Reviews of Ima Cuisine. (Restaurant) in Auckland (Auckland).

Ima Cuisine

735 Reviews

355 Comments

Restaurant

Middle Eastern restaurant

53 Fort Street, Downtown, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Description

Information of Ima Cuisine, Restaurant in Auckland (Auckland)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Ima Cuisine

Popular times

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Friday

Reviews of Ima Cuisine

S.

Super delicious food & great portions! The servers were very friendly & helpful aswell! Highly recommend going the full length with added protein for a whole experience 😊

R.

Stopped in to pick up my hot cross buns and had a coffee and pastry. Both excellent the buns look great. Sat outside in sun nice little street to enjoy a morning break. Recommend $$

B.

Highly recommend especially if you go with a whole bunch of people. Family style dinner with generous portioning. All the little plates and side dishes are absolutely delicious.

Z.

We ordered the Middle Eastern platter for 2. It was $52 (April 2022). Well worth the money. I appreciated that sparkling water was served.

R.

The last time I had dinner here was probably five or six years ago! Good to see that it is still going strong. Good location and I don't mind the family style dining as long as there's enough to go around. Portions could have been more generous for a group of six but other than this the food did taste good. It was very busy so my group didn't get as much attention but this didn't ruin our experience.

P.

Was flattered by their hospitality. I went with my sister and a friend and we were fasting. They were really considerate, both the lady who was managing and the wait staff. They made us complimentary mint tea and served dates to break our fast. Made sure we know what we were ordering. And the food was absolutely amazing. Reasonable price. The environment is good enough to light up your mood. The food is Halal and again absolutely delicious.

A.

Best Hot Cross Buns in Auckland! Big plump and moist buns with a delicious custard cross. I can eat this all day!

B.

I’d give it six stars if I could. Insanely delicious Middle Eastern food - Lebanese, Israeli, Palestinian, Syrian. Service is incredibly friendly as well and I believe that the owners daughter is front of house so there’s a lot of passion at the place. They were also very proactive with dietary requirements (one diner couldn’t have tahini in their hummus).

A.

Pretty solid food. Only thing that bothered me was the fact that it felt like we had to order the mezze. It was very good but i don't like feeling like i need to order something, especially if its not cheap.

F.

Shawarma Fridays went and tried their mixed meat shawarma and some pastries the shawarma was really good from the pita crunch of fresh onions chunk and chunk of meats the sauce everything was on point I got attracted by this middle Eastern pastries and yes yes lovelove all of them my favourite was this small Israeli croissant it's like a chocolate croissant but more chocolatey and not sweet I can't wait to dine and experience their food more

R.

INCREDIBLE. The family vibe they bring to every dish is undeniable, as well as the modern and upbeat atmosphere! It felt like I was visiting a close family friend and being fed with love. 100% will be coming again. Ps. their hummus makes me think every hummus I've tried up until this point was trying to be theirs.

M.

We had to go town to support the hospo business and my friend and I were not disappointed. We were kindly greeted immediately and as we got seated we were given a choice of sparkling or still water. We went for the $28 per person mezze plater which was completely vegan besides the labneh (the server informed us was very helpful and even told us his favourite) My friend was very impressed with the mismatched Crown Lynn plates and I was in awe of the homely interior. Most importantly it was the most amazing pita bread I had ever tried in my life. It was straight out of the oven, soft and fresh and went well with the creamiest hummus and baba ghanoush. It went down well with our wines. We were so full afterwards but were very keen to try the vegan muhallebi which looked like a panacotta drizzled in cherry sauce. I couldn't believe it was vegan! This was a very beautiful experience and one of the best mezze's I have been to so far. It is not the best place for a quiet night out but definitely a place for some fun!.

R.

Great food in family style restaurant. Service could have been better even though it was not too busy. We had to ask for our water glasses/bottle to be topped up. Basic stuff. We found portions to be OK in size, not much left over once we finished our dinner

S.

A superb place to meet a friend for a meal. Great food. Their hot-cross buns are legendary. A spacious restaurant but also with a close feel; achieved by the hand made fittings and baffles that decorate the ceiling. Recommend highly.

L.

Great food, great service. Great for a work lunch, not too expensive, not too big and not too long; and great for dinner with friends so you can share lots of lovely things you've probably never eaten before; and if you don't have time, check out their cabinet for something different to takeaway. Always good.

N.

An absolute treat of a restaurant. This time we picked up a meal to eat at home during lockdown and it was generous and so delicious 💜

J.

Brilliant - The almond croissants are exceptional! Closely followed by the Hot-Cross buns. We sometimes make a special (30min) to go here. Our go to place in the city.

N.

Awesome experience! Ima Cuisine offers a fun way of dining with heaps of small plates constantly coming to the table. Very vegeterian friendly.

R.

This is my very first time trying out Middle Eastern food and I have to say, I totally fell in love ! Ima is a nice, cozy restaurant with a very elegant and eye-catching outer layout. Their food and desserts were so delicious and mouthwatering. The customer service in Ima is just perfect. We arrived 10 minutes later than our booking time and it was nearly their closing hour but the manager told us to take time and enjoy our meal. I really admire and appreciate the adorable manager in Ima. I want to say this to her: “Thank you so much for your professionalism and friendliness, you are such a nice person and please keep it up with the hard work !” You should definitely try this place out if you want to discover the Middle East cuisine and I am sure that Ima will not let you down. Moreover, every small decoration things was handpicked by the owner and she also made those hanging lamps on the ceiling by herself as well. I just cannot praise about this place enough.

C.

This place is fantastic !! Some of the best food we have found in this great city. Fresh produce cooked with imagination and love. The hardest decision will be choosing from their inspired menu, you will wish you could try a bit of everything as it is all delicious and a real feast. Definitely go here for breakfast and then go back for lunch you will not be disappointed at all.

T.

Sharing Mezze portions seemed small for large group (7 ordered it out of 10) but was okay in the end. Chicken protein and liver skewers were both quite dry. Nothing majorly wrong, likely would not choose to return.

D.

Heard the hummus here is comparable to the hummus in Israel ! And it’s very delicious hummus and wish they gave more ! Though the food was decently yummy, I’m not sure I want to be paying $15-18 for one meat skewer... Otherwise, I would recommends this place if you want decent middle eastern food

L.

