Other nationalities often tease the British over our cuisine. Or what they perceive to be a distinct lack of it. Pie and chips. Fish and chips. Steak. And chips. Ooh, pie and mash. See? It's not all chips. Sometimes it's mash.
The north of England probably gets it worse than the south, even, with the fixation on encasing as many of our meals as possible in pastry. But this is obviously nonsense. The north boasts some of the finest restaurants in the country, and in particular, Manchester boasts some of the finest restaurants in the north. Places that are, quite simply, world class.
Some have recognition from those who can make or break a high end restaurant - *cough* Michelin *cough* - but many exist thanks to our glorious tradition of immigration, of cuisines arriving here, and deciding to stick around. And thank God they have.
50 restaurants sounds like a lot, of course. In actual fact, once you start adding it all up, it's nowhere near enough. So to those excluded, be assured that it's been a torturous task narrowing it down. Have we missed off your favourite spot? Let us know in the comments.
Read more: Where the city's best chefs and restaurant owners eat out in Greater Manchester
Stretford Canteen
Clinging to the edge of the Stretford Mall is an oasis. Taking notes from owner Josephine Sandwith’s experience of growing up in a restaurant (Beaujolais on Portland Street), the Stretford Canteen mixes classic French with modern British vibes, all delivered in a lovely room and with a lovely soundtrack - seriously, search Spotify for the place’s first rate playlist. With an eye on local produce, what comes out of the kitchen is somehow simple and sumptuous at the same time. Oh, and those crispy new potatoes. Good heavens.
Sample dish: Pork chop, kale, capers and madeira
118 Chester Rd, Stretford, Manchester M32 9BH
Adam Reid at The French
Manchester's culinary scene continues to grow, but one restaurant's name is still on everyone's lips. Adam Reid took the reins of the Manchester institution from his mentor Simon Rogan in 2016, building on its reputation for modern, British dishes served within opulent surroundings. Reid's best dishes are those delivered with a strong Northern accent - think hunks of bread doused in broth, surf and turf sausage rolls and Cumbrian shorthorn loin cooked in its own fat.
Sample dish: Cumbrian shorthorn loin cooked in its own fat; swede, seaweed & fish eggs
16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Mana
It's fair to say Simon Martin's fine-dining restaurant in Ancoats has been a gamechanger for Manchester's dining scene. In 2019 it became the first restaurant in the city to receive a Michelin star since 1977 - serving considered dishes using celebrated British ingredients. Keeping guests on the edge of their sleek armchair with dishes spanning Louet-Feisser oyster served with wasabi and dill to a divine matcha orb flavoured with rose and sorrel, the innovative menu here continues to raise the bar for fine dining in the metropolis.
Sample dish: Roe, smoked eel and mezcal
42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF
Another Hand
Within a relatively short space of time, Another Hand, a New York-loft style eatery nestled within Deansgate Mews has impressed both at home and away - and scooped up a number of awards - thanks to its seasonal small plates and perfectly paired cocktails. Best described as a love letter to local suppliers, ingredients are sourced from local suppliers, including Cinderwood Market Garden and Littlewood Butchers, resulting in dishes that delight and surprise in equal measure.
Sample dish: Chalk stream trout with burnt apple dashi
Unit F, 253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Climat
Walk into this new, rooftop wine-led restaurant and its quickly apparent that it boasts one of the best views in Greater Manchester. Perched on the Manc side of the Irwell, from its wrap-around terrace you can spot some of the city's most elegant buildings. But Climat isn't just about the knockout views - its menus are impressive too. Kicking off with its signature bar snack, a lamb keema vol-au-vent, and progressing to beef tartare covered in a hefty layer of sharp Berkswell cheese and perfectly cooked hake with barbecued leeks, this restaurant clearly means business.
