Review The Candy Shop - Auckland Central

Fabulous creamy mushrooms and excellent coffee. I explained that I only had 30 minutes and they had a perfect lunch in front of me in 8 minutes flat (even though it was during the middle of the lunchtime rush). Lovely serving staff!

We've been meaning to try The Candy Shop for such a long time and we finally did it today and it is really great. Their coffees are full of flavor and the food we had was spot on. The scampi pasta was one of the best we had. We ordered omurice with pork belly on a side so my son can have it but, although it was cooked to perfection, the porkbelly was tasteless. Maybe it was meant to be eaten only combined with the omurice (I feel that's the case). All in one, great place and I cannot recommend more!

cute and high-quality fusion cafe in town❤️ the food was fantastic!!! we love the curry rice with pork belly so much👍🏻

I was initially surprised that I couldn't get actual candy here, but after a few moments I managed. The food here is pretty good as were the warm drinks. A very relaxing atmosphere is also a big plus.

We came here for lunch and they were way too busy. Though manager was super nice but other staffs looked like they were there to make some money. Food was really great! Deserve to get a good review👍

Still waiting for the day The Candy Shop will disappoint, they just never do I was a bit sad there was no batch brew but food as always was on point, the udon was really yummy on first bite but then flavors paled in comparison to the other more flavorful dishes. Also a slight miss was the bibimbap, a little on the lighter blander side of things. But they can do no wrong with their scampi pasta!!! So so good and cooked to perfection every time. WOW their Kale, cauliflower, broccoli salad was SO delicious!!! Strongly recommend, cooked so well, such a delicious sauce! And their chilli crab scramble - very generous on the crab side and perfect eggs. Don’t get me started on how yum the Croffle was, they never fail with their Croffle!! So yummy!!!!! 😍😍😍

yum yum yum!! the food is sooo good. My friend and i got the omurice and bibimbap to share and both were super flavourful and delicious!! Portions are really good and service was quick. The servers were quite busy tho so it took a while to get seated but other than that great service and amazing vibe. Would definitely recommend!!

Love the food here. We had the chilli crab scrambled eggs and the prawn spaghetti, both so tasty!! The eggs had good chunks of crab meat hence the $29 price tag 😅

Very busy, great vibe and very attentive staff! Good food and coffee!

Ordered the Omurice rice - flavours were great. Added the pork belly which is always a must. Sphaghettini, with prawns was also very good with lots of prawns. Was busy during lunch, food took 30mins to come out. 5/5 for food 4/5 for atmosphere and staff

One of our friends recommended this place. We were there for lunch but only tried Prawn burger and the dumplings. I loved the prawn burger, the prawn patty was crispy outside and still juicy inside. But the dumplings lacked flavour. There are so many other dishes that I'd like to try. Will definitely go back.

This restaurant is undoubtedly an amazing one! We came for my birthday and what an amazing experience, from start to finish everything was perfect. Loved the Egg bene. So delicious. I'll be back with my partner for sure!

Went there for brunch. Very busy place but staff are so friendly and welcoming. Attentive service even at the busiest time. We had fried chicken burger and Tiramisu Croffle, it was delicious. Highly recommended.

Visited twice. Satisfied with both the food and services. Good coffees good vibe and good dishes. I have tried twice the Egg Bene with slab bacon，just really like the Hollandaise sauce which taste a little bit sweet but not greasy. Only the poached eggs were a little over boiled. For the fried chicken burger，it's the Korean fried chicken flavor. The meat should be drumstick other than chest. Tender and juicy. Recommend with four stars.

Nice and cozy seating. Amazing looking dishes and super tasty. We ordered Gochujang kfc and Dolsot bibimbap (v) and lychee mai tai. Couldnt finish the fried chicken so took the rest home. Also loved the service.

Had a lovely experience here at the Candy Shop, heard so much about this restaurant and certainly not overrated. Great menu choices and love the uniqueness of the food with korean influences. We started with the Crispy Eggplant with soy glaze, sesame, chilli which was absolutely delicious and crispy while soft on the inside. The seafood Kalguksu (noodles) withscallop, confit garlic, cockles in a creamy mussel broth was full of umami flavour and so comforting, the noodles were perfectly al dente. This was my favourite and I would highly recommend this dish. The beef short rib was also another must try - beef was tender and cooked to perfection along with the oyster mushroom and bulgogi butter. Absolutely wowed by the food at the Candy Shop, service was also excellent! Would definitely be back, this time to give their brunch menu a go!

Been here a few times, it's always busy. Food is always yummy. Good portion size. Good service. Would recommend for brunch. Still yet to try dinner here.

Amazing decor and vibe. I think I read about this place in a magazine. Service was very attentive. The portions are quite small. The fried chicken was tasty but the sandwich was just a standard sandwich. Note this place is a fusion restaurant

We went there 18th July. I’ve been wanting to write this review for long time. Was just too busy. I can’t believe a nice looking cafe in central of Newmarket that provides this crappy customer service. We went there with 2 little kids. And that guy gave the low table to a lady that eating alone. (That low table can fit all us, we came in same time) And gave us a high table with 2 little kids. I was like.. what? Is the chair going be too high for the kids? Do you think it’s a bit dangerous? And that guy was like take it or leave it. And he rolled his eyes and walked away. How nice is the customer service! First time see it. if that was not too late for lunch, the kids were hungry. I’d have just walked away. Will never go back to this cafe again and never recommend to anyone. (Ps. Kids are only 5-yo. Not big kids like 8/9 yo)

Came here friday evening with my boyfriend, the shop was not crowded at all. The atmosphere was great. Amazing food, got the polenta chips and kfc gochujang. Amazing flavours really love the polenta chips! Crispy and melts in your mouth! <br/>However the portion size are uneven, me and my boyfriend got the same order and he got lesser amount of food than i did and for the price we’re paying and i think its unfair. <br/><br/>The customer service are great but there was this one girl who works there and she seems very impatient and annoyed. I get that its the evening and she probably had a long day but its not appropriate to glare at customers. <br/><br/>Overall love the food and atmosphere will definitely comeback

went there for lunch because i heard a lot of good stuff about this place so i decided to give it a try.<br/>loved the ambience! very comfortable and cool.<br/>ordered Dolsot Bibimbap, had to wait for a bit as it was very busy <br/>the presentation of the food was really eye-catching 👍<br/>as i was mixing the bowl, i noticed that there wasn’t any sauce in when it says gochujang on the menu ??? so i had to ask for the sauce as it was very dry <br/>i tried the dish and was very disappointed because of the lack of flavour in that dish? it tasted like boiled vegs with just gochujang and some sesame oil?? i just added a dash of salt and finished the food without feeling satisfied <br/>i guess i expected more as $19 is not very cheap and also i heard a lot of good reviews <br/>if i do go back next time, maybe i will try other dish👍<br/>personally did not like the Dolsot Bibimbap <br/>

I've been a few times now and it's always a great experience. The Eggs Benedict with bacon is divine. Lovely hot chocolate too.

Had the seaweed kalguksu which was delicious! The broth was so creamy and rich but a tad on the salty side. Also had the polenta chips - not pictured, but absolutely divine!

A very good cafe with cute decor and good food. Egg Benedictine’s with salmon was a surprise. Expected a small piece of salmon but instead was given a big chuck, which made our day!🥰

Awesome evening with a booking for 28 for my birthday. Stunning food, service and atmosphere. Everyone had a great night .. nothing was a problem and communication was great with the details. Loved The Candy Shop for there superb food plenty of times in the past but this was just the icing on the cake. Can’t thank or praise them enough

𝑬𝒈𝒈𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑮𝒐𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒚: Literally was convinced as soon as I saw the word "gochujang" because I am a sucker for anything Korean fusion! The pork belly 🥓was obviously satisfying every inch of my taste buds. Their polenta chips was very interesting as it was crispy on the outside, super soft on the inside yet with a hint of eggy taste. 🤤Which was actually very nice especially when the potato rosti was super crispy inside out and it provides a great balance.⠀<br/>⠀<br/>𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝑯𝒐𝒕𝒅𝒐𝒈: When we saw the name of this we were like "Say no more!" because who can resist a cheese steak hotdog🌭!? Creamy cheddar was a heavenly addition to the hotdog. The beer battered shoestring fries is exceptional!⠀<br/>⠀<br/>Say's 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒂 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 also looks amazing! Thanks @thecandyshopnz for phenomenal experience and food! Can't wait to come back for more 😝⠀

First time having batch brew coffee and very impressed

One of the best Old Fashioned cocktails my partner and I have had. Perry was fantastic and very personable to interact with. We will definitely be back.

