Korean supermarket Oseyo is set to open its largest UK store to date right here in the heart of Manchester.
The whopping 13,000 sq ft Asian superstore is taking over the old H&M unit inside the Manchester Arndale.
As well as stocking some of the biggest Korean food brands, the new shop will have a bakery section, Korean ice cups, cosmetics, ceramics, toys, stationeries, and even a photobooth.
Oseyo, which translates as ‘Welcome’, is already a well-known name in Manchester, thanks to its successful Oxford Road store which opened in 2019.
This new location will be the largest Asian supermarket in the north and will be five times the size of its existing location across town.
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Set to open in just a few weeks’ time, Oseyo will be handing out free VIP tote bags to the first 500 customers through the doors on 20 July, filled with popular products from Korea’s biggest brands.
Inside the massive new superstore, shoppers will find brands of noodles, dumplings, dried seaweed and veg, snacks, powder and mixes, sauces and spices, tea, rice and grains, plus drinks including Rice Wine and Soju in original and flavoured variations and non-alcoholic beverages.
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You’ll be able to shop popular Korean brands like Bibigo Mandu Dumplings, Samyang Spicy Noodles, Melona Ice Pops (honeydew/ coconut & mango ice creams), KSD Rice Wine, Hitejinro Soju, Lotte Milkis, and Jongga Kimchi.
There’ll also be a chilled and frozen section with exotic vegetables, Korean-style BBQ cuts, and prepared side dishes.
In the Korean bakery you’ll be able to buy everything from fresh Pandan Cake to viral mango pancakes, as well as Red Bean Buns (Dahn Paht Jjinppang), and Baked Custard Bread (Cream Pan).
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Another viral product available at the new Oseyo Manchester store will be Korean ice cups, where you purchase a cup of ice from the freezer then add in whatever flavoured drink you fancy.
Beyond the food, you’ll be able to pick up Cuckoo electric rice cookers, Korean cosmetics and facemasks, and Korean ceramics, including rice bowls, dipping bowls and dishes.
ARTBOX, famed Korean toy and stationery supplier, will also be stocked in one of the UK’s largest selections packed with everything from character goods, such as Sanrio and BT21, to homeware and kitchenware like blankets, chopsticks and mugs, plus K-pop themed socks.
The superstore will have ‘Oseyo Snaps’, a Korean photobooth with viral customisable, editable and printable takeaway pictures available across two themes – Gangnam Nightclub and Hongdae Café.
CGIs of how Oseyo Manchester Arndale will look
Isaac Kweon from Oseyo said: “We’ve received lots of love and support with our existing store in Manchester. The Oseyo team is pulling out all the stops for this megastore in the Arndale, it will definitely be a must-visit destination for all Mancunians.
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“Korean foods are in high demand, particularly with the rise of Asian cooking driven through the TikTok generation. In Manchester, there is certainly a demand for an Asian supermarket of this size. The variety of products within our Arndale store is unmatched.
“We anticipate trending foods including Korean ice cup drinks, mango pancakes, and famed, Samyang Carbonara Noodles, will pull in customers from across the North and beyond.”
David Allinson, Centre Director at Manchester Arndale, said: “We are really excited to welcome Oseyo to Manchester Arndale as we know it will be a major hit with our shoppers. We place great importance on creating an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants to cater for Manchester’s diverse tastes, so Oseyo is a great addition to our lineup.”
Doors open at 11am on Saturday 20 July, with Oseyo management encouraging Mancunians to get down before 9am with customer queues expected out the doors for the store’s grand opening.
Zouk’s brilliant bottomless deal is back for National Curry Week
Danny Jones
One of the best-loved Indians in Manchester has relaunched its bottomless curry offering and is chucking in free rice, samosas, naans and beer to boot.
Yes, to celebrate National Curry Week in the best way possible, Zouk has brought back its endless curry, rice and naan deal to their Manc restaurant and it’s genuinely one of the best in the city.
Costing just £25 a head, you can feast until your heart’s content on the tea bar and grill’s award-winning, authentic curries, showcasing dishes from all over the Indian subcontinent.
From 12pm until midnight between Monday, 2 October and Friday, 6 October, you can choose from a bottomless helping of four different curries (two meat and one vegetarian) each day.
What exactly can you get on Zouk’s bottomless curry offer?
As mentioned, each booking also includes unlimited rice, naan and samosas to go with your curry of choice and better still, the first 120 people through the door each day will receive a free bottle of Cobra or a soft drink. Jobs a good’en.
Tables are for 90 minutes per booking, giving guests plenty of time to take on the increasingly popular bottomless curry challenge.
With an ever-rotating selection of curries inspired by various distinct regions and speciality cuisines, you’re not short on variety either. You can Zouk’s current bottomless curry menu in full down below:
Monday
Chicken Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of chicken cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
Lamb and Potatoes – Tender chunks of lamb cooked with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Mutter Paneer (V) – Indian Paneer cheese with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Chole Masala (VG) – From Delhi to Punjab, this authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic.
