A few words to start us off...
The main purpose of this blog is to review spicy food establishments in Manchester - with a strong emphasis on those that are small, cheap, independent and open at lunchtime. Good starting points seemed to be the numerous Kebab Houses in Rusholme and the dozen or so Curry Cafes around the Northern Quarter area - and these thirty, or so, places were our first ports of call . Since then we've expanded our horizons geographically, but we’ve kept a definite curry and kebab theme going – anywhere worth mentioning which doesn't fall into our loose category (e.g. 'proper' restaurants or non-spicy food) will have comments in the Other Food section. We've also added reviews of Pubs and other beer related matters. We're not CAMRA members but we definitely favour the traditional-type pubs and bars with real-ale – if you want positive reviews of trendy, corporate or chain bars you’re probably better off looking at different blogs. So why read this when there are numerous other half-baked opinions on the net? Well, we’ve got the same few people doing all of the reviews and we also compare like with like, so hopefully we’re consistent – we’ve got no agenda and aren’t trying to sell anything. We also go to places we don't like the look of and revisit places as regularly as we can - particularly those we might have caught on a bad day. We'll also try to keep you up to date with openings, closures and other points of interest in our News section below, so keep looking in and tell us what you think by posting or Email us.
Have a look at our Recommendations
News & Recent Visits
20/08/10
A last trip getting the measure of Qila Khyber. - I know we've been quite a bit recently, which has been to get a grip of the new place - however today was because our first 2 choices were closed at the time of our visit - Lahore Karahi and K2 Curry Lounge.
16/07/10
A little look in Al-Faisal.
16/07/10
A last trip getting the measure of Qila Khyber. - I know we've been quite a bit recently, which has been to get a grip of the new place - however today was because our first 2 choices were closed at the time of our visit - Lahore Karahi and K2 Curry Lounge.
16/07/10
A little look in Al-Faisal.
16/07/10
Well, it turns out we were mentioned on Radio2 by Jim from Cherry Ghost - he's just been in touch. It also transpires that we'd conversed before about an Asian bakery in Levenshulme - small world - or rather city. Cheers Jim and let us know how you get on with Dermot's recommendations in The Big Smoke.
14/07/10
It might sound a feeble excuse but we were yet to try the tandoor naan form Qila Khyber - so we did.
13/07/10
'Classics Week' continued with a trip to Yadgar and The Marble Arch - and an excellent one at that.
12/07/10
Back to the classics - Saajan today - as good as ever. Also, Rusholme Kebab House appears to have re-opened as Al-Safa, we'll get there as soon as we can.
09/07010
A first 'official' trip to Turkish Delight resulted in a very tasty kebab in Chorlton.
08/07/10
Our first time in Jerk Junction in Whalley Range. A very hearty goat curry dish made this a decent trip - washed down with a swift pint in Jam St. Cafe. This is the first West Indian place on the site.
06/07/10
Yet another trip to Qila Khyber. The curries change regularly, and there are some interesting dishes on. This time the karela keema and the gosht methi were new. The large banqeting hall/restaurant - called Manzil - next door has just opened. It's only open from 5pm, but the buffet is available here at a cost of £12.
Have we hit the big time? Jim from Cherry Ghost mentions an 'amazing' food blog celebrating Manchester kebab houses and curry cafes on the Dermot O'Leary Show on Radio 2. If it's us then ta Jim! If not, don't tell us!14/07/10
It might sound a feeble excuse but we were yet to try the tandoor naan form Qila Khyber - so we did.
13/07/10
'Classics Week' continued with a trip to Yadgar and The Marble Arch - and an excellent one at that.
12/07/10
Back to the classics - Saajan today - as good as ever. Also, Rusholme Kebab House appears to have re-opened as Al-Safa, we'll get there as soon as we can.
09/07010
A first 'official' trip to Turkish Delight resulted in a very tasty kebab in Chorlton.
08/07/10
Our first time in Jerk Junction in Whalley Range. A very hearty goat curry dish made this a decent trip - washed down with a swift pint in Jam St. Cafe. This is the first West Indian place on the site.
