My wife and I visited The Chop Shop for lunch during a brief visit to Arrowtown. I ordered the Okonomiyaki. Giant juicy tender prawns, bonito flakes, crisp scallions, and fresh cilantro sat on a savory airy egg pancake filled with even more briny prawns. This was a delicious filling meal. read more

The Chop Shop - Okonomiyaki - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

This is such a hidden gem. Best tucked away restaurant in Arrowtown. My wife was annoyed because I took so long to decide on a restaurant in this little town. But after her meal (Vanilla Hotcakes with poached tamarillo, toasted pecans, mascarpone, tamarillo syrup, and mint), she was so content and wanted to go there again for our next meal. I had the Spicy Nasi Goreng (Fried rice) with tiger prawns, free range chicken, Chilli, shallots, bean sprouts, peanuts, and son-in-law egg. It was perfectly cooked and very tasty with Malaysian flavor. The atmosphere is vibrant with great service. read more

The Chop Shop - Spicy Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

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I have to admit, our initial first impression of this place wasn't the best. We walked in and the server was a little curt to us and pointed us to a table. When she set down the utensils, she did it abruptly and my fork and knife were facing in different directions. We asked her a question about the menu and the reply that she gave was a bit exasperated, almost as if she was bothered. All we asked was whether their eggs were free range chicken eggs and what color the chicken that lay them was. HAR HAR, no actually all we asked was what "agria" was. I think it was a fair question as we're not locals to NZ. It could have been a local word for possum for all we knew. SHEESH. In addition, the table we were sitting on had a burlap table cloth, which seemed a little dirty. Also, although the decoration of the place has a cool vibe (almost like an industrial-chic or a cyber-punk look, hard to explain), it did appear cluttered a bit. So why am I giving this place 5 stars?? Because of the food!! Oh my gosh, this place was the BEST breakfast we had in NZ, bar none. We ordered 1) Ricotta Hotcakes w/Tamarillo, vanilla mascarpone, pistachio, and mint and 2) Smoked pork hock hash, crispy fried agria, chipotle, red onion, spinach, and a poached egg. The coffee was also delicious. I posted some mouth-watering photos, check it out. And go eat here for the food!! read more

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this place has been closed for the past 7 mos!! wish it said that before we uber'd all the way from queenstown

Ok Imagine this - Small Little Shop in the Smallest NZ Town! Turning out to be the best place ever! Everyone knows Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, but Arrowtown. - Exactly - where is that. Well given we had a 'juicy' van and couldn't take the main pass road, we drove the long way around Queenstown to Wanaka. Starting in Queenstown in the morning we wanted to grab breakfast. Decided to try this little town, with all of these little cool shops; and one of the youngest shop owners suggested we try the Chop Shop. WOW! so cool. "walk down by the last stores, and turn up this shop lane; at the dead end climb the stairs and it is on top." So we did. Walked into this shop and it was so quaint. Grill/kitchen on the right and 8 tables scattered around. My wife is giving me grief the whole time about walking by boxes, and debris to get to it. It was like putting a restaurant in the room over your garage but had a patio on the roof. But as soon as we sat down -everything was great. Great view overlooking the lane/village and fun music playing. Two quick Americano Coffees quickly arrived - freshly made. Our waitress was so funny. I asked for suggestions and her ideas were wild - for my taste. She finally said - "ok order this and if you don't like it I will pay for it". So Turkish Eggs it was! I cant even tell you what was in it, but the eggs were the most yellow eggs I have to this day ever seen. the flavors of everything else on the plate were just nuts. So good. My wife ordered an egg special and agreed it was equally enjoyable. The waitress stopped by and rubbed it in my face a few times (that she was right), and we relaxed to the best breakfast of our visit. This is on the list of must returns when we do!!! read more

Small, cozy yet bustling little restaurant tucked away from the main drag in Arrowtown. Just steps away so absolutely a must visit when in town. The food is exceptionally good & fresh. It offers a twist of Kiwi (NZ) with hints of Asian and Turkish. Absolutely fab! We had the poached eggs with bacon & the beef cheeks and we enjoyed our lunch tremendously that we plan on going back tomorrow. The coffee is definitely good too! read more

