Surely, among any group of people in the city, you’d reckon that chefs would know exactly where to get a decent plate of food. They might well be working while we’re eating, but when they get that rare bit of downtime, where are they all heading for the hidden gems, sterling takeaways and posh nosh?
We asked some of the very best chefs and restaurant owners in Manchester to tell us their go-to spots, and this is what we found…
Mary-Ellen McTague - Treehouse Manchester
My first place is Flawd. It’s just excellent. They’re so skilled. On the face of it, the menu is uncomplicated, but you can just taste how much work and understanding of ingredients and knowledge and flair goes into every dish. It’s a cut above. For me, it’s head and shoulders above anything else. And of course, the wine is stunning.
And next is Erst. Really great produce, really skillfully cooked. Simple dishes, but amazing flair and always delicious. I eat out so rarely, I just want everything to be right. I also love 10 Tib Lane, they’re just brilliant, and Hawksmoor as an honorary mention. They take such good care of you.
Rachel Stockley - ex-Baratxuri, now a private chef
Chips @ No. 8 in Prestwich is completely fantastic. I’m from Yorkshire, where all the chippies fry their fish and chips in beef dripping. I’ve been living in Manchester since 2006, and fish and chips was dire for all that time. Then Chips @ No. 8 came along.
My other go-to takeaway is Istanbul on Cheetham Hill. You’d perhaps class it as a posh kebab. The bread is really fresh, the kobedas are really, really, nice, salad plentiful, really good falafel, just excellent Middle Eastern cuisine.
And lastly, Osma. It’s about 200 metres from my house, and it’s just so good. The service, the food, it’s just such a high standard. We’ve not had that level of cooking in Prestwich since Mary-Ellen (McTague) had Aumbry. Absolutely banging.
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Sophie Robson - 10 Tib Lane
Opening up a restaurant, especially after the pandemic, and trying to build a business up, it doesn’t leave you with much money, so we don’t get to go out an awful lot. But our favourite Manchester restaurant is probably Dishoom. We went for the first time a few months ago, after being recommended it by so many people. The service was incredible, really special, the wines, the random glassware, it just all works really well. And obviously, the food. Absolutely amazing.
I also love Nell’s pizza. It’s incredible, and tastes exactly the same every time. I’m not a vegan, but I order the vegan with olives. It’s simple and nice, and just works.
Joe Otway - Flawd, Higher Ground
When I moved to Manchester from Copenhagen, where there’s this thriving food scene, there’s just no ethnic food communities really. So that’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with Manchester. It has such a rich seam for that, Indian, Turkish, Arabic. The place I eat the most is Mr Hong, on Faulkner Street. Make sure you get the blue menu. The barbecue chicken bones on skewers is the best £2 you can spend on food in Manchester. Next level.
Chef Diao also needs to be mentioned. It just goes from strength to strength. Actual Chef Diao is always there in person, it’s busy all the time, it’s thriving. It’s absolutely legit. Mind you, there’s Jade City too. If ever we have wine makers or chefs visit, I always take them to Jade CIty for dim sum at lunchtime. It should have a Michelin Star.
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Sam Buckley - Where The Light Gets In
I’m really turned off by some of these big city centre openings. Some of them are like theme parks, really impressive to look at but they need so much money. I’m more comfortable in somewhere that someone’s built themselves, that’s a bit more humble.
I live in Levenshulme, so I always have the best times at Isca. They’re friends of mine, so it’s the perfect night for me. Ornella’s in Denton. Again, that’s a perfect place, a perfect hangout. She’ll know what she’s doing, but it scares me how reasonable the prices are. My favourite place to open this year.
I love what they’re doing at Yes Lah in Didsbury. I feel like all the talented cooks in Manchester are heading out into the suburbs. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. It’s more like going around to someone’s house.
I’m trying to get my daughter’s spice levels up, so we’re always going to Dawaat and Lahori Spice, all those darbar joints up the A6. Lamb chops, a nihari and a pile of bread. Not to mention all the rice and three places.
Eddie Shepherd - The Walled Gardens
For something special and unique Where the Light Gets In in Stockport is amazing. It's a truly inspiring, creative restaurant. I love how much it's always moving forward, focused on sustainability and how steeped in personality it is. Having grown up in Stockport, it blows my mind what Sam (Buckley) has created there.
In a completely different vein, something else I love is the jianbing from Gerry’s food stall in Piccadilly Gardens, I stopped there by chance with a friend not long after I’d come back from a trip to cook a fundraising dinner for an animal rescue charity in Sichuan, China, and both of us were instantly obsessed with it. It’s great, really delicious food made in front of you right in the bustling centre of the city. Definitely worth checking it out if you are heading down Market Street.
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Shaun Moffat - Edinburgh Castle
I’ll always go for Erst. Definitely. It’s always a hit, great wine list, affordable, amazing. And it’s just around the corner. I only moved to Manchester three months ago, so I’m still exploring. It’s all new and exciting.
But I love One Plus on Charles Street. I’ve done the grill and the dim-sum menu, but not the hotpot yet, so that’s next on my list. That place is definitely up there.
And I love the guys from Super Happy, who were at Ducie Street. Their burger takeaway was so good, and I love Happy Seasons for roast meats. And obviously, there’s Levenshulme Bakery. The bread is so very, very good.
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