“Malaysian food, it’s not like anything really.” That’s how Juliet Moo, a co-owner of Chinatown’s newest restaurant, Kaya, puts it to me when we sit down for a chat after dinner.
Having just worked my way through piles of fiery curried Laksa noodles, buttery jam toast, tea, eggs, fragrant rice, cucumber, and fried chicken, I want to know more.
The special thing about Malaysian food, she says, is how it takes influence from the country’s three main ethnic groups – Malay, Chinese and Indian.
“Because Malaysia is a multi racial country,” she explains, “our cuisines are unique in the sense that it’s like a combo of all these different cultures and ethnicities coming together and sharing flavours.”
Heat, I have already learnt, is a must. Even the national dish Nasi Lemak – a mellow sort of Malaysian ‘picky tea’ with coconut milk aromatic rice, cucumber slices, boiled egg, fried chicken, peanuts and salty morsels of dried anchovy – has a chilli-based sambal on hand to spice things up.
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Curried laksa noodlees with chicken, prawn and tofu at Kaya in Chinatown. / Image: The Manc Eats
Toast with Kaya pandan jam at Manchester’s new Malaysian restaurant. / Image: The Manc Eats
Kaya hasn’t yet been open a month, but Juliet says they have been ‘overwhelmed’ with the response to the new opening – admitting that they weren’t quite prepared for the number of people they would get coming through their doors.
Most of the flavours here are big and aromatic, with dishes using a lot of lemongrass and galangal, turmeric and other spices.
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That said, there is also a surprising amount of toast on the menu served with homemade Kaya jam and thick chunks of butter that could’ve well been laid on with a trowel.
Eggs come two ways – half-boiled with a little soy and pepper with strips for dipping, or hard-boiled and halved – whilst noodle and rice dishes comprise the bulk of the mains.
It is, as Juliet has already explained, a real mishmash of flavours. But it totally works, with Kaya already drawing in the crowds.
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“It was quite overwhelming to be honest, in the beginning, because we were not expecting this turnout,” she reveals.
“I guess a lot of people are obviously curious as to what Malaysian food is, so we had a lot of people coming in just to try, but we also had a lot of Malaysian coming in, just to, you know, because they feel like ‘oh cool, I can come here and eat the food from home.'”
Fiery laksa noodles at Kaya in Manchester. / Image: The Manc Eats
Kaya can be found on Faulker Street in Manchester’s Chinatown. Image: The Manc Eats
She also says they’ve already found it to be a balancing act with spice tolerance levels. Simply put, some English customers – myself included on this occasion – can’t always handle it.
I don’t know if I was having a bad day, because I’m usually into it when my lips start to tingle and my mouth feels like it’s on fire, but on this particular afternoon, I confess to finding the spicy curry laksa noodles a bit of a challenge.
Juliet laughs and tells me their Asian customers say the opposite – that it should be hotter. It doesn’t do my ego any good, but I suppose I’m not that surprised.
Her goal, she adds, is to make Kaya “as authentic as it can be, but at the same time introduce this type of food to locals.”
“I’m trying to find a balance, it’s been quite overwhelming, but it’s exciting to try new things, see people eat the food and we’re always improving, definitely, we want to make things better.”
Eggs are served as a starter half-boiled then mixed with soy sauce and black pepper with toast strips for dipping. / Image: The Manc Eats
A plate of chicken satay skewers with a chunky peanut dip, diced cucumber and red onion at Kaya. / Image: The Manc Eats
Whilst Malaysian cuisine has exploded in London, here in Manchester we’ve been slower to catch on – at least in the city centre.
For Juliet and her family, though, the lack of competition in town is a plus. They had previously tried opening a different style of restaurant a few years back, she tells me, that was a franchise and on a “very different scale altogether.”
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By comparison, Kaya – she adds – is “very small, but it’s a nice size to start.”
“My brother, Nicholas, my older brother. He’s been in Manchester for I think about thirteen years. So we’re all from Malaysia, so we’re all born and raised there, so he came here for school and he stayed on,” she says.
“So the fact that there’s not much Malaysian food in the city itself made us feel like there could be a chance, so we just went for it.”
