Manchester is spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, but only a handful have stood the test of time and welcomed diners for decades.
The MEN has collated the below list comprising some of Manchester’s oldest restaurants that locals, tourists and celebrities have been visiting for years. From Chinese food to Indian, Italian to Korean, our list features something for everyone.
The oldest restaurant on our list opened a whopping 155 years ago, while the youngest has been serving customers for nearly four decades. Not only do the below eateries serve delicious dishes that keep people going back for more, the restaurants have mastered a welcoming service and created the perfect ambience to provide diners with the perfect package.
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We begin the list with the youngest restaurant, ending with the oldest. Be sure to let us know in the comments section below which of Manchester’s oldest eateries is your favourite.
Koreana
The youngest eatery on our list is still pretty old, having been open for 38 years. If Korean food is your go-to, it’s more than likely you will have dined at Koreana in the city centre. The family-run restaurant has been serving authentic East Asian cuisine since 1985.
Koreana was the first Korean restaurant outside of London. The venue uses unique combinations of ingredients, including sesame, ginger, chilli, garlic and soy sauce, to create authentic Korean meals. As well as individual dishes, the restaurant offers a set menu deal, a banquet and takeaway options.
Don Giovanni
Another adored Manchester restaurant that opened in 1984 is Don Giovanni. Despite being around for nearly four decades, the independently-owned eatery offers a modern vibe thanks to its decor and large floor-to-ceiling windows. Sitting in the heart of the city centre, Don Giovanni offers Italian classics, including pizza, pasta and meat dishes.
The eatery is also the perfect place to enjoy a meal before heading to see a show, with it offering a special Pre-Theatre Menu as well as its A La Carte menu. Don Giovanni prides itself on using the freshest seasonal ingredients that are sourced locally from Italian and British producers within Greater Manchetser.
Armenian Taverna
This restaurant off Albert Square opened in a basement under Princess Street in 1968 and has stood the test of time. Armenian Taverna serves a variety of cuisine, from Middle Eastern flavours to dishes with European influences, including meze and kebabs.
Famous faces are known to frequent the eatery, including various footballers. Armenian footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan visited regularly while he played for United. His teammates Juan Mata and Zatan Ibrahimovic are also known to have dined at the restaurant.
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Rajdoot
Family-run restaurant Rajdoot also lies beneath Albert Square and has been serving authentic dishes from North India since 1966. The venue has an exotic feel with wooden carvings, hand-painted artwork and bronze statues.
The decor mixed with the traditional food truly transports you to India - it’s easy to forget you’re actually in the bustling city centre! Rajdoot serves a variety of curries and other dishes, and uses unique cooking methods to give the food its authentic flavours. This includes marinating the tandoori meat and vegetables for 12 hours before cooking it on a hot clay-oven charcoal pit.
The Rice Bowl
Another old family-run restaurant is The Rice Bowl which has been feeding locals and tourists authentic Chinese food since 1960. Wing Lau and his family came to the UK from Shanghai in the 1950s where they first opened a restaurant in Liverpool before relocating to Manchester in 1960 to open The Rice Bowl on Cross Street.
In 1988, Wing Lau’s niece Jenny came to Manchester to help her uncle. He later moved back to Shanghai, with Jenny now running the beloved restaurant. Diners can enjoy a variety of traditional Chinese dishes, with The Rice Bowl offering numerous menus, including Lunch, A La Carte, Special Set and Featured Recipes.
Sam’s Chop House
We’ve reached the oldest restaurant on our list. Established in 1868 by Samuel Studd, Sam’s Chop House is said to be the oldest eatery in Manchester. Samuel was the brother of Thomas Studd who founded Mr Thomas's Chop House, and although the Studds no longer own Sam’s Chop House, it has remained a family-run business.
For 155 years the restaurant has served locals and tourists a selection of British classics, including its famous Corned Beef Hash and Steak & Kidney Pudding. Sam’s Chop House is famed for being one of LS Lowry’s favourite places back in the day, with the restaurant having a bronze statue of the artist in its bar area.
Which of Manchester’s oldest restaurants is your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below.
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