The Team Behind SlowLane And The Breakfast Club Have Opened A Stacked New Sandwich Shop

You may have noticed some rumblings inside the former Bonita space on Main Highway in Ellerslie. For one, the red exterior has made way for a sky blue. The sign has come down and the rust-coloured booths are no more. In their place arrived bubble writing, light wood tables and two-tone walls, all of it sealed with a kiss. 

Bonita owners Isaac and Shanay Yu know a thing or two about daytime dining. The duo are responsible for Ellerslie cafe SlowLane and retro breakfast nirvana The Breakfast Club in Pt Chev. So, while the loss of Bonita is a great one, the arrival of Kiss is a return to form for a team who are quietly shaping Tāmaki Makaurau's cafe scene. 

Image Credit: Kiss | Supplied

The ethos here is remarkably simple on paper but a little more detailed in practice. They sell coffee, sandwiches and bagels. But take a closer look and you'll see these aren't any old sarnies; there's no sad ham and cheese or limp BLT to be seen here. Instead, you'll find gargantuan fillings packed inside white bread, panini, rye bread, or gluten free loaf, an absolutely stacked bagel, and iced coffees with a number of cold foam options because this is 2026 and the people want what they want. 

The chicken parm, which sees crispy chicken schnitty topped with cheese, house tomato sauce, ham, and lettuce is served with an extra side of house tomato sauce for dipping. The breakfast sandwich takes things up a notch with folded egg and ham, caramelised onion, house sauce and mayo, while the korean street toast is filled with egg and vegetable omelette, shredded cabbage, sliced ham, tomato, sweet house toast sauce and a sprinkle of sugar. 

Image Credit: Kiss | Supplied

The one that is sure to become an icon, though, is the fish and chip sandwich which is almost exactly what it says on the tin; crispy fish, chips, lettuce, malt vinegar and house russian dressing, all sandwiched inside your selection of bread. It's like the world's best chip butty taken up a notch or two. 

The verdict is well and truly in: Ellerslie's evening loss is it's daytime gain. And Auckland may finally be in its gigantic-and-slightly-ridiculous-but-extremely-delicious sandwich era. We're here for it.