It certainly makes a very welcome addition to Manchester city centre.
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Whether you’re already a diehard fan of Malaysian food, or you’re curious to experience something new, take it from me: Kaya is well worth a visit.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Eats
The best Mother’s Day deals in and around Manchester this year
Danny Jones
Mother’s Day is one of the most important days on the calendar at any point, not just in 2026, as it’s a reminder to thank our wonderful mums for everything they do for us all throughout the year.
Of course, you should be grateful for them every day, especially since they had the good sense to give birth to bring you to this part of the world, but we know life can get busy.
However, that’s exactly what Mothering Sunday is for: reminding them that you’d roll out the red carpet and shower them with praise and eternal gratitude 24/7, 365 if you could.
So, without further ado, please rifle through some of the best Mother’s Day freebies, deals and offers your mum can enjoy in and around Manchester this year.
The best Mother’s Day deals and offers in Manchester city centre and beyond | 2026
What is it:A stunning boutique hotel in the heart of Manchester city centre, which is home to a rooftop terrace, a hidden cinema, and a lovely British restaurant.
For their Mother’s Day Deal:They’ve launched a new Manchester-inspired afternoon tea (complete with Vimto macaron and a tribute to the chippy tea), and if you book in between 13 and 16 March, you’ll get an exclusive ESPA Beauty & Wellness Gift Bag to celebrate Mother’s Day. Find out more HERE.
NQ64
What is it:Manchester’s much-loved subterranean gaming bar, where the consoles and cocktails are as retro as each other.
Mother’s Day deal:They’re bringing back ‘Shorty Sundays’, which allows under-18s to visit for a whole family afternoon out gaming. It’s running from 11am until 3pm.
The Refuge
What is it:A beautiful, grand restaurant space located withinthe Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford Road, serving everything from eclectic small plates to hearty Sunday roasts.
For Mother’s Day:There’s a complimentary glass of fizz for mums dining on Sunday 15 March, alongside its Sunday roast menu.
You can always grab her some flowers on the way out, too. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The Head of Steam
What is it:Beloved group of largely Northern boozers, often found at train stations or in key central locations, including a relatively new NQ branch.
For Mother’s Day:A free glass of fizz for mums when you book in advance, available 9-15 March.
Pip at Treehouse Hotel
What is it:A creative new British restaurant from award-winning chef Mary-Ellen McTague, where the cooking is always comforting and seasonal.
The deal:Signature Sunday roasts will be served with a complimentary glass of fizz for mums. Bookings are live now.
The Ivy
What is it: Surely needs no introduction, this one – the huge three-storey restaurant and brasserie on the edge of Spinningfields that’s a firm favourite with the city’s more glamorous residents.
The deal:There’s a special Mother’s Day Breakfast on Sunday (complete with Champagne, truffled eggs and mini pastries), with a free bunch of tulips and a box of The Ivy Chocolate Truffles to take home for mums.
Dirty O’Sullivans
What is it:One of the city’s newer Irish bars, doing Sunday roast ‘cauldron’ feasts, pies, and (naturally) lots of Guinness. Perfect if your mum isn’t exactly a dainty afternoon tea type.
The deal:Mums eat free when dining with a group of four or more on Mother’s Day, plus she’ll get a free glass of prosecco.
Mum will be buzzing if you treat her to a proper posh one like this.
Fenix
What is it:A stunning and VERY glitzy Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in St John’s, with a bright Mykonos-inspired restaurant upstairs and smart cocktail bar downstairs.
The deal:All mums will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or ‘Lady Athena’ cocktail. Book your meal right HERE.
MAYA
What is it: A stylish Canal Street bar with a renovated basement restaurant, serving elegant food and drinks across a total of three floors – a growing Gay Village favourite.
The deal: A special Mothering Sunday ‘Evening With…’ event for one night only featuring Pianist Eden Binks and RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Viola. There’s also a Sunday Roast available to book from 12-5:30pm, as well as all mums and mother figures being entitled to a complimentary glass of Tattinger with food.