Oh my god, THE BEST CREME BRÛLÉE IVE EVER HAD!! Honestly not joking I dream about this Creme Brûlée it is actually so perfect 🤣 I really enjoyed the food at the candy shop, it has been on my list for years but I finally was able to visit with my friends and it did not disappoint! Would recommend the candy shop for brunches with friends ☺️

Clam & Scampi 🍝Spaghettini from @thecandyshopnz lunch menu, it’s so fragrant and cooked perfectly al dente 💯 one of the best pastas I’ve had in Auckland! Honestly wasn’t expecting much ordering a pasta dish from a cafe but was so pleasantly surprised!<br/>.<br/>My friend ordered the Seaweed Kalguksu (Korean handcut noodles), served in a creamy soup with scallop and cockles🐚. Look at that huge scallop that came with it🤩<br/>.<br/>💲Price $24 each<br/>😋Taste 4.8/5<br/>📍Newmarket

The chair was sticky with leftovers, which I had to clean myself. The waiters had a snobby and rude attitude which ruined the overall ambiance of the room. The food was underwhelming and cold when it arrived, which took 45 minutes. Terrible service and terrible food, won't be coming back any time soon.

The Candy Shop has been recommended to me countless times. Countless. Given its proximity I'm surprised it took me this long to give it a shot. Couldn't fault a single thing wrong. <br/><br/>Coffee. Hot and strong. <br/>Benedict. Faultless. <br/>Polenta fries. Crispy. Cheesy. Out of this world. <br/><br/>Saw a plate of fried chicken go past us and got massive food envy so we will be back to sample that. Just bear in mind the crowds can get quite large so expect a 10 to 15min wait. <br/>

The Matcha Pancakes were absolutely delicious, you didn’t need to use a lot of maple syrup because they were so tasty on their own especially with the rhubarb and strawberry/matcha cream. I would definitley go back again and look forward to trying other meals out. The Matcha Latte and English Breakfast were also very tasty. Good value and quality for money. The music was calming and had good energy. The place was busy but clean and had really nice decor.

they don't have a very big menu but won't be<br/>a problem cause food was pretty amazing. <br/>Services was quick and food came out quick! <br/>can't rmb what the meals called but it was so flavouring and I really liked the green pasta. <br/>sadly didn't get to try out their signature fried chicken but that give me excuses to go back. <br/>the size of the iced coffee was too small tho if you are a coffee drinker.

Busy spot for brunch <br/>Friendly staff when great and we were sat in the smaller section inside but it was chilly in there <br/>Nice options on offer . The coffee was great though I did think a little pricey for the size .I also had a tea that was lovely<br/>The food was good overall ,we had the avocado on toast that was the most substantial ,my friend also had a dumpling soup that was good and I had the cauliflower salad that was tasty but could have been a little bigger <br/>Nice spot but I have to say service is slow though we were near the kitchen and they are always on the go but even for just drinks if its busy expect a little wait

一家在Newmarket的网红cafe.(至少我觉得是)环境简约自然，顾客非常享受在这里用餐，适合聊天装bi。菜单是Asian Fusion （我自己就很喜欢这种类型）<br/>食物 Matcha Pancake 4分<br/>Strawberry cream, Mascarpone, rhubarb, almond crumb <br/>抹茶+pancake，名字是有新意的，但是我觉得就是好吃的pancake 🤣没有抹茶味道，Strawberry cream 和Mascarpone出色😉🤘🏼特别是配合pancake.😇👅👓👑高分，个人口味对rhubarb和almond crumb不感冒🤧，总体感觉良好。<br/>咖啡3.4分<br/>Long Black (KIWI小孩）不行不好喝，根本不能勉强喝完。<br/>Soy Flat White (韩国🇰🇷)好喝多了，我爱的Soy Milk 品牌<br/>我觉得只要是那位韩国barista做的，都应该安全一点。<br/>总体算是性价比高的coffee shop. 适合精神和肉体年轻的消费群😆。

We thought everything was ‘good’, nothing particularly stood out as being amazing or bad, compared to our experience at other restaurants/ cafes. Food was good, service was also good but not super attentive or friendly.

Wow! I’m gonna put it out there and say top 3 burgers in my life! And I’ve had a lot!!! God it was good! As was the polenta fries. My friends all loved their meals and we agreed before we had even paid, that we would be back. Everything was perfect. Service great and decor was beautiful. Highly recommend.

Started with the polenta chips - thin crispy outer layer with soft and smooth potato inside topped with cheese and truffle oil mmmm. Followed this up with the fried chicken with rice cake and katsu sand. Chicken tasted great with the gochujang glazed gooey sauce as you would with other kfcs. Sando was average and dry because of the thick piece of meat but just looked picturesque, so had to order tbh.

Came for a group brunch and generally a positive experience although we were cramped outside on a small table for 10 people in the sun. Had to ask several times and wait forever to get water refills which should be expected for a large table. Food came out slow but was generally okay for the price. Could have had clearer explanations of certain items e.g. crab meat scrambled eggs was with surimi, not real crab meat.

$18 for 3 very small sliders, and we waited for a long time for food.

Really nice food, fast and friendly service! Would recommend trying dessert if you have a sweet tooth! Was really nice however the area is quite crammed as of the location

I’ve been here twice for lunch and dinner, and both times I was not disappointed. My personal favourites are the vegan bibimbap and pumpkin salad. Very beautifully presented and everything tasted amazing. I would recommend making a booking if you’re planning on going during peak time.

Been here a few times for lunch when I used to work in newmarket, food are amazing , but my favourite has to be their green tea latte ! The best I can find in Auckland ! I miss it so much now working in city ... I have to make a trip here every now and then for this amazing green tea latte !

Lovely place, great atmosphere but a real disappointment in the service. Came in with a friend, no front of house to assist us to a seat, i waited in a corner and all the staff were just staring at me and my friend. I had to find a table for myself, and when i finally sat down i had to ask several times for the menu. Some of the staff very unattentive, i asked for water to our table several times and still couldnt remember. Overall a real disappointment as ive had better service in my previous visits. Please have better organisation to cater for your patrons instead of just staring at them.

I HIGHLY recommend the creamy mushrooms. Perfect balance between savoury and sweet. Polenta chips was served piping hot with lots of cheese. Omelette was visually delicious but I found it underwhelming in taste. Service and coffee were at standard. Keen to go back to try other dishes on the menu but will likely just order the creamy mushrooms again because it was just that amazing!

Food is beautifully presented on the plate. The matcha pancake has got an optimum sweetness and the special maple syrup along with the cream intensifies the overall flavour. The KFC is well-balanced with the sweetness of the honey and the spinciness of the Gochujang. Also the crispiness of the chicken didn't disappoint. Will definitely revisit sometime soon !!

Can’t believe that flying insects circling all around our dishes...... The coffee is good, but the food is just average. The high chairs are not comfortable at all.

Can’t stop, won’t stop eating Candy Shops fried chicken!<br/>We got the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), for $39, platter between two of us and it was amazing.<br/>We couldn’t finish it all so I would recommend sharing this between more than two.<br/>The spicy garlic chicken is perfect and not too spicy so you can eat piece after piece of it!!!<br/>My favourite is the ttokbbokki (fried rice cake).<br/><br/>11/10<br/><br/>Also must try is the polenta chips 🥰

I found the food at Candy Shop fairly underwhelming given all the good things I'd heard about it. The katsu sando was not as good as I was hoping mainly because the pork was so tough. The chicken was pretty good - some nice flavours here - and I enjoyed the polenta chips most. Service was also pretty good!

Beautiful flavours sauces and technique. Well matched and perfect on the pallet. <br/><br/>Very impressed with the chef that came up with the menu. Please keep it up! Have been back many times and many more times to come.<br/><br/>Service: 3/5<br/>Environment: 4/5<br/>Food Quality: 5/5<br/>Food Quantity: 4/5<br/>Presentation: 5/5<br/>Price per person: $30-$40

A good place to hang out with friends. Matcha latte and kfc are super super good which I highly recommend. Service was also good as well. Definitely go again.

I’ve been recommended Candy Shop for the LONGEST time, and it definitely did not disappoint! I came here for a super late lunch, so the place wasn’t very busy, but there were still a decent number of people in the restaurant.<br/><br/>We ordered the Black Fettucine, polenta chips and the crispy eggplant. I literally have NOTHING bad to say about anything I ordered! I LOVED the crispy eggplant – the sauce perfectly balances out the oily taste of the tempura. The polenta chips were super-hot (temperature wise) and crispy and came with a LOAD of cheese! The pasta was the perfect balance of chewy and sauce-y.<br/><br/>Definitely a cute brunch or dinner place and I cannot wait to come back soon to try the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken!)