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If I were Michelin, I'd give The Chop Shop a star. Tucked away in a humble alley, finding the door handle is only the beginning of the many surprises you will find in this rustic, low-key, yet uniquely beautiful restaurant. There was a black board of specials, and my husband and I decided to get the pork belly dumplings per Yelp reviews and the Rough Guide to New Zealand. There are sometimes in life where you need to go against the grain and don't listen to other people's advice. This is not the time. Get the damn dumplings. The wrap of the dumpling is as thin as Din Tai Fung's spicy wontons, but I would argue the overall taste and quality is better here. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge DTF fan, but this pork belly dumpling is simply amazing! The hit of ginger is tangy and sweet at the same time. As I'm writing this (about half hour after my visit), I want to go back to get seconds. As our mains, my husband ordered the Bang Bang poached chicken salad with organic soba noodles. It was the perfect light meal with a great flavor combination of the mint, sprouts, lime, cucumber, and a secret sauce that was delicious. The presentation was beautiful and noodles were ever so slightly chewy, just the way I like them. Ready for the highlight of this review?! The Crispy Beef Cheek is one of the best dishes I've had. In my life. Any of the dishes we ordered would easily get a five star, but this one, in particular, is one memorable and life changing dish. The beef cheek is tender, savory, and melts in your mouth as you would expect from a 5 star review. What shocked me was the combination of lychee, curry sauce, mango, lime, and jalapeño over a bed of sesame seed roti. It was such a delightful experience to have eaten this dish. I'm a little sad I didn't get to devour this dish by myself. I guess part of a marriage is sharing... and we are on our honeymoon after all. Okay, fine, I'll share. Summary: I highly recommend this restaurant. In fact, I would drive 3 hours just to eat at this restaurant, and I don't like driving. It was a life changing experience for me. I hope you get to enjoy this yourself! P.S. They make a mean flat white! read more

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We had one of our best breakfasts ever this morning at the Chop Shop. Everything was just excellent. We sat on their sunny deck, and were waited on immediately. Our first order -- two "flat white" coffees -- appeared before us before we realized any time at all had passed and we could tell why: the barista went out of her way, working hard and fast to get the customers their coffee drinks as soon as possible. How many places have employees like that anymore? The menu wasn't necesssarily the most extenstive we've seen but its fascinating diversity topped almost all restuarants we've eaten at. We had the Turkish poached eggs and the Kumara waffles -- both uniquely prepared and unbelievably tasty -- which also seemed to appear almost immediately. Other dishes ordered by those around us seemed just as superb, with the service just as swift. We wish a restuarnat this good, with a staff this friendl, was in our home town! read more

Came here for lunch, and sat in the outdoor seating. We ordered smashed potatoes first, then I got the jerk chicken sandwich and my husband got the steak sandwich. Both were very good! The jerk chicken was just enough spicy for me, but my husband had to send back the steak to be cooked a bit more (it usually comes out more rare). Great lunch spot! read more

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Chop Shop has a fun vibe, combination of edgy and eclectic, both in atmosphere and menu. We had perfect timing and walked in as another couple was walking out. Always feels like such a win. Otherwise, be prepared to wait a bit. The staff is very welcoming, and ensures you get to order a coffee or beverage while you want. Cappuccino, opening win. Nice strong espresso and pillowy milk foam. I opted for soy foam. Little brown sugar. Heaven with a heart drawn on it. Pork bao. Lots of Yelpers gave thumbs up, and the pictures sold me. So delicious. The meat falls apart and is a balanced combination of textures and flavors. Jim ordered a riff on fish tacos. Also very good, but mine = another win. Chop Shop has it figured out. We were passing through Arrowtown on our trek to the North Island and would go again, just to eat here. It's at the end of a bright and sunny alley in downtown. Make your way up the stairs and get ready to just smile. read more

Beautiful and exquisite New Zealand / French inspired food! A must when visiting Arrowtown. read more

The Chop Shop - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

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If you need brunch in Arrowtown, this place is the best! Great atmosphere, cool vibe and awesome food. If you can snag a spot at the front overlooking the street it is hard to beat on a nice day. read more

The Chop Shop - Entrance - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

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The Place The Chop Shop is in Arrowtown, NZ. This is a neat little eatery hidden in the heart of Arrowtown. If you come in the back way you go through an alley, if you come in the front you must go up some steps to get to the door. Don't give up!! The inside has a hip environment... that means it decorated very rustic. It has a nice view of the courtyard below if you sit on the balcony. There are tables, bar type seats, bench seats and even a chalk for the kids. The Menu/Food The menu is interesting! Soup of the day was bubbles. I asked that it means... Answer: what do you think it means? champaign... you are correct. Ok we will have 3. We ordered crispy fried blue cod tacos, a couple braised pork belly on BAO bun, and a couple eggs on toast, and of course a couple flat whites. Our food was very good overall. The Service/Value/Experience The Chop Shop is a unique dining experience to say the least. The quality and the serving size of the food presented a reasonably fair value. Our service was good but left room for improvement. If you are in Arrowtown you must give this place a go. read more

Excellent brunch. Staff was attentive and don't ask for the recommendations because their entire menu is amazing. We ordered the chili salted squid, and avocado toast with egg. read more

Unbelievable. Absolutely delicious. 110% recommend coming here. Cool vibe, great staff and perfect food. read more

The Chop Shop - Nasi Goreng - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

The Chop Shop is a hip eatery hidden in the heart of Arrowtown where you can find everything from breakfast plates to pork bao and steamed dumplings. Don't let the wild mix of cuisine scare you away, there are some delectable treats for your tastebuds and the coffee is some of the best in town. So step inside and shop the chop. read more

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Fantastic take on breakfast food. Not your typical eggs bennie brekky. I had the corn fritters with a poached egg. It came with a sweet glaze and sour chilli sauce garnished with fresh herbs. I added the bacon as well. My partner had the French toasted brioche which she allowed me to sample. Very nice as well. If you find yourself in Arrowtown and have an adventurous spirit give this place a burl! read more

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The food was delicious! We got the duck confit special of the day and also the squid upon recommendation. We wanted the beef but the waitress told us it would be spicy after I asked, so ya, no beef. Both dishes were delicious, unique, and creative, which we really liked. I'd never had anything quite like the squid dish before. The place itself is quite cute, vintage-y decor, but you can tell they are looking to hire. It took some time just to get water to our table, and the boy handing out our silverware gave us one napkin and a pile of forks and knives. Anyway, we didn't mind, but it was kind of funny. However, we came here for the delicious food, so that wasn't going to stop us! And it was delicious! So glad we found this place! It's kind of hidden away upstairs, but you can see the patio from the main street with the plants and people eating. Also, the music is loud inside and there's not much seating. We shared a large table with another couple. Didn't feel weird, but might not be what people expect. Also got the apple fritter, which was yummy. For the price, we were really pleased with the food. read more

Hidden venue. Upstairs, not well marked. A variety of local beers and wines. A wide range of food -- New Zealand / Australian seeming to an American. Also some Asian Fusion as I had the duck confit fresh spring rolls with quinoa, cucumber and tangerine. Really good! Side salad with lots of cilantro. Great add to bring out the Vietnamese style flavors. read more

A group of us came here for lunch on a Monday arvo. The service was excellent. Being a vegetarian, the only option for me was the Citrus salad that was on special. Portion size could have been bigger for the price I paid ($17). I had asked if they could sub the brioche (as I cant have eggs) in the French toast for a wholemeal bread instead but the chef advised that it will change the entire flavour of the dish - not sure how / why but I didnt bother arguing. But I did enjoy the IPA beer. Coffee wasn't bad read more

I had the best breakfast of my entire life at The Chop Shop! This place is absolutely amazing, we came here twice during our 4 night stint in town! While wandering through Arrowtown we saw a cute balcony and decided we had to check it out. The flat white was expertly crafted by a woman who recognized our California accents as she was also from California, so that was fun. Both days I had the breakfast special, day one it was poached chicken livers, poached eggs, mushrooms, and rocket on brioche toast. This was the best breakfast I mentioned previously. Our second time here I had the blue cod laksa, which was incredible and so delicious for breakfast. My husband had the huevos rancheros, which he said were amazingly fresh, on day 1. On day 2 he tried the chicken livers, and loved them, as they had looked so good the day before. We both fell in love with this little spot. Eat here. read more

Truly one of the best cafe experiences in town! While it's a bit of a hike from Queenstown to Arrowtown, it's worth the journey to visit this hidden gem. Off Buckingham street, tucked away up a flight of stairs, Chop Shop has become increasingly popular with both Arrowtown and Queenstown locals. The fit out is fabulous though it's still in keeping with the vintage theme which has proven popular among other cafés in the area. They also offer private dining at night, so keep it in mind for your next function. The coffee is unbelievable and the food felt like it made my insides sing. To date I've tried both the poached eggs on gluten free bread and the Turkish eggs. Both were sensational and I plan on trying to make my way around the menu. I love that they offer gluten free options with seemingly every meal, and changing a part of a meal is absolutely no trouble. The only issue I've found with this place is that it's hard to only have one of their amazing coffees, I generally leave with another to takeaway! So if your in the area go hunt it out, you'll be happy you did! read more

Searched out this buzzy Arrowtown Restaurant on a recommendation from a friend .Even though it was extremely busy we were seated within ten minutes and served fairly quickly with excellent food from an interesting menu. Adults enjoyed a Nepalese curry and Japanese pancakes while the juniors had a kids menu to select from. Loved the vibe and decor of this place tucked away at the back of the Arrowtown Main Street. read more

