Just when you think Greater Manchester has nailed the modern-day takeaway, along comes a new contender – and this time, they brought French tacos.
You’ll find French Taco’o down on Chapel Street, not far past Salford Central and the People’s History Museum.
You’ll also find a fast food dish so weighty Ryanair would probably charge you extra just to carry it onto the plane.
This is the home of the French taco, otherwise known as matelas, which translates as ‘mattress’.
What you’re essentially looking as is what you’d get if you mixed together a gyros, a doner kebab, and a burrito – which is exactly what you want to eat at the end of a night out, on a severe hangover, or when you just want to chow down on some comfort food.
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At French Taco’o, they load flour tortillas with a variety of fillings, including grilled chicken thighs, sheesh kebab, falafel and beef patties.
Then in goes Algerian sauce (a spicy, tangy, mayo-based sauce), mixed vegetables, cheese sauce, and – very importantly – French fries.
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French Taco’o is a Salford takeaway that specialises in French tacos. Credit: The Manc Group
The whole thing is then flattened and pressed like a panini before being handed over to change your life.
When you cut the French taco in half, the cross-section is giving mosaic tiles, but with pure spud instead of ceramics.
This brilliant takeaway also serves all your usual booze-soaking stuff, like burgers, pizzas and loaded fries.
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And it’s not just for late-night – these may be calorific fast food items, but they’re made from scratch with a lot of love.
French Taco’o is not the first French taco establishment in town – there’s also an Airstream caravan up on Oxford Road that specialises in them.
These Greater Manchester French tacos are like a cross between a doner kebab, burrito and gyros. Credit: The Manc GroupYou’ll find French Taco’o on Chapel Street in Salford. Credit: The Manc Group
Robbie Reviews commented: “So so so good here. And the lads who work here are fantastic!!”
Someone else wrote: “I stumbled into this place last year after a night out. The guy is such a nice bloke I’m made up that he’s getting some love from pages like this.”
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And someone else posted: “The best French taco thank you Cedric.”
French Taco’o might be the best and most filling £7.99 you can spend in Salford.
You can now have dinner in the actual dressing rooms at Co-op Live
Daisy Jackson
Co-op Live has now launched exclusive backstage dining experiences – which means you could be having dinner inside the very dressing rooms that have hosted music megastars.
These new groundbreaking new Backstage Private Dining experiences feature menus curated by Simon Rimmer.
This will be the first time that the arena’s most exclusive artist areas have been open to guests.
There’ll be 10 selected dates from May 2026, where ticket-holders can eat dinner in dressing rooms that were previously occupied by the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen.
Guests will be able to choose from several packages, from intimate receptions and private three-course dinners inside the dressing rooms, to lavish extras like a Bentley chauffeur-driven arrival, live entertainment, and extended backstage access.
The most premium package will also offer access to Co-op Live’s adidas Originals recording studio.
Proceeds from the Backstage Private Dining will go towards supporting Co-op Live’s official charity partner, the Co-op Foundation, which tackles inequality and supports communities across the UK.
Chef Simon Rimmer commented: “Having worked with Co-op Live for some time, it’s incredibly exciting to now be involved with this unique series of Backstage Private Dining.
“It’s a rare opportunity to further combine the world-class music venue with exceptional food, and I can’t wait to showcase how these experiences can come to life together, creating truly unforgettable evenings for our guests.”
Becci Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Live, said: “From day one, our ambition has been to challenge expectations of what an arena can deliver, and we’re now delighted to introduce a new dimension of premium hospitality at Co-op Live.
“This collaboration unlocks new creative potential within the venue, offering experiences that have not previously been possible. It reflects our commitment to innovation and meaningful impact within the communities we support.”
Designed and delivered in partnership with Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), Founder and CEO Liz Taylor said: “Opportunities like this are rare. Co-op Live is a venue built for scale, spectacle and ambition — and that’s exactly how we are approaching these events.
“Whether it’s an intimate milestone celebration or a brand hosting at the highest level, these will be immersive, one-night-only experiences designed to deliver real impact. We are proud to have been chosen to help shape this next chapter, bringing creativity, precision and bold thinking to a space that demands nothing less.”
Salford industrial estate bakery with incredible cinnamon rolls to open new site
Daisy Jackson
Mayya Bakery, a local ‘hidden gem’ with incredible cinnamon rolls, is set to open a brand-new bakery that will make it significantly less hidden.
Until now, Mayya has been quietly trading from an industrial estate in Salford, where it’s built a great reputation for its bakes despite an off-the-beaten-track-location and relatively little social media fanfare.
It opened its doors in 2024, operated by former primary school teacher Meli and her husband, dentist Oguz.
This is an artisan bakery with a real Turkish flare, with plenty of comfort food like freshly made gözleme (or gozzies for short) and bigger dishes if you fancy sitting in.
Their counters are stuffed with sweet bakes, like their perfect cinnamon rolls, plus loaves, babka, cookies, and homemade cheesecake.
For bigger dishes, you’ll find breakfast dishes like Turkish eggs, Simit (a traditional sesame bagel) breakfasts, and menemen.
The counters at Mayya Bakery’s current locationIncredible cheesecake at Mayya BakerySigns on Chapel Street Salford for the new Mayya Bakery
And now Mayya Bakery has revealed plans to open a new location in a much more prominent spot in town, with signs appearing in the windows of a unit on Chapel Street.
The sign reads: “Everything is homemade – including this picture.”
It also quips: “They called us hidden gem… not hidden anymore.”
Mayya will open on Chapel Street soon – keep an eye on our food and drink Instagram page The Manc Eats for the latest.
Daisy Jackson -
21st August 2024 
