Amazing grub. The waiters are purposefully jerks and it's hilarious and worth every artery clogging calorie you will consume at this place. Be sure to order the Reuben pancakes! read more

I was just there Saturday afternoon and the waiter was extremely rude. I won't be back.

Its the weirdest feeling to want to eat here. Its like, for some reason, if you're the type of person who has attitude or always wants your way, this is definitely not your place. Though shopsins has strict rules and can be a bit of a "soup nazi" (or even worse), he can be nice. Strangely enough, on the second time I came to shopsins was on a friday morning. No line and the kids were cooking while kenny was chilling on his chair. No argument and no attitude. And for some reason, I kind of missed the bitchiness. Just cause it was a good story to tell and I love leaving with my jaw hanging. We all want a little bit of trauma somewhere from going here. Heck, Kenny was nice enough that when my friend asked to have a pic with him. he said yes. (but then she was an attractive girl, so who would say no?) On the downside, we ordered a milkshake that said 6 on the menu. However we were charged 9. The most expensive milkshake of my life that was not worth the money. Keep that in mind. read more

15 minute wait to give a lunch order. 40 minutes for the meal to be served. 4 hours later, both of us are still downing the tums....and its not because our sandwiches were spicy. As to whether they tasted good...not to us. They were kitchen sink sandwiches. Unbalanced flavors and textures. My Cuban was on very crisp bread and the grease just dripped out. The pork was tasty, but it did not need cheese and the ham was tough. My companion had, at the waiter's suggestion, the Prozac. It has bbq brisket and cheese and he's not quite sure what else. He totally hated it ( and hasn't shut up about it either!) read more

Yelp tends to attract a certain type of person, one who toes the line between savvy and snobby and takes pride in knowing "what's cool and happening" and having an "insider's local perspective." Yelp FAQ http://www.yelp.com/faq#who_uses_yelp. Yelpers--particularly those with prolific reviews--consider themselves as being "in the know" about unwritten rules and customs at restaurants, bars and other establishments. They even tend to rate those sort of places highly. See e.g. http://www.yelp.com/biz/in-n-out-burger-los-angeles-2 (4.5 star rating for hamburger chain featuring "secret menu.") Why then have so many Yelpers been surprised by Shopsin's uncompromising and in-your-face attitude? Has noted writer Calvin Trillin not written articles extolling Shopsin's? Yes! Has the New York Times food section featured Kenny Shopsin numerous times? Yes! Does Shopsin's have a reputation for having arbitrary rules? Yes! Thus it's pretty amazing that so many supposedly well-informed people would break these well-publicized rules by showing up in a group of five, by showing up as an incomplete party, by trying to negotiated with Kenny, or by sitting in Kenny's chair! They should be on notice. Anyways, the menu is huge and changes often. To narrow it down, stick to the name plate sandwiches and breakfasts; those are where Shopsin's is the most interesting and creative. I had chorizo and hatch chile latkes which fried to a crisp were excellent. My brother had an awesome lamb, pomegranate, feta and caramelized onion sandwich that's not on the menu anymore. Sure, a bit pricey, but worth it considering the entertainment we got. While seated, Shopsin's denied entry to two parties who then decided to try (to no avail) to argue and bargain their way in. Lunch with a side of daytime drama! read more

MAC AND CHEESE PANCAKES............. ok.... my review for this place is late. i went to new york and ate here with the bf last year around christmas. but i just did a review for mac and cheeza... which made me remember shopsins. ok. here goes. there are seriously like 800 things on the menu. go to the website and print it out before you go. my bf is obsessed with breakfast, so before we went to new york on our trip, he googled the best restaurant for breakfast in new york. shopsins came up. they get five stars because the food is off the charts. we had read online that this place will kick you out for the smallest infraction upon their rules. (one being if you have two people, you must both eat. no "i'll just have coffee.") they also dont serve parties of 5 or more. we read that they are family owned and new york gritty. these are all true, but we like that type of shit. baby ordered the mac and cheese pancakes. if you've never heard of something so weird sounding before and are curious about trying it, dont be curious. ORDER THEM. ALOT. they give you hot sauce AND 100% maple syrup to put on them which takes you to the moon and drops you off with no oxygen tank. they were seriously out of this world and took my breath away. i ordered the cheese grits (something most breakfast restaurants lack in cali) and egg, turkey bacon+ cheese on an english muffin. tasted homemade and delicious. you know what? this might sound crazy, but you can taste the love they put into their food, and love tastes good. we are going back to NY this year too, and we will be going to shopsins again. kenny shopsin also has a cookbook. i ordered 1 for me and 1 for the boyfriend. awesome. bad news? i have none. ok...... wait. i have some for all the high profile piss-ants out there who think they are intitled to do whatever they want. for the people who think the customer is always right. forget that if you work up the sack to go to shopsins. there, kenny is always right and so are his kids. ( who do alot of the cooking) all these reviews are true. we saw him turn away a party of five because they dont serve parties of five or more. know where ur going when you go to shopsins. its a greasy spoon, owned by someone who couldnt care less if you eat there. ive worked in alot of resturants and thats how the world should be in my opinion. just dont go there and expect special treatment. expect a good meal. play nice and you will get served. play not nice, and you will get served too, just not served food. haaaa!! love it!!! read more

