Eats

Arndale Market favourite Hong Thai is opening a new Manchester restaurant after a devastating fire

Honestly, great news all round.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 23rd May 2024

Hong Thai – a firm favourite of all the traders in the Arndale Market – has finally found a new home after a devastating fire shuttered its first Manchester location.

The beloved Thai business now has its very own bricks and mortar restaurant just a short walk away from its original spot in town.

Now based on Oldham Road, a strip often referred to as Little Vietnam, Hong Thai is back with a vengeance and ready to open on Friday.

Their cosy new restaurant has been decorated in sunny yellow and colourful wall art, matching the sunny welcome that all diners are greeted with.

While it’s a brand new location, they’re sticking to the winning formula that gained them so many loyal fans in the Arndale.

That means huge portions at low prices, warm-hearted service, and vibrant dishes that will warm you from the inside out.

Thai and Hong Kong dishes and snacks start from just £3.50, and absolutely nothing on the menu will cost you more than £12.

Lilly and the team at Hong Thai
Lilly and the team at Hong Thai
Hong Thai's new home in Manchester is on Oldham Road
Hong Thai’s new home in Manchester is on Oldham Road

House favourites include their menu of hearty Thai curries, always packing just the right amount of heat and singing with fresh flavours.

Hong Kong beef buns have a satisfyingly crisp base from their meeting with the frying pan, but are soft and juicy inside.

There are classic stir-fries like a crispy chilli chicken, coated in a sticky orange sauce, and a Thai green curry packed with perfectly-cooked veggies.

A highlight is the Khao Soi, a northern Thai take on a laksa – it’s a gigantic bowl loaded to the brim with a coconut curry sauce, chicken balls, prawns, tofu and egg noodles.

Vegetable dumplings
Vegetable dumplings
Thai green curry
Thai green curry
Tricolour coconut and red bean ice
Tricolour coconut and red bean ice
Khao Soi from Hong Thai in Manchester
Khao Soi from Hong Thai
Soft beef buns
Soft beef buns

Posting about their new home in Manchester, Hong Thai wrote: “After a long six months of plenty of hard work, sweat and tears we are finally happy to announce that Hong Thai is back!

“Our doors open to the public on Friday 24th May. We know the anticipation has been high so we will do nothing other than fulfill our customers expectations.

“With a new-improved menu with our classics still making a feature, we are ready to serve up our heartwarming customers.

“Our new home is located in Ancoats, 140 Oldham Road. Across the road from Wing Yip Supermarket. Just a 6 minute walk from Shudehill Bus Station.”

We couldn’t be happier for them.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Popular noodle bar Chopstix to host ALL-NEW live music event in Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Much-loved noodle box eatery Chopstix are hosting an all-new series of live music events, with the first kicking off at one of Manchester’s most popular venues.

Chopstix has become a foodie’s favourite in the city centre with its combo boxes and now they’re about to win over the music lovers thanks to these brand-new live-performances.

The Asian restaurant chain is launching ‘Red Box Live’,a first-of-its-kind music event series taking place in some of the UK’s best independent music venues,, and it kicks off at one of the city’s most beloved music venues, YES.

These events will see a rising star headline slot, DJ’s, free drinks and of course, food, because it couldn’t be a Chopstix party without some of its iconic flavour-packed boxes.

Chopstix are known for serving up flavoursome feasts in their combo boxes.
Chopstix is known for serving up flavoursome feasts in their combo boxes.
The Asian restaurant chain has chosen YES as the first spot for their 'Red Box Live' event.
The Asian restaurant chain has chosen YES as the first spot for their ‘Red Box Live’ event.
Credit: Supplied

Indie-pop artist Liang Lawrence is claiming the first headline spot and she’s definitely no stranger at frequenting some of the most famed stages in the country, having recently performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sefton Park on the BBC Introducing stage, following in the footsteps of Manc rap-talent Aitch.

The ‘Red Box Live’ music events build from the eatery’s previous music-focused series ‘Red Box Sessions’ which saw acts like Flames Collective and Grace Davies (X-Factor) in intimate studio sessions.

Rob Burns, Marketing Director for Chopstix, said: The launch of our brand new Red Box Live event series is incredibly exciting.”We’re bringing big, bold flavour and raw music talent together – serving up an unbeatable combo for our flavour craving crowd right here in Manchester.”