The best Easter buns in town ! Fantastic food, really delicious. Perfect spot to share dishes with family and/or friends, packed with flavours, generosity and so tasty. The “feel like home” vibe, friendly and smiley staff, cozy environment to eat and drink.

N.

We came here for a quick dinner and ended up having a fantastic meal. The Goat Suniya was particularly good as well as the Knafeh dessert - Goats Cheese mozzarella with sweet pastry, syrup and pistachios. We had two portions of the main (chicken and goat) and two portions of sides. Including the dessert it was Very generous portions, almost too much for two people but we got through it because it was that tasty. Price was also good!

R.

Ima is always interesting. Ever since it opened years ago I've been sampling the food here. I liked it more 10 years ago. Palestinian style food with some Israeli interpretation. Parking nearby is expensive so please plan to walk 5 minutes. Went with 3 friends for breakfast today. Shakshuka and mixed grill were enjoyed. Please concentrate on improving these breakfast offerings. Consider inventing a variant shakshuka. Ima is not a traditional kosher bistro.

N.

Excellent!!!!! my wife and I have been customers for years so recently when we got married we chose the Ima team for our catering, they even did the cake! Yael and her team are highly professional and their food is AMAZING. Thank you Yael & team for helping make our day so awesome.

C.

This is always one of my favorite restaurants yo go to, their Mediterranean style cuisine is just devine. The staff are friendly, the setting is really cosy. Highly recommend.

D.

Amazing vegan seniya, followed by vegan muhallebi dessert, from their new menu. Wonderful service and very friendly welcome.

N.

We got 2 servings of salad & 2 proteins as suggested by the lovely & helpful waitstaff. The lamb and rice were very delicious. The eggplant humus was quite strange and could do with some bread or more potato to eat the large amount of hummus with. The salad was tasty but 26 dollars for that amount of salad is really pushing it. Overall, i would go back sometime and try the other mains options, to hopefully increase my impressions of the place in the future. Seems like lots to like, but just didnt quite impress enough on the night

L.

Food and service was good. We pretty enjoyed our meal and time in IMA. Definitely will come to visit again.

A.

A cheeky birthday dinner at Ima turned into a celebratory feast! The menu is packed with delicious items; the Mezze entree was a sampling of delights, with fresh warm flatbread, the squid was delicious but the accompanying pickled salad took it to another level. Ima does an interesting thing with sides; you can order all the sides for a per person price, which worked bloody well. The generous portions of rice, slaw, carrots and others were almost a meal on their own. But the heroes are the maincourse items. We had 5 hour lamb shoulder, chicken, halloumi and a vegan delight. All were packed with flavour, superbly cooked and presented simply. The wine list is short and without pretense, which sums up the whole place really. They do a few things exceptionally well, including the friendly and relaxed service. Its like going to a friend's place for dinner with slightly mismatched Crown Lynn, complimentary sparkling water, and stylishly rustic tables and chairs. Opening up onto the street, the kitchen is open at the rear, and the vibe is easygoing. Highly recommended.

A.

This place serves some authentic israeli and arab dishes. It is a must visit when in town. The food is very flavourful and fresh. Staff is attentive and friendly. Will definitely be back another time

D.

Wonderful authentic cuisine, cozy ,rustic and lovely atmosphere, very freindly staff, love it and definitely will visit it again.

H.

It's good but not very impressed, other cheaper same cuisine restaurant in CBD has even better taste.

S.

Awesome family meal. Wonderful fresh food. Great staff. Thanks OP

R.

Bought a small salad takeaway today and the box was only half full.. the chocolate croissant was amazing though!

E.

We've now been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it's always incredible. The staff are always friendly and helpful, everything there is fresh and home made, and I love that you can always see them making dough from scratch in the front window. Every time we go there we point out how we feel like we're eating a home cooked meal in another country. Definitely reccommend for any occasion.

C.

Great dinner menu that you can share with a group (as long as you don't have fussy eaters). The Lebanese lamb is a must try.

K.

I've been here for lunch before but dinner was next level good. All my favourite things. It's restaurant month too so get amongst and give this a try.

J.

Went here with four people for restaurant month, we all got something different and left absolutely full and with enough to fill up again for lunch the next day. For restaurant month you start with pita and a taster of all the starters. There was lots of flavour variety with all of us having different favorites. The four mains were the halumi, chicken, sabich, and lamb. The lamb was definitely lamby, which I liked but some may not; it came with plenty of jus for your rice. The halumi was fantastic and it was my first time trying it; it was sliced and brown on both sides. I didn't have much chicken but my partner loved it. Finally I ordered the sabich, which I can not recommend more! Loved it and will have to learn to make it myself at home. For desert we could get two for the four of us and we choose the platter. The creamy desert that I can not remember the name of was everyones favorite. The deserts were very rich and we were very full so only two orders was enough for us!

N.

Very good breakfast and coffee thanks. Lovely warm space and welcoming staff!

F.

Awesome discovery. The food is excellent, the portion sizes are super generous, and the owners are friendly and really want you to discover the amazing food of their country (they said that's why there's so many plates on the table). Special recommendation for the hummus as a starter, the lamb ima (so tender), and my favourite was the vegan ima (even meat lovers loved it).

S.

Such lovely ambiance and outstanding food. We were served by a young lady from Egypt and her service was implacable (considering I have worked in the hospitality industry for 15+ years). Thank you for such a lovely evening. Will definitely be returning again.

S.

Recommended to us by a friend who works nearby. Was greeted by by a cheery gentleman who seated us. The restaurant had a friendly and relaxing atmosphere and a lovely waitress came and took our order. I ordered the lamb in homemade pita bread and my friend ordered the chicken schnitzel. We both agree that our meals were delicious and left feeling full and contented. Great service and friendly staff. Would highly recommend.

S.

Had a great meal good ambience and service. The lamb is highly recommended

J.

Food is tasty but the value for the amount served isn't balanced. We were suggested a combo/plate to share for three; we were told it would be copious and more than enough for three. When served, the size was was more like for one person rather than three. I felt it wasn't fair and the advertising misleading.