I can't hold em, the food was good/okay. My waitress on the other hand was extremely rude to me my entire time here. I ask her if I can add jalapeños to my order and she says no and that the kitchen doesn't make alterations. I said okay can you put them on the side then and she says no because she can't charge me for them... I say uh okay, cause that's weird. She then ASKS ME if I want a drink, I say ok and get an IPA. I didn't really like it, I took two sips and put it on the other side of the table. The other waiter comes by and he asks if I like it, I say no. He doesn't tell my waitress and no one takes it away. So I tell my waitress when she comes around if she can take it back. She takes it no problem, and doesn't say a thing. At this point I feel the vibes are off but don't want to be the angry black girl, so I just ask for my check and a box. She proceeded to bring me the smallest box, I have a whole sandwich and a side of potatoes. So I ask her to bring me a bigger box and she's got a major attitude. I look at my bill and the beer is on there, I ask her to take it off and she's like "oh well when you ordered the beer you committed to paying for it so I can't take it off" I'm literally appalled and my jaw is on the floor, an $8 beer. So I say ok because I just want to leave and give her my card, my chip isn't reading so she says she'll check me out at the front. We go up there and she says very loudly for all the bar people to hear, "your card is declining" I go no it's not... literally I got paid yesterday. I ask her to put it in manually, and she just looks so annoyed. Puts it in, it goes through and I say guess it didn't decline huh. I ask her to get the manager and she kinda freaks out, like real out of body she's like "I don't know why you would want to do that. He's gonna say the same thing I did and he's not gonna be nice to you. It's not gonna end well for you" again I'm literally appalled. I say okay, I wasn't really planning on being that nice with him either. So she says she'll get the manager, and during this time I'm finishing checking out, I obviously did not tip her. I watch her for a good 5 minutes and she makes no move to go get him. The other waiter comes around and so I ask him. He goes to the manager but she literally looks in the back holds up her hands in front of the whole restaurant and is like "no like don't worry about it, it's nothing" she then turns to me and is like "you didn't tip us, why would I get the manager for you?" In front of everyone, everyone looks at me and I feel like I'm being made out to be this crazy asshole. This white woman with blonde hair was the most entitled and cruel person I've ever come across. She was extremely rude during my meal and then proceeded to humiliate me in public. I worked in the service industry for 7+ years, I have personal experience living on tips, but I also know know you're paid what you're worth and how nice you are. Never come here! read more

You HAVE to come here to get the full New York experience. I came here my first time in NY and the food was coma inducing but so so good. I knew I had to take the bf here when we were in NY. Even though I had been here before, I was still kind of scared of doing something stupid and getting kicked out. But no, Kenny's son was nice and actually smiled at us. Whew. Our table neighbors though were not so lucky. It was awesome to see someone get cussed at and kicked out. The guy was an a--hole though. Dumb guy in rude tone - "Hey, where's my food? I just ordered eggs and toast. How long does it take to make egg and toast. I have a meeting in 15 minutes." Kenny's son - "Is that supposed to make me feel bad? We have one cook. We are a place that lets people relax and enjoy their food. We don't rush people." His food comes out. Dumb guy starts cutting his food but is obviously pissed and shoves the food back to Kenny's son. Kenny's son - "You can leave now. Get out!" The Dumb guy still sits there with his friends who are also waiting for their food. Kenny comes walking in from buying potatoes. Kenny - "What happened?" Kenny's son - "This guy is being an asshole. He is complaining that the food takes too long to come out." Kenny to Dumb guy - "What are you still doing here? Get the f--- out. Leave now and you'll be early for your meeting. Get the f---out!" They finally leave. So I totally did not do this scene justice but it was such a thrill to see this happening. People, please do your research before coming to a new place instead of going there blindly and giving it such a bad review for it's service and crazy rules. That's what makes Shopsin's Shopsin's! I wrote this long review and did not even mention the food. Get get get the mac and cheese pancakes and eat it with the maple syrup and hot sauce. It is AMAZING. The bf got the bread pudding french toast and tater tots. Homemade tater tots, none of that processed stuff. So freakin delicious! read more

