This Friday marks National Katsu Curry Day and to celebrate the occasion, Tampopo is giving away a whopping 400 free curries to us Mancs.
We’ve suddenly just become bigger fans of Tampopo than we already were.
The Pan-Asian favourite franchise, which started here in our city nearly three decades ago, now boasts a total of four Greater Manchester sites and all of them will be participating in handing out free bowls of katsu curry at the end of the week.
We can’t think of many better ways to kick off the weekend than with a free curry, to be honest.
So what’s the deal? Well, it’s pretty simple: special popup ‘Katsu Curry Hubs’ will be stationed outside all of Tampopo’s locations in and around Manchester and free curries will be served up from 11am-1pm.
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Just to warn you now, it’s strictly first come, first served and when they’re gone, they’re GONE, so you’re best making a beeline for your nearest Tampopo restaurant when in time to get in line.
100 curries will be given away at Albert Square, The Corn Exchange, The Trafford Centre Restaurant and The Trafford Centre Kiosk site too, meaning a total of 400 bowls of complimentary katsu curry are up for grabs, so you stand a very good chance of getting your hands on some free scran this Friday.
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Better yet, the Tampopo has just had one their biggest menu updates ever; 70% of dishes are either brand new or refined to perfection – including the already much-loved katsu curry, so not only are getting it for free but it promises to taste better than ever.
The chain has always been committed to bringing the best of Far Eastern cuisine to Manchester even since it first opened up in 1997, and it remains just as diverse and dynamic as it is authentic.
David Fox, co-founder of Tampopo, said: “Katsu Curry Day is the perfect occasion for us to give back to our amazing Tampopo community and to share one of most popular dishes – and a great way to welcome the Autumn.
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“Our Katsu Curry has been honed to perfection over 27 years and we’re delighted to invite Manchester to come and celebrate with us.”
The katsu curry isn’t just a dish synonymous with Japanese cuisine but has quickly become a staple of comfort food here in the UK too. The crispy chicken, the steamed rice and that rich, savoury sauce – it’s just the best, and we have Tampopo to thank for being one of the first to bring it to Manchester.
It’s not the only freebie you can grab this week either…
Legendary Manchester rice and three curry house Cafe Marhaba has gone up for sale
Daisy Jackson
It’s been a staple of Mancunian lunchtimes for decades, but now Cafe Marhaba has been placed up for sale.
The Back Piccadilly restaurant and takeaway is one of the city’s most legendary rice and three cafes, serving up hearty curries and tandoor-baked naans at low, low prices.
It’s a family-run operation that’s been here in the Northern Quarter since 1992 – so it’s understandable that a wave of panic has rippled through the city upon seeing the business appear on Rightmove.
Cafe Marhaba has been listed as a ‘highly sought after takeaway business’ in a ‘top location’.
Agents have placed it on the market at £1,153 per calendar month.
But Abdul Ahmed, who runs the business alongside his parents, has confirmed to The Manc that they are simply ‘testing the waters’ and thinking of shifting the beloved business to a new premises.
The tiny space, just down the road from the newly-reborn Rat and Pigeon pub, only has space for a handful of tables for dine-in customers.
Inside Cafe Marhaba in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Cafe Marhaba in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
If you do sit in, curries are carefully ladled onto patterned mismatched plates and served alongside the city’s best naan breads.
Cafe Marhaba is particularly well-known for its £8 rice and three deal – a local staple – where you can choose any three curries for a filling lunch.
At the time of writing, Abdul stressed that there are no plans to close the restaurant for the time being.
So you can still get your rice and three fix at this Manchester institution – and if you miss it, you’ll forever regret it.
Popular Manchester street food traders to take up monthly residency at city centre neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
Some of Manchester’s best street food traders will soon be taking up monthly residencies at a popular city centre neighbourhood.
After a series of successful trial events throughout the summer over, Food.Fest has now announced that it’ll be bringing a tasty lineup of traders to city centre neighbourhood, Circle Square, on the last Thursday of each month, and it’s all ready to “add some flavour to lunchtimes”.
Food.Fest initially launched back in June, and since then, has seen some of Manchester’s best food traders descend on Circle Square to take lunchtimes to the next level.
The likes of Triple B, Marley’s Tacos, and Tommy’s Bar and Pizza have already taken the reins.
Food.Fest will be taking up a monthly residency at Circle Square in Manchester city centre / Credit: Supplied
When Food.Fest’s residency kicks off for “a payday lunch like no other” this Thursday (26 September) between 12pm and 3pm, it’ll be the Malaka Brothers bringing their authentic Greek street food using only the freshest local ingredients to Manchester for the month.
There’ll be unbeatable classics like gyros, souvlaki, and halloumi fries on the menu.
Venturing out of their home at Tap House, Fat Frank’s will also be serving up New York-style pizza by the slice, with fan-favourites like Buffalo Chicken, Smokey Pepperoni, and more.
Malaka Brothers, Little Bao Boy, and more will be taking up the reins / Credit: Supplied
Triple B by Eat New York has been making waves over in Prestwich for quite a while now, and it’ll soon be back in the city centre with its classic New York-style Reuben bagels and pastrami burgers that sound set to be winner for any lunchtime.
Finally, Little Bao Boy will be bringing its signature mouthwatering bao buns to Circle Square, with char sui pulled pork, and pulled teriyaki mushroom being just a couple of the tasty options on offer.
Food.Fest officially kicks off at Circle Square this Thursday 26 September from midday through to 3pm, so if you’re feeling hungry, you know where to head.