06/07/10
Yet another trip to Qila Khyber. The curries change regularly, and there are some interesting dishes on. This time the karela keema and the gosht methi were new. The large banqeting hall/restaurant - called Manzil - next door has just opened. It's only open from 5pm, but the buffet is available here at a cost of £12.
If you want to listen the kebab chat is from about 27m 30s and lasts for roughly 90 seconds.
02/07/10
Another first visit. Janam is a kebab place in the centre of town, on Portland Street and right on the edge of Chinatown. An excellent chicken donner.
01/07/10
A quick return to Qila Khyber to try out the kebabs. Well worth the trip. This place seems to be a very good allrounder.
30/06/10
By semi popular demand we've done a new map with food and drink establishments on it. It covers a large area of the City Centre, Salford and Cheetham Hill. It doesn't go quite as far as Rusholme, but that's pretty easy to navigate and there aren't many pubs.
28/06/10
A completely new find and a bit of a gem by the look of it - Qila Khyber.
25/06/10
A return to form of the classic - This & That and a first visit to the new Marble Bar - 57 Thomas St.
24/06/10
This week we've been to Zam Zam in Rusholme - which is quickly becoming the kobeda destination of choice and after a few comments about how good it is a return to Lahori Kebabish in Cheetham Hill.
18/06/10
£4.50 for biryani + 3 curries is superb value. It's hard not to go to Top Quality every Friday.
17/06/10
Kabana on Back Turner St. - rice & 3 and a slightly smaller and cheaper option of seekh on chapatti.
14/06/10
Late night Tastemaster's and early morning Top Quality have been the recent trips. - Oh and a quick revisit to L'al Quila Express to check the lamb situation - we believe it's the best around, thankfully it was up to scratch.
07/06/10
Return to the classic Saajan Halal. Good as ever - and apparently open 11AM-6AM - crikey!
Weekend trip to Coriander too.
03/06/10
First return to Rusholme Chippy in 2 years and it hasn't changed.
27/05/10
It's been about 6 months since we went to Al-Madina, welcome return to The Crescent too. The revamped and more restaurant like Kebabish Original in Rusholme has priced itself out of our blog - £6.90 for a lamb tikka kebab is too much for our lunchtime jaunts.
26/05/10
Two iconic Manchester establishments in one lunchtime - This & That and The Marble Arch.
25/05/10
Another trip off the beaten track - to Barbakan.
24/05/10
Brand new lunchtime venture - Taftan in Whalley Range.
18/05/10
For various reasons we've not been to many new places lately, however the usual haunts of Yadgar, Lahore Karahi and Top Quality have all been good.
07/05/2010
A trip to a completely new place - Venus Foods on Anson Rd (near the Rampant Lion). This Turkish kebab house was well worth the visit.
30/04/10
We decided to have a look in Withington as we'd been told there were good kebab and curry places - after a drive down the main drag found nothing open we carried on to an old favourite in Fallowfield - Saajan Original.
29/04/10
Long overdue trip to This & That 2
21/04/10 - 27/07/10 - A few visits.
Top Quality and Lahore Karahi rarely disappoint.
20/04/10
Really good trip to Zam Zam in Rusholme - limited time offer of £2.99 for a kobeda is a bit of a bargain.
As of yesterday The Bar in Chorlton has 8 hand-pumps, The usual beers are remaining, Pictish, Phoenix and 2 Marble, with 4 pumps to play with. Could be interesting and will make it the ale centre of the area.
19/04/10
Back to basics at Saajan Halal - usual high standard, fresh chicken seekhs were a welcome and unusual option.
15/04/10
Enjoyable return to Jaffa. Ruhsolme Kebab House seems to have closed again. However there's a new sign with the same name - so apparently it's reopening again, as the same establishment.
14/04/10
Long overdue return to Camel One.
05/04/10
The Easter Break has been fruitful with good trips to Al-Faisal and Afghan Cuisine, the finding of a great new offer at Zam Zam Tandoori and first try of Taftan in Whalley Range - the pub front has been interesting too. Reviews on the way. Thanks for looking.
30/03/10
A decent trip to Spice Kitchens in Rusholme.
25/03/10
Finally a revisit to Afghan Cuisine!
22/03/10
So far this week: Kabana in Cheetham Hill & Kabana in Town - yes they're related businesses and yes the guys are brothers.