I came in on a recent morning for breakfast, and the circuit breaker fried just as I was placing my order. Kenny was busy calling his contacts to get the power back on. I was chatting with one of the cooks, Kenny's son (son-in-law?), about how likely the power could come back on in the next hour. Then Kenny just starts screaming at his son, "What do I have to do to get your attention around here!?!" It was a very unpleasant atmosphere, the screaming and all, so I left. read more

Sitting at the bar is the best way to experience Shopsin's. You get a front row view of Kenny and his son cooking all the food and, better yet, arguing over who's the bigger stoner--which explains a lot as Shopsin's has concoctions that only stoners could think of. Kenny's son even suggested I smoke before I come next time. While waiting for our food, my boyfriend and I ogled the trinkets and toys on the shelves, and ended up talking about wrestling with the server (Luke is his name I believe) which made him like us. The funniest/scariest part of the experience was after I ordered the "Tots and Dots" (essentially maple covered tater tots with donut holes), Kenny and his son screamed "who the fuck ordered Tots and Dots". I acted clueless; I guess they were difficult to make. The mac n cheese pancakes were toooo good. They sound heavy but the ratio of mac n cheese to pancake makes them surprisingly not heavy and they're really the perfect vehicle for the incredible hot sauce as someone else noted. I'm definitely coming back, and I'll probably take Kenny's son's advice next time. read more

Shopsin's is where you send new acquaintances to see if they're cool. especially if they're new to the city. tell them the rules and tell them the food is amazing, because it is. then you ask how it went. did they bring five people and a four-year-old in a stroller, didn't study the menu beforehand, asked the server for recommendations, asked for no meat in a dish, took out their phones, took photos with those phones, ordered too much food and asked for a to-go container? you didn't want to be friends with those people, anyway. thanks for the social service, Kenny! read more

The menu at Shopsin's includes dishes that a five-year-old would create if you let them run amuck in the kitchen. And I mean that in the best way possible. It's a little daunting to figure out what you want to eat because there are literally 300+ choices on the menu. We settled on the mac n' cheese pancakes and the pumpkin, pistachio, & cinnamon pound cake french toast. The pancakes were delicately crispy and served with hot sauce on the side....a spicy counterpoint to the battered pound cake french toast. I think I felt my arteries harden a little bit. Heart disease never tasted so good. read more

Don't come here if you're a vegan. Lots of vegetarian options tho. They said they kick them out. Staff can be rude about it but part of their charm? Food is really good tho . Lots of options. Lol realized it's part of their branding... so thrown off. read more

Everything you've heard about this place is correct. There are only enough seats for maybe 12 people, tops. Your party can be no larger than 4 persons. You will have to wait. And wait. And wait. And yes, Kenny Shopsin will sit down in the restaurant and fall asleep with his cellphone perched on his stomach. The menu. Ohmygod. It looks like it was designed by a 4th grader with an Angelfire account and a 90s color printer. But look closer: have you ever read any more delicious items? They're sort of like at the end of lunch in middle school where everyone puts their leftovers together and it's either disgusting or delicious depending on the day, but Shopsin's trends toward delicious. I have no idea how they fit the ingredients for all those meals in the kitchen, which is tiny. That's probably why it takes so darn long for your meals to come out (one plate at a time) - they are cooked from scratch, individually. But I'm not one to dock points for restaurant management when it's just so entertaining to watch. I ordered the culturally-inappropriate "jihadboy" sandwich - pulled lamb with tahini, roasted pistachios, feta, and who knows what other delicious nonsense they put on there. I had to have my dining partner wipe my face as I held my sandwich with both hands, and that was when I tried it open-faced. His sandwich, featuring fried beef ribs, was ok but not as amazing as mine. I mean, it probably would have been great if it had come out first. But this sandwich was just miraculous. We also had fried pickles. What now? Who knew that would be so tasty? It took over two hours for only three dishes, but if you've got a lazy afternoon - worth it. read more