I came to The Candy Shop with my friends for lunch. Firstly, I love the atmosphere and decoration of the cafe, there were outdoor/indoor seatings and it was decorated to the point where it somehow was kind of cosy. The staff were absolutely lovely and we felt extremely welcomed. The current menu on Zomato (24/11/19) does not reflect what The Candy Shop is currently offering as they have since changed the menu. What was weird is they didn’t have the most simple dish (eggs on toast) on the menu, which I always get so I just assumed it wasn’t very popular there. This gave me the opportunity to try something new so I got the strawberry and honeycomb granola, two of my friends got the eggs benedict with salmon and another one of my friend got the creamy mushrooms without the pecorino cheese. <br/><br/>The granola was actually delicious! It was perfect, wasn’t too sweet and wasn’t too bland. The strawberry chia yoghurt was my absolute favourite. I think they use coconut milk to make the yoghurt because you could taste a hint of coconut. It was the perfect summer brunch dish and I highly recommend it. There were also fresh strawberries that made the dish healthier. I didn’t really enjoy the honeycomb or the mint leaves though, as I felt it was an unnecessary addition to the already delicious dish. <br/><br/>I’d definitely come back for brunch with other people as I see it as my new brunch place at Newmarket!

Absolutely five star. Friendly staff and nice service, food quality is perfect, price is good too. Love this place.

Really Good food! Service is excellent. Everyone was super friendly to us. 10/10 would come back again!

One of my favoirite cafe in the newmarket. friendly staff and beautiful decor.<br/>Food is nice and nice garnishing.

This place is amazing!<br/><br/>Their pancakes are so pretty and I loved them! Food came out quick and staff were kind and attentive

Love love the combination of chicken and ddokbokki! And I forgot a photo but the Hotteok dessert was phenomenal!

I’ve been to this place a few times now - most recently yesterday for brunch. It’s always very packed and they don’t take bookings in advance - fair enough. My issue is every single time I’ve been we’ve put our name on a waiting list and been told they’ll give us a call when a table is free, they never call. Yesterday we went for a walk and waited for about 15 min, we came back to the Candy Shop and waited right outside - the sever spotted us and said she tried to call but no one picked up and took us straight to a free table. We know that this was a lie. No one tried to call and my partner had made sure he had given the right number. This is also the third time we’ve had this experience at the Candy Shop where they said they “tried to call and no one picked up”. Last time my partner made the server call our number in front of us and it rang straightaway. So my advice to anyone who puts their name on a waiting list here is that you have to wait directly outside for a table because they will not call you if you’re not physically waiting there. It’s a shame the service isn’t great because the food and atmosphere is really nice. Yesterday we had to ask twice before our drinks finally arrived at the end of the meal.<br/>Not sure if we’ll be back again.

Went for a sunday brunch with my sister. We ordered the chicken burger and lord toast, both dishes were absolutely amazing. The place was busy but we were seated right away. The staff were friendly and the service was great! Will definitely be back again!

I had heard A LOT about Candy Shop in Newmarket. I went for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The cafe was quite busy but got seated straight away.<br/>So many delish sounding options on the menu, but at the advice of Eat Lit Food I had the katsu pork sandwich, and fries with bulgogi. Ahh Yum!! The pork was juicy and amazing and the bulldog sauce was incredibly delicious. Fries were good, ratio of cheese to beef was a bit off but still great.<br/>The service was a bit of a let down. My fries came without toppings initially despite discussing with the waitress and my coffee took 25mins and I had to double check it was still coming.<br/>The menu was expensive for lunch but because the food was so yum I will be back!

Went there at a friend's recommendation for dinner- really really enjoyed it! Got the KFC (spicy version), waffle fries and lava cake. Mind blowing chicken with fried rice cakes, great quantity of waffle fries and the lava cake with rhubarb was soooooo good and pretty too :-) I had to take a picture of that one! Will come back to try some more adventurous dishes like the Soba Joba :-) would be great to have a better variety of beers and maybe one cider option though.

⁣Taste: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗⁣<br/>Interior: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑⁣<br/>Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕⁣<br/>Recommend: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕⁣<br/><br/>🥪Katsu sando ⁣<br/>🥑Healing Power⁣<br/>🍔Chicken burger ⁣<br/>🍝Black fettuccine ⁣<br/>🍵Matcha Latte ⁣<br/>🍹Apple Juice ⁣

Lunch during the weekday and it wasnt too busy around 1pm. The food was amazing, so much flavour yet not overpowering! Definitely recommend the market fish! 😋 10/10 The lemon ginger honey tea is always good if you're sick 7/10 the chicken burger with the waffle fries was good, the chicken wasn't dry at all and had the a good balance of sweet and spicy 8/10 the tuna tacos was smaller than we thought but it still tasted good! Wished it was bigger 7/10

Had lunch here with friends on a Wednesday, the place was busy but we managed to quickly get a seat. Staff were good. And the food arrived pretty quick! Everything we ordered was amazing! I highly recommend this place!

Such a cute little cafe in Newmarket. They have amazing variety on their menu, offering different options to your typical cafes. Definitely popular, particularly during the weekend, so make sure you plan your timing. Would 100% come back and recommend!

Heads up: Long story ahead.<br/><br/>Growing up as a kiwi-asian had it's struggles, especially during lunch breaks in primary school. I wasn't fortunate enough to have marmite and chip sandwiches but instead had stir fried noodles which all the classmates would pinch their noses and go "eww something stinks" which I'd normally respond with "your upper lip".<br/><br/>Anyways, I have a new found appreciation for Asian fusion cuisine as it allows your friends who have never explored life beyond plain bread and roast potatoes to try something more exciting.<br/><br/>And what better way to start their journey off than by heading over to The Candy Shop!<br/><br/>The food is great, each dish has the right amount of relevant flavours. Service is lovely and it's quite a cosy environment. Open kitchen layout so you know the food quality is of a high standard.

really good food in such a pretty place.<br/><br/>polenta chips are fluffy and chunky, soft shell baos were so crispy. but the favourite is their carrot cake.<br/><br/>service was standard.

Their KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) is the best fried chicken in town. Insanely good. Great service, consistently awesome food, real good hot chocolate...

I can’t believe this place can be rated as 4.3. Second worse service experience in my dinning list. The gentlemen seems looking around but no one serve us around. And the food, bibibamp? and the friend chicken is below average taste, any Korean restaurant in city, the bibibamp will taste better than candy shop. Only recommendation is the dining environment.

Came here with my friends for brunch; it was quite busy but food and coffee was served nicely - the only downside was their service; felt unwelcome the whole time we were there and when we went inside to pay one of the staff looked at us from top to bottom - not sure if we’d be back

This is a nice little hidden gem in New Market. The food is more on the pricey side but none the less it tasted great. The Candy Shop definitely has some very very good coffee! One of my favourite places to get a coffee. Could not recommend their flat white enough

This place did not impress me at all. Service was bad to be honest. I really wanted to like this place seeing as I’ve heard really good and exciting things about them. I’ll have to come back another time to try out their other food and also their coffees as well. <br/><br/>Prawn dumpling soup was fine; it was yum and all, but I felt so let down due to bad service (i’m sorry!)

All the food we ordered was amazing! The waffle fries are a must try and service is top notch. A little pricey but well worth what you pay for!!!

This is one of my favourite places in Auckland to get breakfast. The mushrooms are out of this world! The staff are always friendly. The wait time is never long even though it’s always busy.

This place is absolutely amazing and has never let me down. I am never disappointed by them regardless of service, cleanliness, quality of food.<br/>I have taken many of my family and friends here. I would eat here everyday if I could.

A big fan of this cafe, been here numerous times and never get enough of it. Coffee always great, food is good, especially loved the Korean inspired menu. However, our recent weekend visit was a bit let down on the service compared to previous visits. I understood the cafe could get busy at times, a simple smile might make a difference on customers overall experience. Looking forward to a better visit next time.

