Food · Manchester · United Kingdom
What to eat in Manchester
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Manchester, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Curry on the Curry Mile, Dim sum in Chinatown and Lancashire hotpot. Mackie Mayor, in a restored Victorian meat market hall on the edge of Ancoats and the Northern Quarter, gathers independent food traders under one glass roof, with long shared tables and a bar. Many popular restaurants in Ancoats and the Northern Quarter take bookings and fill on Friday and Saturday nights; book a few days ahead.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Curry on the Curry Mile
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in pubs.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Curry on the Curry Mile
Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, the Curry Mile, is lined with South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants, grills, sweet shops and shisha cafés, a legacy of post-war migration to the city.
Where: Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, a short bus ride south along Oxford Road from the city centre.
Dish
2.Dim sum in Chinatown
Manchester's Chinatown, one of the largest in Britain, has Cantonese restaurants serving dim sum, roast duck and barbecued pork, alongside Chinese supermarkets and bakeries.
Where: Faulkner Street, George Street and Nicholas Street, around the ornamental arch near Piccadilly Gardens.
Dish
3.Lancashire hotpot
Lamb or mutton and onion stew slow-baked under a layer of overlapping sliced potatoes until the top turns crisp, traditionally served with pickled red cabbage. It is the defining home dish of Lancashire's mill towns.
Where: Traditional pubs and British restaurants in the city centre, especially in winter.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Eccles cake
A round of flaky pastry filled with buttery currants and sugar, named after the town of Eccles just west of Manchester. Locally it is often eaten with a slice of Lancashire cheese.
Where: Bakeries and cafés across the city, and pubs serving it with cheese.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Manchester tart
A shortcrust pastry case spread with raspberry jam, filled with custard and topped with desiccated coconut and sometimes a cherry. Many locals remember it from school dinners.
Where: Traditional cafés and some bakeries and pubs in and around the city.
Breakfast
6.Black pudding
Blood sausage made with oats or barley and spices, a staple of the full English breakfast in the north-west. Bury, about 15 km north of the city, is famous for it.
Where: Cafés serving a full breakfast; Bury Market for the classic version from local makers.
Dish
7.Pie, chips and gravy
A steak, meat-and-potato or cheese-and-onion pie with chips and gravy is a match-day and chip-shop staple across the north-west; Wigan, west of Manchester, is especially proud of its pies.
Where: Chip shops, pubs and football grounds; look for pie-and-mash cafés and market stalls.
Dish · Vegetarian
8.Lancashire cheese
A crumbly or creamy cow's-milk cheese made in Lancashire, eaten on its own, toasted or with an Eccles cake. Tasty Lancashire is aged longer for a sharper flavour.
Where: Cheesemongers and delis in the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, and on pub cheeseboards.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Local craft beer and cask ale
Manchester has a strong brewing scene, from historic family brewers such as Joseph Holt and J.W. Lees to newer craft breweries with taprooms under railway arches. Cask ale is served at cellar temperature from hand pumps.
Where: Northern Quarter bars, traditional pubs around Deansgate and brewery taprooms in Ancoats and near Piccadilly.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Vimto
A fruity purple soft drink first made in Manchester in 1908 as a health tonic. It is still produced in the area and is sometimes served hot in winter.
Where: Corner shops, cafés and newsagents across the city.
Food experiences
Food halls
Mackie Mayor, in a restored Victorian meat market hall on the edge of Ancoats and the Northern Quarter, gathers independent food traders under one glass roof, with long shared tables and a bar.
Sunday roast in a pub
On Sundays, pubs serve roast beef, lamb or chicken with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and gravy; book a table at popular pubs in Castlefield, Ancoats or Chorlton.
Curry Mile evening
Take a bus south along Oxford Road to Rusholme for grills, curries and South Asian sweets on Wilmslow Road, with late-opening restaurants and dessert parlours.
Craft-beer crawl
Brewery taprooms under railway arches and the bars of the Northern Quarter make an easy evening of tasting local beers in small measures.
Quick bites and street food
- Black pudding — Cafés serving a full breakfast; Bury Market for the classic version from local makers.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Eccles cake, Manchester tart, Lancashire cheese, Local craft beer and cask ale and Vimto. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Many popular restaurants in Ancoats and the Northern Quarter take bookings and fill on Friday and Saturday nights; book a few days ahead.
- Pubs usually serve food from lunchtime to about 9pm; order and pay at the bar.
- Tap water is free in restaurants and pubs on request.
- Many restaurants offer set lunch or pre-theatre menus that cost much less than dinner à la carte.
- Vegetarian and vegan options are widely available, especially in the Northern Quarter and Chorlton.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants, about 10–12.5% is usual for good table service; check the bill first, as some restaurants add a discretionary service charge.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Our kid | My brother or sister (local slang) |
| Mint | Great, excellent |
| Ta | Thanks |
| Buzzin' | Very happy or excited |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Manchester famous for?
Curry on the Curry Mile, Dim sum in Chinatown, Lancashire hotpot and Eccles cake. Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, the Curry Mile, is lined with South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants, grills, sweet shops and shisha cafés, a legacy of post-war migration to the city.
+Is Manchester good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Eccles cake, Manchester tart and Lancashire cheese.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Manchester?
Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants, about 10–12.5% is usual for good table service; check the bill first, as some restaurants add a discretionary service charge.