Granted, when they moved from the West Village to Essex St. Market, there were a few things lost (namely my go-to order of the bacon egg and cheese empanadas), but this place is an institution. The menu has something for everyone -- and EVERYTHING is good. I'm not sure how they manage to have all of the ingredients in the small space, but they manage. There are no words to describe the chocolate malt, so I'm not even going to try. But trust me. read more

This is... as good as it gets. You either get this place or you don't. You should know by reading the other reviews if you will "get it" or not. This a one of those uniquely NYC places, and the cook is always right, not the customer. Know the rules before you come, play nice, and you'll have a great experience. The mac and cheese pancakes are indeed as good as touted. read more

I've been to Shopsin's twice in the past year, and I've been amazed by the variety of dishes on the menu and by how good every dish has been. Their space in the Essex Street Market is small, and the wait on Saturdays is long (I waited about an hour both times), but it's worth it. It's a family operation, and things are casual between the "staff." Our waitress sat with us while taking our order, which I enjoyed, because I find her enchanting, although objectivity demands that I not allow this to influence my rating. I've ordered blue plate specials on both my visits. The chicken with pistachio curry was fantastic and came with tons of sautéed vegetables. My companions have been similarly pleased with their food. read more

I first heard about Shopsin's in the early nineties, when a younger me extricated himself from impending nuptials, moved to the city and dated a girl three blocks from the original spot on Bedford & Morton. We found ourselves the sole patrons one slow weeknight accompanied only by chef/owner Kenny Shopsin and now late wife Eve. I had no appreciation just how special the moment was. Pretty consistent behavior for my dumb ass at the time. It would be over ten years before I'd return to Shopsin's - even when I found myself living blocks from their current spot in Essex Market. I wasn't hip to it. I got on the bandwagon after the Shopsin documentary "I Like Killing Flies." I won't lie. You wanna make something of it? I took the F to Delancey and bellied up to the counter where Kenny was already holding court. Son Zack popping in and out of the kitchen, Kenny expounding on local news (Chris Christie), waiter Luke experimenting with a (bacon?) milkshake. Zack hands some pecans to a young girl (2-ish) bouncing on her dad's knee. She starts chewing. "Are these pecans?" the father asks. "Yeah, she's not allergic to nuts, is she?" Zack responds. "Don't you think that question is a little late, you a--hole?" Kenny barks lovingly. Thankfully, the presence of the two year old does little to sway the vocabulary. If you don't want to hear the word c-cksucker over breakfast, you might want to eat somewhere else. I prefer it with breakfast. I planned on ordering something new (there are literally hundreds of choices on the menu) but went with my steady dish the Ova; perfectly poached eggs over bacon cheese grits and (fried?) buttered toast. I'm drinking some excellent coffee while I wait. Kenny is telling us how most habaneros come from Belize just as a caddy of squirt-bottled hot sauces is placed in front of me. Written in black marker on one; Belize. The super hot one, I'm told. "You'll be the first one to try it," Kenny says. I don't eat hot sauce, but what the hell. When Zack takes the Ova out of the oven and places that hot pan in front of me, I look down, make a mental note that I'm lucky, and squirt a dab on the side. "Just a little," Luke warns. Well, I liked it enough to refill a few times. It was smokey and attacked the palate in a way that still allowed you to taste everything. I made my way happily through the meal, accompanied by frequents grunts of joy, all the while pretending I wasn't a little starstruck. These people are the real deal. This is the kind of well prepared tasteful decadence you'd be super-lucky to get anywhere. "This is awesome," I say to Zack. "Oh thanks, man." I paid my check and put on my coat, turning just in time to witness the 2 year old tasting bacon for the first time in her life. (Spoiler alert! She loved it.) read more

It's phony. Just marketing, like the now-defunct Studio 54, which attempts to create 'atmosphere.' I haven't seen the original place -- just the current Essex Market version. Its history, as extremely well-written by Calvin Trillin in The New Yorker, is far better than the restaurant's current reality. The food was ordinary and over-priced. The atmosphere -- a fat man saying 'fuck' 'fuck' 'fuck' -- is gross. The joke is over. read more