Sample dish: Venison, red cabbage, celeriac, malt
8th Floor, Blackfriars House St Marys, Climat, Parsonage, Manchester M3 2JA
The Sparrows
Hidden under an archway in the Green Quarter, this modern, central European dining spot has bean heaped with praise from national critics, thanks in large part to its dumplings. Far from a one tricky pony though, a visit to Sparrows isn't complete without sampling their spätzle - a form of fresh egg pasta spanning a vast geographical region - as well as the delicious Russian-style Pelmeni, Polish Pierogi and Italian ravioli, which can be washed back with organic wines, Italian coffee and Swiss craft beer.
Sample dish: Pierogi (Polish hand made dumplings) with sour cream
16 Red Bank, Green Quarter, Manchester, M44HF
Erst
The sort of place you'll want to bring your friends from out of town to, this Scandinavian-esque wine bar and restaurant, from the people behind Trove bakery, is big on natural wines and stylish small plates. A striped-back interior - think concrete floors, contemporary artwork and open kitchen - allows the dishes to do the talking. Whether it’s grilled flatbread beef, fat and chilli, or pork ragu with anchovy and cavatelli, everything has been carefully considered and goes down a treat with a glass of something chilled.
Sample dish: Pork ragu, anchovy and cavatelli
9 Murray St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Kala
Chef, restaurateur, pub owner, caterer and all-round kitchen maven Gary Usher’s city centre bistro Kala, tucked away at the top of King Street, is another example of a place quietly being excellent. It doesn’t shout about anything much, yet it has much to shout about, from the stylish room to the quality coming across the pass. If you’ve not been, go. If you have, go again.
Sample dish: Pan-roasted pork ribeye, with butterbean mash and cabbage
55 King St, Manchester M2 4LQ
The Jane Eyre
First they conquered Ancoats, now its time to take on Chorlton's Beech Road - and by all accounts it's going very well. After starting out as a neighbourhood bar, the sleek cocktail spot on Cutting Room Square then made a name for itself with it's Sunday roasts and small plates. Its second home in Chorlton - on the former site of The Parlour - boasts a stylish fit out, redesigned bar and an outdoor terrace which is sure to become popular when summer rolls around.
Sample dish: Tempura monkfish, smoked chilli mayonnaise
60 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EG
Mekong Cat, Stockport
Perched at the top of Lower Hillgate, and operated by the same people behind Marple gem Kambuja, The Mekong Cat is unapologetically authentic and all the better for it. As the name suggests, the relative newcomer to Stockport is inspired by the countries that the river runs through, cherry picking some of the best cuisine - from summer spring rolls, sandwiches and noodles to steaming bowls of noodles - with or without broth. Make sure to try the Cambodian beef stew if you're in need of something comforting.
Sample dish: Spicy Drunken noodles with garlic, chillies, eggs, greens, carrots and basil
47 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Ornella’s
Following in her father's footsteps, Sicilian-born Ornella Cancila -formerly a baker at Pollen - has penned a love letter to Italy in the form of her own deli and neighbourhood eatery in Denton. Looking for some of the very best pasta dishes in Greater Manchester? Then look no further than Ornella's, where she serves up her raved about lobster ravioli, generously portioned rigatoni amatriciana with crispy guanciale, and creamy sausage pappardelle topped with shallots. Space for afters? Check the counter for Sicilian cannoli or brioche buns, which go down a treat with pistachio gelato.
Sample dish: Rigatoni Amatriciana with crispy guanciale
10 Manchester Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 3LE
The Black Friar
The Salford boozer has risen from the ashes and been lovingly restored into a contemporary restaurant and pub, paying tribute to the building's original features through modern finishes and a menu you wouldn't expect on the edge of a dual carriageway. Now boasting a glass extension, gorgeous beer garden and outdoor bar, dishes here have been conjured up by former 20 Stories head chef Ben Chaplin and span elevated pub grub classics - from foraged mushrooms on toast to Cumbrian shredded lamb hot pot.
