Kikey's Cafe Authentic Mexican Food — Restaurant in Burien

First time here = disappointed. Arrived Friday morning about 10 AM.

A good breakfast begins with good to great coffee. The coffee was OK, and the coffee service was terrible. Our first cup was drunk before breakfast arrived. We were almost done with breakfast and my girlfriend flagged down a food service worker to ask for a second cup.

I had the veggie scramble which comes with fried potatoes. The potatoes were lukewarm and almost flavorless. Ketchup and pepper would improve the potatoes but there was none at our table. I was not going to wait for lukewarm potatoes to get cold so I ate them.

Onto my veggie scramble. It was served hot but here again, it was lacking in flavor. The veggies lacked flavor. The eggs were surprisingly lacking in flavor. I have no idea why.

This is when hot sauce comes to the rescue but there was none on the table and the service was terrible so I could not flag down someone to ask for hot sauce. When people at the table across from us finished and left, I saw hot sauce on the table, so I got up and grabbed it to finish my meal.

I put the jam on my toasted English Muffin, it had flavor, so there is nothing wrong with my taste buds.

The restaurant had music playing in the background. Nice touch but more speakers are needed so they can keep the volume low instead of turning it up to a level where it can be heard across the restaurant.

We had great difficulty hearing anything the food service workers said when they were at our table. The restaurant has a decent atmosphere, but the fact that we could not hear the food service workers who came to our table pulled my rating of the place down.

The service was not terrible, but it was not good. It was next to being terrible: No coffee refills, no one asking how the meal was, no one asking if we needed anything.

One person greeted and seated us. One person to take our order. Another person brought the food to the table. And another person came by and picked up a few empty dishes. There were plenty of people to provide service, it just was not good.

I only speak English. Myself, nor my girlfriend, could understand what one of the food service workers said when I asked a question. And another food service worker could not be heard with the music being too loud for her voice.

Looking around and seeing what I could see, the place was kept clean.

It always makes a good impression and pulls my rating up if the owner or manager comes around, introduces themself, and asks how everything is. That did not happen. No points taken away, but they could get points added if they did this.

The last part is to take a trip to the bathroom to see if the bathroom is clean and well kept. I did not do that this time, next time if there is a next time.

Across the room I saw a large digital screen hanging. I saw written on the screen that they encouraged people to write a review.

I like seeing this. I applaud this effort, but there is technology available to make it super easy for customers to give a review and businesses using the technology get many more reviews which is good for customers, good for getting customer feedback to improve a business, and good for getting new customers. To have 1% or more of customers leaving a review each month is not much but most businesses fail at this low standard.

My girlfriend had to flag the food service worker who took our order and ask for the check. When the check was brought to the table and we paid, the food service worker said something, but we could not hear or understand what was said. We noticed she gave us a discount and reduced the bill for some reason.

I know what it is like to be super busy in a restaurant, to be short staff, and everyone must hustle to provide good service to customers and service customers even if they are not your table. See what needs to be done and do it to give good service.

That was not what we experienced with the food service workers who came to our table during our visit. I saw no hustle trying to provide good service...

I recently dined at here with my family on Christmas Eve for brunch and had a mixed experience. Here’s a breakdown of my visit:

Food: • Chilaquiles with Salsa Verde: The dish was tangier than expected. Not quite my palette. I’ll stick with the salsa roja next time. I like mines on the spicier side.  Additionally, the tortilla chips lacked crunch, resulting in a soggier texture than preferred. • Concha Rellena: A delightful treat that met our expectations. I’ve never been a fan of concha because I never had a really good one and I felt this was perfect. The concha was not dried at all and I found this to be just right amount of sweetness even with the whipping cream and Nutella. I felt like the bread really helped balance the sweetness of the filling and brought the whole thing together. • Carne Asada Plate: My daughter enjoyed this dish; it was flavorful and satisfying. • Chorizo and Eggs: My husband found this dish enjoyable, though I didn’t sample it myself. • Nutella French Toast: My son felt it was average—essentially standard French toast with a Nutella spread. • Beverages: The standout items were the Chocolate Abuelita and the Horchata Latte. The Chocolate Abuelita was smooth and silky, akin to a dessert in a cup. The Horchata Latte was sweet and slightly spicy, reminiscent of a chai latte but with a creamy finish.

Atmosphere:

The ambiance was exceptional, providing a warm and inviting environment that enhanced our dining experience.

Service:

While the staff was friendly, there were only two servers managing the floor, leading to slow service. Our food was served promptly; however, it arrived at different times, which was inconvenient as we preferred to eat together. Additionally, the servers were not very attentive; my son had to leave the table to request water.

Parking:

The parking area is quite limited, which could pose challenges during peak hours. We came here during brunch at 11:30 on a weekday on Christmas Eve. It started to get busy around noon (lunch time). There is another business that share parking lot, so you may want plan accordingly.

Overall:

My first Mexican Brunch spot in WA State. I’ve been to plenty in AZ, but never here in WA so I’m glad we got to experience this spot. We will try out other items in the menu when we are in the area.

Kikey’s offers a pleasant atmosphere and commendable dishes, particularly the beverages. However, improvements in service efficiency and attentiveness, as well as synchronized food delivery, would significantly enhance the...

A Disappointing Culinary experience Our recent experiences at Kikeys were, unfortunately, far from delightful. While the initial allure of the concept was promising, the execution fell short on multiple occasions. During our first visit, we were met with a lack of attentiveness and a sense of impatience from the waitstaff. After a lengthy hour-long wait, we were seated and promptly asked about our drink order. When we requested water, the server returned within minutes to inquire if we desired anything else, despite our clear indication that we were still reviewing the menu. This persistent questioning, coupled with the server's apparent irritation at our lack of immediate decision-making, created an uncomfortable dining atmosphere. To add to the frustration, we were left to fend for ourselves when our water glasses went empty. We had to flag down a passing server to request a refill, a task that should not have fallen on us as diners. When our food finally arrived, the disappointment continued. The masapan pancakes, which we had inquired about, were a far cry from the promised filling. Instead of the expected generous portion of masapan, we were presented with a meager sprinkle on top. Similarly, my companion's skillet was bland and underwhelming, despite its vibrant appearance. The overall value for the price was questionable, as the portion sizes did not justify the cost. Determined to give Kikeys another chance, we returned with my mother, who was eager to experience the flavors of her beloved Mexico. However, our second visit was even more disheartening. Upon being seated and offered beverages, we were abruptly informed that the kitchen was closed, despite the early hour of 2:32 PM. This abrupt dismissal, after we had already been seated and presented with menus, was not only inconvenient but also indicative of a severe lack of coordination between the front and back of the house. While we appreciate the effort to bring Mexican cuisine to the forefront, Kikeys' inconsistent service and subpar culinary offerings leave much to be desired. A true representation of Mexican hospitality should prioritize both the quality of the food and the warmth of the service. Our experiences at Kikeys fell short on both counts, leaving us with a sense of disappointment and...