"The Adobe" may well be the best NY breakfast there is. The stars are for the absolutely killer food. Today was quiet and the family Shopsin were well behaved, but it is all worth it for the great grub. This place serves CREATIVE, ORIGINAL SH_ _ MAN! Ok the Adobe- a breakfast burrito with eggs, beans spinach topped with cranberry relish- intrigued? Around the cornacopia of flavors is the homemade cocunut pancakes, with a small bottle of maple syrup and fresh fruit including raspberries and watermelon. Nuff said. A pic of this will be up on the blog! Go now while it is quieter and warmer as their spot is freezing in winter though for this flavor combo, I would brave anything. read more

For the love of god they have macaroni and cheese pancakes. And they are damn good. I could stop right there. But I won't. Shopsin's probably has the most creative menu I've ever seen. My head nearly exploded just from trying to read it. I'm one of those chronically indecisive people who can't ever make up my mind about what to eat. I recently realized that it's not just a lack of decisiveness - its that I want to chomp on everything. Shopsin's to the rescue! Want pulled pork and pancakes together on a plate? No problem! Macaroni and cheese and fried eggs with tamales? Okey dokey! French Toast, a scuba mask, grape jelly and a monkey wrapped in a tortilla? Probably! Shopsin's is truly a unique find. If you don't mind having your mind blown by a menu then I highly recommend eating every meal here for the rest of your life. read more

Whoever wrote about there being nothing healthy on the menu is completely missing the point. No, you won't get a salad here. Sorry. (And I'd suggest not asking Kenny 'bout that.) In the words of Prince, it ain't that kind of party. Maybe you'll get a Smith, maybe you'll get the slutty cakes, maybe you'll get the Blisters on my Sisters, but you'll be fine. I was reluctant to go here for a long time because I didn't want to get screamed at (plus, I have a tendency to scream back in such situations). There was no yelling (but apparently Shopsin shot my friend a look when he pulled out a dollar coin -- which he didn't use). I followed the rules, had my dishes and backups picked out days beforehand, and didn't do anything stupid. It's a little pricey, but you could do worse. You should go too. read more

Hella bomb food! Got the Gumbo and grits so good. My friend got the Mo Betta and it's to die for! Limited seating makes this place a gem! Love it. read more

Shopsin's - Sandwiches Near Me - New York, New York

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet, because their menu should speak for itself. Its ridiculous. If you're reading this right now and you haven't read the menu, close this page and open up their website and take a look. Taco fried chicken? Mac and Cheese Bread Pudding French Toast? Come on. Its awesome. I really like their style, too. I'm with it. Its a small space, they only have one or two people cooking at a time, and the food is so good that more people want to eat there than can be accommodated. It makes sense to thin the herd. If you aren't quick enough, easy enough, or smart enough to fly under the radar at this place and not be a pain in their ass, you don't deserve to eat there. Period. I love this place and only wish that I had found out about it sooner. I'm pretty much planning on eating at shopsin's at least three times a week for awhile. I really am in love. FOOD HEAVEN. read more

I've known about Shopsin's for over 15yrs and passed the restaurant many a time when they were located in the west village. I even watched a documentary on their last days at the location. I never went in b/c I was terrified I would be lambasted for not ordering correctly or asking a question - I was thrown out by the Soup Nazi b/c I had asked if a soup had egg in it, years before the Seinfeld episode. Their rudeness & aggressive treatment to diners was legendary. That was so NOT the case when my friend & i dined there this past Sunday. We arrived late in the afternoon and were greeted by the waiter that so many people have written about and he pleasantly told us he had a table in the back. He was super patient as we navigated the menu and asked (meekly) questions about portions and ingredients. Our food arrived quickly and the cook even came out and chatted with us - discussing the choice of donuts we had earlier at Donut Plant. The waiter was attentive to our water glasses and we could not have had better service. Did the cook & the owner get into a screaming match about name calling? Absolutely. Did another cook start crying when she was ending her shift? Yes. Is this normal behavior in a restaurant? No, but it is for Shopsin's. It's a bit of theater and unless you are the target, quite amusing to witness. I can understand the negative reviews when you don't know what you are getting into, but as for the service we received, it was contrary to their infamous reputation. read more

I have literally wanted to try this place forever, but never got a chance. The menu is extensive and if you are indecisive it's going to be hard to pick what you want. I had a turkey sandwich with avocado and cranberry mayo. It was delish. The Ciabatta was the perfect and the turkey was just the right amount of moist. I can't wait to go back and try more. read more

