Star Cafe KL | Taman Desa | Cafe, Bar & Live Music | Kuala Lumpur
Hidden above the streets of Taman Desa, the residential maze behind Old Klang Road you can find a cozy little spot that is great for gatherings and live music. It is an interesting concept of cozy work environment by day, bustling music and hangout spot by night that you should definitely consider for either of the two. They’ve been around since 1996 and are one of Taman Desa’s longest running F&B venues.
Disclaimer: This visit was part of a paid partnership with the restaurant. Food was provided on a complimentary basis, but I am free to provide honest feedback based on my dining experience.
Is it Halal
Star Cafe is pork and lard free - but note that it is not halal certified, so if this is one of your concerns, do check with the staff if any dishes should be avoided. They also serve alcohol, so just take note of this if you’re coming in a larger crowd including Muslims.
Definitely worth checking out their Website for any events like their regular Sip&Paint event!
Where it Is
Star Cafe lives up a flight of stairs on Jalan 109E, buried in the leafy, hilly tangle of Taman Desa. Parking is pretty free and easy in the area (they actually have a designated parking space of their own as well). I think what’s nice about Star Cafe is that they have plug points and free wi-fi, so it’s worth considering if you need somewhere to work from (they’re open from 12 noon). Furthermore, they also host birthday parties, corporate events, and group gatherings, so they’re great if you’re thinking of hosting a small to medium sized event or get together!
Address: First Floor, 65, Jalan 109E, Taman Desa, Off Jalan Klang Lama, 58100 Kuala Lumpur
For more details, you can check out their website www.starcafekl.com or their IG @StarCafeKL
Operating Hours
Venue | Daily, 12pm – 12am
Kitchen | Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm – 9:30pm (kitchen temporarily closed on Mondays)
Live Band performances (Usually on Thursdays to Saturdays from 8pm onwards)
What it Costs
Showcased within this post will be their specially selected dishes for the purposes of media tasting. They also have a host of options for their lunch sets starting at RM27 from Tuesdays to Sundays. Just a note if you come here on nights when their live band perform - they do have (for busier nights with the live band) a RM60 minimum order per person. This is mostly so that people don’t just order a drink and listen to the band all night, which I think is pretty reasonable. But just something to keep in mind if you’re just looking for a cheap dinner spot. But definitely worth a check on their “What’s On” page - even if just to check if there are any events that interest you.
They also have a full cocktail menu from RM38 with wine, beer, and whisky!
Dishes Showcased:
Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Croutons | RM22
Caesar Salad | RM24
Satay Lilit on Lemongrass Skewers | RM24
Pan Seared Salmon with Miso Cream | RM59
Pesto Genovese Pasta with Grilled Chicken | RM30
You can check out their menu via the gallery below!
How it Tastes
I think the one word that can summarize what I thought of the food would be: comfort. I would say that they do the basics right. I would say that at least from the dishes I tried, they aren’t doing anything that is wildly different from anything out there, but they execute quite well. The way I would describe it would be that the food is a great accompaniment for the nice environment they’ve made with their cafe - especially on Thursdays to Saturdays, when they usually have a live band playing from 8pm onwards.
Starting off with the appetizers, the creamy pumpkin soup and caesar salad! A nice combination and they’re very generous with the croutons with the pumpkin soup. I think the soup does shine in this dish, as this is one of those comfort dishes that I think you just want to have more and more once you start! I won’t say that much about the caesar salad because I think there’s not much special you can do with a caesar salad - although I would say that it is a bit on the cheesier end compared to most that I’ve had. I would say that I personally like it to be more cheesy as I like my food either very savoury or very sweet, but just something to keep in mind if you’re not really a cheese fan. Probably something you can highlight to the kitchen if that's something you want less of.
Next up, the satay lilit on lemongrass skewers. Really like the dish, and it was also served with onion rings. The chicken was tender and well seasoned. For all those who think that satay lilit is equivalent to normal satay, I would say that this is a bit more chunky (large in size) than your typical satay and it almost has this meatball kind of feel. Satay lilit is made from minced meat that they shape around the lemongrass skewer. I think this is definitely one of the dishes I’d recommend if you’re hanging out with friends because it is one of those dishes that is great for sharing! Would definitely recommend their satay lilit.
Now onto their pan seared salmon. I think this is a very classic dish done well. Skin is crispy, fish cooked well. I’d say the sauce that complements the fish perhaps could have been something that pairs a bit better with the fish as a whole, but I would say that’s my only real gripe about the dish. The broccolini is seasoned well (for someone like me who hates my vegetables), and they have a rustic mashed potatoes that rounds out the dish very well. The dish as a whole is also very pretty with their different garnishes paired up with the dish.
Their pesto pasta is a pretty strong tasting pesto pasta - the pesto component really shines through the dish and the grilled chicken has that really smokey char that brings a lot of flavour. I think that it follows the general theme of what I’ve been sharing so far - good food with a really nice environment to accompany it. Just a really nice hangout spot to be at overall!
Summary
As usual, I’ll try not to give ratings for sponsored collaborations, but I can say this honestly. This is a nice spot for hangouts or just a nice Thursday - Saturday night chillout with their live band. If you need a weekday working spot, it is also cozy enough to work through the afternoon, so I’d recommend it mainly for these 3 things. The food they serve up is comfy and good, albeit maybe still a bit on the slightly pricier end - but for me, that is the price you pay for the environment as well.