K.

Healthy cuisine and a quirky decor however I rate this place 3 stars as the food was ok but not amazing. We liked the mezze however the flat bread was a little doughy and let the meal down overall. Service was recalcitrant to say the least. A little more direction over ordering would have been appreciated. We also didn’t appreciate our plates being cleared while others were still eating.

A.

Friendly service. However, if you know how to cook anything at all, you’d never need to come here. We had an extremely average meal here last night. All four of us felt the same. Our skewers were undercooked, the mezze, at $16 per person as a starter was not better than anything I could whip up at home…carrots, cabbage, pickles, olives, and some average falafel and labneh. For the prices charged you just expect more than what was on offer. We wouldn’t return.

M.

Amazing food, good wine and really nice atmosphere. Had a really nice vibe, I saw another diners' child upset and the owner/manager picked her up and gave her a hug. Very enjoyable.

B.

Great service and food in the cbd. Always a treat.

C.

Waited very long ( 1.5 + hours) to get food served. The food tastes were also below average.

L.

Really helpful staff before and after our booking - I had questions about menu ingredients due to dietary/health issues and they were really helpful and informed, and didn’t make it seem like a chore. This is what you call hospitality. Had a yum, stress-free dining experience. Especially loved the chocolate/hazelnut cake which is was gluten-free. Will be back.

H.

Awesome place for dining and celebrating. Best customer service and super fruendly staff. Happy with the meal, exciting mezze plater and cocktail. Highly recommended.

g.

Food arrives very fast. Reasonable price for a lunch, and very tasty. A bit busy in lunch time.

A.

Love Imas. It rivals Cafe Jerusalem in Kerikeri. Will definitely be back here

B.

Lovely food, excellent service and friendly staff. Suitable for vegans and great advice on menu choice. Please visit

D.

Great flavors, authentic foods, staff friendly & attentive

H.

Stumbled upon this great find in Fort St. Nice and busy, which was great to see post lockdown, and usually a good indicator for the quality of food. We weren't disappointed!! Delicious food, all prepared from scratch. We went for the Restaurant Month $40 per head menu and left wondering how they make money. Will definitely be returning!

R.

Beautiful family run Israeli restaurant. The food is very authentic. All the food is designed for sharing. The salads are delicious and they offer a range of different proteins. I'm told it's great for breakfast too. The staff are really friendly and will look after you!

M.

Pretty awesome customer service. The lady that served us was extremely accommodating. Food was exquisite as well. Will be back again with my crowd. See you soon

J.

Average tasting middle eastern food with poor table service - no rhyme or reason to who served our table and there seemed to be little communication between the servers, of whom we saw about five different ones through our meal. This resulted in slow, sloppy service. Decor and cleanliness were lovely though and prices are reasonable for its location.

S.

Yea its nice but food was better Also kunafa was soggy

N.

Delicious food, really friendly service. We had the shared vegetarian platter which was HUGE, and staff were happy to make it vegan for us.

P.

Where do I start, firstly the staff where amazing, Jane looked after us in the beginning and is an absolute gem, bubbly caring and fun. The other staff were great too. Now the food, it was just absolutely fantastic, fresh well made pure great food, and affordable too. We will go back the next time we are in Auckland. I believe everyone should try this beautiful restaurant xox

R.

Average middle eastern food and good service! From our side we liked the selection of dips and order for two people and got only one bread and asked for additional and the waitress said sure and charged us without informing us that there is additional cost. The falafel, vegan dumpling plus chicken dish were very average and frankly lacked flavour and presentation. The fit out is tired, lacks ambiance and if you sit close to entrance it is cold! Overall for what they charge I would head to Gemmayze Street for outstanding Middle Eastern food!

P.

I read some of the bad reviews but our experience was wonderful. The staff was friendly, we came on a Monday lunch and got our food within 15minutes. The food was excellent... living in Israel for many years we were excited to have a taste of home. We had the falafel plate and the chicken & lamb plate for two. We brought our 3 children and they enjoyed it and it was enough for 5 of us. The atmosphere was rustic and though a read a bad review about the toilets they were clean and had nice hot water to was your hands.

p.

Had dinner here last night. Staff are friendly. Excellent service. The food was delicious. We had the lamb shoulder, goat Suniya and the chicken. Loved every bit of it. The variety of salads available was really nice. For dessert we had the middle eastern platter, maahmoul, mint tea and the Arab coffee. We loved all of it except the custard that was part of the platter ( was not to our taste) . Will definitely be back yo try their other dishes and will be recommending to other as well

B.

The food is amazing, the service warm & caring & the decor delightful. My only problem was the sound- a deep whir of an fan (?) just out the side door was very hard for me to bear, asking with the occasional long high-pitch beep, I was sad to leave, but just couldn't linger.

S.

Impressed by the feel of this place. The lamb skewers the panfired halloumi and the dumplings were really tasty and the price was very fair for a place like this. Based on the food we would give it a 4 or 5 out of 5 but the only downer for us was the rude service we witnessed and the condescending attitude of the staff. We would deifnitely give it another try for the food alone and hopefully the service can match it.

s.

We went for dessert and found Ima very charming with lovely cheery, helpful staff. The quince tart was incredibly good, complete with scrumtious homemade icecream. I had decaf coffee and it was simply the best I have ever had. My brother had the vegan custard and he said it was really delicious. Mint tea was also much appreciated. The menu is very inviting and its excellent food.

A.

Friendly casual restaurant with lots of small middle Eastern dishes to choose from. Maybe more a lunch time place than dinner. An array of different chairs means you get to seat comfortably one time out of five. Prices are reasonable and the hummus is delicious.

H.

Pros: Nice ambient, friendly people Cons: very complicated menu, the food was fresh but all of them were missing taste and flavor. Most of the food were missing salt or the expected sourness like lemon.

H.

I read some of the bad reviews but our experience was wonderful. The staff was friendly, we came on a Monday lunch and got our food within 15minutes. The food was excellent... living in Israel for many years we were excited to have a taste of home. We had the falafel plate and the chicken & lamb plate for two. We brought our 3 children and they enjoyed it also and it was enough for 5 of us. The atmosphere was rustic and though a read a bad review about the toilets they were clean and had nice hot water to was your hands.

H.

Great Middle Eastern food, they are delicious, flavorful and generous portion. Love the platter and the size is huge! The lambs are the best, they are beautifully cooked. Service however can be inconsistent, sometimes they are friendly, but other times they can be pushy and unfriendly for some reasons... And they are not familiar with loyalty programs, so be prepared to reason with them if you have one of those vouchers or loyalty stuffs.

L.

Such delicious fresh food. Will be back for sure. The sharing platters for two are fun. So many things to try. Great vibe.

E.

If you've heard about this place you already know it's 5 stars. Amazing food and great hospitality. Only wish there was more food for more enjoyment.

C.

This is a great resturaunt in the heart of downtown Auckland. Some amazing menu choices, the toughest thing will be deciding on what to have. Friendly helpful staff, wonderful individual environment, a real treat and if you are looking for something delicious and alternative to the usual then you will definitely not be disappointed.

R.

Beautiful home style Israeli food. Enjoyed it very much.

G.

Very good experience! Good food and nice staff!

G.

If i was only reviewing food it would be 5 stars every time! I love the counter food, scones and mini donuts especially!!! They also have the best platters that are great for sharing. Unfortunately I’ve had some poor service experiences recently, most recently, I asked our waiter about the salads and he said it was easier for me to go and check, which I was happy to do. I then asked if one of the salads had olives, it looked like it did but I couldn’t tell, and he said he didn’t know, but then made no effort to find out for me. When I did order i asked about the difference in size between a small and regular salad, our waiter said the difference was “$5 more worth of salad in the regular salad” which wasn’t helpful at all. All in all he hated answering questions about the salad!!

S.

One of our favorites. Tasty food, a good selection. It has changed a little bit over the years but we remember when we were the only ones dinning. It is one of those places we keep going back to both for the food & nostalgic reasons. Definitely worth trying out.

L.

My husband and I went to Ima on the recommendation of a friend and we r sooo happy we did. What a fantastic lunch we had. We ordered the platter for two and it was amazing. Plenty of grilled lamb and chicken, marinated vegetables and hummus,olives,bread etc. We were very impressed and will certainly go back. It was a lovely lunch and the food was all delicious! The service was great. Thank u Ima.

M.

Stopped here for a bite on our way to Spark Aerena for a concert. Service was great and meal tasty.

T.

We really enjoyed our meal at ima, we had the goat meatballs, lamb and chucked with the shared salads and two desserts. So many rich and interesting flavours. Staff were very friendly and attentive.

W.

Had a really lovely lunch here, food was amazing and the service was great. They made us feel so welcome and it's a nice homely feel. We were served by Howell who looked after us so well, really nice chap! Also Molly and Chimi- great service! Highly recommended.

S.

Always a fave. Lovely staff and authentic food - according to people who have lived in Israel (I have not) Not cheap: get a main dish (veg & meat options) and get 5 unusual tasty salads to go with it. Good for sharing.

D.

Service was friendly but incredibly slow and inattentive. Food was good, albeit nothing particularly mind-blowing - chicken and lamb both tasty but portions aren't huge. Good hummus, especially with fresh bread. Honestly this place has been so heavily recommended to me so many times by people who know I appreciate a good meal, so maybe I was overhyped for it, but I was a little surprised that so many rate this place so highly.

S.

Excellent breakfast, so sad we had a flight out of town and couldn't try the lunch! Latkes were great!

T.

A really interesting and diverse place to come. Different food what you get in most places and it has an Israeli Middle East theme. Service is great and friendly. Home of the worlds best hot Cross bun that is available for about six months of the year! Make sure you try the lamb and chicken, it’s done in a amazing charcoal oven…

L.

Everything’s so delicious. We had the lamb shoulder and goat suniya, both turned out to be super tasty. The lamb shoulder was well cooked which was very tender. And the goat suniya was insanely good, especially the perfect combination of tomatoes and pine nuts. The salad that came with the dishes was scrumptious, especially the carrots. Ima is now my go-to place to have healthy and delicious Mediterranean food.

T.

Really delicious and healthy food. Beautiful interior decor. You can't go wrong with the menu it's all amazing. Medium range price so not cheap and can get very crowded at lunchtime due to popularity. Only thing stopping me from giving this place 5 stars is the wait - don't go here if you're in a hurry. Otherwise, it's an amazing food experience in the CBD.

J.

Israeli cuisine in Auckland is rather unusual. The food is nice in general and we enjoyed the bottomless bread served to us at the start. The service is quite slow for a casual dining restaurant. A three course meal (with most of the meal being precooked or roasted in advanced) took well over two hours to serve. We dined at Ima during the Auckland Restaurant Month and ordered their lamb and chicken dishes for main and found the food to be nicely spiced and enjoyable. With the restaurant month promotion, we found the prices to be reasonable.

C.

I had a shakshuksa which effectively is a middle eastern all day breakfast of tomato, onion, egg, sausage and bread. It had a bunch of spices that made it taste pretty extraordinary. The decor and vibe was nice. Culturally reflective of the cuisine and staff were helpful in pronouncing and describing food. Lunch was approx $20 pp so on the pricier end, but good value. Recommended.

B.

Beautiful food and very attentive wait staff. Best for medium sized groups as food is designed to share. If there's just the two of you, you'll have to come back to try everything on the menu. Slightly noisy though so be prepared to walk away with a slightly sore throat at the end of night. Recommend making reservations.

J.

Able to pre order lunch the day before, which was served to us after we were seated. Sparkling water constantly filled and the owner was engaged enough to joke and push us for dessert. Staff are super and the restaurant very homely. Oh and the food was delicious! Thumbs up by the while team. Downside is restaurant isn't able to view email regarding booking so make sure you call after you book online. The booking site isn't the best. Ima is amazing.

T.

Came here after eatlitfood kept going on about it ha. Great service, busy little spot. We got the platter to start which came with lots of dips, bread and some real yum cauliflower. We had salads for two and I choose the lamb. Normally don't go for lamb but it was melt in your mouth delicious!!!

A.