I stumbled on Shopsin's on yelp. I was mildly curious. I read the menu, and I knew I had to go. I read the rules and I got nervous. This was the top culinary experience for me in New York. Full stop. It was the combination of amazing food and mild trepidation about screwing up and getting tossed out. I had the L19, kimchi, duck, steak, egg, fried rice. Hit it with the homemade hotsauce, it was delicious. If I lived in New York, I'd be here weekly. It isn't cheap, but it's worth every goddamn cent. read more

Seriously, this is why we Yelp! There is no possible way I would have heard of Shopsin's without Yelp. It is a tiny, tiny restaurant in the corner of a market inside of a warehouse building on the lower east side. The service is laughably bad, almost amazing how much they don't care about you... that is, of couse, until you eat the food. Incredbile!!! I got a mac & cheese and broccoli breakfast scramble with this amazing wheat toast while my boyfriend got eggs, cheese, and andoullie sausage on garlic bread. These had fun names but I can't for the life of me remember them. I can recall, however, that they were cooked perfectly by people who obviously take a lot of pride in their food. I watch a lot of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and have learned that places with HUGE, overcrowded menus are usually compensating for bad food. Shopsin's is the ONLY exception. The reason this menu is obese is probably because there's an unlimited supply of fresh meats, cheeses, and produce for Shopsin's without the staff even having to step out side. I have to go back immediately to try the pancakes. Good God. Oh, and at 9:00 on a Tuesday, we didn't have to wait in line :) But like, the impossible hours and the teeny-tiny space does not support my idea of a restaurant that is at good as it gets. Even with the best breakfast EVER, I wish they made it just a little bit easier for me to eat there. And I just don't see that ever happening. read more

We didn't experience any of the nasty staff/owner stuff many others have seemed to experience. The closest we came was when the server seemed to look down on me for ordering "just plain pancakes." I can live with that, though - there are 800 kinds of pancakes to choose from and I was being boring! Pancakes were great, by the way. So was the bacon, sausage and OJ. There wasn't anything ground breaking about my meal. Just tasty food at a reasonable price - I'd go back. read more

Best breakfast in all of New York. I've been here a good half dozen times and everything I've eaten is great, especially the mac n cheese pancakes and the blisters on my sisters. Shopsin's has a ridiculously huge menu, so every time I go, I make sure to try something new... but I always order the mac n cheese pancakes. Drizzle those babies with a little hot sauce and maple syrup, and it's heaven. Cheesy, spicy, and sweet. Sublime! Don't go here expecting to get your ass kissed. Don't go here with a party larger than four. Don't take pictures of the kitchen. Expect a little verbal abuse. If you can't deal . . . don't bother. read more

4.5 stars. Taking 1/2 star away because the prices are pretty high, the location sucks (it's a small eatery nook in the grungy Essex Market), and the hours are very limiting (usually close at 3, sometimes earlier if they feel like it- came here once at 2:30 and was denied). This place rocks. And to get the most out of your Shopsins experience heed these two pieces of advice: Don't go on a Saturday unless you adore long lines and go on their website and read through their menu before hand. The menu which is two pages long contains about 600 items and it would be impossible to sit and figure out what you want while you are there, especially when almost everything sounds great. My last piece of advice is that this isn't a place for children. Mr Shopsin (who's as animated as any caricature or cartoon character) and his son are hilariously crude and use language you probably wouldn't want around small kids. This place has the most unique food combinations you'll ever see and it's a shame that there's so many choices on the list because its going to take me forever to even make a dent in the menu. Like a said this really isn't a restaurant as it is a small eatery in the corner of Essex market, it has 3 two seater tables and a counter with 3 stool, depending on the day and time they'll break out a few more tables and chairs and put them outside their area amongst the market to serve more people. The place is as eclectic and bizarrely messy as Mr Shopsin himself but I love it and it's part of it's Brooklynish charm. Their special brand of humor here is worth the visit just as much as their food. One review said it made the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld look like Mother Teresa, I would say this is about right but that's something I personally like about Shopsins. When I went I had the Banana Ebelskivers and a Chocolate Malt shake. The "skivers" were featured as "the best thing I've ever eaten" on the Food Network and with an endorsement like that I couldn't not try it. They were good but not nearly as life changing as described in the show. The malted chocolate shake however was fantastic and the portion was huge. They also have a ton of different type of pancakes here (unfortunately none of them are very fluffy or outstanding) The smores pancakes were very chocolaty and way too sweet for me (more of a rich dessert), but their famous mac and cheese pancakes were quite good and worth checking out. I've also tried the Salisbury steak here which was extremely fresh and very well done. They seem to really care about the food and put in the extra effort. read more

