What a great surprise. I've walked by this place dozens of times, but never gave it a second thought until I happened to see the positive reviews on Yelp. We ordered the hummus appetizer, the chicken sugaar platter and the KayKay with steak. The hummus was fresh and very flavorful. I liked the chicken, but I loved the KayKay. Just a great combination of tastes and textures. At about $10 per platter, we had enough food for 2-3 meals. We'll definitely be back. read more

Authentic Somalian food! So happy to finally check this restaurant as I make my way through my list. I wish I came here sooner, and this will now go on my list of places to frequent! Ordered the Chicken sugaar, a sambusa (wish I ordered more than 1), and the mango smoothie (SO fresh). Chicken sugaar-- this dish was very flavorful. It comes with rice, chicken, and toppings-- sautéed peppers/onions, potato, and raisins. I was a little skeptical about the raisins at first, but I was really glad I got them. The raisins are soft and add a sweet flavor to this hearty dish. The rice itself is flavorful, and I found myself inhaling my meal by the spoonful. The chicken was fresh and came with a generous portion. The dish is very generously in portions. It was stuffed to the brim in a styrofoam container. I would say this would easily be 2 lunches. Sambusa-- I ordered the beef. It is a fried dough with a delicious stuffing with beef, veggies, and spices. I could definitely taste curry in it among other spices. It is triangle-shaped and is probably 3in along each edge, so pretty sizable! I wish I ordered more. It comes in 3 varieties-- chicken, beef, and veggie. Mango smoothie-- this was so fresh and perfectly blended. I feel that a lot of times smoothies can be blended poorly and still have ice chunks, but this one was not. It is also very large, probably between a grande and a venti at Starbucks! Definitely try this if you are looking for a beverage to accompany your meal. I wish I could give this place more stars! I look forward to trying out the other dishes in the future. read more

I've only been in Milwaukee for a year and a half, but I can confidently say that Blue Star Cafe is at the top of my recommendation list for people asking what is a must-eat in the city. It's definitely proof of the diversity in the MKE culinary scene, and one of my go-tos for comforting and flavorful food after a long day. Blue Star Cafe is located on N Farwell just off of Brady, which, sure, has its fair share of gentrified trendy restaurants (and sure, I can appreciate these as a zoomer), but here's what I recommend. Round the corner, avoid the Walgreens known to Milwaukee social media residents as an interdimensional, unholy circle of hell, and what do you know? It's a fantastic restaurant with mind-blowing food...and best of all, its own parking lot! I think that's a good a reason as any to stop by, considering how rare that is downtown. The cafe itself is small with a few tables, decorated walls, and a counter to order where you'll be tempted by all manner of goodies. Here's my routine at Blue Star- hopefully this review can encourage you to create your own. Walk up to the counter, order a sambusa [$1.50] and a goat kaykay [$9.50]. Throw in a mango juice [$1.99] if you're trying to escape the humid, oppressive heat of the Midwest summer. It'll be a 10-15 minute wait. Sure. This food is worth waiting in the Disneyland line for Space Mountain for. Have a seat inside, inhale the aromas deep into your lungs, and prepare your appetite. When the food is ready, carry your trophy back to the car and speed home to enjoy this food as soon as possible. Oh wait. You couldn't wait that long and suddenly you're devouring the sambusa in the parking garage of the cafe. Appetite whetted, now you can speed home and tuck into the kaykay. Eat way more than you should, pass out on the couch, wake up, and eat the rest of it. In all seriousness, I should probably be ashamed of this routine, but moving on. The beef sambusa is my favorite, but there are also chicken and veggie varieties that are just as good. I highly, highly recommend getting at least one with your meal! As I've stated in previous reviews, the fact that global cultures unanimously decided that spiced something wrapped in fried dough is simply a testament to the joys that can be found in samosas, sambusas, sambousek, and all variations of this dish. Honestly, the goat kaykay is so good that I haven't tried anything else, but Blue Star offers a variety of dishes, all of which look phenomenal. Once the goat kaykay releases its grip on my soul, maybe I'll branch out. This dish is delicious, soft, and perfectly spiced goat meat served on a bed of raisins, potatoes, green bell peppers, onions, and strips of flatbread (I think it may be sabaayad/jabati?). The bread soaks up the juices from the goat and the flavors blend together so well- to those dubious about raisins upon reading this, I would be willing to bet all of my student loans that you've been sleeping on raisins in savory food. The sweetness is the perfect complement to this dish. It is served with a slice of lemon, green basbaas sauce, and what seems to be a yogurt-based sauce, both of which I recommend pouring generously over the dish. Portions are overall very generous; the goat kaykay is enough for 2 meals for a normal eater or 1 meal for a big eater. The service here is curt and straightforward in the way that legit ethnic restaurant service often is, so no complaints there. On my last visit, it seems they are allowing limited dine-in again, but takeout is definitely very convenient and fast. I definitely anticipate returning to Blue Star many times! Honestly, any trip downtown is lowkey already an excuse for me to stop by anyway. Hopefully, I can update this review once I've freed myself from the goat kaykay trance... read more