So the food is great, but portion sizes are a problem for the cost. My family and I ate here Saturday night. We are used to paying reasonable amounts for food, esp if the food is good, which unquestionably it is. But we do expect things to display value and unfortunately, this is where for us, this missed the mark by some margin. $18 for a dessert "platter" which contained 5 small items (regardless of how great they taste) is really taking the mickey in my opinion. The entrees are about the same price and again, they taste pretty good, but two meatballs (largish) for $16 is also going against value. Service was good, friendly, though a couple of times we had to remind them of things we had asked for. The 750G steak was amazing.

R.

I loved the fact that they have couple of options of vegetarian food unlike most places. The food was amazing but the coffee was just okay. You have to have some patience as this place gets unexpectedly busy. I am looking forward to going back soon! 👍

N.

Consistently good food, we LOVE the kanafe. Always a pleasure eating there. Great service always!

A.

Yummy food, Excellent Service.. Must Try

H.

Mezze Platter wasn’t as great as seen in many other good Mediterranean restaurants

Y.

Visited twice as food and service are both amazing. The shared starter plates are fantastic, and the main chicken dish I ordered was one of the best chicken dishes I've had this year. Will definitely be back again in the near future!

D.

I’ve been here several times, always for dinner. The food is always so fresh, tasty and healthy. The Mezze platter is a terrific array of super tasty small dishes. Quite different menus for breakfast and lunch which I plan on trying as well.

J.

Beautiful food - everything was delicious! Unique experience in Auckland as we don't have many middle eastern restaurants and none that I know of of this quality. Staff knowledgeable and service was friendly and professional. A little pricey.

C.

Great food. But the low rating is for the price. For dinner, you can choose a main, but the salad is $13 per person which goes with the main. For this price, you get 5 types of salads (sides). Although these sides are amazing in taste, they are served in such tiny quantities that they feel like a condiment that should be complimentary and not paid for. For example, one of the salads was literally 7 tiny pieces of diced Veges. Other than the food, the place is also quite old and looks like a 3rd world restaurant. And I don't think this was intentional as the signs and billing counter inside also look like refused items picked from in front of the salvation army outlet. Visit for good food, but be prepared to pay a lot for a little.

F.

Haven't been here in a while but was a delight the first time I visited. We tried their Knafeh (dessert made from pastry, goat's cheese, drenched in hot syrup). A really wonderful dish. Another thing to try is their lamb which was also brilliant. A wonderful place to come for dinner on those cold winter months.

S.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Most importantly the food is fresh and flavoursome. Personally, i believe more herbs and spices could be used in the food totgive it aamore Middle Eastern flavour. Thesala choices are a wonderful accompany to the food. The lamb is a must try! The only concern is that portion size may be a bit small for some.

C.

Delicious food and very cute atmosphere. We went for breakfast, 4 vegetarians and we all found something delicious to eat. Staff were friendly and service was reasonably quick. Thanks!

J.

Yummy brunch! We had to leave suddenly and take our food to go and they had no problem sorting this for us! It was a shame we had to leave quickly as it was beautiful inside and the servers were lovely!

R.

Ima provides a cozy setting for meals. We enjoyed the lunch menu and definitely want to return for the more family-style dinner. It was fun sampling baked goods, with spoons provided for tasting. The take-out salads and Ima’s great cookbook added to the experience. We had Cypiot salad with half I cheese, shmitzl and shakshuka with homemade Merguez sausages. We were fortunate to meet Yael, the owner and chef. Well worth the visit. It goes beyond humus and felalfel.

R.

The food here is excellent but a shame we ordered starters and several share plates for mains but got given a compulsory large salad platter as well which we did not want or need. Potential diners should clarify this before ordering - or run the risk of having far too much. I really think Ima need to stop this practice - lots of people who review them say this too.

B.

Ima Cuisine is a delight! Both the food, and the staff The food is delicious, fresh, and I really enjoyed the sharing a meal with others tapa style. The staff are friendly, and good with recomedations. 10/10 will eat here again.

A.

Ima is a cozy Middle Eastern restaurant with great food, great atmosphere and friendly staff. The food was excellent, with a focus on sharing. Really nice option for a cold night and located very central always and option for a meal before going to an event in the city.

J.

It’s a pity really. The 3 star rating is due the staff experience. The restaurant has really amazing food but unfortunately the staff are abrasive and aggressive which marred the experience overall. If you go just knowing there will poor hospitality then you’ll love the food.

P.

Excellent food, the flavours are amazing. Quite loud which means you have to talk loud so it sort of keeps amping up. A little on the pricey side but rents must be high in that part of the city

J.

Loved the cheese graters as light shades and eclectic mix of china. We appreciated the pitcher of sparkling water and the quick arrival of our orders. I had the soup of the day, silver beet and beef dumplings served with lovely chewy ciabatta. Mr had the shakshuka, a spicy sausage and tomato stew with poached eggs and toast , which he thoroughly enjoyed.

G.

Nice restaurant with streamlined menu. We enjoyed a plate of veggies and then slow cooked lamb shoulder. Spinach and lamb were very good.

T.

They have gems in this place, I really like their lamb shawarmas. However, they overdo the tahini on many dishes. I like tahini, but they put way too much. The place has a good ambience and nice seating, great service as well. Recommended

H.

I love the ambience of this place.. Was my first time here and the wait staff was very very helpful in explaining us the menu. And the food, i just can't forget the taste.. I will definitely want to keep going there to enjoy their food..

J.

Incredibly delicious fresh food. Generous portions of salads. Service was outstanding. Warm inviting environment. Can’t wait to go back !

N.

Very friendly staff, a relaxed atmosphere and most importantly, a variety of Mediterranean dishes accompanied by a rich collection of wines. The dishes are prepared using genuine recipes and spices from Middle East.

J.

A vibrant and cosy restaurant with absolutely delicious Middle-Eastern cuisine. All freshly made (make sure you have their pita bread). They can deal with larger groups as well as cosy tables for two.

N.

One of Auckland's true culinary gems. Highly recommended! Had dinner here with a great group of friends. The atmosphere gave me the feeling of a big family meal with home-cooked food. Except most home cooking can only strive to reach this level. Everything I tried was cooked to perfection, with an incredible balance of flavors. There was a lot of sharing at our table, as everyone wanted others to experience the wonderful dish they had ordered. Make sure to save room for dessert; it's out of this world!

