The Hungry Guest in Tonbridge and Malling

Toasted sandwich for breakfast on Farmers market Sunday.

Popped in yesterday for the best coffee I've ever had. My partner and I always prefer to support a small business over the big chains, especially the one on the West Malling high street :-)

I love going here. Food is always fresh and the waitresses always friendly.

1st and last time visiting. Staff are extremely rude. We walked in asking for a table for 4 people with a pram, they told us to sit by the window which was a table set for 2 people and told us to ‘pull a chair over and not block the walkway with the pram’ considering there was a lot of space around us and only one other party in there it was unlikely we were going to block the walkway for anyone. We sat down (squeezed on a small table) with two members of staff quite clearly pulling faces, it didn’t appear they wanted us in there. Maybe they are against children in the restaurant, we are not sure but it wasn’t a nice, welcoming experience. We quickly left before ordering and will not be returning.

Fantastic space both upstairs and downstairs maybe lacking some atmosphere but the food was amazing only few complaints were the atmosphere and toast not being included in the English breakfast but as a £2 optional extra

Top quality food and lovely friendly staff to match

Coffee is great. Cheese, ham & chilli toasted sandwich is what I imagine eating coir matting would be like. I was amazed that card machine requests a tip (I chose not to) when one has to visit the counter to order which is bit of a palaver if seated upstairs. Staff are not friendly and quite abrupt in their manner. I am sure there must be better in WM which I will investigate,

Unfortunately 1st and last time I will visit this place. Breakfast for £10 (sounds good right) doesn't include toast, only bacon, sausage, egg and a tomato....A extra cost of £2 for 2 slices of toast which may as well be bread as it wasn't toasted properly (You can buy a loaf of bread for that). Overall...Massive plate with a small amount of food spread to make it look like there was more food , eggs were overcooked, sausage tasted like a beef burger, bacon overcooked and too hard....The atmosphere wasn't great either as staff member was singing like a cat had been murdered, which isn't what I want to experience when all I want is a decent breakfast in a quiet environment.

Very quiet inside, no atmosphere at all. The service wasn’t great. We had to chase the staff twice for a meal that they missed off our order and milk for our coffees. Online it says there’s a kids menu, there isn’t. You have to creat your own and every item of food is £2+ The food portions are very small yet served on such a large plate. Eggs were over cooked and no option of changing how you’d like them done. Such a shame as it’s not your cheap builders cafe.

July 2024 update: went for some breakfast with the gf and we was seated on a table within 40 seconds (perfect timing I believe as everyone after was waiting or being jiggled about upstairs) the place gets very busy it seems. The service is that you order at the counter this is ok but given the amount of staff I feel table service would be a nice touch you could still take payment at the table if they was to invest in something like a epos till this would also free up the downstairs which can seem overly crowded when people are queuing to order. The food was nice salmon was fresh and delicious on the stack that I ordered. The bacon on my gf breakfast was somewhat burnt but being hungry she ate it regardless. Only negative I have is that when ordering I couldn't help but notice the build up of "thick" dust on the top of the till screen and the hanging lights above the counter. The till especially I think needs a daily wipe as this is the thing people are seeing when ordering. 2023 The food is delicious and cooked very well indeed the price of it though is high £9 + for what they named " a mini English breakfast" we both added a hashbrowns which meant by the time you have a drink its a pricey meal. However we both enjoyed it overall and the staff were very friendly and helpful when needed.

Stopped off for a light bite both had a ham and cheese toasty with chilli jam and a coffe , But when the sandwhich came there was 1 very thin slice of procced ham and the same with the cheese in fact it was more like a pice of toast for £21.00 i expected better

Visited for breakfast on Father’s Day. Good selection on the menu for both sweet and savoury. But as other reviews, quite expensive for what you get. Toast not as standard on a traditional breakfast, or beans. All added extras which is disappointing. Taste of the food was brilliant and the breakfast stack was superb

I’ve been here a few times, I love the places, interior design. But we have always had mixed feelings, there was always one of us dissatisfied with a cooked breakfast. This morning we went there @ 10am for coffees and croissants. The coffees were nice, but the whole experience was not! We didn’t want to make a fuss, but we were horrified to be given Stale old plain and almond croissants. My friend left half of her plain croissants as it was extremely dry, i managed to get through thanks to the drying almond paste. It’s clear, they assume customers are stupid? They charge full price, but sadly don’t give fresh croissants? Which they charge for!!! We left absolutely disappointed. Sadly we cannot recommend this place!!! I don’t think we will be going there again, sadly.