Mac-n-cheese pancakes. That alone is genius enough, but then there are like eleventy-billion other things on the menu that you can indulge in at Shopsin's. I've tried the pancakes, the pork, some of this, and some of that. It's all good. The food is good, cooked by good people. Keep in mind (as others have mentioned) that these people also don't take @#$& from no one. Seriously. Do not poke the dragon with a stick unless you want to get burned. That notwithstanding, I know you've heard about the wait. I know you've heard about the cash only policy. I know you've heard that they will lie to you or ask you to leave if you even look like you're going to go off script. Well, that's part of the experience. Go in with an honest hunger and a good spirit and they will love you and love to serve you. Bring any nonsense or attitude and you will become part of the show for the rest of us. Here's a pro tip...you can eat very well at Shopsin's cheaply. You can get a full breakfast for $7 (and have *more* than enough to eat) if you just take a little time to read the friggin' menu. The spirit of the LES is alive and well, and it is embodied in a little joint called Shopsin's. This is a fine example of exactly why people love New York City. 'nuff said. See you there. read more

As many others have commented, the menu is bordering on comical. The good part about Shopsin's is that you can order anything possibly imaginable for breakfast: they have all kinds of typical diner food from eggs, pancakes, grits, processed meats, steaks, schnitzel, huevos ranchos, waffles, breakfast sandwiches... etc. The list goes on. They also have breakfast items from different cultures, so that means you can order Indian inspired curry like things here, but you can also get Chinese style jian bings- I didn't try any of them but I'm sure they're decent. I opted for the ABC (which is eggs, sausage, schnitzel and grits). It all came in this huge bowl and I was initially concerned that they had mixed it all together- it actually turned out to be just fine. The other cool thing is that they bring you this whole thing of seven different hot sauces that come with your food- many of them are great, and have tons of flavor packed in. There are even two ghost pepper options, so you can really knock yourself out. Having tried only one of like, three hundred items on this menu, this is by no means a comprehensive review. I will say that our food took nearly 30 minutes to arrive, and this wasn't even when the restaurant was full yet, so they ARE kind of slow here. However, I suppose this is the price to pay when you come to a restaurant that serves literally everything- they wind up getting spread a little thin. Will definitely be back. read more

Shopsin's is not your typical yuppy brunch spot. Don't come here expecting traditional Eggs Benedict or polished decor. Shopsin's doesn't look like much--it's just a little, cramped diner situated in a corner of a block-long indoor market. For all its quirkiness, though, it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. I liked it so much, in fact, I'd even go as far as to declare it a quintessential New York brunch experience. Having perused their strangely psychedelic website and enormous munchies-inspired menu, I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. And I was admittedly a little worried by the sporadic accounts on here of people getting thrown out for asking questions. But all of these things ended up being part of the charm. Our first attempt to eat at Shopsin's was unsuccessful--We came around 1 on a Friday and were told the line was already closed. No big. We came back another Friday, closer to 12:30 and got in without a problem. I initially spazzed out a little because everything on the menu seemed so weird and I just couldn't choose, which I worried might get me kicked out or at least laughed at...but I held it together and finally settled on a dish that involved poached eggs, "mac and cheese toast" (i.e. french toast with mac and cheese fried onto it), brown sugar sausage, and spinach. I wasn't sure if I was making the right choice, but it was really delicious. Most of the dishes were heavy and involved sweet and salty flavor combos, but there were definitely simpler/healthier options. The Huevos Rancheros my friend ordered seemed pretty light and packed with veggies. Maybe I'll be eating my words next time, but it really seemed to me that as long as you arrive early, keep an open mind and don't act like you have a chip on your shoulder, you'll have a good time. read more

