Shenkin It From Israel to Erskineville

Shenkin has got the standard inner-city café essentials down pat. Eclectic décor? Check. Quirky graffiti? Check. Recycled furniture? Check. Super fresh ingredients? Of course. Mediterranean food with an Israeli twist? Now that is something foreign to pass through Erskineville’s customs…

The Haikin family opened the hole-in-the-wall hangout about four and a half years ago. Emigrating from Israel six years back, they’ve certainly put their Middle Eastern stamp on Sydney. After all, the name Shenkin is inspired by the famed Shenkin Street in Tel Aviv.

They’ve also shaken things up by serving Israeli bites away from Bondi. Funnily enough, Shenkin started as an Aussie café, but diners were digging the few Israeli choices on offer, which is why the menu now flies both flags.

The food spells fresh, where everything from the pita to the pastries, hummus to the falafel are made in-house. Try the traditional Shakshuka- baked eggs in a spiced tomato and capsicum stew mopped up with warm pita. Or if you’re lucky, there’ll be a twist on the original with added eggplant, haloumi or minced meat on the specials’ board. Ordering a side of Labbane, a yoghurty cheese, is a clever choice.

Other Mediterranean specialties include Angelita- a pastry dish served with chopped tomato and egg, and Burekas- puff pastry filled with spinach and feta.

Tackle a wrap like The Shenkin- pita stuffed with football-sized felafels, hummus and other goodies. Finish it and you’re guaranteed a badge of honour – it’s big enough to feed an Israeli army.

If a trip into exotic cuisine is not on the itinerary there’s regular café fare to munch on, from salads to all-day breakfast pancakes and eggs. Plus leave room for the pastries and cakes that tempt from their display case, like apple strudel and vanilla napoleon slice.

The final checkpoint to clear in Sydney’s café culture is decent coffee and Shenkin has nothing to fret about. Using Umami beans and dabbling in the tech-looking siphon coffee method, the family’s origin may even be mistaken as Italian.

Shenkin mixes things up further with its melting pot crowd, from young and old to families and local cool cats. Not to mention nostalgic Israelis craving a taste of home, minus the airfare.

Check in early on weekends though.
It’s the most popular time for people wanting their piece of the Middle East.

Shenkin Café
53 Erskineville Rd
Erskineville
02 9550 5511

By Jenna Chaitowitz

Image: Flickr