Cheap eats hole in the wall food at its finest. One of the few Somalian restaurants in Milwaukee and is worth checking out for lunch. Normally not very busy in terms of customers so you can get in and out quickly. Note: No Dine In as of now with COVID. All the orders are made fresh so expect 10-15 minute wait for your food. I had the Chicken Suqar sandwich which is on a gigantic hoagie with lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomato and mayo. I asked for no mayo and mine and extra heat which they obliged and which was a solid kick. Chicken is moist and tender and is the star of the sandwich . Sambusa's are one of my favorite sides/appetizers in all of food. I got 2 chicken and 1 beef. Filled with meat, onion and other vegetables, they are great for dipping in their spicy green sauce. For 3 sambusa's and a sandwich it cost about 11 dollars and you will be satisfied and full. Great local restaurant that I would recommend to anyone wanting delicious homemade food at a reasonable price. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Chicken Suqar with Sambusas - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Delicious food for incredibly reasonable prices! Chicken suqar sandwich is a go-to for my husband and I... it comes on a hoagie with mayo, lettuce, onion, cucumber, and tomato... So big and tasty! Most orders take about 15 minutes as they are made to order. Perfect for carryout. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Chicken suqar sandwich - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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WOW this place is SO good I definitely find myself craving it. This was my first time eating Somalian food - will definitely not be my last!! I got the goat plate - they did a great job of making the meat not taste game-y, which is the obstacle when cooking with meats like goat, lamb, etc. The meat is SOO TENDER and obviously super flavorful! The raisins threw me for a loop at first but I was like *shrug let's just try it! And I... low key really dug it? It adds that little bit of sweetness and acidity to an otherwise very hearty, savory dish. Sweet and savory is my favorite so I liked it - but you can always ask for no raisins in your food which is what my roommate did! I also got their mango drink and it was fresh and sooo refreshing. To top it off the portions were craaazy and lasted me two belly BURSTING meals (I probably should've split it up into three meals but I couldn't stop eating it it was literally so good) Hole-in-the-wall, bang for your buck, mom and pop shops like this are my favorite and would choose places like this over a fancy restaurant any day! read more

Blue Star Cafe - goat plate! - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1000% recommend this place!! So tasty, good prices, and big portions. The staff was very sweet too. My partner and I shared the beef and chicken sambusas-- both equally delicious. We debated buying more just to snack on later. I ordered the Chicken Suqaar and he ordered the goat. Both had excellent flavor and good meat texture. All dishes came with a green chutney-like sauce that was *chef's kiss*. If we lived in Milwaukee, we'd be regulars! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Menu June 2022 - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