☕️☕️☕️❤️ <br/><br/>Apparently the review needs to be 140 characters long. It’s amazing how Zomato nowadays dictates the rules of rating online.<br/><br/>Here’s to you your 140 characters my useless app.<br/><br/>Ps. Candyshop is amazingly beautiful 🍬

Giving this 1 star because of their service! I absolutely love their food but I cannot believe that there was no apologie when they screw up my booking which I made 3 days before and instead, expecting me to sit outside when it's freezing. I called on Tuesday 28th May trying to making a booking for 10 people on 1st June. It went to the voicemail. I sent a txt message, there was no response. I emailed them via Instagram, the email was wrong. I tried booking through Zomato but it says 8+ bookings need to contact the restaurant directly. After all of that, I went to the restaurant on Wednesday 29th May, explained that I was trying to make a booking but could not get hold of them. A staff wrote down my booking of 10 people for 1st June in their diary. When I went there on 1st June, my booking was not there. The staff with the beanie remembers me and said that maybe the staff that wrote in the diary did not log it into the computer. And there was the staff who wrote in the diary, walking around serving everyone else, including the two people that came after us and ignoring my friends and me who were standing there waiting for an answer. Finally, as he finished serving everyone else, he told us that we would not fit and will need to sit. There were no apologies from any of the staff that they screwed up my booking. It is so disappointing to see this kind of service.

nice decorated place with open kitchen, coffee is always good. Match scone is amazing. Lord toast was nice combination of vegetables and eggs, it would be perfect for me if it comes with sausage.<br/>

We’ve been to Candy Shop for coffee numerous time (as it is always on point) but we thought it was about time we sampled the menu as we’d heard good things.<br/><br/>We ordered the Soba Joba with Tempura Tofu and the Crispy Eggplant. The Soba Salad was light and refreshing but to be honest lacked a real wow factor, and the tempura tofu was flavourless and definitely not worth the extra $5 7/10. The crispy eggplant was perfectly cooked but not flavoursome enough, it really needed a good dipping sauce to go alongside. 7/10<br/><br/>The only real redeeming factor of our meal was the soy iced matcha latte which was the perfect level of sweetness and intensity. 9/10 Also tried our friends Affogato which came with Duck Island Vanilla Icecream and was beyond delicious. 9/10<br/><br/>My advice- go to Candy Shop for the coffee and drinks not the food, from what we tried it’s overpriced and not that flavourful.

Second time went here just want to see if the service improved than before. Unfortunately it still as bad as before. Me and my friend stand in front of the door for a while but nobody come to us and served us, not even greeting. The waitress with short hair saw us but she just turned around and busy with other stuff. After we ordered, she walked around and gave cutlery to every new table except us. I don’t know what’s happened to her, she just ignored us. The food was good when I first came to here, but this time was not as good as before. The sauce of the KFC is not enough just a bit on top and the fettuccine was uncooked, some of them just stick together. Feel really upset because their bad service and definitely wouldn’t come back again.

Successful korean-western fusion menu well worth its price. <br/><br/>Green juice was a favourite. Lovely brunch atmosphere in a pretty Newmarket location.

I really wanted to love the salmon I ordered because it’s sooo pretty but it really lacked flavour! Even after seasoning it myself it still tasted so plain and I spent the whole time having major food envy at the table next to me who ordered the meatballs. But the service was super efficient and it’s a great place where my baby could lie next to me on the chair cushions and kick around while I ate.

Just look how pretty this plate of pancakes is! So colourful and vibrant, makes me wanna dig into it the second it arrived at the table. The pancakes have a complex flavour but it’s not as fluffy as I imagined. The KFC was crunchy and nice as well. These two are the most popular dishes at this place apparently, but I don’t recommend having them as your first meal of the day. It got a bit too much after a few bites. It was a great experience overall but probably won’t rush back.<br/><br/>Food 7/10 Service 6/10 Ambience 9/10

Lovely cafe/restaurant hidden in New Market. A nice ranch style interior, with plants potted on the wall. Clean and green friendly environment.<br/><br/>The rice cake and fried chicken was pretty tasty. The soba with tuna had a decent portion and was well flavored as well. The burger was a bit standard.<br/><br/>Overall definitely worth a visit.<br/><br/>Food: 7/10<br/>Food presentation: 7/10<br/>Service: 8/10<br/>Location: 7/10<br/>Ambience: 8/10<br/>Price $35 per person

Came to this place during rush hour on Sunday but we were looked after really well. Quick and friendly service. Coffee was awesome! We ordered the chicken burgers and fried chicken. Food was well presented and flavors were well mixed together. Definitely a place to check out if you fancy for Korean-kiwi plates.

After the disastrous experience in MorningSide we settled in The Candy Shop recommend by a friend (whom we later found out have not yet been here themselves lol ). The waiter (short white male) that sat us was cold & pretty dismissive but everyone else was nice! Food was mediocre, small portioned.. not really worth the price tbh. I had Lord Toast ($23) which was much smaller than I imagined, greasy and nothing special. My mum had the soba noodle with seared Tuna ($25) the three slices of tuna were beautiful and the highlight of our entire meal.

Hands down the best coffee I’ve had in ages! The bibimbap was delicious and packed full of good ess and the bulgogi beef I added to it was delicious. Mum had the katsu sando and really enjoyed it.

A very interesting brunch place run by friendly Korean people. Definitely worth trying. I love their bacon with candy floss - such an interesting combination. Their KFC is spicy and crispy. Awesome lentil chips!

Have heard so many great things about this place and it didn’t disappoint! I love Korean fusion food and the fried chicken here really hit the spot!! Also the beetroot-cured salmon was delicious!! Have also had the sobs noodles with tuna which is yummy and the golden porridge which was nice but not my favourite - kind of felt like I was eating baby food by the end the polenta was so smooth.

Went to this place in Sunday afternoon as Zomato got really good reviews. We had order three dishes, the portion of the food were too small. The creamy mushroom was too sweet. As me and my friend were sharing our dishes we put them in the middle of the table, after 10 mins a girl came to us I though she just checking if we were fine with everything but she asked us if she can take the plate away. At that time we were still eating and there were food on the plate. After 5 mins the girl came back again and asked if she can take our plate away. It seems like the girl were rushing us to finish our meal. It was so rude and we did not enjoy our dinning experience at all.

This was my third time visiting this cafe! Service is always lovely and I love the atmosphere. We ordered the black fettuccine, Katsu sando, polenta fries and the hotteok. Serving sizes were okay for the mains, fries was a generous serving. I love the polenta fries! So crispy on the outside and soft and creamy inside, dipped in the truffle aoili was amazing. The fettuccine was really nice and not too heavy. The Katsu sando was tender and flavourful. I always love a good korean pancake so I enjoyed the take on the hotteok. I would’ve liked the filling to be a bit sweeter but otherwise it was a joy to eat.

Been here several times and never be disappointed. Nice ambience, friendly staffs and yummy differential food offerings. Soba Joba is light and chilled, great match for summer lunch. Market fish of day is fresh and juicy. And I loved coffee here. Please try all Asian fusion dishes here and you will love it.

Well presented food and I particularly enjoyed the polenta chips, it was delish. I thought the kfc chicken was a bit overrated. I would definitely come again to try other dishes.

I love the KFC plattes！ Juicy boneless chicken and nice fried rice cake. Also tried the lamb ball spaghetti but test normal. Will be back next time to try the waffle fries！

Both food and coffee were excellent! Traditional brunch food with a bit of Fushion twist, very interesting menu. Would definitely come back and try more dishes!

Great coffee, food, and staff - would highly recommend! Food is light (not heavy), unusual, and delicious - it's always a pleasure dining here!

I loved the food here so much! I can't wait to come back here to try their other dishes.<br/><br/>I shared buns with my friend and ordered a squid ink seafood linguine. Absolutely divine, creamy, perfect.<br/><br/>5/5 all round :)

Delicious food, relaxed environment. The salmon has great texture of flavour, especially the crispy seaweed. Lovely environment, will bring my friends here next time.

Super disappointed that they have gotten rid of their signature pancakes. Also their service seemed to be very below average yesterday when I went after the busy lunch rush. Perhaps they were tired but it was no reason to ignore customers. The food was okay. I’ve definitely had a better experience here before.

I went here last year I believe (december) but here I am writing a review on the KFC plater ($38) i had here.<br/>The korean fried chicken was good I loved it.<br/>The chips was plentiful to go around but the salad was tiny there wasn't enough of that to go with the other foods to have a combination

Introduced by a friend who arrived in NZ last week, but she’s come three times. I think she is really love here, kk. It’s a good restaurant which has good vibes and good food. Nice.

The cutest cafe, tucked away deep in the heart of Newmarket. Fusion food done exceptionally. You can get a healthy brunch like we did or dig into some delicious KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). Drinks were done very well too - great coffee and their Mörk Hot Chocolate is to die for (go for the darkest, you won’t regret it)!

A very pleasant place to visit. Grabbed a weekend brunch here for a morning coffee. Very nice plating and friendly staff service. The coffee is amazing. Highly recommended coffee :) The matcha latte didn’t taste like the original Japanese matcha, but had a pleasant light matcha to it.<br/>The egg benne was delicious and the dumplings were beautiful. Place seemed to be very popular already with locals.

A lovely spot tucked away in Newmarket. Loved the vibe with the spotted plants coupled with woody colour - cozy and inviting. We went there for brunch, enjoyed their coffee. Think my hubby ordered eggs on toast with pork belly on the side, I ordered the Simon & Lee KFC plus Bok Choy on the side. The food was delicious, love to try the rest of the menu.

We ordered the pancakes and found the food was aesthetically pleasing but lacks in depth of flavour. The pistachios and berries on top could have been better used as they felt out of place. Perhaps fresh fruit would have been a better choice to put on top.