Sample dish: Scottish seared scallops with Fruit Pig's white pudding, pink lady apple puree
41-43 Blackfriars Rd, Manchester M3 7DB
Flawd
Perched waterside at Islington Marina, this neighbourhood natural wine bar and bottle shop may only have a tiny kitchen space, but the small plates produced within it are some of the best in Manchester. Flawd is the first permanent space for the team behind Higher Ground. And, while there's a focus on natural and low-intervention wine here, its refined dishes - simply written up on a chalkboard behind the bar and using fresh, seasonal produce grown over at Cinderwood Market Garden in Cheshire - elevate everyday staples into something quite spectacular.
Sample dish: Yellow beans, garlic, breadcrumbs, crème fraiche
9 Keepers Quay, Manchester M4 6GL
10 Tib Lane
Whether it's classic cocktails, natural wine that doesn't scare you off or seasonal food created with the best produce going, 10 Tib Lane ticks every box. From the people behind Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun in the Northern Quarter and Henry C in Chorlton, this Parisian-style restaurant - think distressed walls, blush pink banquettes and tiled nooks, continues to impress. Whether it's an elegant cocktail you're after, a platter of oysters or rump steak with sauce Diane, this date night favourite is sure to impress.
Sample dish: Steak Tartare, capers, egg yolk puree, sourdough toast
10 Tib Ln, Manchester M2 4JB
Happy Seasons
Known for its long and winding queues snaking around the block, this Chinatown institution is well worth standing in line for. The no-frills, family run Faulkner Street stalwart has been open for more than a quarter of a century thanks in large part for its no-nonsense roasting of meats - the holy trinity of crispy pork belly, Hong Kong-style roast duck and barbecue char sui always guaranteed to pull in the crowds. Make sure you leave space for a warming bowl of beef brisket and spicy chilli chicken with bones too.
Sample dish: Three roast meat on boiled rice
Hawksmoor
This London export is one of the first places Mancunians and visitors alike look to when in need of a impeccably cooked steak - and for good reason too. This upscale restaurant and bar with its frosted glass, mid-century lighting and dark-panelled walls, isn't just about its large cuts and steaks though, as proven by its herb-fed chicken, south coast monkfish and roasted scallops. Wash it back with a glass of red, show-stopping martini or Espresso Scorretto.
Sample dish: Rib-eye (350g) served with either Béarnaise, Peppercorn, bone marrow gravy and triple-cooked chips
184, 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Bundobust
Brought over from West Yorkshire in 2016 and now spanning two locations in Manchester - Piccadilly Gardens and an Oxford Road taproom - the Gujarati street food kitchen has become a go-to for many Mancs. Served in cute little tubs, dishes range from moreish okra fries and the 'Bundo chaat' to Mumbai-style burgers and warming lentil curry spiced with cumin, garlic and chilli. Wash it down with a beer and IPAs from local breweries or Bundobust's own brews.
Sample dish: Paneer Tikka
St James's Bldg, Bundobust Brewery, 61-69 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6EQ
Yuzu
It's been around for years serving traditional Japanese tapas from scratch using only fresh ingredients and, while it might seem unassuming, its food is anything but. Whether it's carefully crafted tempura, tantalising sashimi, or glorious gyoza, nothing here is an afterthought. Don't forget the tempura udon, teriyaki salmon don and pan-fried chicken thighs seasoned with teriyaki sauce and Japanese herbal pepper too.
Sample dish: assorted sashimi of salmon, tuna, scallops and sweet prawns
City Centre, 39 Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4EE
This & That
Manchester's curry cafes deserve an article in their own right and, while there's some debate over the very best, we always find ourselves going back to This & That. Tucked away on Soap Street in the Northern Quarter, this family-run restaurant is beloved for its ‘rice and three’, which handily comes in for less than a tenner . Serving up a hungry lunch crowd seven days a week, curries here are constantly evolving, keeping customers, new and old, on their toes.
Sample dish: Lamb Steak, chicken and minced lamb with rice
3 Soap St, Manchester M4 1EW
Bar San Juan
The kind of place you might wander - or stagger - into after a night bar hopping in Madrid or Barcelona, this tiny spot is an absolute favourite among locals, so much so that you might be lucky to get a table at all. Packed every night of the week, and having extended into the alley next door, you’ll get authentic tapas plates and a glass of beer in noisy, buzzy surroundings. What more is there?