My suggestion if you make it to Shopsin's General Store and snag a seat? Pick something you've never heard of or can't even quite imagine off their encyclopedic menu. I'm sure the mac & cheese pancakes are great because I've seen 10,000 people mention them. However, those other 899 items on the menu are the result of a wildly creative chef and will be made to order with love. You won't get fake-friendly here. What you'll get is honesty from folks who are actually very warm and caring. If you are a freak, geek, artist, troubled soul, or any other disenfranchised person these great folks will welcome you and feed you like a king. The main requirement seems to be this: Be yourself 100% and don't shy away from being brought into the conversation. If you are convinced that this is your world and everything should bend to your will, if you are entitled, if you say and/or think that "the customer's always right" or "I'm paying for this so I deserve to have it how I want", or feel uncomfortable with strangers talking to you in a very direct way, or are sensitive/allergic to certain ingredients, then take comfort in the fact that this is a rich and expansive city with hundreds of restaurants nearby waiting for the opportunity to serve you. This place is tiny and full all the time; why would you think they need your business if you butt heads with them and get tossed out? read more

Shopsin's is your typical overly-hyped New York City restaurant with a ridiculous wait time, underwhelming food and very shitty service. From the headache-inducing fine print menu packed with nebulously described menu items to the highly unpleasant waiter w/ the dirty fingernails and 80's rock band attire, pretty much everything here was disappointing. The mac n cheese pancakes were decent but forgettable. That was about the best thing they had to offer in my opinion. The braised duck was cold and the flavors tasted weird. Everything was presented in a pretty sloppy fashion, and the waiter had an attitude when we asked for simple things...like water. This place must feel that customer service isn't necessary because they're so in demand. Cute for them. But they certainly won't see me again. read more

I went with peanut butter tri-trip macaroni and cheese cantaloupe leek soba noodle soup and it was incredible!... Well maybe I didn't order that, but whatever I had really was incredible. After my experience, I'm wondering if it matters what I ordered? I remember when my dad would sometimes fill in for mom and cook dinner. It would look all jumbley together sitting on the plate. Any complaint would bring the comment, "what's the problem, it all goes to the same place doesn't it?" Enter Shopsin's, and it's one of a kind magic. If you're in New York you have got to try this place just for the cosmic experience reading the menu will bring. The feeling I got before I gave the server (the owner's son) my order was one that a base-jumper must get before he jumps off the Eiffel tower. It doesn't matter what you order. Be Hungry. Go there. Long live Kenny Shopsin. read more

An experience that no one should miss out on. Whomever doesn't get the dynamics and dysfunction of this eating experience are losing out. It was our second time there and it was better than ever. Sure there was swearing and yelling between father, son and waiter, but that is part of the fun. But the most fun and the best part is the food. Once you make a decision from the truly overwhelming menu, you will be thankful for every bite (and sip). I ordered the pistachio, pumpkin and peanut butter milkshake and it was phenomenal. What a combination!!! Then there was the 'slutty pancakes' with poached eggs, lemon ricotta, and duck chili.....OMG!!! Please go because once this man is gone, there is nothing like it anywhere else to replace him and his gastronomic, messed up mind. A legend. read more

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Went into the eatery. It isn't a restaurant. Asked for the menu. The waiter was a jerk. I Turned back and walked out. If you want a pleasant experience, don't bother to come. The food can be creative here. But, it generally looks very greasy. Lots of left over on customers' plates. Also, the seating area is a joke. It is more like a food court w a super mean and proud waiter. read more

as many amazing restaurants there are in NYC, i'd have to say that shopsin's tops my list. i heard about shopsin's from a friend of a friend as we waited TWO HOURS for a table at clinton st. bakery. intrigued by the thought of the brunch version of the soup nazi, and further intrigued by 1 star vs 5 star yelp reviews, i memorized the rules and took a visiting friend to try the food. SO MUCH DELICIOUSNESS. we had the mac and cheese pancakes (eat it with syrup OR hot sauce), blisters on my sisters (comes in its own skillet), blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes (literally melts in your mouth), and nutella milkshake (sounds too rich but is actually light, icy, and refreshing). what stands out to me about shopsin's is that it's delicious AND puts an interesting twist on everything. plus, the menu is so ginormous that you can go again and again. its mix of savory and sweet is a party in your mouth. said friend and i went back again the very next week. i gave the leftovers to my bf who ate it cold and STILL raved about it. when i eventually got to take the bf, the waiter told us we ordered too much, and changed it. just go with it. :) caution: the wait is long on the weekends since there are seats for ~12. try to go on a weekday (though it's closed mondays) READ THE RULES. other recs: orange julius and any of the petes. read more