Yum yum yum food and coffee!<br/>Tucked down the little lane, this hidden gem is such a relaxed place to eat! Great brunch menu and fantastic coffee! Can’t fault it!

Three of us came here for a post-movie treat and we were so glad that we did! The service was friendly and efficient, the cocktails were superb, and the food was delightful - flavoursome, filling but not too rich. We didn't order the pancakes in time (the kitchen closed promptly at 9pm) but we'll certainly be returning!

My body was deprived after a grit class and I needed sustenance that wasn’t boring. Candy shop delivered. Service was quick and friendly, I chose to sit at a large table where I could view the kitchen. My short black was prompt, Columbian and served with a shot of sparkling water (nice touch). <br/>I had the bibimbap with a fried egg and salmon. It all worked, the size was right and looked beautiful next to my spirulina. Price was up there at $39 for one, but I’m not complaining- happy to pay for quality.

Funky little cafe in Newmarket. Yum food, different kinds of options! Smaller portion sizes but reasonably filling. Good quality and pretty good customer service.

Tucked away in the tight shopping arcades of the New Market backstreets, you'll find the worst kept secret on the local food scene - a contemporary eatery taking some Korean influences on food to the next level.<br/><br/>Ambience here is popping, busy as during lunch even on a weekday, this is some testament to how good their stuff really is.<br/><br/>I got the burger, I forget the name but is is amazing, nice thick patties, brioche bread and chunky chips to die for.<br/><br/>And I don't even need to start on the coffee, just amazing, by Lee from Camper Coffee, do yourself a favour, get one of these please.<br/><br/>Come and try it, it is quite amazing, you'll be wanting more.

Food: 3.5/5<br/>Service: 3/5<br/>Overall: 3/5<br/><br/>My friend and I ordered the pancakes and we definitely loved the plating. The pancakes were fluffy and I especially liked the Nutella foam and the pistachio. My friend really liked the meringue. However the waiting time for food was too long. Customers in the other tables also had the same problem on that day.

We ordered the KFC Platter, which was ample for two people to share. Both the garlic soy and gochujang sweet and spicy chicken were amazing and tasty. However, the tteokbokki was a real let down as it was very tough instead of the soft chewy texture it should’ve had. The waffle fries were a really great addition to the dish.<br/> <br/>Service was friendly and efficient, while the interior and ambiance of the place was vibrant and lively.

Went there last week Sunday, however did not enjoy my experience. There was quite a crowd and understood that staff were all busy. I ordered the pancakes and what I got were not pancakes. After I spoke to one of the waiter’s regarding this he said ‘so what would you like me to do’, I didn’t expect that response, especially when I’ve come a few times and ordered your pancakes and on this one occasion this is the response I ended up getting. Won’t be coming there when there is a huge crowd and orders are rushed!

In love with this place. Food was very filling. Their Simon and Lee KFC is probably the best on the menu but only as a side. Spaghetti was very yum

We’ve been here twice, and had no complaints both times. First time I had the bibimbap, which was delicious. Second time I had the soba - lovely as well. Husband had the candy floss pancakes, and loved them. This is a nice place, recommend going if you are in Newmarket.

Quite a nice little place tucked away in Newmarket. Good seating area and decor is quite tasteful. Presentation and flavour of food are both on point. Love their Simon n Lee KFC (Korean fried chicken with rice cakes) - banger of a dish!

I went here for a first date (even though the date was extremely rude to me and the servers) I enjoyed the food and would love to give them another try even though I had a bad experience because of that date. I ordered the tteok galbi burger which was nice and tasty, I would have love to try their pancakes and the Korean fried chicken next time!<br/><br/>Update: I went here with my friend last Friday, we had The fried chicken platter and Agria chips with the Bubblecup cocktail. It was a lot of food for just the two of us. Didn’t really think it would be that much. Could have shared it with 3 other people tbh. The servings are huge and the food was nice. Although the fried chicken would be nice with a little more sauce or if it can have a spicy option. Otherwise it’s still pretty good. A little too pricey for food, but I guess it’s normal for cafes.

Went in for lunch on a weekend, the place was full and buzzing with customers. We sat outside in the corner on a concrete type table as it was the only table that was available at the time, but I just want to warn others that there is no shade - so if it’s a sunny day it’s best to keep clear...

Came here for Sunday brunch on a hot summer day. <br/><br/>I got the Green Goddess and my friend got the Kale Fettucine; and their famous KFC to share. <br/><br/>KFC (8/10) fried chicken is fried chicken. This was no different, albeit the gochujang sauce was nicely played between the sweet and spicy flavours. Batter was nice and crunchy without the grease. The tteokkbokki was fried and was crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside. The sprinkle of chives was a strategic touch. <br/><br/>Green Goddess (5/10) was pretty disappointing and underwhelming; and if I didn't get the side of Smoked Salmon, it would have just been a plate of leaves. The menu made it sound quite wholesome and hearty and I was under the impression it comes with thick rooty vegetables. Lack of flavour as well. <br/><br/>Kale Fettucine (7/10), had a taste of my friends' and it was a lot better than my dish. The pasta was cooked nicely and in generous pool of sauce. It could have done with some cheesiness though. <br/><br/>Overall, I would probably give them another chance and try something else since they have a relatively wide selection on their menu; and I am partially at fault for not choosing their specialty dish. <br/><br/>Food: 7/10<br/>Price: 6/10<br/>Ambience: 8/10<br/>Service: 8/10

Had dinner with my partner tonight and we both enjoyed the chicken platter. The service was great and we didn’t even wait that long to get our order. We’ll definitely be back for another dinner date night!

Absolutely love the candy shop. I have been there 4 times and every time the food is just delicious! The KFC is especially good. Everything about the candy shop is just great except for the service in particular one of the waitresses. 3/4 times I’ve been there she has been the person serving but every time she has been quite rude (she seems annoyed by the fact we want to order and one time her friend came and she talked to her for 10 mins while I was trying to get her attention so that I could get a takeaway box).<br/><br/>But overall the candy shop is the place to go for breakfast or lunch. I highly recommend the kfc especially the platter if you have two people. The vibe of the entire place is chill and spot on.

Came in yesterday for lunch with friends. Ordered beetroot cured salmon and green goodness with an add on of grilled salmon. The grilled halloumi was really delicious. It had so much flavour to it. The sauce for the green goodness plate tasted quite nice. The only thing was that there were only three slices of cheese and it was honestly so good.

Hi The Candy Shop<br/><br/>I had come to your shop earlier on in the year with a couple of friends and we loved our meal here ! So I kept the shop in mind for my annual birthday get together with some friends.<br/><br/>I called in on Wednesday 21 November at 11.05am to enquire about making a bday reservation for Saturday 24 November for 15 people at 10.30am brunch (as many of my guests also raved about Candy Shop). The female waitress informed me that usually bookings aren’t taken on the weekends but at 10.30am it’s not too busy so she’d be able to accomodate us by pushing the outside tables together.<br/><br/>Me and my guests arrive on the rainy wet Saturday to be told by the same female waitress who took my call that she remembered who I was and that they didn’t have the reservation (Whilst pretending to be looking down her reservation list for the booking) but said she would try and get us a bench. Only she never returns and the manager (I’m presuming) comes to say they don’t do bookings and would normally need a catering request or something. <br/><br/>This would have all been fine if it was communicated over the phone so that alternative arrangements could be made. Or if a simple apology was given.<br/><br/>But no. Me and my 14 guests had to traipse around rainy New Market in order to find elsewhere more accommodating at the last minute. What a way to spend a birthday ! <br/><br/>A shame really , as the food and coffee is great. Only majorly let down by miscommunication and customer service.<br/><br/>Don’t come here during weekends with large groups . And also don’t expect polite attendants. Or apologies.

Best to make reservation just because the size of the restaurant and the table setting.<br/><br/>I love how this place tuck away and its so cosy. Stylish and overall relaxing<br/><br/>The staff give a calm,relax and friendly vibe when approaching us.<br/><br/>The Aeporol Spritz is a 10/10. Just like how i drink it in italy.<br/><br/>Went this place few years back and the menu just get better and love the delicious food that was very well priced.<br/>The service was excellent. Lots of happy places.<br/><br/>This place get really busy quick even on during the week.<br/>Highly recommended this place.<br/>From my opinion, they did a very good job with everything. Food. Price . Service. Decor. 👍🏻

Great Korean fusion cafe. Well presented food and arrays of options available to suit everyone's taste buds. Great outdoor seating plan. Would definitely visit again

Loving the healthful ‘Healing Power’ composed of beetroot hummus, marinated feta, zucchini, smashed avocado, butternut squash, poached egg, & rye. Across the table is the artery clogging waffle fries with bulgogi beef, cheddar cheese sauce, jalapeno & chives which I was glad half of it was leftover.