Breakfast perfection! Really delicious produce cooked as requested (my wife is very New York when she orders, can’t have anything as it comes lol). Lovely staff. Lovely cafe. Lots of bits to buy too.

Generally a great place although they seem to lack the ability to cook the sausages right through, so the meat is often a little pink, and the skins aren't rendered.

I have to say first the people that said the staff were moody or rude or unfriendly must have visited another restaurant........or got restaurants mixed up ! We come to this restaurant regularly from Dartford it's a 30 minute drive but it is worth it as in my opinion it has the best coffee we have ever tasted !. .... we are Costa drinkers but walk pass the one next to this restaurant. Please don't change anything especially the delicious coffee . The food is beautifully presented good quality and tasty . The restaurant is beautiful. And the staff are what makes it even more special in our opinion as they are truly welcoming very friendly, especially Hollie and all the staff that work very hard here they are a credit to Caroline and the restaurant. Keep doing what your doing its brilliant .!!

Okay, being placed next to Costa on West Malling high Street may not be great, this place has a great atmosphere and serves good coffee. If you like Pecan Pie (like me), and I found it at the back of the bottom shelf by the till, you're in for a treat. The lady at the counter said, "ah our award winning pecan pie", which I thought a bit of a boast, but was not disappointed. A generous slice of deliciousness was served in the upstairs seating area, which incidentally has open beams and local art works on the walls, and every mouthful was savoured. On the way out I made a point of returning to the till and thanking them for a lovely experience. I WILL go back again, although my cardiologist will hope it's not too soon!!LOL

Great atmosphere prices are reasonable food excellent.

Staff are lovely and food is amazing you must go!

I feel this venue relies too much on its location and decor, both of which are very good. The coffee was ok too. However, my wife and I had a similar experience to ‘Stuart February 2024’. Other than one of the ladies who greeted us nicely when we arrived, we did not find the staff particularly friendly. Abrupt would be the word to use. My wife asked if an alternative was available (previously advertised online), only to be told quite curtly, “Only what’s on the menu.”Perhaps a softer customer service approach may be more appropriate? The menu was again different to what was advertised online so when looking for a smaller English breakfast, none were available. Also, I find it difficult to fathom that both beans and toast (!) is something that had to be paid for as extras - for a breakfast?! This venue has the potential to be a great spot in West Malling, but at the moment it is decidedly average

Came here as a rare treat of having the day off with my husband. Food pricey, but what I had was nice enough…. We had a Lovely welcome on entering however that’s where it ended. Staff were quite abrupt in their response when asked a question about the menu. Won’t be rushing back unfortunately.

Using phone while driving is a disgrace and no thought for the safety of other road users.

Visited here with a friend, like to support local businesses, but wouldn’t go again. Counter staff unfriendly (waitress was good), checked the online menu before going but not the same when we got there (no prawns or salmon), my friend ordered a cheese toasty, was told they only had ham and cheese, so she could have that with the ham taken out?! Food not freshly made to order then? No decaf coffee, bread was hard… would have had a better experience in the Costa chain next door.

Last week on Friday we went in this cafe and it was brilliant! So we went again this Friday. Oh dear - poor choice of cakes, no scones at all (it was only 1 pm!), no sausage rolls! To top this the staff were moody, not friendly at all! Will not be going again this week!

Didn't not have any food, but what a lovely place. We only had drinks and a most enjoyable time. Thank you.

Best coffee by far everything just lovely

Wow - my expectations were high due to the previous reviews but these were surpassed. I took my wife there this morning for a breakfast. Firstly the welcome was warm and d friendly, then we went upstairs to a lovely seating area that’s really nicely decorated. I will be honest, I initially thought that over £9 for what the menu. States as “mini breakfast” was a touch on the high side…BUT when it arrived it’s anything but “mini”. It’s not huge, but you won’t leave hungry, that’s for sure. I added bread and mushrooms, which I definitely recommend. The bread was out of this world. My wife and I both agreed that Every ingredient on the plate for premium quality and cooked to perfection. When I come again (and I certainly will be a frequent visitor going forward) I will definitely add more tomatoes as they were absolutely gorgeous. This place is a real gem. I’m so glad we came here for breakfast.

