Do you have those same few places that pass all the time, but for one reason or another, you never end up actually walking in and simply keep repeating “Oh, I’ve been meaning to go there for ages” whenever it comes up in conversation?
Because we certainly do, and it’s becoming a somewhat chronic problem at this point.
So much so, in fact, that we’ve now declared war on this foolish and completely self-imposed culinary inertia, because we recently took the plunge and finally visited a Chinese spot in the Northern Quarter that we’ve been meaning to try for ages, and we’re more frustrated with ourselves than ever.
This is Chef Diao over on Oldham Street in the NQ Quarter, and it might just be up there with our newest favourites in the entire city centre.
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Eponymously named after head chef Zhenwen Diao himself, whose CV spans more than three and a half decades working in fiery kitchens all over the world – and it shows.
He and his talented cooks aren’t just self-proclaimed ‘dim sum experts’; they’ve well and truly earned this title through consistently good albeit deceptively quiet trade over the course of nearly a decade now.
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Chef Diao is a master of everything from dumplings and hand-pulled noodles to traditional Cantonese specialities, more contemporary takes on Chinese classics and everything in between.
But besides a pretty feature wall and a nice bar, the interior is simple and straightforward – they just want to get you sat down at your table to enjoy the area in which they really shine: the scran.
Our order featured multiple recommendations from the extensive dim sum menu, one noodle main and one rice-based dish, as well as a smattering of other selections.
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Here’s a closer look at what arrived at the table.
The star of the show, for our money.Slightly rude looking, we know…(Credit: The Manc Eats)
What you’re looking at is not only an incredible selection of dumplings, gyozas, pork and prawn siu mai, among many other siu mai, but an incredible saucy and sizzling Cantonese steak dish, that incredible red rice paper number (top right), just to spotlight a few.
There were also these super flavourful boiled ribs over steaming white rice, which packed a lovely amount of succulent flavour when eaten off the bone with a touch of soy sauce; a very solid chow mein-style chicken dish centred around noodles with the perfect amount of chew.
Chef Diao‘s soup dumplings were a standout, too, done so soft and delicately, helping round off a wonderfully authentic spread of bamboo steamers and perfectly portioned plates.
Bringing a wealth of experience from his time in the likes of China and Vietnam, as well as the likes of local restaurants such as Ocean Treasure over in Middleton for a time, Chef Diao and his team opened back in 2021 and have gradually grown a loyal following.
This is not to say that they’re unheard of or that busy isn’t steady, by the way; they’ve certainly been on the radar among plenty of those more in the know, although it’s no way near as busy as it should be given the sheer quality and skill on show.
So if you’re looking for a new Chinese restaurant that can pull out all the stops in central Manchester, we urge you to give the understated but undeniably impressive Chef Diao a try.
Manchester newcomer Skof named Restaurant of the Year in prestigious awards
Daisy Jackson
Skof has just been named the best restaurant in England at the prestigious AA Awards, just 18 months after opening in Manchester.
The newcomer already has a dazzling collection of awards, having scooped a Michelin Star within its first year, and being named the Best New Restaurant at the Good Food Guide Awards (the Good Food Guide described Skof as being ‘as close to a perfect restaurant as you can get’).
And now Skof has won big at the 2025 Awards, winning the coveted AA Restaurant of the Year award at a ceremony in London last night.
It was also given three AA Rosettes.
Skof has been the first solo project from chef Tom Barnes, who cut his teeth at the three Michelin Star L’Enclume in the Lake District.
It opened last May in an old textile warehouse just a short stroll from Manchester Victoria.
Since then, it’s earned place in SquareMeal’s T100 for 2025 as the highest new entry at number eight, collected two accolades at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards, and was highlighted in Condé Nast Traveler’s Top New Restaurants 2024.
Tom said of the award: “This really is such a wonderful way to be recognised for what we do at Skof. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in such a short space of time.
“I’ve got an incredible team who are so dedicated, we work hard but we do it together. I’m also grateful for Manchester’s warm welcome, and for the guests who support us – we’re so lucky to now have both new diners and regulars coming through the doors.
“We will continue to push on from our amazing first year across all levels of the Skof experience, from dish development and drinks pairings, to the overall guest journey. There’s a lot of exciting things to come in the Skof story.”
Inside Nell’s MediaCity as local pizza legends open new site with karaoke and shuffleboard
Daisy Jackson
There’s a new Nell’s in town, this time over at MediaCity, serving up massive New York-style pizzas, karaoke, and shuffleboard.
The home-grown spot, brought to you by the team behind the Northern Quarter’s legendary Common bar, has branched out to Salford this week with a huge new pizzeria and bar.
They’re in a prime spot in MediaCity, with a wrap-around balcony terrace, three private karaoke booths, and even shuffleboard.
That’s in addition to the usual things that keep us all coming back to Nell’s time and time again, like those 22-inch pizzas, ice cream sandwiches, and a whopping great happy hour (£4.50 pints and £6 margs, Sunday to Friday 4–7pm, as well as £6 margs all day on Saturday).
The new Nell’s has views across MediaCity’s gardens and towards The Lowry and the Imperial War Museum, which you can enjoy either on the all-weather terrace or the funky, cosier inside.
As always, you can order Nell’s pizzas in 22-inch giants, or standard 14-inch pies, or just grab a huge slice from their smaller slice menu.
Wash that down with a tipple from their margarita menu, or a pint, and you’ve got yourself a formula that’s been winning hearts right across Greater Manchester.
This is the third stand-alone Nell’s site, joining Kampus and Altrincham, as well as taking over the kitchens at Common in the Northern Quarter and The Beagle in Chorlton.
Long may the expansion of the Nell’s empire continue.
A lovely sun-soaked spaceThe wrap-around terrace at Nell’sA spread of pizzas and cocktails at Nell’s MediaCityA 22-inch pizza at Nell’sA 22-inch pizza at Nell’sSlices and margs at Nell’s MediaCityCredit: The Manc Eats
Nell’s co-founder Jonny Heyes said: “We’ve been thinking about MediaCity for a long time, it’s such a great area and we’ve seen what brilliant operators like Kargo MKT have achieved, so when this space came up, we jumped on it!
“The venue is huge, which has given us the chance to really play with the experience.
“This idea of karaoke and shuffleboard accompanying our made-for-sharing pizzas and great cocktails feels like a natural next step for us as a brand.”
To celebrate its arrival at MediaCity, Nell’s is offering 50% off for an entire fortnight – booking is essential, and you can grab your table HERE.
Danny Jones -
23rd September 2025 