Been here a few times; food is always delicious and well presented! Big fan of the kale fettuccine, was absolutely delicious 10/10. Service is a bit slow and not as attentive as could be but they are often very busy so is understandable.

Food : 4/5<br/>Ambience : 5/5<br/>Service : 4/5<br/><br/>The Candy shop is tucked away in a cute little lane in Newmarket. The food is Korean/Asian fusion so very current, well executed.<br/>We had the Simon and Lee KFC, Nori Taco, Beef short ribs, Agria chips and 2 types of Steam bin sliders.<br/>The fried chicken with the fried Korean rice cakes sounds and looks strange, however the combo quite delicious! Usually Korean fried chicken is too sweet, they managed to balance the flavours of the sticky sauce to my liking. The nori Taco, although it looks a little slim on the filings, was very tasty and the Taco shell crispy light and not too oily, definitely a hit! I would also recommend the beef short ribs, it's melt in your mouth creamy goodness.<br/>Last but not least, for the carb lovers like me, the Agria chips with Kimchi and Parmesan are a wonderful comfort food side dish.<br/><br/>Only things I wouldn't order again are the steam bun sliders. They are actually quite tasty however the bun to filling ratio is not quite right, too much bun not enough filling.<br/><br/>Aside from that, I may be coming back again this week for lunch for my Friday Fry-day hit!

I have been to the candy shop twice. The first time I went the pancake was quite fluffy but it was kinda bland. The second time I went, the pancake was hard and rubbery! It was disappointing. I gave feedback to the staff in charge and they are kind enough to give us free of charge for the pancake!👍🏼👍🏼 besides, the sauce for the fried chicken is too sweet for me, and it tasted like Thai sauce lol 😂 However, they do have nice coffee!

Lovely little Korean fusion restaurant our food was lovely, fish sliders, pork belly and fries to share. Unfortunately the service let the restaurant down. After being seated we waited and waited for someone to come for our drink order. The waitress was more interested in lighting candles than serving us. After our food, which arrived very promptly, no one came to clear our plates. We eventually put them on the next table to get them out of our way. At payment time we were not offered the bill before payment and my friend who went back in to look for her scarf was treated rudely by the waiter. Hopefully this was just an off night for the staff.

A Nice Korean Fusion Restaurant located in New Market. It was a bit hard to find because it was in the corner of Newmarket. The decor of the restaurant was quite warm and comfortable and the outside tables were nice too. We got Polenta Chips, Simon & Lee KFC, Tteok Galbi Burger and Candy Shop Pancakes. They were all served at once which was great and the food and the plates were pretty - nice for instagram pics. They all tasted really nice, there wasn't a single thing I didn't like about their food. YUM ☺☺

Tucked away in the streets of Newmarket, The Candy Shop provides an aesthetic, relaxing atmosphere suited for a good coffee catch up and lunch with friends. There is an array of food options available, all of which seemed tasty! Bonus points for providing vegetarian/vegan options too. The service was fast despite it being quite busy. <br/><br/>Food 8/10<br/>Aesthetics (food) 9.5/10<br/>Service 7/10<br/>Ambience 9/10

Ordered the steamed bun sliders, kale fettuccine and tuna tataki. Food was overall good! Kale fettuccine was amazing! Def be going back for that. Found the tuna had a slight fishy smell. Good ambience, good service!

good coffee, great services. I have had lunch in candy shop before. quite nice.<br/>a hidden place in new market, hard to find, but good to relax and meet friends.<br/>will come back again.

The Candy Shop is initially a little hard to find being down one of the new lanes in Newmarket, but the signposts do help.<br/>There is a lovely outdoor area & mixed seating inside. Food is mainly menu based, with a few pastry’s available in their cabinet.<br/>I tried the Healing Power with bacon, which was well balanced. The pumpkin added good flavour alongside the beetroot. Coffee was well made too.<br/>Looking forward to trying more of their menu in the future.

Lunch today was at @thecandyshopnz<br/>⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀<br/>Came her with friends today for fuel in between our shopping session 💪<br/>Wasn’t too packed today so we got a seat easily 😊<br/>⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀<br/>I’d been eyeing the pancake since I last came so ofc I ordered it - I forgot to add bacon but it was still better than I expected! <br/>I was expecting it to be quite sweet - with the candy floss, Nutella foam and mascaprone. But the candy floss was surprisingly not too sweet - it was sour so it balanced the dish well. Nutella foam wasn’t too sweet either. The pancake itself was quite average tbh - nothing special. And on the menu it said there’s camper coffee meringue but I didn’t taste any coffee in the meringue.<br/>My friends got the prawn dumpling soup and eggs benedict with cured salmon. They both liked their dish.<br/>⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀<br/>Have to say I was a bit underwhelmed with my second visit

A bit hard to find this place, well for me it was. Food was great, staff were great. Would definitely go again. You have to try their fried chicken platter......Yummmmm!!!

We had Korean fried chicken - the sauce was a bit too sweet for us and not spicy like I thought it would be from the color. They are delicious anyway. Chicken were crunchy and juicy inside and the tokpoki were chewy. YUM! The pancake smelled good and taste alright. Nothing fancy apart from plating. Service was good and friendly.

Best cafe in Newmarket! Must go and try at least once in your life!!! Great taste of foods and excellent customer services! And also their coffee makes my day better :)

Friendly staff and good service. We ordered affogato, big breakfast, pancake, creamy mushroom and wine. Creamy mushroom, the mushroom was perfectly cooked and tasty. Plating of the pancake was perfect, also the wine recommended by the staff was really good. The best cafe to go in Newmarket:)

I’ve heard that the lunch options here are quite good, but coincidentally I came here when the breakfast menu was still on so didn’t get to try it. <br/><br/>I got the Candy Shop pancakes - definitely pretty and the berry bits and candy floss were really nice. I enjoyed the pancakes too and I’m not really a pancake person. The stuff on the side - I think it’s Nutella foam based off reading the ingredients on the menu? - added to the decorations but didn’t really taste like anything imo. <br/><br/>The staff were reasonably friendly but it did take a while to flag someone to take our order. Wait wasn’t too bad once the order was taken, but it wasn’t that busy while we were there. <br/><br/>Overall, a decent experience and I’d like to try their lunch eventually.

The Candy Shop is a unique brunch/dinner restaurant hidden away along a brick pathway (reminded me of wizard of oz). They have a extensive selection in their menu including pastas and off the chopping block meats. <br/><br/>Presentation was good and service impeccable. <br/><br/>Personally enjoyed the ravioli very much!

Ordered 3 takeaway coffee during non peak hours at 11am, have made a payment but DID NOT receive the coffee even after 20mins wait. The baristas were basically preoccupied with chattering. Walked out cause no time to deal with unprofessionals.

Thought this place was one of the better bistro style spots in Auckland. Really original menu and amazing flavours. Small but good selection of drinks. Including a tasty maple and walnut tea. Very reasonably priced for what you got. Will definitely be going back soon.

I had a very poor experience here. The soy coffee came out looking rude and disrespectful. Apparently they have award winning baristas. Obviously not with soy coffees. If you can’t make it properly then don’t tell customers you can.Soy flat white was lumpy and texture like regurgitated food. The manager did not offer an exchange or anything and was not accepting to my complaint. This is poor customer service. The manager’s response was ‘yeah this is what soy coffees are like’ - yeah, no it isn’t mate. I wouldn’t serve any coffees looking like the picture. Apart from that, the food was good. Nice korean fusion. The normal flat white was also good - this shows award winning skills. My complaint is with the attitude of the manager - it seems like ‘only tell me good things and not bad things’. If that’s the case then don’t ask your customers ‘how was your meal’. Just assume it’s all good then.It’s my experience and I have been fair. I’ve got no hidden agenda as you can see from my other reviews. If your business is affected because of it, then change your attitude. Contact me if you have an issue.

This korean fusion restaurant located in a peaceful part of new market is def worth a visit if you love food and love fancy spots! The K.F.C dish was an interesting take on korean fried chicken and tasted superb, the steak sandwich was cooked to perfection, all round positivity.<br/><br/>Food- 9.5/10<br/>Service- 9/10<br/>Aesthetics- 10/10

Service was amazing, made us feel very welcome. Very cozy setting and the food was both visually and tastes wise wonderful. Definitely going back

FUSION.....😟<br/><br/>Korean food is good if its just Korean food. Don't get me wrong ive tried some good Korean Fusion food but its just very hard to come by.<br/><br/>Food in general was very bland. No seasoning what so ever. Sauce had ZERO taste. The food just got so boring after few bite bites.<br/><br/>Visual of the food is very good, serice.....Pretty much none, coffee super good and overall for the price your paying, its too much.<br/><br/>Ill go back for the Coffee though.