Sample dish: Slow-cooked beef cheeks, or chorizo toast with quail’s eggs
56 Beech Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9EG
MUSU
Translating as 'infinite possibilities' in Japanese, Musu, the Bridge Street newcomer with big ambitions, has quickly made a name for itself amongst Manchester's discerning foodies. Helmed by chef-patron Michael Shaw, menus here are split up into three categories from 'Sentaku', meaning to choose, 'Kaiseki', a set menu devised by Shaw, and 'Omakase', a first-of-its-kind, theatrical dining experience served at the sushi bar. For those with very little time on their hands, a express menu is also available.
Sample dish: Chawanmushi
64 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BN
OSMA
This Scandi-influenced, Michelin-rated restaurant in Prestwich is the creation of Sofie Stoermann-Nass and Danielle Heron - an amalgamation of the pair’s hometowns of Oslo and Manchester. Taking over a former kitchen showroom, OSMA launched in October 2020, and is heavily influenced by Danielle’s impressive culinary CV at Michelin-starred eateries. It's intelligent, unpretentious and bold cooking landed it a place in the Michelin Guide last year for dishes which celebrate ingredients from local, British farmers, while seeking inspiration far beyond Bury New Road.
Sample dish: Salt-aged duck breast with radicchio, beetroots and pickled walnut
132 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 0AA
Maray
Nationally acclaimed, Liverpool-born restaurant Maray, opened its doors in Manchester last summer. Founded in 2014 by James Bates, Tom White and Dom Jones, the concept was originally inspired by their experience in the Le Marais district of Paris – a buzzing district touted as a culinary melting pot of Middle Eastern flavours and vibrant cocktail spots. Dishes span the much-loved disco cauliflower, served with chermoula, harissa, tahini and yoghurt, crispy buttermilk chicken and a diverse selection of mezze.
Sample dish: lamb shawarma with squash tershi, crispy pittas, sumac, onions
14 Brazennose St, Manchester M2 6LW
Levanter
Indebted by trips to pinxtos joints of the Basque Country, Levanter owners Joe and Fiona Botham have brought their passion back to picturesque Ramsbottom, a town that can now serve up a slab of Galician, aged dairy cow, a faultless croquette and a glass of chilled sherry or a plate of grilled baby squid and a vermouth on any night of the week. Well worth the drive out of town. In fact, it’s essential.
Sample dish: A plate of Jamon Iberico de Belotta
10 Square St, Ramsbottom BL0 9AT
Oystercatcher
Serving up fresh, seasonal fish and seafood in the heart of Chorlton, this intimate, neighbourhood spot is both an everyday hangout and place for special occasions. Its menus feature both well-loved British classics, chargrilled favourites and plates influenced by other seafood-loving nations. Whether it's chargrilled octopus, black sea bream or moules frites on the menu, we encourage you to dive right in.
Sample dish: Seafood Stew with prawns, octopus, baby squid and mussels in a san Manzano sauce
123 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PG
Dishoom
Offering a taste of old Iranian cafes of Bombay, Dishoom is all about the experience. Climb the steps from Bridge Street and enter Manchester Hall - a former freemasons' lodge - where a thick incense wafts around the dark-panelled treasure chest rooms. Only the food can top the splendid décor, so make sure to begin your day with a bacon naan roll and a piping hot cup of chai, or wait until light goes down to try the house black daal and chicken berry biryani with ginger, garlic, mint, coriander and rice cooked together in the Kacchi style.
Sample dish: Spicy lamb chops with green chilli, coriander and cumin
32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT
Mi & Pho
It might seem homely and neighbourhood-ey, but the food at Mi & Pho is seriously good. Embracing all the vibrancy and life of Vietnamese cuisine, this corner of Northenden is consistently packed (seriously, book ahead) with those seeking the authentic flavours of past travels or hoping to be taken away to somewhere more exotic for an hour or two. It’s hard to balance the flavours used here - sweet, sour, spicy, salty - but they make it look easy, from its warming soups to its crisp/chewy VIetnamese pancakes.