19/03/10
We've added another Manchester Curry Cafe Map for Cheetham Hill and the Northern Quarter:
15/03/10 -
'DAMAS CAFE' opening soon, next to Zam Zam in Rusholme.
This week's visits: Saajan Halal, Top Quality, Darbar & Kebabish.
12/03/10
This week: Lahore Karahi, Top Quality, Yadgar & Zam Zam Tandoori
10/03/10
Having trouble finding places? Try the Northern Quarter Curry Cafe Map:
Since the new year these premises have been Dubai, Villa Pizza and now Soulav Restaurant
09/03/10
New addition - a Manchester & Salford Pub Map:
08/03/10
Interesting weekend - though all pubs and sundries. After a review last week Yianni's in Stretford has closed and is reopening as a Halal Venue called Aqsa.
04/03/10
Not great trip to This & That today - it's never bad and it's always a good place to visit, but the food's not pulling up any trees at the moment.
03/03./10
Long overdue return to the reopened Rusholme Kebab House
02/03/10
Top Quality trip. £2 seekh a real bargain.
01/03/10
Quick trip to Saajan Halal. The small seekh on chapatti is great value and a superb kebab.
28/02/10
Sunday Nihari at Kabana.
26/02/10
Predictable maybe but we were in a rush and Top Quality is quickest place for us, as we can park outside and the food's ready on arrival - it was very good.
23/02/10
Just checking Lahore Karahi is as good as we thought - yeap it is.
22/02/10
Another first - Halal Bites in Salford.
18/02/10
First trip to Lahore Karahi was really good. It's encouraging to keep finding new places worth going to.
17/02/10
Decent quick trip to Top Quality was slightly more interesting than usual. £4.50 is now apparently a 'regular customer's' price. This is getting silly.
Evening trip to Tibetan Kitchen at The Bar is in the sundries section.
15/02/10
The building on Chapel street which used to be Copperheads has become Halal Bites - a halal cafe serving, amongst other things, a choice of 5 curries with rice for £3.95. We'll get down there as soon as possible. We made our first Didsbury entry today after I went to The Original Third Eye - however as a 'proper restaurant' and an evening meal it really isn't what we're about on here - so it's unscored and in the 'sundires' section.
11/02/10
An interesting and slightly incongruous trip to Adelphi Sandwich Bar. Thanks to your interest we were quoted on Saajan Halal's website recently (in their awards section). You'll be glad to know that we're staying anonymous so we don't get any preferential treatment.
08/02/10
Good straight forward trip to Top Quality - price strangely back down to £4.50.
04/02/10
Finally a return for curries at Marhaba - it was worth the wait, in both senses...By which I mean time and er... presumably tide?
Kebabish (Hilton St.) is apparently not doing curries anymore - a brief visit showed only kebabs with nothing written on the blackboard - any news much appreciated.
03/02/10
Very good trip to Lal Q'uila Express continues a good week for us.
After numerous attmepts to revisit Rusholme Kebab House we've fianlly been thwarted, at least in its current guise - it's now closed and due to reopen under new management.
01/02/10
Though weekend trips to Arian (Persian/Iranian, Chorlton) and Darbar (Pakistani/North Indian, Rusholme) were very good they're not really what this blog's about - so back to business: a return visit to an old favourite - Saajan Halal in Rusholme - or 'Saajan One' as we call it.
29/01/10
Finally a group trip to K2 Curry Lounge
28/01/10
There will be a Valentine's Beer Festival at Bar Fringe. This will run from 11th to the 14th of February. More details will follow when we get them.
27/01/10
Return to Al-Faisal today
25/01/10
Really good trip to Kobeda Place and Dubai appears to have become Villa Pizza - and we never even got there!
One of our reviewers went to the unpromised land of the Trafford Centre and made the costly mistake of trying out Shawarma Express. Over £7 for a small kebab - more of a wrap, fries and a drink was the expensive and unsatsfactory result.
21/01/10
For a quiet week we've done OK - another first: K2 Curry Lounge.