This place is great for a quality , casual meal in great surroundings with a lot of healthy options on the menu. Low key but good service too.

Had a Saturday brunch date with my friend，we ordered VEGAN DOLSOT, TTEOK GALBI and Simon & Lee KFC for share, Ice latte and mocha latte, the cafe itself was quite small but really hits the spot!! The mocha latte was AMAZING! So good!! The food was good, I really like VEGAN DOLSOT and KFC chicken with some Teokbbokki inside! TTEOK GALBL was rather oily and didn’t taste quite nice! But overall it’s a good experience, I will be back！

The coffee was good.... It looks great on social media well but my overall experience was that it’s a pretty awkward place to be honest. The seating was kind of weird, service was slow, and the food was bland. I had scrambled eggs with their beetroot cured salmon and it was all pretty meh...

No frills basic service with decent food, if a little on the higher end of the scale.<br/><br/>Weird vibe, we seemed to slip through the crack and were ignored by both floor staff until getting one of the Baristas to take our order after 15 minutes. The Korean fried chicken was crispy and juicy with a sugary sweet rather than spicy sauce. Did feel a little guilty that at these prices the goods werent apparently free-range? Not mentioned on the menu, didn't think about it until walking away afterwards. Just assume most new places are these days.<br/><br/>The coffee is predictably one of the highlights (though it seemed the cold brew is just the batch brew with ice in and costs an extra 1$).

The Candyshop is a delight and a much needed addition to the Newmarket restaurant scene, which is lacking in flare. <br/>This Korean/kiwi styled hidden gem has definitely set the standard in Newmarket and I will be back to try more of their menu. <br/>The staff were very kind and attentive, but the service for our mains was a little slow despite there only being 5 occupied tables. It seems brunch is their busiest time. <br/>We shared:<br/>Nori Taco - 3/5 - needed more salmon and too much nori<br/>Polenta chips - 5/5<br/>Beef rib - 4/5 slightly too much ginger on the meat <br/>Tuna tataki - 4/5 - needed two more slices of tuna to make it perfect! <br/><br/>The entres came quickly, but our main was slow. I would definitely recommend the Tuna and the polenta chips, I think the beef was too strong in flavour for me, and the Nori, although tasty and interesting, probably not the best as the ratio is a bit off. <br/>My only other negative was that the place was chilly and drafty despite having an open kitchen. <br/><br/>Would love to try everything else on the menu, great atmosphere, lovely staff, and well priced for the food taste and portion sized. <br/><br/>Welcome to Newmarket and congrats on a thriving 6 months!

Customer service was good. <br/>The food was average. <br/>They don't have all day breakfast options. So it is a good idea to check the different menus for the different time of the day before going.

they make the best coffee in the hood. my understanding is they scouted a guy from the campers? coffee shop which is a tiny store located right on the corner from the candy shop.

Great potential, delicious food, service definitely lacking. <br/><br/>Arrived at the cafe at 12:30pm today, was not welcome at all. When taken to our seats and sitting there for 10minutes, no service, menu or water brought to our table. I had to go up and tell the waiter that we have been sitting there for so long with no one attending to us with menus. Note: the restaurant was not overly busy. During our time there, we did not get asked how our meals were or if we needed anything else. <br/><br/>Other than the lack of service - understand it wasn’t bad service when we got the service, it was just lacking. The food was amazing, I highly recommend the Galbi. Atmosphere is cozy and I would have definitely given a better rating if the service was more attentive.

4.5/5 Taste<br/>5/5 Display <br/>4/5 Quantity <br/>4.5/5 Customer Service <br/><br/>Best Cafe in New Market for food and coffee<br/><br/>Good food, good coffee, amazing desserts, excellant service. Can't say much more positive things about this place. <br/>Will probably have to give coffee 5/5 and food 4/5. <br/>They were great especially the creamy mushroom which were completly different to any other creamy mushroom with slight sweet taste to it. Downsde, chips were little too salty.

Came by for lunch with a fairly large group. We didn't have a reservation but they ended up getting a table made for us in the alcove outside the restaurant. The area was safe from the rain which was the important thing.<br/><br/>The staff were friendly and helpful when we had a few questions. We ordered a few dishes to share.<br/><br/>The spicy pork roti was nice but it was a bit pricey ($15). The made in heaven chips were amazing with the bacon and cheese. The KFC was also crispy and juicy but the sauce tasted almost like sweet chilli. The beef cheek egg Bene was delicious. The crispy has brown and wonton skin was a nice contrast to the soft cheeks. The best of the lot was the Hotteok, the korean pancake. It was filled with sugar and served with ice cream and bacon (although you could also choose the KFC). It was simply delicious and very moreish. Their bulgogi is quite nice, only had it with the waffle fried though. Really tasty food. It was a shame that they ran out of the Early Grey bubble tea but more of a reason to come back.

This might have been the best brunch I had in Auckland so far! When I first arrived at the candy shop I thought I wouldn’t write a good review because I got seated in a corner right next to the door and I was quite cold. Could move after a while though and the staff was very friendly. The Healing Power with Salmon did not only look amazing but tasted sooo good! Honestly one of the best meals i have had in a while. The spicy Chai was also quite nice. Will definitely be back!

The Korean fried chicken is really good but the rest of the menu is bit disappointing, portions are small and way too simple for the price..

Overall we had a great experience at The Candy Shop. The food was extremely tasty (especially the kimchi fries) and great brunch-ing atmosphere. Meal portions were a little small but the flavour definitely made up for it!

Lovely place for weekend brunch. We tried the big breakfast (which included pork belly!), the green goddess bowl (with added avocado and salmon), black coffee and green spirulina juice. It was all yummy. Decor is nice with lots of greenery around and wooden accents, and staff are lovely :)

Went on a Saturday afternoon, and the cafe wasn’t busy so had a lovely time. The coffee was perfect, one of the best I’ve had in ages, and the staff were so nice. The KFC and Crispy Eggplant is highly recommended as well :)

Had lunch at The Candy Shop yesterday. Was great! 5 of us each had different dishes and all were lovely. My choice was the Spaghetti with baa baa balls and I was very pleased to have ordered it! The spaghetti was cooked perfectly and I loved the cherry tomatoes as it gave a fresh flavour to the dish. Steak sandwich was second favourite with the steak being rare - just how we like it! Portions were generous which made everyone happy (lol). Friendly staff and fantastic interior. Will be back again.

Grateful for my friend introducing me to this place! Nestled in a cozy lane in the back streets of Newmarket this place was nice and cosy. I ordered the steak sandwich and it did not disappoint! The perfect medium rare steak with chilli jam smothered underneath - it was a perfect combination. The curly fries were nice and crunchy too. And I was very impressed with how fast it came out as well.

I've just come to Auckland and heard about Camper coffee and the Candy shop. <br/>My friend and I went to the Candy shop last week trying their coffee and ordered a flat white and a Long black. <br/><br/>The flat white tasted so good with silky texture of foam. And temperature was just perfect (not too cold not too hot) I thought the barista on the machine made a steamed milk well. <br/>The LB that my friend ordered was so balanced. It started with sort of juicy flavour and finished with lingering sweetness like toffee. <br/><br/>Lucky I have this amazing spot for my coffee fix. :)

Food ★★★★★<br/>Coffee ★★★★★<br/>Customer service ★★★★★<br/>Ambience ★★★★★<br/>Location ★★★★☆ (tucked away from main road)<br/><br/>Enjoyed our lunch on the weekend. We'll definitely return to try their other options.

I accidentally stumbled across this beautiful and chic place so decided to stop in for a bite. Best choice of the day. I have been here plenty Iof times now and the food and coffee especially are consistently great and presented beautifully. Friendly and efficient staff but sometimes difficult to get their attention

One word is needed to describe the Candy Shop and that is Pulchritudinous. <br/><br/>I’m pretty sure I’ve used that word before to describe other establishments but, in this case, the Candy Shop is more than worthy of such a description.<br/><br/>In terms of aesthetics, you can’t really beat out the Candy Shop, for a long time my favorite and most recommended café was Little and Friday, but honestly, it's been usurped by the Candy Shop. The wooden roof, lights with plants flowing from above, coming in you can't help but feel relaxed. Being here just makes you voracious and I certainly was as I sat down for my meal. <br/><br/>There is a real vibe in the atmosphere of the Candy Shop. The staff all looked relaxed and cool in their work, that radiates to its customers. Also kudos to the staff in terms of their interactions, I’ve been to a fair number of those ‘hip’ cafes in Ponsonby and the only thing hip about them was the lack of customer service. In contrast, the service here was fantastic, the person serving us was able to articulate quite eloquently the coffee that they used, where they get their beans from, a little history of the store and what surprised me the most was a conversation about my favorite ice cream startup in ‘ Duck Island ‘ ice cream. <br/><br/>I had myself a filter coffee which was their standard coffee, I enjoyed the richness of the coffee and our meals were fresh, homely and scrumptious.<br/><br/>Café’s like The Candy Shop is original and creative in their conception, as patrons we should be supporting local New Zealand cafes like the Candy Shop. They push the boundaries of what a café looks likes and what a café does. That is awesome because it allows for people to be able to experience something different and encourages our mind to be creative. The increasingly gauche café chains popping out in Auckland is a catastrophe in my opinion and it is through the support of establishments like the Candy Shop that we can combat against these café franchises.<br/><br/>Showstopper: A refreshing and relaxing experience in addition to the tasty food and drink served.<br/><br/>Overall Grade: A

Enjoyed the Korean Fried chicken available from lunch onwards. Great atmosphere and service. A good mix of traditional Cafe items and more Korean inspired derivatives.

