Review Showa Cafe - Auckland Central

Limited yet impressive cabinet food. We opted for Ham n cheese croissant, bacon danish, caramel cream donut and blueberry cream muffin. Each one being more impressive than the next one. My personal favorite would be bacon danish and blueberry muffin. Cannot wait for my next visit. Staff is super friendly and premises are well maintained. Cheers.

The cafe is located on the corner of Ashby Ave and West Tamaki Road. It is a bit of a walk from Glen Innes though. They do a range of cooked food as well as cabinet items. I stopped by to grab a few treats including the doughnuts and the walnut danish. The doughnuts themselves were quite light and fluffy. The matcha doughnut had a smooth filling but the matcha flavour was really light. The caramel doughnut had a bitter flavour, almost like it was at the edge of being burnt. The chocolate croissant was quite tasty and the filling was nice. My favourite was the walnut danish since it had a nice flavour and the danish was crispy. It was easy to go in and grab a few items with quite a few parking spaces in the shop area.

Last visit was about a year ago. Still the best donut, never disappointed. Great service too.

21Jan21 1415 First time here - but driven past many times. Easy to overlook because at first sight on walking through the door the interior & tables & chairs are take-it or leave-it. Not particularly attractive. But that is where the first impressions lose all value. At the counter is a coffee machine that the female crew use to make great coffee and hot drinks. And in the display cabinets are savouries, patisseries and sweets to die for. I'm back here on Thursday 11Feb21 if anyone wants to swap first impressions. Highly recommend Showa Cafe. Oh .. did I mention the service? Very good.

Yummy yummy coffee & lovely service! A nice selection of food choices (including sweet treats) in the cabinet although I’d like to see the dine in menu have a bit more variety. Eggs bene was a decent portion size although the hollandaise was a bit eggy for my liking. Would definitely go back, especially for the great coffee and friendly staff!

Decent coffee and good service. We didn't try any food, but they appeared appetising and reasonably priced.

Best cafe with selections and nice portions. Custard donuts and proper cafe style burgers and sandwiches

Great Hospitality. On Busy intersection with a little FREE parking, what more could you ask for. An old corner dairy in appearance and pretty spartan with simple chairs and tables but don't let the appearance trick you. The Sausage Rolls, Blueberry & Cream Cheese Muffin appealed for breakfast and did not disappoint. I asked for and got cinammon on my Cappucino. Such a welcome change from having to remind others that " no chocolate" actually means that. The food is laid out with simple signs and prices. You are struck with mostly normal Auckland Cafe prices, but portions and taste set it above many. Our Second visit, my wife enjoying a Walnut Danish & Ham & Cheese Croissant and very happy.

My favourite cafe in Glen Innes. Have been going there since the opening. Moved away from area but still like to go there for my favourite ham and cheese croissants. Very friendly staff.

Best pastries around the area, hand made daily to Japanese perfection!

Staff are very nice and quick and food selection is good. Not very fancy but nice local around West Tamaki and Line Road area.

Doughnuts are not bad. The filling is not as sweet as other places. The burgers were a bit of a let down. I expected them to be made fresh instead of reheated. On the other hand my wife enjoyed her bacon and egg bap. I will come back and try the other items offered.

The best donuts and the coffee was great too

Scone was nice, mocha in the mug was a bit cold

We tried their sesame cream donut today! Super yummy and not greasy/fatty like some of the other franchised items elsewhere. Coffee is smooth too. Will definitely come back!

Even if this place was empty, I'd come back for the staff. It's one of the friendliest places we've been too, and everyone is super nice, smiley and helpful. They always make fantastic coffee and their donuts are to DIE FOR! <3

Hands down best ham and cheese croissants in Auckland 🥐👌🏻 Great coffee and salads too!

Good coffee, better homemade pastries, great staff. Very friendly!!

Great coffee, amazing croissants and excellent friendly customer service!

Great bakery. Good coffee. Friendly staff.

Love this place! Staff are the friendliest of any cafe I know!!!

Great service, super friendly and make the best Mocha's in town.

Showa and it’s sister cafe - N Cafe, are both within the same hood with the same Japanese owners. <br/><br/>Like: <br/><br/>1. Showa serves good coffee, freshly baked savory pastries and a nice array of pastas and salads especially their Caesar salad which (if you are used to eating Japanese style salads) tastes just like the yummy rich and creamy semi sweet ones that have kewpie mayo - the type you can buy or takeaway for lunch at the many JP train stations in Tokyo. <br/><br/>2. Like their tempting spread of french toasts topped with fruit, their pastries are interesting - whilst they are western in style, they have that distinct Japanese style to the mix of ingredients used and the way they are presented. My favourites are the apple and cinnamon bun or muffin, their bacon, cheese and ham brioche and any of their savory muffins. There is a nice variety and reasonably priced starting at $4.90. <br/><br/>3. Owners are friendly and nice and somehow I have been finding my way there in Thursday’s after a walk to just catch u with friends or grab a quick bite especially when I miss my little holidays to Japan. <br/><br/>Hoping that if the team from Showa and N see this - they will continue to include more Japanese style pastries and cakes into the menu. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

Prices are higher than usual but are worth it for the quality of the pastries. Highly recommend the lemon slice and the danishes. Overall a good choice of food and drink at this cafe.

Cute little cafe with Japanese meets cafe food. <br/>I personally didn’t try their cooked menu but their pumpkin salad was tasty and really liked their coffee! <br/>On a seperate occasion I had their lemon meringue slice which was huge and enjoyed it for afternoon tea! <br/>I’d love to try their pastries one day as they all look so good💛

This coner cafe seems opened long times ago. Staffs really friendly, but all the equipments and decor really old, cafe looks fine from outside, but not really clean inside. ＄11.9 for a regular caesar salad, not bad, taste ok.