Sample dish: Papaya salad
384 Palatine Rd, Northenden, Manchester M22 4FZ
Firehouse
Not the kind of place for a quiet first date or meal out with grandparents (though depends on the grandparents, of course), the Firehouse, from the folk behind Ramona next door, has more akin with a nightclub than a restaurant. But not in that tedious way, where an embarrassed DJ is playing along to your starters. This is full-on, runway dancers, disco balls, thundering house and garage, all while you hurl down some of the best peri-peri in town and margs by the gallon.
Sample dish: The Firehouse chicken
40 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JG
63 Degrees
This informal, Parisian-style brasserie can be found it the city's Northern Quarter cooking up a menu full of forward-thinking, modern French dishes. A taste of Paris is brought to diners by the Moreau family, with poultry dishes cooked at 63 degrees - chef and owner Eric's tried-and-tested cooking technique which he has perfected after many years of experimentation. menus span dishes such as lamb fondant with carrots and cumin to duck confit burger with mushroom to Dauphinoise potatoes and oysters from Brittany.
Sample dish: Chicken 63 degrees with truffle paste
104 High St, Manchester M4 1HQ
The Walled Gardens
There aren't many restaurants in the Manchester quite like Whalley Range's The Walled Gardens. It's vegetarian, run by just one member of staff - founder and chef Eddie Shepherd - and seats only eight people at a time inside Eddie's own home. It's also highly in demand, with people waiting upwards of six months to get a seat at this renowned table. The chef spent 15 years cooking in traditional restaurants before launching his own venture, using mesmerising techniques to draw out as much flavour from fresh ingredients as possible - the tasting menu spans 12 courses and begins with Dandelion Petal Fruit Pastels served with a welcome G&T and topped with lemon verbena, which Eddie grows in his garden.
Sample dish: Miso-marinated Tofu with Sour Cucumber and Honey Wildflower
Tattu
This high-end, contemporary Chinese restaurant opened its doors in Spinningfields in 2015, and quickly became popular for its cherry blossom décor and experiential dining. Passionately designed to bring diners on a journey from East to West, the restaurant concept inspires everything from is colourful Chinese-inspired cuisine to its meticulously crafted cocktails, which often reflect the seasons and landscapes of China. Modern sharing menus here allow you to sample an array of dishes, from Szechuan rock shrimp and caramel soy aged beef to duck egg and sausage fried rice.
Sample dish: Black cod croquettes with ginger and garlic aioli.
3 Hardman Square, Gartside St, Manchester M3 3EB
Volta
With no shortage of places to eat on Burton Road, Volta still stands out there on its own, a pioneer of small plates with influences from Northern Spain to the Middle East. You can expect everything from spiced lentil dishes, bowls of warming, curried fish, iberico pork and exquisite dips served with warm flatbreads. Throw in some decent cocktails and it’s hard to stay away.
Sample dish: Lamb shawarma with yoghurt and harissa
167 Burton Rd, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2LN
Lily's
It feels like Lily's has always been there, the mark of a great restaurant. But only since 2018 has this family run business been serving up faultless Gujarati food just by the Ikea in Ashton (though the heritage comes from their grandparents shop, established in 1972). The curries are homely and generous, as is the welcome, with deli outposts now in Chorlton and Ancoats too. Pop in for a chaat and a chai, or head to the Ashton branch on a Thursday for the thali spectacular.
Sample dish: Bhel puri or samosa chaat
85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF
Tast
Famously part-owned by City’s most eminent Pep Guardiola, Tast is a perfect corner of Catalonia on King Street. Michelin-starred chef Paco Perez presides over the kitchen in this effortlessly handsome spot, which spills out onto the terrace in front, making it essential for a summer cocktail as well as an occasion dinner. Snacks at the downstairs bar (from white anchovies to jamon) are almost as diverting as the mastery going on in the main kitchen.
