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    Blue Star Cafe

    4.8 (233 reviews)
    InexpensiveHalal, Somali
    Closed Closed

    Blue Star Cafe Photos

    BLUE STAR CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Star Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Tilapia Baguette
    Madeleine G.

    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.

    Menu
    Emily L.

    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!

    Steak sandwich.
    Alexander P.

    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.

    Chicken platter, Sambusa, steak platter
    Cecily W.

    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.

    Somali-style steak sandwich
    Marissa P.

    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!

    Rohan D.

    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.

    Ann S.

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

    Tender Goat Platter
    Rene B.

    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.

    Goat rice platter- so yummy!
    Ben W.

    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!!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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

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    12 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Really enjoyed the food here -- it's a bit hidden but I'm so glad I found it. Highly recommend

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    Taste Amir's Roti

    Taste Amir's Roti

    4.1
    (17 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    Came here for dinner with a large group not too long ago. A homey, cozy atmosphere. Service was…read morequick even with our large group. I ordered the roti filled with chicken, onion, and egg, and it was tasty. I could see the roti being cooked in the kitchen area which was visible and that was fun to watch. The dish was delicious and it was plentiful so I could save enough for lunch the next day. A couple of folks felt their food was on the spicy side, so if you need a milder version, make sure to tell them. For the stuffed roti I ate, I felt the spice level was just perfect - not too much but not nonexistent, either. The menu is vast and there is so much to try, including dosas, all kinds of rotis, noodles, soups, and more.

    Where has this dosa been all my life? Having read a recent article about this restaurant, BF and I…read morewanted to come try it. I was concerned about the availability of vegetarian options, but there are a few options and they are accommodating. The space is fairly basic, but it has what you need. There are several tables available. They have a TV playing Bollywood-style videos. Parking is on the street. I saw a counter where it said you should order and pick up, but we had our order taken at the table and our food was brought to us. Everyone who worked there was very nice, but they did not speak a great deal of English. I ordered a cheese and butter non-traditional dosa, but I received a veggie dosa. I was not mad about it at all. The dosa was amazing - crispy and light and perfect and stuffed with veggies that were somehow still crunchy, but infused with great flavor, as if they'd been cooked for hours. The dosas come with a dal type of sauce, something quite hot and another cold sauce we couldn't identify, but it was good. BF had a masala dosa and it was divine as well. Great potato filling, amazing flavor and the same sauces and superb dosa texture and flavor. Not understanding the generous size of the dosa, I'd ordered a veggie fried rice as well. I just barely tried it since I was stuffed, but it was excellent as well. Fresh flavor, which was complex, despite the veggies remaining al dente, with a short grain rice that I haven't identified. The dish does have eggs, which the cook/server/owner cleared with me when I ordered. I look forward to having this food again and again, but I'll be hard pressed to order anything other than the dosa. It's all about the food.

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    Taste Amir's Roti
    Vegetable Fried Rice
    Vegetable Fried Rice
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    Blue Star Cafe - halal - Updated July 2026

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