“We’re bringing BIG, BOLD flavour and raw music talent together – serving up an unbeatable combo for our Flavour Craving crowd right here in Manchester.”

Liang Lawrence will be performing at 'Red Box Live' organised by Chopstix.
Liang Lawrence will be performing at ‘Red Box Live’ organised by Chopstix.
There will be free food and live music at this exclusive event.
There will be free food and live music at this exclusive event.
Credit: Supplied

The first ‘Red Box Live’ is taking place on 16 July with a headline performance from Liang Lawrence at YES in Manchester. Doors open from 7pm with a DJ set, and tickets are available to win for free on Chopstix’s website.

Read more:

If you want to get in on the ultimate mix of banging beats and bold eats, you can enter our FREE ticket draw to win your way in HERE.

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

Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)

Eats

Kala announces closure after more than half a decade in Manchester city centre

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Another hit for the Manchester hospitality sector as city centre cult favourite Kala has announced it has closed with immediate effect.

The Manc bistro, beloved for putting a contemporary slant on British and French classics, was opened by restaurateur Gary Usher back in 2021, receiving plenty of positive press over the years.

Perhaps the most notable bit of praise it received was from renowned food writer Jay Rayner, who said it “quietly feeds you well”. But that was part of the problem: it was too quiet, unfortunately.

Announcing the shutdown on Tuesday evening (24 June), Usher shared an extended statement on social media, explaining the details behind the decision – but there was one, clear, overriding reason.

Confirming the news on Instagram, the chef-owner wrote: “Gary Usher here.. It’s with a heavy heart that I announce the immediate closure of Kala. I’m not really sure how to explain why we’ve closed other than we weren’t busy enough to cover our costs.

“I really really want to blame the economy and the pandemic. I really want to say the rising costs have made it impossible. All those factors haven’t helped, but we are 50% down in trade at Kala, and that is the killer.”

This isn’t the first of the St Albans-born chef’s locations to close either, as his Burnt Truffle venue on the Wirral also shut back in January.

Nevertheless, Kala’s reputation has remained strong throughout, boasting one of the best elevated albeit accessible evening and lunch deals in the city centre, not to mention at very reasonable prices.

Moreover, they were famed for their stunning Sunday dinners, with Sacha Lord dubbing them the best roasts in Manchester he’s had “in ages.”

Sacha Lord hails Manchester restaurant for serving up ‘the best Sunday roast’ he’s had ‘in ages’
That perfectly blushed beef was incredible.

Usher goes on to add: “It goes without saying our business rates [are] increasing substantially, and the hike in NIC [national insurance] contributions only works against us. This was not planned, but neither was us being this quiet in June. All the Kala team will be paid up to date, our rent & suppliers too.

“If you have a voucher with us, as always, it can be used in the wider group. It was always a dream to have a restaurant on King Street in Manchester. I just wish it had lasted longer than 6 years.

“Thank you to all the team past & present & I’m so sorry to all of you and all the guests that I couldn’t create something with longevity.

“Please come and visit us in Didsbury at Hispi where it will be our pleasure to welcome you. Farewell, King Street. Farewell Kala. Gary.”

Kala closing marks yet another local business we’re gutted to see go, as it was only earlier this month that we had to bid goodbye to both Medlock Canteen and Indian street food spot, Rola Wala, which closed on Monday.

Safe to say it’s been a gutting few days for local food and drink.

With that being said, please do support the Elite Group’s remaining restaurants where you can, which include the aforementioned Hispi, The Sticky Walnut in Chester, The White Horse in the Cheshire village of Churton, as well as Wreck in Liverpool.

All we can say is thanks for the memories and the brilliant food.

Inside Gary Usher’s cosy new village boozer The White Horse at Churton
Kala may be closed but this nearby gem is still well worth the trip.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

More Eats

Eats

First look at Zaap Thai as popular Thai street food restaurant opens in Manchester

Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester

Eats

Indian street food spot serving foot-long naan wraps announces closure

New Highballer bar Stockport opens

Eats

Highballer – Stockport’s new bar from the brains behind Cherry Jam

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches