Review Sheinkin Cafe - Auckland Central

Hanuman Ho

Lovely little cafe on the bottom of Lorne street. SheinKin has a great menu ranting from your standard breakfast fair through to salads and pasta. The salad menu is very comprehensive. My favorite was the roasted beetroot salad. Friendly service and great coffee. I'll definitely be back again

Toko Ngakiau

Just randomly happen to be walking past and found this place. Service absolutely friendly, coffee very good, lamb salad amazing but it was the liver dish that nailed it well done guys!!

Sophia Fairbairn

Nice simple scrambled eggs on sourdough. Eggs were lovely and I love the fresh parsley sauce. Long black was good too

Ivica I

Perfect Eggs Benedict with Salmon and Avocado... (only the knifes could be more sharp... 🤓)

Herman Cheung

This is a gem hidden in plain sight. A delightful cafe for a fantastic brunch and coffee. It's hidden probably because it's on a street that specialises in Asian food and it does have a rather Japanese sounding name! It's bright interior is matched by their colourful foods on their menu, their perfectly made coffee makes you wonder how they aren't packed to the brim with people. Tip: If your favourite cafe in town is full, come here and get Sheinkin a try, they'll usually have a table free, you won't regret coming here.

Anthony Thompson

Love the eggs on toast with the pesto and chutney amazing!. Milkshakes are so so good, a little on the small side but taste is amazing

Laura Ewens-Volynkina

Good food, good coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice! I had the salmon omelette and my partner had the salmon eggs benedict and both were yum.

Neil Mendes

I have always rated the eggs benedict with bacon one of the best in the cbd. For those wanting a lighter meal the mashed avocado and feta on toast is a lighter delight

R B

You're going to have an enjoyable breakfast. First time here in over a decade; yet still a reliable inner city cafe. Try it.

Caroline Kim

I had delicious brunch here! :)

paddy miller

Loved it! We had the most amazing salads there. Service was fantastic, definitely will be back. We found a hidden gem for sure

Mikaire Paul

Eggs Benedict with salmon is Devine. I've had it several times at sheinkin and this dish never ceases to delight my tastebuds.

Daniel Paterson

chicken was perfect. the salmon was not completely cooked so we sent it back. it came back perfect.

Irina Chakraborty

The food has an Israeli theme but also bacon. Coffee was very good.

Charley Marsh

Went here with a colleague who is obviously a regular. Great coffee, muffins are awesome!

David Lister

Excellent Cafe, has excellent service and the food is amazing. The location is quaint and interesting.

Hera Lynn Donaldson

Went in today for a few hours for some lunch and coffees. I had the strawberry pancakes with bacon. Pancakes were light and fluffy and the strawberries were absolutely divine. The bacon was delicious. Excellent service from the waiter and perfect Mochas from the barista!! Give these people a raise cause their food, coffee and service was on point all day! They're a friendly bunch and I would definitely return when I come back to Auckland City. Coffee was hot and tasty and always delivered with a smile!!!

Soo H. Park

“horrible customer service” Love your café and the food, but today I experienced the most bizarre customer service. Went there with friends today at 10.45am, and while we were waiting for our food, the serving girl came to us asking in a rude tone ‘is any of you wearing a perfume? The smell really makes me sick.’ None of us wear perfumes, so we said no, then instead of asking other customers the same question she just went back to work, after the impolite ‘sorry.’ She was obviously picking on us as she didn’t ask the others, and what if we were wearing some? Would we get kicked out because of our perfume? What’s the point of asking anyway? Yes the food was nice as usual, but that service from that girl totally ruined our experience. I wonder if she was a staff in training, otherwise I’ll be very disappointed at your level of customer service.

Mikyeong Kim

Awesome food�

Hazel Caroline Anson

Fast and friendly service, wonderful coffee and impressive menu

Matt Sinnock

Reliably good food.

Veena Soma-Barron

Awesome food - Even MORE awesome coffee!!

KING

Walked past this place countless times but never had the chance to go in. The exterior look into the cafe was simplistic and modern. The choice of food offered on the menu all sounded appetizing! A friend had chosen this pasta which has been mentioned often in the reviews about coming in a bread sort of bowl!😂 The pasta was quite interesting (in a good way of course) and did not seem to taste like any other pasta I've tried before :). For those who like avocado, definitely recommend their avohash it's quite nice. Their eggs benedict is a little bland but that's where you need your tomato sauce and all that jazz. We ordered some fries too and they were absolutely just right crispy cut and excellent. Atmosphere: A little cramped but well lit 3.5/5 Vibe: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Food: 4.5/5 ☆☆☆☆☆

Bridie

the ambience of sheinkin was pump’n (monochrome- but rlly natural, with nice background noiz) in comparison to what is expected from the exterior appearance of the cafe. coffee was solid! food was enjoyable, but not off the scale. service was prompt, friendly, not super attentive however that is what i like about cafes. perfect place so go for a looong catch up with friends :))) design: 7 ambience: 8.5 coffee: 8.75 service: 8.5 food: 6.75

ㅇㅇ

Good cafe with nice food but it's a shame they close a bit early on weekends and sometimes they close their kitchen even a bit ealier than usual. Tried their Pane Pasta. Good flavours, generous portion size and nice to take a picture of to upload on social media.

Adam Benjamin

Actually one of Auckland's best kept secrets! Tucked away on Lorne St, where Council laws prevent an outside eating option, sits Sheinkin café in all it's modest glory. It's an easy feature to walk past, but it's one that you're missing out on. Sheinkin is home to genuinely friendly staff who create a pleasant environment, reflected in the amount of regulars that come through, day in day out. Just genuine people and genuinely quality service. GREAT FOOD with a 'different' menu & GREAT COFFEE where the barista isn't afraid to take a strange order. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Max Howe

I frequent this cafe and can attest to its consistently good service, excellent choice of music, quality of food and of coffee, friendliness of staff, and laid back atmosphere. Also open on Saturday which is nice for a CBD cafe

Medium_Rare

Caught up with a friend for coffee close to Auckland University. I have walked past this place a few times in the past wondering what sort of cuisine they served (Café type meals). I wasn’t so impressed with the actual layout of the café, I found it rather hot and tempered, there wasn’t good airflow in this Café. Had a coffee and small cakey blueberry muffin thing. Was actually impressed with the blueberry cake/muffin as it had a nice almost crisp like texture on the skin but was cakey and moist on the inside. There was also plenty of blueberry flavour without being too sugary which I enjoyed. Coffee was as expected hot and had good depth of coffee flavour. Wouldn’t mind popping by in the morning for breakfast and coffee. Showstopper: Blue Berry Muffin/Cake Overall Grade: B

Diogo Reck

I am writing this review as I lick my fingers afyer trying a bacon and egg sandwich. So yummy! Bread is really good and so well seasoned, not full of salt as most of the places. So far I was only able to try their cabinet food but I am coming back many times to have a better picture.

Sammy & Raphy

Cute atmosphere with fresh flowers on all the tables and a retro-ey vibe. Friendly staff. We had the feta salad and pane pasta. The portion sizes were decent - fulled us up with some to spare. I really loved the pasta but the salad was a tad too flashy for my tastebuds.

Crackerjacker

Came just for a coffee with my friend to catch up. Can’t say the coffee was amazing, there was something maybe the beans that didn’t seem overly please to my taste buds, and it was Luke warm and not hot as you would expect a coffee. The cabinet good looked good, not sure if I would come back. Interesting how my cappuccino came in a glass cup I thought

Soo Park

“horrible customer service” Love this café and the food, but today I experienced the most bizarre customer service. Went there with friends today (23 Sept 2017) at 10.45am, and while we were waiting for our food, the serving girl came to us asking in a rude tone ‘is any of you wearing a perfume? The smell really makes me sick.’ None of us wear perfumes, so we said no, then instead of asking other customers the same question she just went back to work, after the impolite ‘sorry.’ She was obviously picking on us as she didn’t ask the others, and what if we were wearing some? Would we get kicked out because of our perfume? What’s the point of asking anyway? Yes the food was nice as usual, but that service from that girl totally ruined our experience. I wonder if she was a staff in training, otherwise I’ll be very disappointed at the level of their customer service.

Darren Big Belly

Creamy pasta melted cheese in a big bread bowl!? 🤔 Yeah it's good. So tasty. Bit heavy, but well worth it... must try! Good coffee too. Setting was quiet and clean. Food presented well. Service friendly.

Jade0289

I had pancake with banana, and it was nicely cooked. The reason why I gave a 2 is there was a small fly in my water, and I quietly told the waiter (did not want to embarrass him& also ruin other diners moment), but he simply took the water glass away and did not even say sorry to me. When his coworker ask him what happened, he said:" Oh, just a small fly." Maybe a "small fly" in water is a routine in Sheinkin?

Ffionachua

If you're into unique settings, this place has quite a cool decor. The entire place is lit up by dozens of modern styled hanging light bulbs lined on the entire ceiling. We had the Chicken Pasta, Pane Pasta, and a Mocha the other day, and it was good. The Pane Pasta comes served in bread! A really interesting concept - but I reckon carbs on carbs is probably not a great idea, since both pasta and bread are dense. Nevertheless, the flavours are there. If you really love your carbs, this is a good option for you. Note: My meal didn't feel complete as I like my pasta with some heat, but unfortunately they do not have chilli flakes or chilli oil. Only tobasco. :( Would've been great if they did as this seems like a standard offering available at most places that serves pasta. Overall I had a decent time at that place. The coffee was also good.

Jenny

Had their steak sandwich and coffee deal for $15.90 which was absolutely delicious and fulfilling, while my friend had smashed avocado which was $9! Will be back for the steak sandwich, rather cheap and so yummy! Meat and mushrooms were marinated and it had plentiful veges including avocado and a whole tomato 😍😍😍

Michelle Small

Big breakfast with a pot of English breakfast tea, was yum & a bit large for me but very good food & service & better than some on a GrabOne voucher

Kirsten

UPDATE: Today I came here for brunch, and tried their Pane Pasta! Their pasta dishes are amazing, I loved the creamy pasta sauce that was inside the bread bowl. The bread was so crispy and crunchy! The cappuccino was so good; Allpress roastery, which means strong coffee! This cafe will not disappoint you, and is a perfect place for brunch/lunch date. Friendly staff and efficient service as well! Splendid! Ordered a salmon pasta and an avocado salad for lunch. Pasta was absolutely delicious. The pasta sauce was creamy and wasn't runny nor thick. The pasta was cooked perfectly, not chewy and hard. The avocado salad was very filling and light. Good service, nice staff. Will have to try their coffee next time!

Steph

had a beautiful Sunday morning breakfast here a couple of weeks back. Mushrooms with a beautiful glossy rich sauce- nice sharpness with a touch of balsamic. Well done.

Marggie Pascua

I've had brunch here twice, usually on Wednesdays. I've had the French toast and the pancakes (on separate occasions) and tried their coffee. Coffee is average, French toast was a huge portion definitely worth it for the price but pancakes are the best. They're not the normal pancakes with fluffy round pieces, they are close to being a crepe but they are amazing. Love that there's fruits and bacon and a lot of maple as well. Would definitely come back to get pancakes again.

Bella Qian

This place always has amazing food and coffee. The serving sizes are double what other cafes serve and a for the same price. Their coffee is cheap yet good and the service is fast. The waiters are always smiley and very nice. One of the best cafes in Auckland city by far

Inês Yebra

Had the pancakes with strawberry and a cappuccino. It was really good and the staff was very nice. The decoration of the place is quite simple.

Veronica Te

This cafe had a nice relaxing and happy vibe. Visually appealing with a simple black and white colour scheme. The food was pretty good but the cabinet menu was very minimal and didn't look too fresh. Portions are decent and presentation was basic but well done. The service was quite slow as there were only 2 people servicing and cooking

Kerryj

I've come here many times over the years and have always enjoyed their coffee. My last visit was on a Saturday and there seemed to be less selection in the cabinet. I ended up having a crisp biscotti which was a perfect accompaniment to my latte. Service is excellent and food has always been exceptional.

Spencer's Reviews

Had their deal which was an Open Chicken Sandwich and was that yummy or what! Also tried Almond milk for the first time with a divine Mocha, great service and great cafe. Watch out SheinKin! You may have just recruited a regular! :)

Andrea Heffernan

The brunch experience was faultless! The scrambled eggs with salmon with a side of mushrooms was sensational. The mushrooms were creamy with a hint of balsamic vinegar. Coffee was med-strong, just right. Service was very friendly and efficient. We went here two mornings in a row!

Karen Gu

To be honest , I always want to this coffee store when I go through the street, I am always attracted by the beautiful decorations. But unfortunately, the coffee is not so good,really, tastes light, watery. Although the staff is friendly, we won't go there again.

Central Intelligence

I felt compelled to sign up to Zomato and write a review after googling Sheinkin's opening hours and seeing a rather scathing review from a recent patron. My family and I, along with countless colleagues, have been happily frequenting Sheinkin since it opened (15/20 years ago?). I honestly can’t recall a bad meal, or the café not being busy. It's had a few changes of ownership sure, but the great menu has been consistently maintained throughout the years. My son (a university lecturer) and I (corporate business owner) recently had the salmon eggs and the Israel plate for lunch; everything was delicious and well presented as per usual. The owners and staff are incredibly polite, efficient and friendly. It’s sad to see disparaging comments that could possibly affect someone’s business and livelihood all because of one reviewer continuing to order something (much to their disappointment) that may never be in their palate range. Sheinkin is a great choice for CBD café dining.

Linh 💛

I have a habit of ordering Egg Benedict or a Salmon dish whenever I try out a new cafe/brunch/lunch place, same at SheinKin. I have been here twice. First time was long ago, I remembered ordering egg benedict with salmon and hated it. Second time was today, I made the mistake of ordering the omelette with toast and salmon. Not only did it taste bland and bad, I ended up having stomachache afterwards 👎🏻 Both time, the salmon was really really bad, not just the cooking on it but the quality of the ingredient itself. If I ever come back to this place (which is highly unlikely), it would probably be safer for me to just have tea, or something that doesn't involve salmon. Anyway, my bf had their special, which was the steak sandwich, and he actually enjoyed it. My other friend also liked his passion fruit cake and latte. So perhaps SheinKin only sucks at salmon dishes. As for the place itself, I think it is average in interior and decorations. However the staff was very friendly. The prices are normal for a cafe, ranging from 10-20$, but because my salmon dish was bad, I felt a bit disappointed and ripped off 😞 Still check the place out if you want, as it is right on Lorne street, very central and convenient, just don't order any salmon, trust me!

Glenn Turner

A great cafe which has been going for ages. Great food, coffee and service in the CBD. Also opens early at 0630 for the early birds. Great eggs.

Vivi S

Date with A this morning/afternoon! It's been so long since I last saw her, or even talked to her, such a busy lady that she is. But every time it's still so comfortable to be in each other's company. We went to this Sheinkin cafe on Lorne Street, where I had been once before. They have a clean white interior and is a popular dining option for the professionals working in town. Their lunch menu is satisfying, but we were keen to try out their sweet selections in the cabinet for a 'light' eat.

Thegreeats

Great food! Always walked past this place without much thought as from the outside it's not very attractive or welcoming Average interior, in fact not much interior at all. But the food was great ! It was a pleasant suprise Has their pane pasta which was superb and their omelette! Really yum and friendly service Will come back :)

Monique Porteous

Had always wanted to try this place after walking past it for three years on my way to uni each day. The outdoor setting is really cute and stylish. As I went inside I found myself being a little disappointed with the decor, it was a little outdated and didn't feel very clean to me. The service however, was very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was good with lots of business people having coffees which made the place feel very 'city' like - I enjoy that! The menu is pretty standard 'cafe' style (which means everyone will have something to try there!) I got the eggs on toast, the eggs were perfect! Not too milky or eggy (haha) 🐣 Overall this place is alright, pretty cheap too.