A delight to visit with a very warm welcome from All the Team. Great choice of food from light snacks to something more substantial, equally just as good for a Cappuccino and an Oak Cookie. “Delicious” Be back very soon.

I have visited many times over the last year and have never been disappointed. Food and service is always very good and nothing is too much trouble. To Charlotte, Holly and the team, keep doing what you do so well.

We used to eat and drink regularly in this café in West Malling and went in for a coffee and a sausage roll. The coffee was as usual very good but the sausage roll was terrible. The filling was tasty but the pastry was hard and not edible. The salad accompanying it was limp and clearly on its second day. We made this point to the waitress we said she would tell the address. Nobody came to discuss and so we left. It’s a shame because it used to be such a good place with caring and professional manager. sadly I don’t think we will return because there are plenty other good coffee shops, very close by. Roses in Swan Street and Costa Coffee just next door.

Lovely cosy, ambience and feel to the place. The staff were friendly enough. Really nice coffee. We ordered a toasted sandwich with mozzarella, basil pesto and tomato and Mushrooms on toast. The toasted sandwich was really good, but given that the Mushrooms on toast cost £1 more it was really disappointing, we asked if they did a poached egg but were told they only do fried eggs! The mushrooms came on dry toast with about a teaspoon on pesto, which made for a really dry eat. Maybe this needs a rethink. Having said that I would visit again but order something different.

I felt we were an inconvenience on arrival. This persisted almost throughout the visit. The mature server behind the counter seemed if she would rather be somewhere else, she was curt almost to the point of rudeness. When the food arrived it was cold. We sat upstairs and I suspect the food had languished in the upstairs serving hatch some while before a server collected it for us. When we complained I felt we were resented for our request to have the food re warmed. Not impolite just very cold service. Came away with the sense that customers were something of an inconvenience in this establishment.

Always enjoy the whole experience here. Fab welcome, great menu and delicious food n coffee. Overindulged today needed a long walk !!! Til next time x

I’m not normally a fan of going out for breakfasts, but this was the best breakfast I’ve had in a long time!! I had the avocado on toast and the family all had the cooked mini breakfasts. All were great.

The food was very nice and the menu did have variety. Will most definitely be returning for the breakfast. On another note, upon arrival my friend was subject to a slide tackle from one of the waitresses. She flew at his ankle like prime Harry McGuire which lead to him not being able to walk though the farmers market. He was extremely upset. Once again, lovely food but a hostile atmosphere to say the least. Kind Regards ‘The Falcon’

We visited recently and I was really looking forward to it as had wanted to go for ages. The first thing I noticed as soon as I walked in was the staff weren't particularly friendly, they weren't rude more a little abrupt. We had 2 kids with us , one in a pushchair and I just felt like a bit of a nuisance. We sat upstairs and the atmosphere was nice enough, but there was no children's menu which I found odd considering how many kids there were in there. You have to go downstairs to order and when I enquired about a kids menu I was just told "no" no other options about smaller portions or alternatives. All in all there wasn't a lot of choice at all for the whole family. The food we did get was nice enough but could have been warmer. I'd like to give it another go as I did like the ambience and atmosphere, but things could be a little better.

We visited here recently and I've been wanting to come here for a while as it's so cosy and welcoming looking. It was a pleasant enough place, but firstly I was disappointed that there wasn't a kids menu. They had a lot of kids in there, and it felt strange that they don't really cater for them. I wasn't offered any kind of alternative, like a smaller portion for kids or anything. Our food was pretty good but could have been warmer. The staff weren't particularly friendly either, not rude at all, but not overly warm or friendly. The lady who greets you when you walk in was quite abrupt, perhaps she was having a bad day, it was extremley busy. Overall it wasn't a bad visit, the place had a lot of ambience and charm and the food was decent. I probably would give it another go, but it did fall flat on a few things.