You could easily walk right by and miss it, but you would be missing out on a great affordable meal. This Somalian restaurant has a great menu with generous portions. I love stopping by to grab food to go, and a chai tea is a must (it's like a more delicious Starbucks chai tea latte, think less sweet and more spice based, and at a better price). read more

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

Fantastic place, generous portions, flavorful meats and rice, and very reasonably priced. We tried one of everything and they were all delicious. Food: The signature chicken is so juicy and flavorful. Tastes great in a hot, crunchy baguette. 5/5 Beef and rice 5/5 Tender, good spices, the green sauce is great and spicy, and the salad is good. Salmon 5/5 Nice Curry spice salmon. Great portion Watermelon juice 5/5 It's $1.50 and fresh Goat broth 5/5 Hits the spot on a cool day Atmosphere: Lovely owners. Cozy little place that is bustling with people. Great food at great prices. What's not to like? Support. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Left-chicken signature sandwiches Top- goat and rice Right- salmon Bottom- beef - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Believe the hype! Blue Star Cafe offers: -great food -friendly and helpful service -affordable prices -a low key, chill atmosphere -generous portions Each meal from here has been really tasty, uniquely flavored, and satisfying--also, made to order and cooked to perfection. Pro tip: try the sambusas read more

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For $21, I got: -chicken sambusa (shredded chicken, peas, carrots): a little dry but crispy, soft, and tasty with a lot of texture -steak sandwich: tasty, chewy bread, perfectly cooked steak, lettuce, sauce; not too dry or too wet -goat platter: perfectly cooked and lightly seasoned goat, bell pepper, teeny potato chunks, and raisins in seasoned rice; the rice and goat were both so soft and yummy all in all, great price and portions sauce game kinda weak though read more

Favorite place to eat in the city. Super friendly staff and great prices. The owners seem like great people and you need to Check it out.

On the outside: unassuming, lacking parking, not particularly remarkable. On the inside: also not particularly remarkable, modern, or notable. However, the food and service: homey, comforting, and downright delicious. What a lovely gem in MIlwaukee. It was my first visit and the owner highly recommended sambusas. He was so kind and warm when I asked for recommendations. I ordered one with chicken, which came with a tangy, green sauce. It was crispy, toasted, and savory on the inside. It kind of reminded me of a spanakopita meets samosa: a flaky outside with flavor-bursting chicken on the inside. Realistically, I could've eaten like two or three more. As for my main entree, I ordered a goat platter with rice. I err towards things I can't make at home or trying something new. It was so good and my mouth is watering while remembering it. The goat was tender and not too gamey, while the rice complemented the pleasantly strong flavor of the goat. It came with a little side salad, which wasn't anything special, but was a nice palate cleanser in between bites of rice and goat. The green sauce and sour cream together added a layer of acidity and creaminess to balance things out. Make a visit with a friend or two, but not too many friends. There isn't ample seating for more than a group of four or give. The moral of the story is that it's worth taking a visit, eat too many sambusas, and indulge a little in a cozy meal here. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Goat platter was the GOAT (greatest of all time). Would recommend! - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Yum!! I can't believe I've been living in walking distance for years and haven't tried this place. Such a great experience. Everyone was incredibly friendly, the goat platter was tender and the sambusas were huge! Don't be afraid to order extra green sauce, you'll need it! read more

We went to this restaurant and ordered goat plate. Food was extremely good and tasty. My family was traveling and we stopped at this restaurant to have dinner. Food was very delicious and not expensive. Service is fast and friendly. I would stop here again to ebjoy their good food. Vimto drink was also uniquely good and tasty. read more

Blue Star Cafe - Menu. - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Super welcoming environment and amazing food!! If you don't know what to get the owner loves to make recommendations and help guide you through the menu! 10/10! read more

Great place for some authentic Somalian cuisine. The food was fresh and tasty. Could've used a little more love on the goat, meat was tasty but dry. It was naturally pleasant to the palate overall. Not to heavy with seasoning, more of a basic flavoring. read more

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I've been searching for heaven and found it lives on Farwell Avenue! The other reviews are putting this gem mildly...this food is fresh, freshly made, tasty, superb, flavorful and the portions are HUGE! Such amazing value for the money. We had 2 platters-the veggie, the chicken and the hummus plate. Divine. Great place to eat in, take away and enjoy on a picnic. Will be my new go-to spot! Not only is the food outstanding but the service is sweet as well! read more

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Love this place. Great place to read, study, have great conversations. The view of the marina is so fun.