B.

Wonderful food and atmosphere- staff were very friendly and helpful. Meals came out quickly and were delicious. Would definitely recommend this for a casual meal with loved ones.

M.

Went there with a friend for dinner and had heard such good things about the place but was so disappointed. It definitely does not deserve the rating it has. The food is average, so is the service, and the decor is below average. Small portions, ok presentation. Wouldn't go back.

A.

Had been here for an evening meal several times but didn't realise they were open for breakfast as well. Just a little bit out of the ordinary - great food and friendly service.

F.

Have been here a few times for dinner, tried most of the choices and they were all awesome! The lunch menu was a bit disappointing though, not bad but just too basic especially compared to their dinner menu.

L.

Very attentive and friendly staff. The food was so flavourful. An excellent unique dining experience. Would definitely go back again!

K.

Yael and the team always provide delicious food in their well appointed restaurant, or outside in the Fort St sun. I love the Chicken Schnitzel and sweet treats for afters. Good coffee, and always popular with the locals.

S.

What's not to love about this place?! Great selection of Israeli dishes which all taste amazing, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. One of my favourite places to have after work drinks with a bite to eat in the sun.

A.

I can never fault the times that I have eaten at Ima. It feels like i'm eating at home. The staff are really courteous, and the food is always amazing. I can highly recommend the lamb shoulder and the rib eye.

L.

I booked a table here for 30 PhD students. Chimi and his staff were lovely and organised from start to finish. The food came out quickly, was reasonably priced and everyone agreed that it was delicious!

J.

This is a great 'middle eastern' Cafe-restaurant, ideally located in the lower city. Excellent for a pre-work breakfast, lunch or dinner, the food is fresh and healthy. The menu should satisfy any hunger, the drinks menu also quenching.

X.

Another fantastic dinner at Ima on the weekend. Faultless every time! Delicious, fresh food; friendly and prompt service, great relaxed atmosphere. Love it.

J.

Really nice food that is great for sharing. We ended up ordering a bit too much but definitely left satisfied. Great wine and beer selection.

r.

Honestly this place is amazing. Very original and simple recipes. All made in house. Simply delightful cuisine. 10/10

A.

Great Israeli/-influenced food. Very good at managing large groups. Recommend their fruit scones - very crumbly and different take

G.

Some of the best Middle Eastern food I've eaten outside the Middle East! They accompany each main with a selection of salads that are on point for Mediterranean flavors.

M.

Delicious food and excellent service

T.

Fabulous food and service. We enjoyed dinner so much we came back for breakfast the next day. If you're ever in Auckland and like Mediterranean food don't miss this gem!

N.

Good Middle Eastern restaurants (and European too for that matter) are exceptionally scarce in New Zealand. Thankfully there's Ima to help fill the gap. It's rustic, flavourfull food - don't expect fine dining or intricate flavours combinations. Do expect home recipes that have been elevated to restaurant standards and given some modern touches. Ima is best enjoyed with a group of 8 or more where you can slide a variety of dishes down the middle of the table and share.

H.

Brunch on Saturday - yum! Not busy, was able to have a nice and relaxed meal, lovely waitresses and fantastic food. Definitely want to go back for the Malawach again!

T.

Great service, great food. Already ordered their world famous hot cross buns for next week

H.

Excellent as always. Tasty food. Great service. Best scones in Auckland. Interesting menu choices.

M.

Fresh and delicious food and the atmosphere is really relaxed in this family owned restaurant. Those guys love good food. I would definitely go there again.

C.

Great meal good service. Relaxed atmosphere. Great for a group that's prepared to share. Goat Meat balls were delicious

B.

day or night, Ima doesn't disappoint

H.

The idea of Israeli cuisine will cause a raised eyebrow or two, it's not common in New Zealand and seems a step too far outside of one's comfort zone. How wrong is that perception. Ima breaks down all those misconceptions and reminds you to explore and move outside of your comfort zone - that is the only way to find new and amazing foods you could have never imagined. There is no favourite dish at Ima as everything is perfect and presents delight in it's own ways. Their sides cannot be missed as you will get a range of foods to try at a modest price, add only your protein and you will get a complete meal of 6 or more dishes. Tip: Book ahead and don't miss this haloumi. It's probably best for a group of 4.

T.

Beautiful food, great wine and not too expensive. The starter sharing Plata was truly delicious, as was the halloumi. Probably the best halloumi I have ever had, and I have had a lot.

R.

Amazing customer service! Complemented by excellent food. They have a good selection of non standard breakfasts to supplement the classics.

S.

Good food. A bit on the expensive side. The Lebanese Chicken is definitely worth trying.

P.

Great food. Really helpful. The platters are amazing. Platters are for two. They made a 3 person one for us. Great service.

S.

Amazing middle eastern restaurant. I've been here for breakfast and dinner a few times and have never been disappointed. Heartly home cooked meals with helpful friendly service.

J.

Beautiful atmosphere and lovely friendly staff. Great food and stunning cocktails. Highly recommend

R.

Staff friendly and very good food. You can experience a taste very close to the Middle East tradition. Try the dessert with chocolate and halzenut... it's amazing!

V.

We have been several times in IMA and it is always amazing! Staff is very helpful and food is wonderful! One of the best Auckland restaurants without a doubt.

D.

Fantastic food. We ordered a large platter for two with lamb, chicken, babaghanoush, hummus, etc. Great flavors!

s.

We love this place. Great pita bread and Hummus

A.

We’ve been for lunch twice now & plan to go back soon. Platters are the best we’ve had. Staff are lovely & good at their job.

A.

Best French toast ever.

J.

Delicious food and good service. The staff is very friendly explaining all about how it works and the the items on the menu. The chicken was perfect!

P.

My partner and I went here for restaurant month and it was just amazing. The food was homemade and fresh, super tasty, and amazing customer service.

R.

Fabulous, absolutely delicious food. I highly recommend this restaurant.

P.

I been there many times with friends and customer for breakfast.I like souvary scone.It s such a beautiful and solf scone ever had. .And also got one of schnitzel sandwich ...sooo yummmm.I'm pretty sure to be there again and again.

