Shenzhen Restaurant Review: Starling

By Bryan Grogan, January 31, 2019

0 0

The Place

Shuiwei is admittedly packed with restaurants and tasty food choices, but the introduction of Starling, a burger truck from the folks behind Magpie and Woodpecker Smokehouse, is a more than welcome addition to the area’s list of patty purveyors. 

IMG_7536.jpg
Image by Bryan Grogan/That's

The Food

Starling is a burger truck, and it stands to reason that burgers are the only thing on the menu. There’s no messing around here. Visitors can grab a classic burger topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, gherkins and ‘starling sauce’ (RMB35), with the choice to add an extra patty (RMB15) and extra cheese (RMB5). Additional toppings (RMB3) come in the form of peppers, mushrooms, caramelized onions, bacon, roasted garlic and jalapenos. 

IMG_7544.jpg
Image by Bryan Grogan/That's

As the bacon topping was not available the evening that we visited, we went for a classic burger with extra cheese and jalapenos. The burger was undoubtedly tasty, but adding extra cheese without an extra patty proved to be a mistake. We would recommend visitors in search of a meaty feast to pay more for another patty. Aside from that, the burger was a juicy treat. The bun was thick and fluffy, the vegetable toppings fresh as could be, the onions evident but not overwhelming. 

IMG_7540.jpg
Image by Bryan Grogan/That's

Another downside, though, was that our jalapenos, as well as the meat, got lost in the jumble. While we were hoping for a spicy twist, we had to chew hard and long for the zest to kick in. 

The Vibe

As mentioned, Starling is based right in the midst of Shuiwei’s bustling urban village, right up the road from Juice Baby Cafe and no more than 20 feet from Woodpecker Smokehouse. Visitors can enjoy their burger beneath a parasol within a forgiving arched alleyway, which helps to block out much of the wind of February’s wintry weather. If you’ve enjoyed a few pints, this is the perfect spot for an end-of-the-night bite, and probably a feast that your stomach, and your sore head, will thank you for in the morning.

Price: RMB35-70 per person
Who’s going: village people, patty princes and princesses
Good for: end of the night burgers, scrumptious lunch
Nearest metro: Fumin (Exit D), 10 minutes’ walk

Open daily, 3-11pm. See listing for Starling

[Cover image by Bryan Grogan/That's]


more news

Restaurants to Resume Dine-in Service in Guangzhou and Shenzhen

On Thursday, the provincial government announced that dine-in service will be resumed.

New Shenzhen Restaurants: January 2020

A brief look at the new F&B spots we featured in our January 2020 issue​!

10 of Our Favorite New Shenzhen Restaurants of 2019

Here’s some of our favorite spots from 2019.

New Shenzhen Restaurants: December 2019

Looking to try something new? Here, we introduce three F&B spots you should try (or avoid) in December!

New Shenzhen Restaurants: November 2019

Looking to try something new? Here, we introduce three F&B spots you should try in Shenzhen in November!

New Shenzhen Bars and Restaurants: July 2019

Looking to try something new? Here, we introduce three F&B spots you should try in Shenzhen!

New Shenzhen Bars and Restaurants: June 2019

Looking to try something new? Here, we introduce three F&B spots you should try in Shenzhen!

0 User Comments

In Case You Missed It…

We're on WeChat!

Scan our QR Code at right or follow us at ThatsShenzhen for events, guides, giveaways and much more!

7 Days in Shenzhen With thatsmags.com

Weekly updates to your email inbox every Wednesday

Download previous issues

Never miss an issue of That's !

Visit the archives