This place deserves the hype. The goat is phenomenal, reasonably priced. Nothing fancy: paper plates, counter service. The food speaks for itself. read more

I love this place! Their steak sandwich is beyond delicious. Also they have great samosas. Their prices are super reasonable for the portion sizes. It's always been a super easy process in and out. I've only ever picked up and it's usually ready within 15 minutes. This will be always one of my go to's if I need to pick up something for dinner! read more

Great food! Large portions! Super nice people! Three things I love! Highly Recommend!

I ordered the goat plate with extra veggies over rice and both chicken and vegetable sambusas. OMG, from the first bite the goat plate it was an exquisite delight! The meat was so tender you could flake it with a fork, seasoned perfectly- in a was that could be both comfort food in the winter or perfect on a midsummer's day. it paired perfectly with the veggies and rice for an overall taste bud explosion. I am an avid cook of many cuisines and a bit of a 'foodie' and this has to be the best meal I've have in a while. Not to mention it was economical as hell- the goat plate for $12.99 overly filled the 12" to go container- it must've weighed close to 2 lbs! The mixed veggies (2.99) basically stuff a smaller container absolutely stuffed full (think burger size) and were absolutely delicious! I was intending to add them to the goat plate (which I did and was a great match) but could not resist just diving into the heaping pile of veggie goodness over and over. Now the Sambusas ($1.50 ea) were for a later snack- the chicken was wonderfully seasoned in a rich, yet mild way, and the veggie sambusa was hands down my favorite- a combo of peas, carrots, spinach and potato was an extremely delicious somewhat richer seasoning while staying away from spicy heat. I'm glad I was eating eveything at home, as I think I'd have weirded out other people with my exclamations of 'OMG this so f-ing good' Oh god it's so tender! these vegetables are amazing! Oh, Ahh, Mmmmmm, horf, horf, horf yum!' I rarely write reviews- only if I am extremely blown away, or as a warning for others. The Blue Star Cafe was definitely the former. I can't wait to get back to try the Kay Kay, but all this food will last me well thru the weekend! read more

Ignore the "hole in the wall" façade; the food and service speaks for itself. Large portions. Cheap prices. I will be returning for the flavorful food, but also the customer service stood out. Staff was friendly, excited to see us, and helpful-- I want to go back. I ordered the Chicken Sugar Sandwich with everything on it- extra onions. I could have rationed the sub sandwich for two meals. Instead, I stuffed my face with tender chopped chicken with a favorful sauce. Add the green chutney sauce for some kick! I was so full on bread by the end. Yay, carbs! HINT: order the Sambusas! Delicious! They kind of taste like empanadas to me. And, for an extra sweet treat- order the fresh squeezed watermelon juice! Yum! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Chicken Sugar Sandwich! - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Shouldn't be shocked how good this place was as I read reviews from some of my fellow Yelpers before we went and Blue Star fully lived up to the hype. This place is ridiculously good. Let me preface this review by stating this restaurant is by no means your run of the mill, standard stock, fancy dancy place to go eat. If your OK with that, then by all means proceed. We walked in and ordered, then we were told to sit down. The owner said our order would be up shortly and he didn't want us to pay until we enjoyed our meal. The hospitality was phenomenal. This isn't a normal sit down and waitress comes to you restaurant. I truly love it when a place makes you feel all at home like. Blue Star did that indeed. The place is small and filled up in a hurry while we were waiting for the goods to come up. Next our food came. I had a heaping plate of Basmati rice that was seasoned to perfection. Raisins are not my favorite but this added a level of perplexity to a flawless dish. My taste buds were in heaven. My rice was served with some of the most tender fall off the bone goat meat I have ever had. I was digging what they were serving and all the accompaniments and the sides were what was up! We also had the beef and chicken sambusas. These things are filled with love. Peas, carrots and meat seasoned up correct in a crunchy soft triangular shell. Kind of like a pierogi meets a empanada but filled with veggies and meat. Wow! My wife had the marinated chicken sandwich which was equally good. The sandwich like my plate was again seasoned perfectly. Chicken reminded me of a curried chicken and the bread was soft and warm. By the way if you walk in and feel overwhelmed and unable to decide what you want, let the owner make you a plate. He will hook it up, trust me! The prices are reasonable and for the level of cheffery, if that's even a word, it is more than worth it. I had to leave an extra good tip cause I almost felt like I was robbing the place. Taste-bud satisfaction to the fullest! Go Blue Star! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Don't let the lo key exterior fool you. - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

