Rinkoff Bakery | Whitechapel — Restaurant in London

I Have been a patron of Rinkoff’s on Vallance Road since the 1990s, and it remains my preferred destination for a morning coffee. I would like to acknowledge that the quality of offerings and service has consistently been commendable. This family-owned bakery has been an integral part of the local community for numerous years, fostering strong community ties.

The borough of Tower Hamlets is recognised for its significant socioeconomic challenges when compared to other London boroughs, with minimal signs of improvement over time. While there has been a degree of gentrification altering the demographic landscape, the area remains statistically impoverished and is predominantly inhabited by a BAME population.

In today’s economic environment, business sustainability is paramount, and Rinkoff’s is no exception. Regrettably, the recent price increases have placed a strain on many Vallance Road residents, who find it difficult to afford the new pricing structure. Historically, the bakery was a cornerstone establishment offering essential goods at prices accessible to the local populace. The current pricing of items such as a cheese sandwich with turkey ham, which varies between £4.80 and £5.20, may be deemed reasonable by some, yet remains out of reach for the immediate community—a community I deeply wish could partake in Rinkoffs offerings.

Furthermore, the cost of a coffee has increased, and while these prices are comparable to those of other mainstream outlets, they are still perceived as steep within the local context. This observation is not meant as a critique but rather a reflection of the changing economic landscape, as Rinkoff’s was once a place for those even at the lowest economic threshold. Conversations with my neighbors and friends residing in the E1 area reveal a shared sentiment that Rinkoff’s has become prohibitively expensive, and they long for the familiar drinks, food, and service that were once part of strong relationship between a local business and it's community.

For those who have the means, I encourage a visit to Rinkoff’s, where the quality of food and service remains exemplary. To the community that Rinkoff’s once served with affordability, I extend my...

I've only come here once, for our legendary CRONUT CRAWL, because Rinkoff BAkeries was one of the first bakeries on scene to create an amazing cronut. They are closed on Saturdays, so keep that in mind!

We arrived at 9am for these elusive cronuts, and yes its worth getting up this early for them because they will disappear quick! Whats a cronut?! A cross between a croissant and a donut. Flakey and soft on the inside, and lightly fried on the outside - not all bakeries can get this right. A few others have been a bit on the greasy side, or dense, but I think Rinkoff has a great balance.

They had 3 flavors when we went that morning: Raspberry, Custard, and chocolate. Hands down, Raspberry was my favorite - though when it comes to sweets, I enjoy tart / citrus fruits.

Aside from coming for the cronut, I was amazed at the other baked goods they had, and their chalkboard had so many fresh breads and pastries listed there! Its definitely a place I will have to come back to. While we were wolfing down our cronuts, we had a chat with a fellow outside who has been visiting the bakery for 30 years, and its the only one he goes to. He kindly offered us some of his other pastries, and they were delicious!

A bakery thats stayed open since 1911, with over 100 years of experience behind them - I think this is a gem! Its difficult to find, because its tucked away within some residential buildings. But when you get near the area, just follow your nose, and it'll...

We had bought bread from here a few years ago but ate here due to not being able to eat at what was, till today our preferred place.

But after eating here, we will return and I suspect that this will be our favourite place to eat bagels now. If you drive here, parking can be interesting and it is a walk past other places to eat if you are using public transport and are not in the area.

While we were eating and drinking (coffee for me, tea for my wife and juices for the kids) we got to see that they were ticking over with orders being sent by all sorts of delivery services. I can see why as we lived the food. We also bought some cakes which we ate once we got home and they were worth the money.

I hope you enjoy eating...