Sample dish: Native Blue lobster rice with coral mayo
20-22 King St, Manchester M2 6AG
Where The Light Gets In
Approaching via fire escape steps to a Victorian coffee warehouse, it feels like an unlikely place to find some of the best cooking in the country. But in this calming room, chef Sam Buckley and his team bring you stunning dishes cooked just metres away, inviting diners into the open kitchen. There’s no menu, you just have to trust that everyone knows what they’re doing (they do). A near-perfect place.
Sample dish: Slow-roasted pigeon breast and leg with sweet salt and morels
7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
Evelyn’s
Understated, but very classy indeed, Evelyn’s can be overlooked, sitting as it does between the madness of Market Street and the nonchalance of the NQ. It should not be. The cooking here is not to be underestimated. Come for brunch - from shakshuka to steak and eggs - and then stay for dinner too - szechuan lamb skewers, mussels in a Thai broth - all delivered in handsome surroundings.
Sample dish: A 6oz rib eye, with chimmi, mojo verde
44 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA
Seoul Kimchi
Nearly always crammed with students, this family-run gem opposite the MRI (two uncles and a grandma in the kitchen) turns out wonderful Korean and Japanese - but mostly Korean - classics, like jeon (savoury pancakes stuffed with all kinds of joyousness) and generous bimibap (rice bowls). But it’s the glorious barbecue dishes which will have your eyes rolling over, particularly the squid and pork bulgogi.
Sample dish: Galbi (grilled short ribs)
275 Upper Brook St, Manchester M13 0H
Rudy’s
When Rudy’s opened its first pizza spot in Ancoats, the queues out of the door on every night of the week became legendary. That people kept coming back despite being turned away is testament to the quality of the pizza coming from that furnace of an oven from Naples. Of course, it’s since become a country-spanning chain, and continues to go from strength to strength. But the Cutting Room Square branch will always be home.
Sample dish: The margherita
9 Cotton St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BF
Peace Garden
Tucked in behind the universities, Peace Garden is a paean to classics of Chinese regional cooking, from homestyle dishes to the kind of thing they pull out only for visiting state dignitaries or national banquets. Everything is done to a truly exceptional standard. So while there are dishes you might know - belly pork, sweet and sour - you’ve never seen them done like this before. Exceptional.
Sample dish: Mao’s braised pork
57 Booth St W, Manchester M15 6PQ
Cafe Marhaba
From the most modest of kitchens comes some of the very best Pakistani home-cooking to be found in the whole city. Marhaba, hidden down Back Piccadilly, has long been a spot for a speedy stolen lunch or early dinner, with its legendary curries the stuff of, well, legend. Changing daily, dishes include spectacular seekh kebabs, melting lamb niharis and vegetarian curries galore, with puffy pillows of bread cooked in the clay tandoor.
Sample dish: Chicken karahi
36 Back Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1HP
Hispi
Gary Usher’s Hispi is an easy entry here, and not just ‘it’s good for a neighbourhood restaurant’. It’s deservedly one of the best restaurants in the city. Now settled into its stride, it simply gets things right, from the midweek supper to the Sunday roast. The service is impeccable, the cooking equally so, with great value set lunches through the week. Enough said.
Sample dish: Braised featherblade of beef
1C School Ln, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6RD
Porta
Tapas is a way of life in Spain. Here, it’s frequently done badly, though how it’s possible to mess up something so simple is a mystery. Porta does it right, from the basics like good quality gordal olives and simple pan con tomate, to stews with chicken thigh, proper lamb meatballs, broccoli with romesco sauce and plates of spectacular cured jamon and dried beef. There are outposts in Chester and Altrincham too.
Sample dish: Tomato Salad with Colono goats cheese, capers, white onion, oregano, sherry vinegar
216 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester, M3 6BY
Greens
Chef Simon Rimmer and Simon Connolly's pioneering vegetarian restaurant has been held in high-esteem since it opened its doors more than 20 years ago, in 1990 in fact, when getting a plant-based dinner was considerably more complicated than it is now. But it has maintained its impressive stature, even opening a second location in the transformed shopping district in Sale. Long may it reign.