18/01/10
First visit to Lahori Kebabish
15/01/10
Another long overdue return visit - Little Aladdin
13/01/10
Long overdue Marhaba kebab trip
11/01/10
Last attempt at deciphering Tastemaster's lunchtime offer was pretty fruitless. There's so much information in there - printed menu, official menu above the counter and hand-written signs. Tricky business with no real end result. Think we'll call time on that one - they definitely do a takeaway tray of half curry/half rice for £3.50 - whether that's only certain times of day is beyond our powers to ascertain.
06/01/10
Finally made a Tastemaster's kebab trip.
05/01/10
We're currently snowed out of work. Difficult travelling conditions and bonus time off may well present some unusual opportunities - that is going to your most local pubs and spicy food outlets. Why not give them a try?
04/01/10
In the interests of getting this year off to a good start we went to Top Quality this lunchtime. It was really good, however there has been a price increase. Any Rice & 3 is now £5, from £4.50.
03/01/10
We've been a bit quiet for 2 weeks for obvious reasons. The Christmas break wasn't all that curry/kebab orientated, the only new visit being a rather expensive rice & 3 in Chappati Corner (Cheetham Hill). Another pretty poor trip to Hunter's was an after hours necessity. The only highlight was an excellent Saturday evening takeaway from Zam Zam (Chorlton) - which isn't really what this Blog is about, so we'd better get back to business.
23/12/09
With the weather and all it's been a quiet week - limited to more local takeaways - one professed to have more than 200 dishes on offer, which reminded me why I like curry cafes with half a dozen good ones.
16/12/09
Al Madina and The Crescent were both very good. The kebab being a welcome return to form. After a slow start this week has been a bit of a triumph.
15/12/09
Great trips to Yadgar and Fringe. They're regular favourites for a reason!
14/12/09
OK trip to This & That - we've not changed the high scoring review yet as there are always mediocre patches with these palces but we will if it doesn't perk up soon.
10/12/09
Return trip to Tastemaster's
An unfortunate story bout Yadgar's hygiene.
08/12/09
The Beech Inn, Beech Rd. Chorlton was closed on Tuesday night - No real idea what this means although it has had various problems over the last year.
07/12/09
Sky Sports in The Crescent and a pretty dismal return to Hunter's BBQ have not got us in the festive spirit.
04/12/09
The Manchester Winter Ales Festival will take place at a new venue in 2010.
Top Quality has been excellent this week - two superb trips on Monday and Friday make it the current favourite - particularly as curries seem to suit the cold weather.
Dec 09 - early trips to Top Quality, This & That and Kabana have been interesting if not ground breaking. Has the Wheatsheaf closed? 12.35pm 02/12/09 - no signs of life at all.
26/11/09
Spice Kitchens trip.
24/11/09
Quick trip to Top Quality. Very quick and very good - chicken curry, chapatti and a meat samosa - £5. Just the ticket on a grim day.
20/11/09
According to the CAMRA website the Bury Beer Festival is cancelled. We've had a post claiming otherwise but all other sources suggest it is:
http://www.robcamra.org.uk/
16/11/09
Abra-Kebabra on Wilbraham Rd. in Chorlton is now open. It apparently does kobeda, lamb and chicken kebabs.
13/11/09
Kashmiri Spice has definitely closed and is being replaced with Spice Kitchens.
11/11/09
The Queen's Arms on Honey St. is boarded up.
09/11/09
Slight price increase at This & That, but nothing to cry about - rice + 2 meat, 1 veg and chapati up to £5. Not sure of the exact permutations but you get the picture.
Bar Fringe 14th Birthday Beer Festival starts 26th November.
'Abra-Kebabra' looks set to open soon on Wilbraham Road in Chorlton - between 'four banks' and Morrison's - pretty much opposite 'Electrik'. There is an Irish franchise of a similar name but with different spelling and logos - it's unlikely they're related. Given the all the places called Saajan and Kebabish it's anyone's guess as to what this place will be. A fair guess is they'll sell kebabs.
06/11/09
First Lunchtime visit to the refurbed Mark Addy.
05/11/09
Shahi Masala has opened on the premises of Royal Naz/Gogis in Rusholme. There are skewers of meat under glass at the front so it appears to be a kebab house type venue - we'll keep you posted.
Kashmiri Spice appears to have closed.
