friends ordered the tilapia sandwiches and chicken platter with vegetables. Food was delicious, well seasoned, and fresh. The watermelon juice was amazing and refreshing. The restaurant was packed on a Saturday evening, and we had a bit of a wait for the food but totally worth it. The green sauce was good and the spice was well balanced by the yogurt side that is included. Great prices and decent sized portions. read more

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I moved to a different city over 3 years ago and I still think about how much I miss Blue Star Cafe all the time. Best food in mke. So fresh, so authentic, so delicious. I could eat it every day. read more

New favorite east side spot. Always on my list and was hesitant as I've never had Somali food but it was excellent. Service was excellent- ambiance is perfect. My favorite spots are like this, hole in the wall gem. The steak sandwich is awesome- plates are great. Can't wait to come back. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Steak sandwich. - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I love this place! The Somali steak sandwich is phenomenal! I highly recommend it-steak is great, bread is so good, try it with or without the green sauce (which I could bathe in)! The cashier is always kind and makes me smile. I just found out they have parking if you enter in the lot right before H&R Block and go to the back! The actual restaurant is humble with cute decor. Definitely give this place a try! read more

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Again, I love coming here. I had the chicken platter after work and it was so cozy. I also ordered their chai for the first time and it was soooo warming to drink. It was perfectly sweet as well. Everytime I come here I love how neighborly the environment is, it is never stuck up nor fake, they serve you as you are and I love it. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Chicken platter, Sambusa, steak platter - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Spartan appearance, but the food alone is worth the visit. Delectable spice combinations make for authentic taste. Recommend

The food was fantastic. Delicious hollandaise sauce! Service was also great. We went on a Sunday morning and it wasn't terribly busy.

Absolutely delicious! I had the chicken suqaar sandwich with a veggie Sambusa, mango smoothie, and baklava. I can't decide which one was more delicious. The service is wonderful and the proportions are perfect. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

If I could give this place six stars, I would (and I've never said that in a review before)! Everything was absolutely delicious, the service was great, and the atmosphere struck the perfect balance of casual and fitting for the location. Plus, they have menu options you can't find just anywhere in Milwaukee. I knew I wanted to try a sambusa, so I went for the beef one, and it did not disappoint. The peas inside added a great texture, the outside was perfectly crispy, and I'm obsessed with the green sauce they pair it with. Based on the counter staff's recommendation, I also tried the Somali-style steak sandwich. It's like he read my mind--I loved it. The chopped steak was tender and packed with flavor, and the bread--wow! So soft and delicious. I also tried Vimto soda for the first time! My friend thought the chicken Suqaar sandwich was a must-order too. To top it all off, the owner checked in on us and was so friendly and kind. It made the experience feel extra personal and welcoming. Plus, the prices were incredibly reasonable. This is definitely a hidden gem I want to keep to myself but also share with everyone, because no one should miss out on this bite! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Somali-style steak sandwich - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Top 3 places in the the Milwuakee area EASY. I got the steak sandwich and it was life changing! So good and juicy and fresh! The staff was all super kind and it was very welcoming! DONT SLEEP ON BLUE STAR CAFE absolute must try! read more

If you're looking for an "African restaurant," I feel like maybe you should realize that not only is Africa a vast continent, it has some remarkable diversity in climate and geography. There's more similarity in European cooking, or North American food than there is in Asian or African cuisine. There is a lot of internal similarity for North African as opposed to East or West Sub-Saharan African eating. The owners themselves seem to obfuscate the fact that this is a Somali restaurant, I've seen this before with other ethnic restaurants. My favorite Sri Lankan restaurant in Madison used to make it seem like they were an Asian-Middle Eastern-Mexican restaurant, and yet they were authentically Sri Lankan. Based on the four Somali restaurants I've been to, I'd say this is authentic and also very good. Somali cuisine isn't (Northern) Ethiopian (the staple isn't injera, it's rice or pasta), but there are some strong similarities in spices. Since Somalia is East Africa, there are influences from across the Indian Ocean, but also Mediterranean and Middle Eastern touches. Still, Somali food is its own thing, it truly "is what it is" to use the original meaning of the now overused phrase. It's crowded due to popularity, the service can be slow but is much faster an hour before closing, the food is really delicious. Make sure to get a sambusa appetizer, if you eat meat try the chicken or goat platter over pasta or rice. Don't expect a fancy interior, but it's clean and welcoming. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Friendly welcome as we entered, quick and kind service. The food was amazing. Highly recommend the samosas and the beef and basmati rice! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Don't remember what I ordered but it was an amazing plate of food. The service was great and super friendly.i recommend 100%!