Tuesday
Chicken Jalfrezi – Chicken fillet cooked with capsicum, onions & eggs in a thick spicy sauce.
Lamb and Spinach Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of lamb cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with spinach, tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce.
Gobi Manchurian (VG) – Spicy cauliflower pakoras sauteed in a spicy sauce with peppers and onions.
Wednesday
Chicken and spinachcurry – A beautifully flavoured dish with chicken pieces cooked in spinach, fenugreek, ginger and fresh cream.
Lamb Rogan Josh – A speciality from Jammu and Kashmir, with chillies and juicy tomatoes.
Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce.
Mili Juli Sabzi (VG) -Fresh vegetables fused together with herbs and spices.
Over the halfway hump, room for more? (Credit: The Manc Group)
Thursday
Chicken Tikka Masala – A simple classic chicken tikka masala. Chicken pieces marinated in yoghurt tossed inside a balti of garlic and ginger.
Keema and Peas – Minced lamb curry with peas in a spicy tomato masala.
Dall Makhani (V) – Black lentils in a smooth and creamy sauce.
Palak Aloo (VG) – Spinach leaf and fenugreek cooked with new potatoes and coriander.
Friday
Chicken Handi – Punjabi-style chicken curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
Lamb Handi – Punjabi-style lamb curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
Bengan Masala (V) – Aubergine cooked to perfection in a masala of aromatic mixed herbs.
Bindi (VG) – Traditional Punjabi dish of Okra cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices.
And now we’re stuffed…
If you’re looking for somewhere to get bottomless curry in Manchester, this is the place for you. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Zouk has become one of Manchester’s leading restaurants since it opened in 2009, even drawing in famous fans like Rihanna, Drake, Manchester United stars and, of course, many a Mancs each and every day – because there’s never a bad time for a curry.
Available all throughout National Curry Week (Monday, October 7-Friday, October 11), you can make the most of this incredible bottomless deal like we do every year and trust us, Manchester it genuinely NEVER disappoints.
You can find more information, including all terms and conditions on the website and book your visit HERE or over the phone on 0161 2331 090.
Greater Manchester’s quaint canal boat cafe with floating flat whites and unbelievable bakes
Danny Jones
There are a lot of good cafes in and around Greater Manchester but you won’t find many that serve up straight out of a canal boat.
Meet Libby and the ‘Cast No Shadow’ canal boat that is now the foremost river-based coffee and cake shop in our region, and with so many waterways around the 10 boroughs and beyond, you’ve got plenty of opportunity to meet both.
Currently moored up over on a picturesque corner of the Bridgewater Canal in Castlefield, just between the distinct white suspension bridge and The Wharf, this narrowboat cafe has only been up and running since May but has already earned queues of regulars who line up every weekend.
It also just might be one of the most wholesome things we’ve stumbled across in a long time.
Local legend Libby has had this pretty little vessel for three years and the cafe life is still pretty new to her as well, but she’s already nailed a really lovely niche.
You’ll find her serving up coffees freshly roasted right here in Manchester, snacks and soft drinks for the hotter days, as well as plenty of specials depending on the season or stuff going on around her.
Back when Sound of the City 2024 was still going on, we even saw her serving up handy little pots of mac and cheese to gig-goers on the way to Castlefield Bowl to fuel up before a long night of dancing and drinking.
Now that’s just legendary behaviour, if you ask us.
But aside from stunning pistachio lattes, colourful iced coffees and pure cosy vibes being served up right out of her small hatch, you can’t order from this canal boat cafe without grabbing one of the many delicious homemade loafs, cupcakes, cookies and more straight from fellow native The Vakery MCR.
With an ever-rotasting selection of sweat treats and regular favourites that sell-out almost immediately, almost everything baked is vegan, flawless and genuinely so good we couldn’t even tell the difference.
Complete with her little sausage-shaped companion and sea-furring captain/very laid-back guard dog Bob, and a small terminal so you can still pay buy card like any other shop, we love everything about this little slice of canal and coffee-fuelled life.
She’s previously been spotted in other spots like Altrincham, Macclesfield and various other spots around Greater Manchester and Cheshire, and may very well be moving on to the likes of Ancoats soon, but at the minute she’s found a perfect home and regular customer base in Castlefield.
To sum it all up, Libby is one of the friendlist people you’ll ever meet, the boat is a solar-powered little stunner that’s a welcome addition to the city, everything is reasonably priced and we love that she’s also helping support other local indie businesses like The Vakery.
So, if you’re in the area or are looking for the perfect stop-off on your next Sunday stroll, make sure to swing by to say hello and enjoy the cutest canal boat cafe in the country – we don’t care if there are others, this one’s ours.
The definition of service with a smile.The real star of the show (sorry, Lib x)Credit: Canal Life UK (via Instagram)/The Manc Group