The BEST ever bfast period, NZ or anywhere we've been in the world. Turkish poached eggs with garlic dill, Greek yogurt, chili oil and grilled ciabatta! read more

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This is a must stop in Arrowtown! Great ambiance & decor. Super friendly service. Beautiful view! The food is fresh, sustainably sourced and delicious. We had the edamame, the japenese pork belly pancake (must try!) and a squid chili sauce special. Everything was phenomenal! We played trivial pursuit while waiting for our food. Food is freshly prepared so may take a while to get but definitely worth the wait. If you're in the mood for something "different" (ie. You don't want a sandwich or pizza) this is the restaurant for you! read more

Amazing !!!!!!!!! Come here, eat here, drink here - the most fantastic people, the most amazing food, the most amazing atmosphere ! We had the pork dumplings (still drooling) and some Banock Burn Rose..../ we are coming back for sure. Owner and staff have passion for food and it shows. Come here read more

Great coffee. Great atmosphere. Great service. No complaints at all! Haven't had a better breakfast in...I can't remember. Had the Turkish eggs and wife had the French toast. I would have eaten both of able. Kind of tucked away, set back off the main street on the second floor. The owner was incredible with our 1 1/2 year old daughter. Gave her a "fluffy" (milk froth in a mini cup w/ sprinkles) and a kid-sized portion of delicious scrambled eggs and smoky grilled toast. We will be passing through the area in a few days and WILL be back. read more

The Chop Shop - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

Awesome service, beautiful food, great setting. Lots of high maintenance customers to deal with and they owned it. The go to place in Arrowtown. read more

Definitely a find in this cute town! Tucked away off the main drag and up some stairs is The Chop Shop. Loved the quirky decor - would love a set of old kitchen scales for myself! We loved our breakfasts and the coffee was some of the best we had in NZ - really wanted to come back and try out more of there menu but ran out of time. Next time we are in Arrowtown this will be our first stop! read more

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This restaurant is not on the main streets of Arrowtown but it's is definitely worth seeking out. The food is extremely creative and flavorful. We ordered the smocked ham hock with roasted potatoes and a poached egg and the salmon and vegetable salad. Both were amazing. The service is great too. I highly recommend. read more

The Chop Shop - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

Cute restaurant in Arrowtown. Ate outside on the balcony on a gorgeous sunny day. Had the ricotta pancakes which were delicious. Hubby had the pork hash which he liked a lot too. read more

Must eat in Arrowtown. The balcony is great for people watching. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Perfect spot!

Did a quick search on Google for cafes in Arrowtown and this came up consistently as one of the most recommended and for good reason. Staff were so friendly. The kids pancakes were perfect. Coffee spot on. Would love to come here at lunch or dinner time. Next time. read more

You have to try this place ! best coffee best food best ambiance best service, its hard to find but worth the search, look for the sign road side the stair case is at the end of the alley on the right enjoy. read more

The Chop Shop - Great atmosphere - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

I am not a person that writes reviews usually, but the APPALLING experience I had at this restaurant warrants a write-up to warn future travelers to Arrowtown. This was one of the most unfortunate experience I've encountered in wonderfully friendly New Zealand. I agree with many of the people on TripAdvisor that the food was pretty delicious and decent. The flat white was one of the best I've had in NZ, and the squid dish was tender and fresh. However, that was the extent of anything good at The Chop Shop. What ruined the whole experience was EXTREMELY ARROGANT, RUDE and HAUGHTY waitstaff. Like many of the reviews here, the service staff made my family and I feel completely un-welcomed at the restaurant. As an experienced traveler, I have never encountered a server in any other country that waved away a patron when asked for service. Even though some of the other waitstaff tried to alleviate this issue, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth that ruined the entire meal. read more

Incredible food and great local beer selection! Best pork buns I've ever had in my life and every dish was perfectly seasoned. Impressed my professional chef father which is very hard to do! Definitely would do again! read more

Great food. Great environment. Really crap service. Actually there was little service.

what a gem, best breakfast , (well tied ..) on my road trip. seriously good coffee ... awesome outdoor seating area .. fantastic "Greek", poached eggs , bacon with a delicious greek yogurt drizzled with some kind of oil that was amazingly tasty .. read more

The Chop Shop - best breakfast I've had in years :) - New Zealand Near Me - Arrowtown, OTA

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Best poached egg I ever had. My 6yr daughter cleaned up her plate, which she never did at home. Need I say more?