Sheena

My best friend and I used to come to Sheinkin frequently for brunch during uni! Unfortunately I haven't been too recently, because he's graduated and he's busy working but this used to be our go-to cafe! I have had the bacon eggs benedict countless times and it's one of my faves. The seasonal fruit salad is also delicious, and when I got this, the presentation was absolutely beautiful. It tasted nice as well! We also like the coffee here as well, and I love the big bowl option of coffee! MMMM. Service is friendly and efficient! It is quite a small cafe, but the ambience is relaxing and the restaurant is clean!

Razelle Icaro

Went here for a pre-class breakfast awhile back. Staff was really friendly and as you can see on the photo, the food was served quite aesthetically. I really liked the hollindaise sauce, i just found the bacon to be a bit salty. Coffee was average. But overall, not a bad place for breakfast

MommyYummy

Good coffees nice place. They have the classic All day breakfast Menu With Poached Eggs, Big Breakfast, Vegetarian Breakfast and Muffins. They also have fresh Orange food. Medium size coffee with some tables outside. Friendly staff, clean place, they have always new magazines to read. 😉👍 Mommy friendly :? No too much space for a trolley and they have stairs at the entrance. Maybe outside if weather is.Ok.

Jaya

We had brunch here one time, but I'm not sure if I'll be coming back. Food was OK--I had the French Toast. Nothing amazing. The outdoor setup is cute, but the inside looks a bit cold and under decorated.

Angela (A Style Collector)

We stumbled upon this place on a Sunday. The other cafes in Lorne St were packed and this has tables. It looked really nice from the outside and the menu looked alright too. We went in and it was so warm! It was nice and toasty inside which was good for that cold morning. The staff were nice and served is straight away. I got the pasta and my friends had something from the breakfast menu. One of our friends ordered something different from the menu and they were also accommodating to her request which was great. They said they both enjoyed their meals too. What surprised me the most was how fast our food came! For three hungry people, that a major plus as we didn't expect it. My plate of pasta was huge and it was a struggle to eat it all. However it was nice and tasty. It had a lot of meat but the serving was big. I only had juice but I noticed their coffees are cheap compared to other places. I wouldn't mind going to this place again.

Jenny Da

Always loved the eggs Benedict from here. Perfectly poached and well presented! The mushrooms were nicely sautéed with the right amount of condiments. Staff were very friendly and took our order promptly.

Aniva Huang

I can't believe I haven't come here sooner even though I've only heard good things. I got the smashed avocado feta on toast with a poached egg with a side of smoked salmon. It was so yummy and at a good price! I ordered a flat white and it had very little foam!! I'm so happy. Finally ! I also got a flat white

Fylde

My favourite cafe in central Auckland, nice food and brilliant decor (love the lights). The mushroom bowls are to die for and without par. They also do great bagels. Have had mixed experience with the coffee bad the service but the food is superb.

Sungsam7

Service here is always friendly and the barista knows how people take their coffees. It's a nice touch. I ordered eggs on toast - that's 3 well poached eggs on grain toast accompanied with a lovely relish with a bit of a kick to it. My friend enjoyed his omelette. We both strayed somewhat from the menu and they were accommodating to our wants. While the coffee was very good my first tiny grip is the large cappucino is the same size as the small take away latte. When I asked if my coffee was large I was assured it was...I don't think so. Second tiny grip, it's impolite to ask 'are you paying for the lot?'. Actually why is this a standard (and annoying) question in the food industry??? Drives me nuts - sorry SheinKin you are not the only ones that ask this annoying question. The question should be 'and what will you be paying for today?'

