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Kam Kee Cafe 金記冰室 @ The Starling

Updated 2026-07-06 · 2,606 reviewed · 432 listed · Scored from 974 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.0(974) 68 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
Specialty Coffee & Roastery Cafes
Kam Kee Cafe 金記冰室 @ The Starling
Service
Specialty Coffee & Roastery Cafes
Reviews
974

What recent reviews say

Kam Kee serves Hong Kong kopitiam classics at The Starling mall with solid execution on signature items like borscht soup and polo bun, but food quality swings unpredictably. Reviewers praise fast service during rushes and note the location suits casual business meetings, yet report frequent disappointments: watery coffee, underfried noodles, missing butter on takeaway items, and meat quality changes without explanation. One encounter with a rude waiter named Gaafar prompted an early departure after table-seating issues. Prices skew high for what arrives, and the gap between strong and weak dishes makes repeat visits uncertain.

The kitchen's inconsistency shows across familiar items. Hor fun needs more color, roti bakar lacks crispness, cham pink comes weak, and liver porridge earns praise while egg tarts puzzle newcomers. A three-year regular flagged ingredient downgrades in the BBQ pork rice. Staff handle chaos competently during full houses, yet individual interactions sometimes veer into frustration rather than recovery when customers raise concerns.

Praised for
  • Hong Kong-style food quality
  • polo bun with butter
  • borscht soup
  • fast service when busy
  • convenient mall location
Watch-outs
  • inconsistent food quality and preparation
  • watery or weak coffee
  • inconsistent service attitude
  • pricing considered high for the standard
  • staff dismissiveness toward customer concerns
friendly-staffslow-serviceoverpricedgood-for-groups
Best for: Business appointments and casual group meals seeking Hong Kong comfort food in a mall setting.
Think twice if: Food quality and coffee strength are unreliable; service depends heavily on which staff member assists you.

Strengths

  • Hong Kong borscht soup standout
  • polo bun with good butter
  • strategic mall location for appointments
  • attentive during peak service

Worth knowing

  • Waiter named Gaafar reportedly gave rude, dismissive responses to seating complaints
  • three-year regular noted BBQ pork switched to high-fat portions with no staff follow-up to repeated complaints
  • takeaway polo buns sometimes served without promised butter

What reviews say by service

Specialty Coffee & Roastery Cafes
Coffee frequently weak or watery; weak chai milk tea reported; inconsistent standards undercut the specialty positioning

How it compares

  • Rated 4 against a 4.37 average across the 336 specialty coffee & roastery cafes businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 91% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Ranking Method
Star rating 34
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 48
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
458
4
265
3
110
2
57
1
84

Common questions

Is there outdoor seating?
Yes, the cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating despite being located inside a mall.
What should I order?
Borscht soup and polo bun with butter are reliably praised; liver porridge and French toast with peanut butter also earn strong mentions.
Is it suitable for group meals?
Yes, but confirm table arrangements with staff in advance, as one reviewer reported frustration over seating allocation.

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Last updated 2026-07-06