Food and beverages ordered: Dreamy Creamy Mushy, beef cheek benedicts, batch brew and flat white.<br/><br/>Environment: uptown and stylish<br/><br/>Services: very rude (only one person), remainders are friendly and welcoming<br/><br/>Costs: $25 per person <br/><br/>Will I return: Nope, unless they have better trained staff<br/><br/>Comment: A trendy and uptown place. The foods are relatively tasty and nicely design. the experience was wonderful at first, till the dishes got serve. When my food was serve, the waiter accidentally drop some of the condiments (photo attaced) onto the ground , as well as fliping one of the egg 180 degree on the plate. This ended up with the egg at the top with a splatter of benedicts sauce on the plate (as shown in the photo).While i can understand that accidents to happen from time to time, what was appalling was that the waiter did not offer any apology or offer to redo the dish, he simply looked at me and said “all good ?” and walked away. This made me felt very embarrassed and under appreciated. Overall, this not the Sunday brunch I expected.

My American friend loved the coffee served here and I think it is the Camper brand. He noticed the lovely floral swirl from the foam on top which was particularly precise and carefully poured. Thanks barista, you made an American very happy. I had a hot lemon and honey. I am caffeine-free and did not want a tea so this may be the only option for me?? I loved the space, very contemporary tucked away in this spot.

I’m so glad that we gave this new place a try. The snack is YUM and looks amazing. We had the chips with Parmersan Cheese Kimchi, Seafood fettuccine and Chicken bites. Unexpectedly the snack were much better from my fettuccine. The fettuccine looks great on photos but on the plate with black colour (i think from the squids ink) it does look a bit less appetising and taste a bit strong of fish sauce. But I will definitely come back for the snacks <br/>Food 4.5 / 5<br/>Decoration 4/5<br/><br/>

tucked away in the heart of newmarket, such a gem of a place. they do really lovely coffees, i had their "yo-go-girl" breakfast meal which was absolutely devine!

New Market’s latest addition to the dining scene, Candy Shop is a new all-day eatery nested in Osborne Lane that is fast becoming everyone’s new favourite. And from the people that brought you eateries such as Major Sprout and Simon & Lee, you know that the food is here to please!

The staff were friendly and kind. There was a nice atmosphere for eating. However the food was okay. The table was nice and clean. Over all good job

Really nice environment! My dish, The Korean Fried Chicken, was really good! But the other dishes my friends had weren’t so great. No ‘just ‘ vegan options which is disappointing since they say on their Zomato page that they have vegan dishes. But still would recommend to those who aren’t vegan!

Came here after hearing many good reviews from my fellow foodies and decided to give it a try! <br/>The concept for candy shop is “kiwi as food with a twist” and the twist is a Korean influence. <br/><br/>We were greeted at the door and managed to get a seat and the cafe was more than half full on a Wednesday which is always a good indicator for high hopes:) <br/><br/>After given water and food menus we were asked for drink orders straight away which was great cause I was in need for my daily coffee... <br/>The coffee was good (nice shiny milk) and the barista did a good job on the soy milk<br/><br/>I ordered the “healing power with salmon” and my friend ordered the “hotteok” - Korean street style pancake.<br/>Food came out quick and looked amazing! <br/>My dish was fresh and satisfying with lots of different elements which I love. <br/>Defiantly a must if you’re in Newmarket and want to try something new. <br/>Staff were nice and the atmosphere of the cafe is very cool tone with wood and grey<br/>- modern vibes 👌🏻 <br/><br/>

Finally visited this super trendy brunch destination in Newmarket on a Sunday for lunch. I was not impressed by the food or the service. There were heaps of parking on the street so not a problem. <br/><br/>Ambience: The place was tucked away from the main street, near a nice gallery. There were seatings inside, right outside the front door and some seatings on the sideway, away from the main shop. The ambience was busy and noisy. A lot of people were waiting to be seated. The inside area was full. I didn’t get a good look at the store because my friends and I were seated on the sideway and sharing a table with a different group. <br/><br/>Service: Not good. Honestly I think because of how far away we seated, we had to wait quite long to be able to order and get food. They even forgot one of our dish and when we asked for it, the waitress told us it’s not available until 12pm. It would be nice if the waiter who took our order told us that in advance. He was also not friendly. <br/><br/>Food: We ordered the Healing power, the Cured Salmon and the Creamy mushroom. Also, we ordered the curly fries which was raved about on other reviews, but they totally forgot about it. Mine was the Creamy Mushroom. To be honest, it was bland and the consistency of the sauce wasn’t right. It felt like I was eating hash browns in mushroom soup. Mushrooms were chunky as well. Sourdough was soaking wet in the mushroom sauce that it became soggy and chewy. Anyway, not loving it. My friends’ dishes looked nice and classic though, maybe I just made a bad choice.<br/><br/>Overall, i don’t see myself coming back anytime soon.

Fantastic new eatery! <br/>Food: I got the beef cheek eggs bene, delicious twist on the classic ‘salmon or bacon’, not too sweet hollandaise and just the right amount, topped off with an Asian twist of wonton strips! <br/>Location: Osborne Lane has so much character! Nestled down the lane amongst the brick 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼<br/>Service: quick friendly staff, got asked multiple times if we were enjoying our meal and if they could get us anything else 👍🏼 <br/>Bonus that they serve breakkie lunch and dinner!

Newly opened cafe in Newmarket! Ordered a flat white, the Pasta of the Day and the Healing Power. The flat white was perfect; I wish I knew which beans they used! The Pasta of the Day was the Prawn Fettuccine. Absolutely loved the sauce, I think they used a hint of soy sauce in it. The pasta was cooked nicely, not too chewy or overcooked. The Healing Power was just avocado and poached egg, with bits of goat cheese, small beetroot cubes and squash. It tasted okay; wish there was some salt and pepper added. Overall, good experience and willing to try their pasta and coffee again!

From the folks who also operate the nearby Camper coffee and maybe Parnells Simon n Lees a newly opened hidden gem at the trendy Osborne Lane shops. I just had the Korean fry chook coated in a sweet/spicy sauce and the curly frys call Made n heaven garnish with bacon and cheese and is quite fun to eat too, Nice kool indoor/outdoor ambience there too.

We ordered the beef "half-naked sammy" and the pasta of the day (shellfish fettucini). Quick note that this was the lunch menu.<br/><br/>The beef was cooked beautifully and went well with the radish and chili jam.<br/><br/>The pasta was also delicious. To quote my mother, "it was the best pasta I've ever had".<br/><br/>The price was a bit tough for a poor uni student but with the raised student allowance its an option to consider for a fancy meal. An enormous upgrade from BK for lunch.<br/><br/>Serving size is decent, but an appetizer would help fill out the meal.<br/>As for drinks, the coffee we had was great, and it was nice to see they offered Garage Project beers on the menu.<br/><br/>Overall great food and great atmosphere. Would definitely go again!

Food 5 <br/>Ambience 5 <br/>Coffee 5 <br/>Newmarket finally stepped up their game thanks to this new joint. <br/>Hats off to the owners, chefs and all staff🎩! Bravo 👏👏

Loved the Hotteok - delicious take on the Korean Pancake mixed with granola and fresh berries. The chef Jeff gave us an insight into the dish. Thanks for that. I enjoyed my dish of poached eggs with avocado, quinoa and pomegranate as well. Coffee was faultless too. Will definitely be back.

A new hip eatery in the heart of new market<br/>I believe its run by the man behind Major Sprout, Little King, Ben Gusto- ie the best cafes in AKL lol<br/>Coffees are top notch<br/>Food was okay!! It didnt wow me but no doubt it was great food<br/>Tried the creamy mushrooms and kimchi eggs bene<br/>The bread was way too hard but the hash and kimchi chutney was absolutely beautiful <br/>Would def recommend to try!<br/>Probably the best in new market