Diana R

The thing that sets this place apart is the service. We are regulars and our coffee order is at our table just about before we can sit down. We both love their mushroom omelette, himself has toast, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.... They always just check that we are going with our usual order. The food always comes out quickly which is great when time is limited on a work day. The coffee is great and the orange poppyseed muffin toasted is delicious. Most early morning breakfasts we are surrounded by other 'regulars'. We don't work in the city and have a myriad of cafe choices around our work places however this place is consistent and worth detour.

Duncan Galletly

A nice little cafe in the CBD. Simple decor and good ambience. We go often when in auckland doing the clothes and book shops on high street. The coffee and service are ok and the menu is good for brunch. I invariably go for the Israel plate - as I do at dizengoff across town in ponsonby - I love chopped liver! Nothing huge but just a nice little cafe.

The Incredible Edible

If you feel like #Brunchbumpin in the city then Sheinkin is not a bad place to go to We heard the guy that started Dizengoff helped out with this place so thought we'd give it a go We knew we had to try their mushrooms and scrambled eggs to see if it had the Dizengoff appeal. The dishes came out and looked very familiar The balsamic mushrooms was served with the green sauce and crusty Vienna bread, it was ok but needed to be cooked a tad bit longer to burn off the vinegar The French toast bread stick dish was a massive serving and had a side of Pastrami I think we were disappointed as we had high hopes of it being similar to Dizengoff and to be fair the food was good just not as good as Dizengoffs brunch

Ryan Lal

Came here for breakfast early one morning with one of my best mates. Place had a decent decor but nothing too special. Waitress was really friendly and the place was nice and clean. Ordered a Mocha and the pancakes with Bananas. Pancakes were a bit soggy but still tasty and the cinnamon flavor was really nice. Mocha was quiet standard. Would gladly return here for a casual breakfast but for the full breakfast dining experience, there are better places in Auckland.

Ninjunkie

Went here for brunch and enjoyed the food very much. Big servings; great for hungry tummies. Well worth the money. They also do all day breakfast for all those who enjoy eating breakfast meals anytime of the day.

Andrew Smith

Have been here a couple of times for a family lunch on a Sunday. Always good food, pleasant staff, a bit quiet on a Sunday, but always been a good experience.

Andrew

Have been regulars for ages. Stopped in for lunch on Sunday 28 Sept. "Not bovvered" was the general demeanor of the our waitress. Poker-faced, I assume she has not had an iota of customer service training. Food and coffee was yum however the house salmon had a surfeit of aioli..which wouldn't be a downside in some books. Otherwise very happy. Will return of course however I suggest the service definitely needs attention, would be a 4 otherwise.

Lucia Florence

Sheinkin has always been a CBD highlight for me. The interior is beautiful, the staff are always professional, and the food is really lovely. They have a great range of options from good value bagels to fantastic lunch options. The coffee is consistently good! Very trendy atmosphere, a lovely place to visit. I've been going here since 2008 and the standards have not slipped - which is rare in the Auckland cafe circuit! Well done guys. Please keep it up!

Diana

Picked Sheinkin as husband and I are determined to get through the best cafe list in a 2012 metro. Breakfast was one a very nice creamy mushrooms and toast - just the right portion size - and a delectable French toast with maple syrup, bacon and bananas. Coffee was good and am just right as requested. The meals and coffees came in good time. One star less in the rating for the stilted atmosphere. A friendly greeting and some smiles for arriving guests would have made all the difference.

Bavan Gnanasampanthan

I went for Brunch today and was met with great friendly service. There is a great selection of food for both breakfast and lunch. The food and coffee were delivered very quickly and tasted fantastic. I highly recommend going there!!

Katherine

Top marks in every respect - nothing ordinary. Exceptional menu, accommodating friendly wait staff, flat whites come standard 2 shot (as they should) and buzzing atmosphere. My fav is the salmon filet on bed of roast vegies. So yum. Only difficulty is deciding between other equally tasty choices. Wished they were open for dinner.

Andrew Symons

Awesome food, Service quick and friendly great coffe Try the Liver best in town great decor too