Eats

A new ‘first of its kind’ Indian drive-thru has opened in Greater Manchester

Selling Desi street food, chai and all-day breakfasts, Chaiwala's chilli chip butty is a must-try by all account

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 6th January 2023

A drive-thru Indian restaurant claiming to be the first of its kind in the UK has opened its doors in Greater Manchester this week.

Moving into a former petrol station forecourt on Manchester Road, new opening Chaiwala is bringing Bolton diners the ultimate convenience with a menu of Indian-inspired teas, street food and soft drinks to go.

With a selection of all-day breakfast options, street food dishes, rotis, desserts and hot and cold drinks, some menu favourites include the chilli chip butty, butter chicken wraps and Mumbai Mac ‘N’ Cheese.

The Desi Breakfast at Chaiwala. / Image: Chaiwala
Pani puri at Chaiwala. / Image: Chaiwala

Popular breakfast dishes on offer include the Sweet Bombay Toast, Aloo Paratha and Bun Omelette, whilst drinks-wise flavoured teas include a caramel chai, Garam chocolate and pink cha, plus cream-topped frappes and Karak coffee.

First founded on the streets of New Delhi in the 1920s, Chaiwala first began life as a small tea stall (hence the name) but today has 50 sites in the UK and even more abroad.

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The group already has sit-down eateries in Cheetham Hill, Old Trafford, Levenshulme, Oldham and Rochdale, as well as another restaurant on Deane Road in Bolton, but is bringing something new to the area with its drive-thru diner concept.

Read more: All the January Manchester restaurant deals, discounts and offers you need in 2023

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Opened in partnership with the convenience retailer EG Group, its co-founder told the Bolton News: “This is extremely exciting news for Bolton and the UK in general as this is the first time the Chaiiwala brand has been created as a drive-thru concept.

The chilli chip butty with masala chips tossed in chilli powder, onions, tomato, relish and cheese. / Image: Chaiwala
Image: Chaiwala

“This is a totally new experience for our valued customers and the first time they can experience our Indian street food in a drive-thru setting. This is the first time we have offered this concept and are delighted with the results.”

Read more: Manchester accent officially voted one of the ‘sexiest’ in the UK

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“Using this blueprint we are now actively searching for new drive-thru locations across the UK which will replicate the Bolton store model. We have built the Chaiiwala brand on a mixture of providing original Indian street food with the best customer service, with the aim of providing a unique experience.”

Feature image – Chaiwala

Eats

Japanese-Brazilian hybrid, SakkuSamba, is putting on a special Valentine’s menu

Danny Jones Danny Jones SakkuSamba Valentine's Day

For anyone who hasn’t made it down to SakkuSamba, not only are you missing out but you might have also just found the perfect place to take your special someone this Valentine’s Day.

If you haven’t heard of this unique Spinningields restaurant before, SakkuSamba is the Japanese-Brazilian hybrid where surf and turf meet in an intimate and stylish setting.

From the moment you walk in to see the pink-hued lighting and floral surroundings, you immediately feel like you’ve been transported to a different world. And what better way to be greeted into that world than with a rose and a glass of fizz? Say no more.

That’s right, as part of their Valentine‘s offer, the menu not only kicks off with you being presented with a rose by the ever-welcoming staff, which you can then hand to your partner as if you planned the whole thing especially for them (we won’t say a word), but you also get a glass of prosecco on arrival too.

Credit: The Manc Group

SakkuSamba’s Valentine’s offering runs from 13-15 February and promises their unlimited dining experience as well as a special sharing dessert. You can book a lunchtime meal for £42.50 or secure yourself an incredible dinner for £55.50.

In case you’re wondering what makes it ‘unlimited’: part of what makes their dining experience so unique is how expansive their menu is, bridging across two beloved but equally varied cuisines.

Lucky for you, you’ll be able to order pretty much everything they have on it through a simple tablet on your own table, meaning you can spend even more time just the two of you on your special night.

As for the limited edition Valentine’s dessert, SakkuSamba’s Manchester restaurant will be creating its very own special sharing dessert and that’s all we’re allowed to tell you about it — all we know is that it’ll undoubtedly be delicious.

Credit: “

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It isn’t often you find a place that serves up both high-end sushi and proper steak cooked in keeping with Brazilian tradition, among numerous other big and varied flavours.

Better still, they have a seriously appetising drinks menu for you to get stuck into. After all, it’s Valentine’s, it’d be rude not to treat yourselves to a tipple.

You can book you and your significant other in for a special Valentine’s menu and all-round wonderful dining experience HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — The Manc Group

Eats

Caribbean-inspired bars launch bottomless ‘Galentine’s’ dinner with non-stop cocktails

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

Whilst some people are probably looking forward to Valentine’s Day this month, we expect that a fair few others are struggling to muster much enthusiasm at all.

It’s fair enough. If you’re single then Cupid’s holiday can feel somewhat isolating, to say the least – which is why Caribbean-inspired restaurant and bar Turtle Bay has decided to give ‘equal billing’ to singles this year with two back-to-back bottomless dinners.

In what it’s calling an ‘inclusive celebration of love’, the restaurant has revealed it will be hosting two boozy dinners this month – one for singles on 13 February, and a second for couples on Valentine’s Day itself.

Featuring non-stop cocktails, prosecco and Red Stripe beers, plus two or three dishes each from Turtle Bay’s Caribbean-inspired menu, the bottomless dinners will celebrate love in all its forms.

Image: Turtle Bay
Image: Turtle Bay

Priced at £43.50 for two courses or £48.50 for three, both bottomless dinners will all start at 5pm and take place for two nights across Turtle Bay’s various Greater Manchester sites.

Dish options include the likes of jerk wings and salt fish fritters to start, followed by the likes of baby back ribs, jerk chicken and organic jerk tofu.

Elsewhere, you’ll find West Indian curries like its Trini curry chicken, as well as classic comfort food dishes such as Chef Collin’s mac and cheese with jerk chicken or curry goat hash.

Read more: A new artisan bakery is opening in a railway arch in Manchester

There’s also plenty for veggies and vegans, with curry aubergine, the MotherClucker burger, the halloumi Buddha bowl, and the No Moo burger all on offer.

As for cocktails, indulge in the likes of the Dessert Island (dark rum, Tia Maria, cold brew and salted caramel); Tobago Tea (white rum, vodka, tequila, gin, triple sec, grapefruit, mango and lime); Jamrock Punch (gin, passionfruit, strawberry, apple, grapefruit and lime) and the Tingwray (Wray & Nephew, white rum, grapefruit and lime) over the course of your booking.

The Oxford Road has been refurbished and redecorated ready for the party season. / Image: Turtle Bay
Image: Turtle Bay

Those who fancy heading down can book into its sites on Oxford Street, in the Northern Quarter, or in Salford Quays.

Read more: The new bars and restaurants opening in Manchester this month | February 2023

To find out more and book, visit Turtle Bay’s website here.

Feature image – Turtle Bay

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