I.

Very cozy and hearwarming atmosphere. Food is a delight, portion size is fair. Definately coming back soon!

M.

Great place for something a little different. Relatively cheap and real good introduction to middle eastern cuisine. Friendly staff and quick service.

M.

Food was great, Staff Attitude was Awesome, Ambiance is fantastic, loved every bit of the place, will try more options next time, Definitely recommend this place, Thank you for the Fantastic experience.

A.

Sensational! Beautiful interior, immaculate service, and incredible food. Highly recommended - one of my must-visit Auckland destinations (and it's a short list!)

S.

The pasteis de nata was delicious as was the coffee. The complimentary sparkling water was an unexpected bonus! And everyone was extremely polite and welcoming! Will be back!

R.

Excellent service. Very nice food. Slightly pricey. Lovely ambience.

M.

A kebab with the included slides makes a great meal. You don't need two.

M.

Food and service was amazing. Lovely atmosphere right in the heart of the city. Easy to find parking. Would definitely recommend!

J.

Ima used to be one of my favourites in Auckland when it initially opened up. But lately the food has been average and too expensive for what it is.

S.

We came here with a large group of 16. The service was good but the wait on the food let us down. Not sure if the timing spoiled the foods flavour.

N.

Really good place to visit. Have nice salads and chicken is always delicious!! Good gluten free options too!

F.

We went for the platter for 3 - plenty of food but not as authentic flavours as hoped for. Some other places fare better if you want something real.

C.

Gorgeous food. Helpful, knowledgeable, and charming staff. Moderately priced at about $50 per head.

c.

Outstanding food and service. Very nice little corner with quality drinks and spirits.

V.

Cool place for lunch. Food comes out fast. Service is good. Flavours are good. Maybe one improvement could be the plating of the dishes.

B.

Great Middle Eastern food. Very tasty, good sized portions. Coffee was great as well. And friendly staff.

C.

Great Mediterranean cuisine with a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. Tucked along Fort Street but only a minute or two walk from Queen street or Britomart.

F.

Ima was so yummy! Great for groups and sharing. Really good vegan and vegetarian options too!

L.

Absolutely love the food and the philosophy behind it. Also recommend the IMA cookbook so you can make their dishes at home

S.

Great assortment of ethnic dishes. A little bit slow on service but the taste made up of this. Reasonable pricing

S.

The number of foods on the menu was limited but the food was delicious. They need more staff as everything takes a while to be sorted.

M.

Lovely food. Looks and tastes like home made. We'll come back!

P.

A favourite dish: Brik: tuna, lemon and soft-cooked egg wrapped in pastry. Joint winner, best value for money - Metro-Eat 2014

A.

Great authentic middle eastern food. Well seasoned, well spiced, and well cooked. The only downside is their limited opening hours.

V.

Good experienced Jewish food but was a bit expensive for a fried pasty and a poach egg with chutney. Its over rated!

C.

Fantastic food! Well prepared, a lot of food and nicely presented. Great team. I would go back!

G.

An outstanding place in the Auckland CBD. High quality food, pleasant service, relaxed atmosphere, excellent value.

R.

Everytime we come here we leave happy this is a fantastic restaurant and we'll priced well done guys my best restaurant in auckland

R.

Very disappointed with lamb and rice quality, lack of spices and flavours. Falafel and dips were good though.

M.

Fantastic food shared around the table. Vibrant and warm atmosphere. Great spot!

E.

Menu really appealed, wasn't disappointed. Had to make the comment "that was how food is supposed to taste". Yum!

M.

Classic dishes with a mix of Lebanese and eastern European flavours. Definitely a recommendation for a special occasion.

H.

The food was super tasty, the coffee was good. It has a nice vibe and the staff were friendly :)

R.

Small menu but amazing food and fast service. Try the Shakshuka, it's completely spectacular.

J.

Good basic simple food. Expensive for what it is though. Sharing platters are a decent size.

D.

Love the food here. All of the sides are amazing and I highly recommend the sabich for vegetarians.

S.

Great food experience.. Have been trying to get to Imas for a long time.. Great service.. Thank you, see you for dinner in the future.

N.

Marvellous food. Went with a friend on a Friday night and they were able to fit us in. Everything was wonderful. Will definitely be back!

L.

Perfect foodwith great service

o.

My favourite restaurant in Auckland! Always amazing

M.

Gorgeous food, simply gorgeous. Eat it, eat it all. And the service was fun, appropriate and spot on.

A.

Great food and service. Lunch is better value for money. Go for the middle Eastern plate!

B.

The food was delicious and came out fast! Customer service was really good too. Thanks!

J.

Yeah great place to eat, interesting set menu, but all the food is yummy

T.

Great foods. Need to use the word Palestinian more in their menu to pay homage and respect to both cultures imo

W.

The food is DELICIOUS. However it is one of the most overpriced place in that area. You can't go there regularly.

P.

Nice food, little loud for a decent conversation.

D.

Awesome! Great food. Beer a little pricey. Super friendly staff.

J.

Super awesome. Thanks Jayne for making Ruby's birthday so special. Yummy Ima x

I.

Nice atmosphere. Only had a wine, but friends enjoyed the starters.

k.

Great food with plenty of variety. Quick and responsive service. Highly recommended

D.

Always a great food experience and I really enjoy the middle eastern style breakfasts

M.

Great food, nice atmosphere and warm service 👍

D.

Excellent service and delicious food. Recommended.

M.

Food was gorgeous slow cooked, flavoursome and we really enjoyed it.

A.

Love the food, lovely ambience and great service. Highly recommended.

V.

Some of the best food I've had in New Zealand

s.

Really good food, nice vibe to the place. Great for lunch.

S.

Good place to eat, service is fairly quick, food is delicious. Recommend!

S.

Pricey but worth it. Try the pastries and cabinet food!

Y.

Great food, fantastic wine, excellent service. Would recommend

B.

Delicious food, beautiful setting, great service. Can't go wrong.

N.

Lovely atmosphere, unique and tasty menu, friendly staff!

S.

The food is a bit bland and pricey but comes in reasonable portions

R.

The most magnificent hidden gem of auckland CBD. Latkas like my Gram used to make.