Came here today as it’s my mums local, staff were friendly although quite impatient with us. Didn’t get any food for myself although one of our table got a donut which I tried and wasn’t a fan of. I got my usual iced latte with non dairy milk (not pictured) and was drinkable but felt like it had hardly any coffee in it (mostly almond milk and tasted like it could’ve almost been out of date) the rest of my table enjoyed their hot drinks though. Would recommend if you’re passing by in need of a pit stop but wouldn’t go out of my way to come here again

Good little corner cafe! Chocolate doughnut on the weekend is a must! If you are after a sweet treat but not too sugary, make sure you add this cafe on your list.

This place has the most amazing French toast in town, glad that I’ve finally find the perfect French toast to my liking, I will definitely come back again.

Had lunch here yesterday with friends. I have been before and admired the cabinet. Super friendly staff 10/10. The food was tasty and well priced. Coffee watery. My biggest request of the management is to clean your cafe please!!

They have a amazing selection of foods. Pastries, salads and sandwiches. I love their French toast and big breakfast the most. Nice for a eat in because the staff are very friendly.

Fabulous location, free street side parking, wide open space, friendly and attentive service, spellbinding food and reasonable pricing, foodies if you live around St Heliers make sure you try Showa café. <br/><br/>Just a quick note to be aware off, there’s bit of a drop from your first step into the café. Just a warning for visitors. There isn’t anything too flashy with the café, a few seats with tables and cabinet. Fairly simple, until you come up to the cabinets which are full of beautiful and stomach stimulating food. In the cold cabinet there’s a rich variety of different salads, rolls, paninis and sandwiches. Fresh and vibrant, the real attraction however is their pastry cupboard which is stocked with colourful pastries that will certainly challenge diners will power. <br/> <br/>I ordered The Showa Café Big Breakfast, which was served in a grilled hot plate. Quite peculiar but with the café being run and operated by Japanese owners and staff, I like that they added their own twist. Aside from serving on the hot plate, the portion size a smaller than your typically Big Breakfast which could annoy some. For me, I thought it was just about right as it allowed me to have some space for a nice sugary treat. The grilled plate made sure that your mushroom, potatoes and stir fry was warm and overall the vibrant meal was very appealing to the eye. <br/><br/>The pastry here is the real MVP though, visually stunning and filled with flavour. I particularly liked the bacon, mayo and grilled cheese pastry, it was salty but had a nice sweetness from the pastry. The croissants was flaky and buttery, while the doughnut had fantastic texture and held fantastically well with the custard.  <br/><br/>Showstopper: Would come back just for the pastry<br/>Overall Grade: A-

Avoid at all costs!<br/>Disgusting food and highly priced. My Moroccan Panini had skin and connecting tissue of oily chicken, no meat. Half a slice of tomato, wet piece of lettuce and no North African taste whatsoever.<br/>Panini, hmmmm. Birds in my garden didn’t even want to eat it. Nearly $9 for a piece of rubbish. Lucky them I took it home and didn’t have the time to go back there. I will ask them to eat it in front of whatever clients they had at that time. <br/>Stray Dogs food!

Cute little cafe so close to home its not funny! Plenty of parking with the friendliest staff ☺ They have the most delicious treats... my favourite being their jam and custard filled donuts which bulge theyve been filled so generously! Would rather go here than Krispy Kreme any day! Absolutely delicious ☺

Nothing but disappointment. Never want to come back and never will. I also do not recommend this place like others have stated in their reviews

Showa Cafe is just a short walk from my home, positioned nicely on the corners of Ashby Rd. The convenience and friendly staff makes it a no brainer to come regularly! (There's also lots of street parking for those living further away). I recommend their freshly made panini sandwiches and range of salads which makes for an amazing Sunday brunch. Also advise to come early for their freshest items as they do sometimes sell out! I have yet to try their kitchen menu but it'll only be a matter of time~

Absolutely enjoyed our brunch here. We arrived with the surprise of an in-house bakery with small batches of heaven. We had egg bene which was delicious followed by donuts done with chocolate and vanilla cream and banana pastry. Will come again and again.

Near by cafe to stop by for a coffee and some snacks to go. The staff are very kind and very professional. The coffee is rather average, but their customer service supersedes them. I am a regular here : )

What I like about this place is that still have that neighborhood kinda vibe, doesn't try to be fancy, what you get is nice people greeting you every time, this is a place to go for a relax time, delicious ice coffees and doughnuts to die for. I go there regularly and it's always nice.

Coffee was OK<br/><br/>Breakfast though was really terrible, took ages for eggs benedict and kids pancakes<br/><br/>Have never had bean sprouts on top before anywhere in the world, was also cold, was sent back for a refund<br/><br/>Also, kids meals should be simple with stuff like fruit and syrup on the side not all thrown on top<br/><br/>sorry, will not be back

Love the green tea frappe and all of the bread is home made! The paninis are delicious too and lots of sweet pastries to choose from too! All home made. Always great service! Greeted as you walk in and farewelled as you leave

I go to this cafe quite regularly and always experience great service and delicious food. They have unique choice of baked goods and I love their brioche. It's a lovely little cafe with friendly staff that will make you want to visit again.

When you arrive at the café you are always greeted with a smile from most if not all the really friendly staff who are on that day, the selection of a great variety of there yummy food can take a wee bit of time to select and if it needs heating, still comes in good time, so as you sit there enjoying your chosen hot drink and your selected food, you have already decided you are going to share this place with more friends as it is so easy to enjoy the visit to "Showa Café"