Visited the Hungry Guest wanting a friendly brunch - had the sausage sandwiches that were cold and below average. Toastie was ok but expensive for an toastie and £2 for a side of very ripe avocado. We took three young children (3, 1.5 and 1 year old) and the staff were blunt and boarding on rude about pram’s being in the restaurant (unrealistic expectation for Mum’s going for brunch). Not very child friendly and considering spent over £40 for two adults lunches and a toastie the children shared wouldn’t recommend or go again… better places in West Malling

From the staff to food the coffee and even the toilets!! The food was perfect!!! Friendly staff and the best pecan pie ever!!! We shall be back very soon Such value for great food.

Have not been to the Hungry Guest for a while now (used to be a very regular customer), as last visit was very average with cold food and very indifferent staff. Tried again today and have to say although the waitress was cheerful this place needs a deep clean. The table was sticky (we were early so no excuse), my coffee cup was chipped and the ladies toilet upstairs was dirty, top of skirting boards, surfaces, edges/corners of floor not clean at all. Such a shame as like to support independent, but no excuse for not being clean!

Service was lovely and very friendly! Bread is fresh and nice but brunch was ok. Maybe stick to baked goods!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Pleasant Morning at The Hungry Guest! My recent visit to The Hungry Guest in West Mauling left me with some mixed feelings, but overall, it was a satisfying experience. The highlight, without a doubt, was their mini English breakfast. Every ingredient was top-notch and bursting with flavor. Quality certainly outweighs quantity here. On the flip side, the service was a bit lukewarm. The lady who served us seemed a tad grumpy, which wasn’t the warm welcome we expected. Additionally, having to pay upfront instead of having a tab for the table was a minor inconvenience. Despite these hiccups, I’m willing to give The Hungry Guest another shot. It’s a place to visit when you’re in the mood for a quality meal, even if it’s not a regular haunt. Here’s to hoping for a warmer welcome next time! 🍳👍

I’ve been drinking coffee, enjoying meals, and entertaining friends & family at the Hungry Guest for years. Everything is always fantastic, and the staff always go above and beyond whenever they can. Weekends are always jam packed, however I’ll guarantee the wait will always be worth it! Highly recommended their brunch, and definitely treat yourself to any of their cakes - personally a big fan of their cookies!

Delicious cinnamon bun warmed in the oven and a lovely cappuccino, nice tables in the upstairs area. Will be back.

Lovely food and excellent service

I absolutely love the food here, the best mushrooms I've ever eaten but the coffee is so hot every time I've had it. Maybe just a refresher in how to make a coffee is needed. It should not burn your mouth when taking the first sip. Just a thought.

After a disappointing meal in another venue in the high st we stopped here for coffee and cake. A chalk and cheese experience the ladies were welcoming and helpful the coffees and cakes were delicious saved our day really thank you ladies

We found The Hungry Guest after looking for a brunch somewhere in and around West Malling and decided to try it after hearing mixed reviews. On entrance the café is lovely and welcoming, big and very well stocked with artisan style breads and premium teas and sauces for sale. We were served by a very friendly member of the team who joked and laughed with us and was very happy and welcoming. Also to note regarding the service every member of staff asked how we were today, even the staff member who brought us our food and drinks, and little things like that do make a place memorable and special. We ordered and the first negative was the price. For a sausage sandwich, cheese twist (which in fairness was huge!), Caramel mocha and a cup of tea the total cost was £17. The tea was £2.75 (for a cup, not a pot!) And the mocha was £4.50! Thought that these prices were a bit extortionate but paid and tried to enjoy it nonetheless. When our food arrived it was presented in an okay manor, nothing spectacular, which was a shame because I expected something special for £6.50 for sausage sandwich... The food was okay, the bread was good quality and the sausages were very good but I still struggle to justify the prices! The atmosphere in the place to me felt like it was half full with people who were just victims of daylight robbery... I wonder why. If you're in the area and want a good quality yet small breakfast for a premium price this place is perfect for you. However I doubt I will return. I will reiterate though that the staff were brilliant.

Disappointed Had a friend with me from abroad So I was gutted Too much money for not a lot I’m afraid Wouldn’t go back Waitress knew we weren’t happy Very disappointed.