H.

Had a terrific meal! Very friendly and engaging service too!

j.

They did a great job accommodating all 16 of us. The food was great

J.

Wonderful staff, quirky decor, fantastic breakfast. Thoroughly great value

j.

Loved it. Great food with very good service.

A.

Lovely authentic food and great service

S.

Busy buzzy place. Great food and good for groups.

I.

Fantastic food, yummy, great service - awesome atmosphere, thanks!

D.

Great place for larger groups so you can share and taste everything.

A.

Good food, can be a little noisy and busy for my taste.

T.

Excellent meal. Worth getting the sharing starter. Lamb was fantastic.

C.

Yummy food. Fresh. Vegetarian options. Great helpful staff

S.

Good effort to promote middle eastern food along with some other, my advise stick to one or the other

L.

Good coffee, delicious sweet treats, lovely staff and a warm, welcoming environment, Ima is a gem.

J.

Great food and friendly staff! Love the burger

M.

Great flavors of Israeli cuisine, everything is done by scratch..

B.

Love this place! Great wholesome and tasty food.

M.

Loved it! Great evening out. Cosy and welcoming atmo, lovely food, good times...

S.

Brilliant place for a fabulous meal. Always good.

А.

Very tasty, will come back for more))

O.

Absolutely divinely delicious and authentic. A must go.

M.

Amazing food and great service. Highly recommend.

P.

Nice relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff. Good food.

S.

Loved this place. Pastries are the best ever 😍

R.

Interesting food, good prices and friendly service.

R.

Great service and tasty stuff. The acustics is far from ideal though.

A.

Amazing food, amazing drinks, lovely staff!

J.

Wonderful food, wonderful people, will not disappoint!

T.

Easy, quick, tasty. Sharp flavours and filling. What more do you want

Y.

Enjoyed the food, ambience and most importantly great service!

A.

Good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a coffee. Recommend the brioche french toast

J.

Great value for money - a great place to grab a decent lunch

P.

Excellent food. Great for large groups.

S.

Best falafel sandwich around: crisp, fresh, and flavourful

S.

Amazing food and service... the Mezze, lamb and desserts are to die for!!!

D.

Excellent Reuben sandwich. Top notch!

S.

Always delicious and great service and staff

R.

Great place for big brekkie. Will return again.

M.

Amazing I will be back exceptional food and fabulous staff

S.

Not to my liking. Service was a little slack and menu hard to understand

E.

Excellent place to meet friends and family .Good food to share , excellent advice and service from staff

S.

Beautiful delicate but flavoursome Israeli food.

L.

Great food choices. Great atmosphere

A.

Gorgeous food and friendly staff!

H.

Lovely coffee and hot cross buns

Y.

Nice food and hot cross buns.

R.

Homely, great service and amazing food. Highly recommended

L.

Good. Service a little slow as was busy. Would go again.

P.

Delicious food cooked and served with love.

P.

Great food and friendly staff. Love it.

T.

Great food and ambience! Service is quick.

A.

The shared platters are delish.... Hummus to die for 😊

U.

Dec16 Don't take my word Try it yourself The lamb Would be five stars but it is very noisy Must be the acoustics

K.

Awesome. Go there for Easter hot cross buns or coffee

J.

Highly recommended, been going there for years

B.

Very good food. Nice friendly staff

B.

Really lovely place, great staff and relaxed fun atmosphere

b.

There PETA bread is amazing

M.

Good food, nice place good price

K.

Delicious breakfast with excellent friendly service.

N.

Lovely food, great vegetarian selection

A.

Awsome food, awsome vibe! A real Gem.in Aucklabd CBD

R.

Delicious food and good vegan options.

D.

Excellent consistent food and great staff

M.

Great place staff fantastic work next door to this place very nice people

p.

Oh my hot cross buns.

M.

felt like a sweet israeli woman adopted me as her son and fed me dinner

J.

Food is ok but great service

G.

Fresh, healthy food. Recommend the chicken schnitzel

l.

Beautiful food! The sabich is out of this world!

R.

Toasted hot cross bun lovely

S.

Fantastic food and place and service!!

A.

Nice food and coffee. Good atmosphere.

M.

Perfect

t.

not to miss. nothing more to say, with the first step in it, you'll get it. shalom x

L.

Love Ima's food - just amazing

H.

Beautiful food and great service

t.

Amazing food amazing service. Can't fault it.

B.

fantastic very friendly staff and nice food

Y.

Wasn't what I was expecting. Good cabinet food but lunch bit disappointing

C.

Love the lunch menu. All of it!

B.

Great food, great atmosphere

A.

Nice food and reasonable value.

A.

Great food , price and service

L.

Amazing fresh food. Loved it.

M.

Food & service was perfect! I recommend this place

O.

Amazing food

T.

Excellent pastry and coffee

R.

Amazing food and Yael is awesome!

T.

Great people, service and menu.

K.

Really good coffee, friendly staff.

N.

Always fast and friendly service!

C.

Basic tasty food in small portions

O.

Awesome staff at night!! Such great energy!!

J.

Delicious food and very nice staff

A.

If I could give 80 stars I would!

D.

Friendly and helpful went out to get newspaper for me

D.

Healthy and filling. Always good service

M.

Awesome people, food and atmosphere

5.

This is the best place for food in the city!!

C.

Lovely food, good for sharing

C.

Best Hummus in Auckland!

K.

Awsome place, defenately will come again.

A.

Nice place for a casual lunch

L.

Love this place. Can't recommend it enough.

A.

Incredible food and family atmosphere

b.

Great Coffee and Atmosphere

H.

Amazing food and top service

D.

Bestest

A.

Good service but crowded

P.

Nice atmosphere. Good service

A.

One of a kind middle eastern food

A.

Good food

K.

My favorite eatery in Auckland

B.

Good food

T.

Good, clean, tasty food.

E.

Great food and location.

o.

Great place

B.

Awesome lamb awesome hummus

K.

Just ok.

A.

Nice!

P.

Amazing food and service

O.

Delicious breakfast choices!

B.

Tasty food. Recommended.

L.

Was truly delicious

M.

Nice place and good service

J.

Great food and service

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