As one door closes, another opens. Never has this been more true than in the Northern Quarter right now, where chefs are rotating kitchens like it’s a game of musical chairs.
Modern Chinese favourite Salt and Pepper has just made its exit from Black Dog, the popular late-night bar that opens until 4am, in preparation to open its own venue round the corner on High Street.
In its place, Kong’s Chicken Shop has moved in with a brand new taco and quesadilla concept.
After a very happy year of naughty burgers and roast dinners at Northern Monk Taproom (now home to beloved lasagne restaurant Lazy Tony’s), the team is venturing on to pastures new with a new Mexican-inspired menu of gravy-soaked goodies.
Of course. Kong’s signature fried chicken still features prominently. In fact, you can still get your hands on Kong’s signature burger and some of the most popular sandwiches. But in truth, we’re here for the tacos.
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Think thigh meat brined for three hours, rolled in a secret spice mix, then double-dredged for a crispier texture, topping a 6-inch hasa marina corn taco with accompanying iceberg, chipotle slaw, diced pickles and burger sauce.
Elsewhere on the new list, you’ll find Al Pastor adobo pork neck tacos, barbacoa beef shin tacos with green jalapeno harissa, and sustainable white battered fish tacos with crispy capers, tartar and tajin shoestring fries.
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As ever, the food at Kong’s is set apart by the attention to detail. There is no scrimping on flavour here.
As for the new quesadillas, each comes with candied jalapenos, guacamole and heaps of cheese, as well as crema and house hot sauce.
As for sides and sauces, choose from crispy shoestring fries, queso cheese loaded fries, or a ‘nacho salad’ with charred sweetcorn, salsa, lime jalapeno dressing and crumbled cheese.
Alternatively, you can go all out with the loaded beef Birria fries, feat. barbacoa beef Bbirria gravy and a rich queso cheese sauce.
Currently in its soft launch phase, Kong’s officially opens at Black Dog Ballroom on Monday from 12-9pm. seven days a week.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
Eats
Inside Voyeur, a mysterious new post-punk 80s-inspired cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
A brand new cocktail bar is set to open in Manchester this week, with dark and mysterious interiors, 80s inspiration, and a raunchy theme.
Voyeur is opening in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and here it’s all about modern drinks in a post-punk 80s setting.
The walls are decorated with beautiful voyeurism photography from the 80s, including artists like David Hockney, Nick Taggart, and Malerie Marder.
Even the menus celebrate the artistic side of voyeurism, with drinks presented within a book of photography.
Those drinks include creative twists on drinks dating back more than a century, from the Kaleidescope of Lies (a two-in one cocktail inspired by a pina colada, with a strawberry daiquiri foam top) to The Voyeur (made with coriander-infused tequila for a savoury punch).
There’ll be monthly themed specials, kicking off with The Breakfast Club, where seasonal drinks take inspiration from Lucky Charms cereal, chai latte and an acai bowl.
Cocktails inspired by The Breakfast Club at VoyeurCocktails at Voyeur in the Northern QuarterInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barVoyeur on Oldham StreetThe cocktail menu is presented as a photography book
The dark space is lit by marble table lamps and a glittering green disco ball (and not much else), perfect for an evening spent sipping cocktails into the early hours.
Between Thursdays and Sundays, Voyeur will have DJs spinning vinyls.
Voyeur is opening this week on Oldham Street and will be open from 5pm to 2am between Tuesday and Sunday.
A brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop in a former Manc food spot
Thomas Melia
Sweet lovers and dessert connoisseurs alike, a brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop is opening in Manchester city centre this month.
Titled ‘Baby Mayhem’, this sweet-filled shop has been teasing its arrival for the past month with videos showcasing everything from new instalments to their graffiti-style logo.
This brand-new opening will be located on Radium Street, not too far away from Chinese superstar Wing Yip and fellow sweet treat specialists, Flat Baker, right in the heart of Ancoats.
The interior has been given a very nice and bright facelift too, going from an all white four-walled site to a bold and distinctive baby pink-covered site.
Manchester seems to have quite the sweet tooth at the moment, as it was only last month that our Northern Quarter was christened by cake gods, Get Baked.
As for this new dessert shop, they’re starting from scratch, with a temporary wooden window frame with their branding spray-painted onto it fitted ahead of their soft launch later this week.
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the much-loved Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria shop, and it really is out with the old, in with the new, as the familiar neon ‘No Lasagne’ sign has been traded for a sweeter read of ‘Fresh Donuts’.
It may be Yank spelling, but this still feels Manc through and through.
Case and point: all their signage, stamps and stencils have been done by local laser cutting service and neighbours, Drawn By The Light – also on Radium Street.
Enough salt, let’s have a serious amount of sugar. (Credit: Baby Mayhem via Instagram)
Baby Mayhem are taking sweet treats to the complete extreme, serving up everyone’s beloved combo of coffees and cakes, while also creating our soon-to-be-favourite indulgence: doughnut sandwiches. 10/10, no notes – genius.
There really are no complaints here; what’s not to love?
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the former Lazy Tony’s site, 23 Radium Street in Ancoats, and will be serving up their sweet treats for all to try from this Saturday, 26 April.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd September 2022 