Small causal spot nothing fancy. But the food is good and plentiful. I had the Goat plate. Loved the yellow rice, meat was tender and flavorful. That Samosa with the Jalapeno sauce was amazing. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Tender Goat Platter - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Amazing. The spices are great, the rice has great layering of flavors, and i really loved the green sauce. Super fresh and the perfect hotness. Really nice mixed with the yogurt and used to dip the goat in. read more

yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum! a genuine neighborhood treasure--good folks, excellent food, great value and immaculate vibes. i usually get sandwiches but everything i've tasted here is like a dream. read more

Great family owned business right on farewell! Always great customer service and food! Busy every time I walk in and the food speaks for itself! 5/5 for authentic Ethiopian food. Recommend the rice with potatoes and pickled onions + Somali steak sandwich but the goat platter is also a winner along with samosas! Cheap too! Rice + Huge sandwich= 10$ Best bang for your buck food spot in Milwaukee!! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Goat rice platter- so yummy! - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Every time i go to this place it does not disappoint!! reasonable pricing and good portion sizes!! my favorite is their salmon sandwich, chai drink, and sambusas of course. the staff is always so friendly and willing to talk to you. my go-to place when i want something tasty!!! read more

We were in Milwaukee for a wedding, and in between the morning events and the evening events we had about 4 hours to relax. We decided to explore the water front in Downtown Milwaukee, and got hungry. I didn't just want American fare, and I had just been discussing Ethiopian food in the AM, so I researched African/East African food and landed on this gemstone. Bonus points that it serves halal/zabihah. We ordered the chicken sambusas for starters. As a desi/Indian food lover, sambusas are very similar to samosas, so I wasn't expecting much. But let me tell you, despite not being spicy, the filling was a delightful mix of comforting chicken and peas. I loved it so much, I purchased an additional two to snack on in the middle of the night! Hubby ordered the Tender Goat (of course!) and I ordered the chicken Suqqar. The tender goat was fall of the bones tender and paired with that rice, it was an absolute absolute absolute delight. The chicken Suqqar had a spicy kick and paired with the green sauce/chutney they had (different to the Indian green chutney!) it was absolutely phenomenal. I am upset with myself for not ordering a whole side of this green chutney because it was so delicious - bright, punchy and citrusy notes blended with the fresh and vibrant spice of green chillies - yummy! Lastly, I also ordered the watermelon juice - which is a MUST try. It is not PURE watermelon juice, might I add, there is clearly some grenadine syrup in there but it is so refreshing and delicious, it is an absolute must try. The rice was the absolute STAR of all the food. Clearly cooked in broth, paired with raisins and onions, etc, the rice was the perfect vessel for the meat. I would travel the hour and a half just to eat at this joint again, it's THAT good!!! Loved loved LOVED this place! read more

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The staff were so friendly and the food was amazing. Great value !!! I would definitely go out of my way to go back I had a platter meal and the meat was very tender and flavorful read more

Ordered Lamb with Rice, got two black short hairs, but it didn't look like they were from the head. The food itself wasn't bad.

This is my new favorite ethnic restaurant in Milwaukee. Thanks to all of the Yelp reviews I finally got to Blue Star Cafe and the reviews were 100% accurate. Flavor...flavor...flavor...just an abundance of interesting combinations that I have never experienced in food before. I was torn between the goat platter and the chicken sugaar but opted for the fan favorite - the chicken. For $9 you get a HUGE serving of chicken over seasoned basmati rice along with the spicy Somalian green sauce and a yogurt type sauce. The chicken has green and red peppers, potatoes and the unique ingredient of raisins in it. The dish definitely has a unique spice blend - I could taste cinnamon and potentially cardamom and clove plus other spices. I believe it's a unique Somali spice mix called Xawaash. The smell is intoxicating and the taste is even more incredible. I would never have envisioned this blend of flavors working out so perfect! I also got a beef sambusa and again it was so packed with flavor. Sometimes with a samosa or empanada I find them very bland - not with the sambusa. Like the chicken dish it was just popped with incredible unique flavors. It's a very unassuming restaurant with nothing fancy that is easy to miss on Farwell so parking will be a challenge but you need the exercise anyway so walk the extra two blocks. I definitely will be back to try to the goat but it will be hard to veer away from this incredible chicken dish. Do yourself a favor and stop into this hidden gem! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Sambusa with the chicken platter. Enough for two meals. - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Finally made it over to Blue Star Cafe on a Sunday night less than 1 hour before closing but so glad that we did!! Their kitchen had closed so they only had available what was already cooked which was chicken and goat, so we tried one platter of each. Both were flavorful and fresh tasting. I really wanted to try the hummus but they were done making it for the day so I will have to come back. Large portion sizes and quick service from the family that owns it, and they were very kind and apologetic about not having their kitchen open late even though they did not need to be. Great hole in the wall spot that feels comfortable, laidback, and clean to dine in but also has quick service for takeout read more