So delicious! This is kind of a hole in the wall place, and they do a lot of their business in takeout orders. But stay and sit a while! They were so kind and hospitable here. The food is simply presented, but the flavors are complex and wonderful. The food actually took a little while to come out, which makes me happy that it isn't all totally pre-prepared! Also- use the green hot sauce. Super fresh and spicy, adds some nice acid Beef sambusa - came out hot and steaming, was very tasty. Goat w rice platter - rice had a ton of flavor. Goat was cooked really nicely, I really appreciated the fact that it was on the bone, tendons and all. Little side salad is nicely dressed, and the raisins and little pops of sweetness. read more

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

So flavorful omg I came here for dinner with a friend so we were able to try a few different things--all of which were great. We had both the chicken and beef sambusa. I enjoyed them both equally. The sauce that accompanied them is spicy and fresh and really adds something. Super great, would order a bunch of these to-go on a regular basis. For entrees, we got the goat kaykay and chicken platter. The chicken was seasoned so well and had maybe the best flavor of any chicken I've had in recent memory. This plate would have been amazing on its own, but this was my first time having kaykay and my mind was BLOWN. Definitely get it if you've never had it. It is essentially shredded thin pita that is the base of the dish. It soaks up all of the seasonings and is a big mass of carby goodness. The goat was cooked perfectly too, not dry and easily coming off the bone. Parking is a struggle and it looks like they do a lot of takeout business. I will definitely be back! read more

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

We've ordered take out from Blue Star several times during quarantine and the food is never less than phenomenal. I've tried the chicken suqaar sandwich, chicken and veggie sambusa, the goat platter, and the.best.chai.tea.ever! For $1! The platter portions are huge and can easily be spilt in to two meals. The cafe is quiet and clean that offers a handful of tables and chairs. 10/10 would recommend read more

Blue Star Cafe - Chai tea, beef sambusa, chicken suqaar platter w/rice, Somali-style steak platter w/rice (sour cream and a spicy green sauce for sides) - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I have never had African/Somali food so I didn't know what to expect and my first impression was that it smells fu#%ing amazing. This place is located in an area that looked like real tough parking but I found one at the end of the block, a quarter will get you 1/2 hour of parking. The ambience is non existent with cheap tables and chairs. There is a flat screen tv on top of a fake fireplace with fake wood floors and non matching art on the walls. The place was empty except for a carry out order in front of me so I opted for take out also, who wants to eat in an empty restaurant. First off if you go here and you don't get a sambusa you are really missing out just to let you know. The sambusa was was such a great tasty treat. Seasoned ground beef, carrots, peas, onion and green beans fried golden brown in a crispy shell. This was so good and I'm glad I got one not knowing what it was. The green cup I felt was supposed to be the dipping sauce so that's what I did. It's like a hot bright green salsa that was so good that I would buy it if they bottled it. It's starts out as a crunchy vegetable taste and the heat creeps in with a delay to put some heat in your mouth but not burning the mouth, my nose ran and my head started sweating but I ate every last drop. I had the create your own platter which was goat meat, basmati rice, sautéed peppers and onion, sun dried raisins and fried potatoes. Please keep in mind that the platter portion is very generous for the price. My first thought it was kind of like Indian food but with flavor profiles that were more palatable to me than Indian food. The main flavors were Currie and spices I couldn't name. The goat meat was super tender and seasoned in a nice flavorful something. The goat meat is prepared in a way unlike most so its palatable for most people with out the strong smell or gamey flavor. The rice was nicely cooked and had a currie something flavor. The raisins I thought I would hate because I don't care for raisins actually offered a nice sweet balance to the spices and goat. The whole plater was really good and I'm glad I ordered it. Overall this style of cooking and the flavors were well received by my pallet. This was very good for the value and quality which is a nice change. This is a great addition to the Milwaukee food scene and I so glad I finally got to experience them. read more

