Hillsborough Star Diner

From Clearing Tables to Owning Them

Engin Koc’s father came to America years ahead of the rest of the family. By the time Engin arrived from Turkiye in 1993, barely a teenager, along with his mother, brother, and sisters, his father was working as the night manager of a Hillsborough diner that stayed open around the clock. The family settled into an apartment in Hillsborough, later bought a house on the other side of town, and never left.

Work came early for Engin. In middle school he would finish class in the afternoon and head to a cafe to take over the dishes, freeing his brother to learn the cook’s job. The money helped the family cover rent and groceries. He kept working through school, including a stint as a busboy at the diner where his father worked, and learned to wait tables at other diners. When his family bought a diner of their own, Engin bussed tables there too, watching how every part of the operation ran.

The Hillsborough diner eventually changed hands and closed. After selling their other diner, the Koc family took over the empty space and reopened it in 2000 as the Hillsborough Star Diner. The name is a nod to the stars on the American flag, a fitting choice for something as American as a diner. Engin’s brother later carried the name to a diner of his own in Pennsylvania. Engin’s father went from night manager to running the place he once worked for, a part of the story Engin is proud to tell. His father has since retired, and Engin owns and runs the diner.

Everything is made fresh on the premises. Engin makes his own broth from turkey bones for the gravy rather than buying it, and the burgers are a custom certified Angus beef blend. A menu that covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner takes cooks who can handle a little of everything, so Engin trains them himself. Having started out washing dishes and clearing tables, he treats the people who work for him as coworkers rather than employees. Service has been the focus since the doors first opened. Guests talk about friendly, attentive servers, a room quiet enough for easy conversation, and prices that fit a family budget.

The diner is still a family operation. Engin’s wife works alongside him, and one of them is there whenever the doors are open. His son and daughter work at the diner too, along with cousins and other relatives. And if you are trying to pick out Engin, look for the man dressed in black. It is the only color he wears.