Blue Star Cafe - chicken platter - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A cute and casual little restaurant with amazing food and lovely owners. Super filling and very affordable. I usually have a few meals from one platter so it's a steal. Will be back read more

This place is great! Casual atmosphere and delicious food. Get the sambusas. You won't regret it!

What a gem! Fantastic food and fantastic prices. It's such a nice flavor derivation from the standard Indian, Thai, Chinese, and pub grub in the area (don't get me wrong, I love all that, but sometimes you want something new). The Somalian steak is a delight, the goat is wonderful, and the chicken sandwich (more like a po' boy) is a dream. The rice is never dry and the various spicy sides are tasty. Easy to order from, easy to pick up. The interior is small with only a few tables so I'd plan on takeaway. I'm not sure they have delivery so if you order delivery, it's probably from a third party delivery service which means you're going to overpay on delivery charges. Last time we split the chicken sandwich and the goat and it was more than enough food for two people. read more

My friends and I decided to brave a snowstorm to try a new place, and wow, were we rewarded!! Blue Star Cafe is just as unassuming as everyone else's posts mention, and the food is genuine. The interior is basic, but it works! A few cultural looking items decorated the walls that likely have a story, and a corner unit standalone fireplace that was actually showing a WWE fight? Eclectic indeed. We were the only 6 people in the place, and the two owners happily pushed two tables together, and provided recommendations on what they like. We ordered, and the goodness kept on coming! Chai tea is a must. 99 cents for a warm cup of deliciousness is never a bad idea. My ceramic coffee cup was slightly chipped, but honestly it didn't matter it was SO good. Hummus appetizer was beautifully presented, and the pita was toasty and warm, a perfect compliment to the expertly prepared hummus. You'll find yourself chasing the silver hummus platter in circles on the table to scrape every last bit of amazingness out I guarantee. Sambusas were crispy on the outside and FULL on the inside! My favorite was the veggie; the potato and greens inside were so flavorful. Others in the group favored the chicken, which had a curry flavor. Entrees were the platter style meal, where you pick a protein and a base for it to be served on. Basmati rice all around, but our group tried the salmon, goat, chicken and tilapia. Goat was bone-in, chicken was not, salmon and tilapia were preportioned (guessing a 6 oz salmon filet, tilapia was like a while fish filetted!). All dishes were accompanied with sides of lettuce, cucumber, green sauce, yogurt(?) sauce and either peppers and/or onions. All were flavorful and the seasoning was addictive! By the time we were eating, others arrived for dine in and carryout orders. Someone ordered the sandwich version of a platter, and it looked delightful, will have to try! Most certainly will be back, and am happy I now know such a place exists on Milwaukee's East Side! read more

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Love the ambiance of this small diner and the food is amazing. The Somalian rice dish is abfab and their fish is drool-y delicious.

I passed by this little place several times, but didn't realize that they served African cuisine. I have been craving African food since I moved to Milwaukee and surprisingly I missed this gem which has been around the corner all this time. Found Blue star Cafe on Yelp and checked out their menu. Went for dinner on a weekday night. It is a small place which is clean and well maintained. I ordered Kay-kay with goat Curry and also a mango smoothie. I waited for a few minutes before the food arrived. The goat Curry was delicious and had big chunks of well cooked meat. Kay-kay is roti style flat bread cut into small pieces. The quantity was huge and I thought I couldn't finish the whole thing. But as I started eating, couldn't stop until I shamelessly sniffed away the entire meal. It came with a side of green chili and coriander hot sauce and sour cream. The chili sauce tasted so fresh. The mango smoothie deserves a special mention. It was made with fresh mangoes and I could taste the tangy and sweet mango pulp in the drink. It was pleasantly fresh and thick. Of course, I will be visiting this place again for sure. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Kay-kay with goat curry - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Blue Star Cafe is an East African restaurant (Somali food) that I happened to live close to during my stay in Milwaukee so I just walked over to check out what this place was about and DANG. SO. MUCH. FLAVOR!. I ordered the Chicken Suqaar and a veg sambusa and they were both so so delish! Rich in flavor and hearty. My 1 year old son also enjoyed the rice and chicken (with yogurt dip) from the Chicken Sugaar! Order up at the cashier, pay, and pick a spot to sit. And a huge plus was the quantity of food they gave. It was well worth for both my pocket and for my tastebuds. Hehe. I wish I went back during my stay to try other dishes!!!!!! :( beef suqaar sandwich and beef sambusa....... I'll be coming for you. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Chicken Suqaar - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Get a shovel. A fork can't deliver the sublime tastes fast enough. We did takeout and got the Somali-style steak over rice, the salmon over rice and a side of veggies. All were flavorful, perfectly textured and generously portioned. And cheap! It's a joy to discover a somewhat hidden gem. Blue Star really delivers. read more