Superb cafe. Delicious food, try the Smoked Chicken and Brie sandwich. Just heaven on a plate. Great friendly staff, very helpful and cheerful.

A lovely place, with very friendly staff. I always make as point of coming here whenever I am in West Malling and usually come away with one of their freshly baked breads and some things from their shop. If dining in, you are sat in...

Great food .... lovely staff....good pit stop for lunch

It is a lovely restaurant to have breakfast or lunch. Nice atmosphere. Food good quality and also they sell good quality fare too, wine, Italian sauces, preserves, goodly bread plus more. In case I've left anything out, go and enjoy for yourselves Bon appetit! Freya 🪻

Delicious breakfast, friendly staff and well priced, what more could you want?

Very good service and food, staff are always happy to see you and food is always cooked well, definitely well worth a visit, go in for a coffee and normally end up eating something. Makes a difference as staff always seem happy to see you...

Really lovely food and good service. Fantastic baked goods and deli section. Will definitely be back

Unfortunately, this place did not deliver! I always want to support independent restaurants and cafés but even on a day where it wasn't busy we had to wait 45 minutes for our food to arrive (I know this as I text someone at the time...

First visit here, really enjoyed lovely hot coffee & toasted sourdough sandwich with chips in very nice surroundings.. will definitely return

Great service from Holly. Food is lovely. Friendly atmosphere 😊👍🏻

Lovely staff, nice clean welcoming shop/cafe…nicely filled with goodies….open all day, everyday is a great service to the community…Highly recommend

Visited the Hungry Guest today with a work colleague. Took a table downstairs and had a fantastic breakfast. Drinks and food were really tasty with a very quick order to plate time. Staff were so friendly and chatty. Felt really welcome and will be back...

I’ve been several times since moving locally and have yet to find the food or service anything less than excellent. A lovely place for anything from breakfast to a late lunch.

I’ve been drinking coffee, enjoying meals, and entertaining friends & family at the Hungry Guest for years. Everything is always fantastic, and the staff always go above and beyond whenever they can. Weekends are always jam packed, however I’ll guarantee the wait will always be...

Had a lovely breakfast at the hungry guest, the food was perfect and the staff always go the extra mile to make the experience enjoyable

Excellent. Popped in on the off chance for breakfast, managed to get a table and had enough room to accommodate our pram. The food was lovely and so was the service. Would recommend and will be coming back again.

My friends and I visited the hungry guest for my birthday for a little brunch and coffee on Friday. The food was lovely and such great coffee (I’m fussy with coffee) The staff are always so friendly and chatty. The restaurant is always busy so...

We gave up on a brunch here! Found a table, then had to go back downstairs to order, as they weren't doing table service today!! Menu was different to online, so we asked if they could do a simple mushrooms on toast. Apparently not, even...

Poor service I had drunk my coffee before my toasted sandwich arrived,sandwich was cold ,they were busy but they failed to say I may have to wait £6.50 was a lot fora cold sandwich

Great service and food, really good prices as well!

First time visiting The Hungry Guest and really impressed. Lovely food with great service. Amazing coffee and traditional breakfast food cooked really well. Definitely recommend.

I have visited the hungry guest a number of times of the years. My visit today confirmed that I would never return. Extremely rude, bordering on aggressive service. The member of staff who took our order wrong then accused us of not ordering a drink....

Love it here, staff are always so welcoming, foods delicious, great value and great vibes ❤️

Visited twice in the same week. Both times the food was OK but not fantastic. Staff are generally pleasant

Came here for a nice hearty breakfast. Ordered food downstairs at the counter. The staff were rather abrupt, not rude, but rather abrupt in the way they came across. Ordered two mini breakfasts. Which is supposed to consist of 2 sausages, 2 bacon etc. However when this arrived it turned out to be one sausage cut in half lengthways!! Id also like to add that ANYTHING that would normally be on a full English, such as toast or hash brown, is extra ££ on this breakfast. You want toast? £1 for one slice of toast roughly cut in half. Hash brown? £1.50 please for one hashbrown. Thoroughly disappointed in the lack of sausage and pure greed to charge extra for not much in return. On a side note, the upstairs is lovely and homely however awkwardly quiet. Could do with some faint music.