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Excellent food at great prices. Platters are large and will fill you up. The goat was super flavorful. The chicken was my favorite. Even the basmati rice was killer. read more

Affordable and absolutely delicious. I love the chicken suqaar plate. Spices/portion are always perfect. Kind service and overall a nice family run restaurant. read more

One of the best Halal restaurants in Milwaukee. Goat platter and Tilapia platter are my favorites. Beef Sambusa is also really good. Prices are reasonable too. read more

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

We just left, and we are already looking forward to coming back! Goat meat is almost always tough and fatty. This goat was very tender, as promised- the best we've ever had! The chai is lovely- and I make my own. It was Smooth, not spicy, but not too sweet. I'm very interested in how meat is sourced and how the animals are treated, so the fact that their meat is halal allowed me to order beef while my companion got the goat. Everything was very tasty, fresh, and well prepared. The owner (?) was very welcoming, and the vibe was very friendly. read more

Amazing! I recommend blue star to anyone looking for new spots in mke. Authentic, delicious, and so much food for your money!

This was my first time having East African food, so I didn't have much to compare it to, but on its own it's a delicious choice for a highly satisfying meal! It's a clean, small, family-run place (elderly couple and their son), with great fast service for the food that is made-to-order. It also seemed like there were lots of locals, hanging around for the evening watching the soccer game. I ordered the platter with beef and rice, and a chicken sambusa. The beef was very lean and cooked just right, making it very tender. The rice was so flavorful on its own, but combined with the beef and standard toppings, I couldn't stop eating! The chicken sambusa had a solid crunch on the shell, but was still nice and bread-y, and the flavors of the stuffing were amazing! Next time (there will definitely be a next time), maybe I'll get courageous and try the goat. :) read more

Blue Star Cafe - Rice and beef platter, with a chicken sambusa - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I have a great experience every time I visit. Great food and great prices. Highly recommend the Somali Steak sandwich.

Very nice clean service Food was delicious and large portion for the price Samosas are freshly made. The bread was also freshly baked. Easy to get in. They have one handicapped parking space. Just ask. This was helpful for the family members in a wheel chair and walker. The owners take pride in their work. Their chai was delicious read more

I've never had Somali food before and I was excited to give it a try! It was delicious, and served in a very no-thrills space by very friendly employees! You can get sandwiches and other items, but I got a platter. You have the choice of rice, pasta, noodles, or salad as a base, and a few meat options on top. I had rice with goat, which was tender and delicious. It comes with potatoes, veggies, raisins, and two sauces. One was a yogurt sauce and one was a spicy green sauce. They complimented the dish well! Overall I had a great experience, and had plenty of food for under $10! read more

Blue Star Cafe - Goat and rice platter - Halal Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Awesome food... awesome service... and just straight kindness. The watermelon juice and green sauce are 2 of my favorite things.

Absolutely love this restaurant!!! The food is great and the owners are fantastic too! I'll be back!