I love Blue Star cafe! The owner is the sweetest lady. Small world- her son is one of my classmates. I order the roasted salmon sandwich when I come here. It's so good. Very flavorful and the hoagie bread is some of the best bread I've had. To start things off, I order the beef sambusas. I recommend using some of the green sauce on the sambusa. Then, to refresh my palette I always chug the mango smoothie. I will be coming here until I leave the state read more

If you don't feel like cooking but want a delicious, filling meal, look no further than Blue Star Cafe. This place is a hidden gem in Milwaukee. Big portions, reasonable prices, phenomenal service (the owners are unbelievably warm and friendly, they are half the reason I love coming here so much). When I first came here I just ordered a veggie platter with rice, I loved the raisins in the rice, they added a subtle sweetness. Next time I came I got the tilapia, which was perfectly cooked - crispy on the outside and tender inside. Most recently I tried the goat, and loved it. Will have a hard time deciding which to get next time I go. The sambusas make for a good appetizer and the mango smoothie is a creamy yet light and refreshing addition to the meal. read more

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I went to Blue Star for take out. Their portions are large, their food is flavorful, and it's an amazing value! I got the tender beef sandwich, chicken & goat platters, hummus, and chicken & beef sambusas. The goat was tender and fell of the bone effortlessly. I will for sure be getting this next time with the kay kay. You get A LOT of rice with each platter. If sandwiches are your thing, get it but i recommend the platter over it. The sambusas are a great appetizer. I preferred the beef as it had just tad bit more flavor. Lastly, I recommend getting EXTRA green sauce. That sauce is addicting and taste good on every dish. My only regret was not getting more. read more

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This small Somali restaurant (around 5 or 6 tables) has been on my list to try for a couple of years, I think, and I finally made it in earlier this week. I asked the owner, I assume, how long they've been in business, and he told me 7 years. So I've been missing out on this place for 7 years. Shame on me! We started with sambusas, beef and chicken. Both had a curry for flavoring in the meat, and both were delicious and perfectly crisp. We also ordered the Chicken Sugar (pronounced "sue GAHR") Platter and the Kay Kay with Goat. The chicken was prepared in a slightly spicy marinade and served with diced potatoes, pickled onions, peppers, and raisins over basmati rice. I didn't ask for specifics but it was also served with a green chutney, that was savory and added a little kick, and yogurt that reminded me of sour cream. I highly recommend this dish. Kay Kay is a bread that looks like a thick multigrain tortilla, but the texture and flavor reminded me of the Roti served with Roti Chanai I've had a couple of Malaysian places in town. The goat was extremely tender and not very fatty, which goat often is when I get it at restaurants. It was served with peppers and the same green chutney. Both entrees were excellent. The owner was busy taking care of us, the customers at the counter placing and picking up carry-out orders, and running food out from the kitchen. He was a machine and didn't miss a beat! I love this place, and I can't wait to go back! Parking on Farwell Ave is a pain, so be patient, but this place is worth it, or place a carry-out order like so many others seem to be doing. read more

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Aww man. It's not easy to find a 100+ reviewed place on yelp with 5-star rating. So we went with really high expectations. Blue Star cafe met my expectations. Cost. affordable Taste. bursting Staff/owners. great With all this, there's still a little je ne sais quoi... Makes me want to knock off one star. The experience as a whole was just not a 5. I'm not sure why. It's been several weeks since we've been here and I haven't had cravings to go back, even though when we had finished eating I remember saying I wanted to come back. Hmm. Weird. I still do want to go back. Just not sure when. So for now, 4-stars. I'll update when I go back. read more

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