Sample dish: Deep-fried oyster mushrooms, pancakes, spring onion, cucumber, plum sauce
41-43 Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2NT
The Lead Station
The Lead Station has long been serving the discerning Beech Road clientele with bistro classics, and long may it continue to do so. Comfortable, stylish - that blue ceramic bar - and reliable (there’s so much to be said for that particular attribute), it’s a place to return to while things change all around it. It even has its own cookbook. An institution.
Sample dish: Hake fillet, new potato crush, samphire, burnt hazelnut and shrimp butter
99 Beech Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9EQ
The Perfect Match
Locals rave - and really, they do - about this absolute gem hanging on for dear life to the side of the A56. It looks out of place between the firework shops and the Irish bar next door, but inside it’s a picture of calm and quiet professionalism. It has an excellent and enviable bistro menu courtesy of chef Jacinda, and spectacular wines to match courtesy of sommelier Andrea, who met while working for Gordon Ramsay at The Savoy. Fine credentials, and fine food.
Sample dish: Roasted guinea fowl breast, pumpkin, chestnuts, black cabbage, chicken jus
103 Cross St, Sale M33 7JN
Yadgar Cafe
Another classic 'rice and three' haunt, Yadgar is among the finest of the homestyle cafes in the Northern Quarter, serving up brilliantly fresh curries and cushion-ey naans all day long. The cafe surroundings belie the complexity of the cooking here though- it’s not easy to balance the flavours going on. The evening specials might be on, if you’re lucky, dishes like fried cod, caked in spices, a classic lamb nihari or paya - made from either lamb or beef trotters.
Sample dish: Karahi lamb, on or off the bone
71 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1LQ
Ban Di Bul
While folk queue to get into Wagamama on St Peter’s Square, there are literally better options in your sightline. Though it’s perhaps not much easier to get in. Korean barbecue and hot pot spot Ban Di Bul combines eating out with cooking dinner, and it’s great fun because of it. Sticky, sizzling meats and bubbling pots of soup all add to the theatre and - top tip - it does a very reasonable lunch menu too.
Sample dish - Bul Gar Bi (seasoned and marinated boneless ribs)
77 Princess St, Manchester M2 4EG
Choupan
This Afghan-Iranian restaurant on Cheetham Hill Road turns out some of the softest, homemade flatbreads in the city. That should be reason enough to go on its own, but luckily, the rest of the menu is fabulous too. The mantoo dumplings, stuffed with spiced lamb, are a revelation, as is the khoresht-e-gheimeh, lamb stew with dried limes and waxy french fries on top. There is no dish that cannot be slightly improved by adding chips.
Sample dish: Zereshk polo (chicken with barberries)
414 Cheetham Hill Rd, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 9LE
Carnival at Escape To Freight Island
Created by the renowned Richard Turner (he of Hawksmoor and Pitt Cue fame) and chef Sam Grainger from Belzan in Liverpool, this open grill restaurant tucked away in Escape To Freight Island is a real piece of work. Superbly sourced meats (prime ribs, porterhouses, short-rib, majestic chops) are ordained with fire, and served with little fanfare. They need none. The Sunday roasts are also among the very best in town.
Sample dish: Victorian sausage with apricot mustard, porterhouse with grilled romaine and anchovy
11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ
Habesha
There are now a few spots in the city to enjoy Ethiopian and Eritrean food, but Habesha was the first to blaze the trail, and for a long time one of the city's best-kept secrets. That’s until the national newspaper reviews started turning up. The menu is brief, and all the better for it, a collection of homestyle classics, heavily spiced and served with injera, the delicious sour pancakes. Seek it out.
Sample dish: Yebeg wot - slow cooked lamb with onion, ginger, garlic, hot pepper (berbere) and herb butter
29-31 Sackville St, Manchester M1 3LZ
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