Super Stars Cafe — Restaurant in Richmond

Super Stars Cafe 8080 Leslie Rd #110, Richmond, BC V6X 4A8

Ambiance:

The ambiance at Super Stars Cafe was average. While the seating was comfortable, the choice of background music and television programming seemed more tailored to local tastes, which may feel somewhat isolating for non-Chinese-speaking guests. This lack of inclusivity in the entertainment detracted from the overall dining atmosphere.

Rating: 6/10

Food:

Tom Yum Goong Seafood Hotpot with Rice The Tom Yum Goong seafood hotpot was the highlight of the meal. The portion was generous, with a plentiful variety of seafood, including fish, shrimp, mussels, and fresh vegetables. The broth offered a well-balanced flavor, though it fell short of the punchy, spicy kick that typically defines this dish. A touch more heat would have elevated it to a more authentic Tom Yum experience. Nevertheless, the dish stands out as a solid choice for seafood lovers.

Rating: 9/10

Fried Intestines

The fried intestines were an unexpected delight. Expertly fried to a crisp, they offered a satisfying texture and depth of flavor. Paired with a garlic soy dipping sauce, the dish was well-executed and is highly recommended for those seeking a unique starter.

Rating: 9/10

Drink:

I opted for the taro slush, which unfortunately did not meet expectations. While the flavor was adequate, the texture was inconsistent, with ice chunks present throughout, marring the smoothness that a quality slush should provide. The drink could benefit from better preparation to achieve the expected level of refinement.

Rating: 5/10

Service:

The service was the most significant area in need of improvement. Given the nature of the restaurant, my expectations were moderate, but the staff’s attentiveness was lacking. Additionally, communication was difficult for non-Chinese-speaking customers, which could be an obstacle for many diners. Greater attention to service and accommodating all guests would significantly enhance the overall experience.

Rating: 2/10

Price:

The pricing was fair, especially considering the portion sizes and quality of the dishes. It offers good value for those looking to enjoy a variety of flavorful options without overspending.

Verdict:

Super Stars Cafe has potential, particularly with its food offerings, which are well-executed and reasonably priced. However, the experience was somewhat marred by the ambiance and service, which both require attention to cater to a broader clientele. The restaurant only accepts cash, and parking can be a challenge during peak hours, so plan accordingly. Despite these drawbacks, I would return to explore other items...

SERVICE: 2/5 • CLEANLINESS: 2/5 (HAD WORMS IN OUR FOOD) • FOOD: 3/5

My friends and I came across this place while searching HK Style cafes near me. Upon entering, we thought there were only 2 tables but realized there were more tables around the corner. After sitting down, the waitresses insisted on us ordering from the app. The app was extremely confusing and even though we chose "English" on the app, some parts of the menu still appeared in "Chinese" which was slightly confusing as we had to match the symbols to the actual menus. When the food arrived, my friend thought she ordered the fish but instead got steak due to the loss in translation from the app. What didn't make sense was the table behind us had their order taken by the waitress and when we asked if we could just put our order in, they kept telling us repeatedly to order from the app. My other friend had the same issue due to the loss in translation and got soup noodles instead of the pan-fried noodles. We agreed to keep it since it was our fault in ordering wrong from the app. However, in the noodles, we saw 2 WORMS floating around in the soup. When we told the waitress, she was just going to remake it, but instead, we switched to something else. We noticed the same order come out from the kitchen which means they were still serving the exact soup with worms floating around to other tables. Another thing to add is that my friend's meal came with a side of soup, but the waitress brought out the wrong one. Due to COVID-19, if soup lands on your table, they shouldn't be taking it back to serve, yet she took it back and exchanged it for the correct one. Lastly, the drinks that came with our meal arrived when we were halfway done eating. Overall, service wasn't great since they were not super attentive, the food was average BUT HAD WORMS, and they kept insisting on us ordering from the confusing app when they took orders from other tables. Therefore, we will not be...

We ordered Hainan Chicken and when it arrived the chicken was lukewarm and the plate was ice cold. Usually this dish is served either completely chilled or hot from being freshly cooked, so this made no sense to me. If the chicken has been cooked and served freshly hot, why is the plate cold? Did they put the plate in the fridge first and then serve the hot chicken onto it, which caused the chicken to lose heat and become just lukewarm, while the plate stayed cold?

We asked the server and she said that they cook it ahead of time and store it in the fridge, then microwave it for 30 seconds before serving. Thus, the chicken is warmed (but not hot) and the plate stays cold because it was fridge temperature. And indeed, when we got to the middle of the chicken it was cold, as the microwave radiation had only warmed the chicken on the outside.

This is incredibly bizarre to me. This is a dish that is either hot or cold, no in-between. This is not a question of style; I like both hot and cold variations of this dish. But I cannot understand why they would do this microwave procedure, and I don't like it. If they want to cook it ahead of time and store it in the fridge, why not just serve it cold? And if they want to heat it up, why not warm it fully, and serve it on a warmed plate?

Perhaps this is a new variation of Hainan Chicken that Super Stars Cafe has invented. The chicken was actually cooked really well and tasted great, as did the congee and curry that we also ordered. But I cannot forgive this strange...