I visited the Hungry Guest today with my 7month old son. The staff were so caring and willing to help. Great service and made us feel really comfortable. (The food was good too!)

Nice light lunch very pleasant.

Lovely staff, great little breakfast restaurant with a delicatessen downstairs full of inviting things!

Fabulous tasty breakfast served by friendly staff. Lovely range of fresh, high quality produce. So pleased to discover this in our doorstep.

Lovely little place to eat but unfortunately another rip off cafe that charges over the odds. 1 sassuge cut in half to make it look like two 2 tomatoes 2 bacon 1 egg and a coffee. Honestly what is this world coming to when the prices get higher yet what you get is less. Ridiculous! 30 pound for two of these.

Delicious. We had breakfast here. But with great ingredients and carefully cooked it’s as delicious as any meal anywhere. Good bakery too. Great bread and MASSIVE cheese straws too. The service was great - barely noticed it.

I am really disappointed on our visit to the hungry guest. The service was terrible and got my order wrong twice (food and drink). They brought my food up and food was missing from my plate that I ordered after asking where it was they said they were going to get it. After 30 minutes nothing came up and we were finished eating. When clearing away I asked what had happened to the rest of my food and they just said sorry and walked off. I can ensure you I won’t be returning.

Having been in Canada for two plus years. have moved back for two years here and had the most delightful coffee and cake in this great little cafe. Would recommend...not onto some of my old haunts in West Malling over the next few months. Missed...

Good food to start for had veg and standard breakfast, felt that quantity was less like hashbrown and toast should be included rather than add ons and sausage was split into two 🤣🤣

Delicious food, and bigger range than most cafes. We ate upstairs in this lovely grade 1 listed building. Note, not many seats downstairs so might not suit people with mobility problems.

Been here a couple of times, food is super yummy, staff also so friendly and accommodating. Lovely environment. Bakery and shop downstairs. Not 5 stars because not huge amount of variety of food.

We came for breakfast whilst staying at the Farm House. We were greeted by a lovely waitress who was very attentive and polite. The menu had some good options however it was a shame they could only do poached eggs as it’s nice to have...

Recently had lunch at this cafe with my grandaughter, we had a Toastie each and shared a brownie. The elderflower drinks were very nice. The Toastie came with crisps and we thought the lunch would have been much nicer if the Toastie had been served...

Fantastic little café. Portion sizes, quality and service are all fantastic. We will definitely be going back very soon!

I had a mini breakfast which wasn't good the bacon was dry and hard and the fried eggs were over cooked and plastic. Tea and coffee were good though

Love the hungry guest, the staff always welcoming & friendly, feel fortunate to have this deli & cafe in our village. Often call for breakfast or lunch & find the food superb. The take away collection always fresh & delicious. Staff very knowledgeable on the products they sell. I have often brought hampers as gifts for family & friends as Jams & chutneys are the nicest I have ever tasted. Well done to all the team & thank you.

Went here brunch a few weeks ago, loved it and have been back a couple of times since. Really friendly, helpful staff, excellent food. Brilliant little place, can’t fault it!

Popped in for a lovely coffee and a pastry, staff were welcoming and friendly as always, will be back!

Love the hungry guest, the staff always welcoming & friendly, feel fortunate to have this deli & cafe in our village. Often call for breakfast or lunch & find the food superb. The take away collection always fresh & delicious. Staff very knowledgeable on the...

Loved this place. Really friendly and helpful staff, excellent food, literally can’t fault it. They also have some great takeaway options. Since first going in early July, have already been back a couple of times. Every time has been superb!

Popped in with a friend after being recommended and wasn't disappointed. Courteous and friendly staff, fresh coffee and a mean bacon bap....what more could you ask for, will definitely be back that's for sure.

Good selection on the menu, friendly attentive staff and the food was great, look forward to returning again soon.

Go for the hash browns. You're welcome.

Food was nice but the service was slow and staff rude. If you want a quick place to grab a sandwich and a coffee, this is not the place for you.

I would like to give this place a better rating but sadly can't, it took a long time to have our orders taken, then to be told half the menu had run out already and for it to be delivered slowly as well. The overall place was nice clean with good friendly staff as well.

Good fresh food and friendly service.