Federico
What is it: One of Manchester city centre’s most gorgeous new wine bars, serving signature cocktails, spritzes, house DJs and even live jazz in a low-lit setting over at Pall Mall.
The deal: Mother’s Day wine flight of three glasses of wine for £15 available on the Sunday only; the team will create a bespoke lineup based on each person’s tastes.
The Cut & Craft
One of the prettiest rooms you’ll ever eat in. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
What is it: Increasingly one of the best-known steak and seafood restaurants in the North, now serving up gourmet plates, champagne bottomless brunches and more from a beautiful old bank on Mosley St.
The deal: ‘Brunch in Bloom’ event, hosted in partnership with local florists, where guests will be welcomed with a bellini board on arrival and guided through creating their own personalised bouquet to take home, along with a brunch dish and goodie bag from Molton Brown. £60 per person, 10am–12pm.
Electric Shuffle
What is it: One of many places to play shuffleboard in the heart of Manchester, but also happens to be one of the coolest spots to do so, with party-friendly food and sharing platters, as well as a healthy supply of drinks.
The deal: Mothers are entitled to a free glass of Prosecco, and the first 100 mums to join the fun will receive a miniature bottle of Mermaid Pink Gin as a gift to take home. You can book now.
Carden Park
What is it: One of the most luxurious and relaxing leisure destinations in the North West, offering fine food and drink, spa and wellness services, as well as stunning views of the Cheshire countryside.
The deal: They’re doing an afternoon tea offer for £35pp, which can be upgraded to the sparkling version (Prosecco included) for £44, swapped for gin at £42.50, or an even more glam option of Bollinger champagne for £48.50. You can always book these as part of a full hotel stay.
What is it: A tried and tested Italian restaurant that never disappoints; great for a laid-back bite on your dinner break, with their popular lunchtime offer, and is even busier come the evenings. They also do great e-card options if you’re in a pinch.
The deal: A special ‘scented’ Sunday lunch, centred around a roast leg of lamb with all the trimmings (two courses for £40/three for £45); plus, mums get a glass of fizz included and are also invited to stay and design their own Jo Malone fragrance, as well as take home a personalised candle and engraving.
Stock Exchange Hotel
What is it: Well-known Mancunian hotel co-owned by former Man United legend turned businessman Gary Neville, which also boasts the Tender restaurant by Niall Keating in-house.
The deal: They’re offering a special afternoon tea for Mother’s Day 2026, with live performances by the one and only Hallé Orchestra. Prices starting from £40pp.
Zouk Bar and Grill
What is it: Some of the best Indian and Pakistani food not just in the city but maybe even Greater Manchester full stop, offering various deals year-round, from bottomless packages, breakfast and brunches, Sunday roast sharing platters and much more.
The deal: All mums get a free glass of fizz and a red velvet rose dessert for Mother’s Day bookings – worth it for that Sunday roast sharer platter we mentioned alone…
Chotto Matte
What is it: One of Manchester’s newest and swankiest hospitality venues, located inside Gary Neville’s St Michael’s tower, blending the flavours of Peru and Japan, a.k.a. ‘Nikkei’ cuisine.
The deal: They’re serving Peruvian Sunday roast for their Mother’s Day in the city this year, which includes a complimentary glass of prosecco and a special lip gloss for mum to take home (on a first-come, first-served basis).
The Lowry
What is it: Needs no introduction, really. One of the most famous hotels in the region, if not the entire country, and for good reason – it’s brilliant.
The deal: They’re doing an exclusive Mother’s Day brunch for £25, or £30 with sparkling wine; afternoon tea for £39 (or another tenner with booze once again), OR treat your queen to a full-on RE:TREAT spa day experience, priced at £145 during weekdays and £160 at weekends.
What is it: Similar to The Lowry, the Beetham Tower (and former Hilton) is one of the most famous hotels and parts of the Manchester skyline, and it has luxury food and drink offerings both way up high and in its AA-Rosette ground-floor restaurant.
The deal: They’re doing a bottomless lunch (two courses for £35 or three for £40) over the course of 90 mins, or you can make it a boozy one with rivers of Prosecco at £59.
Browns
What is it: A long-standing fine dining restaurant group, with Manc site on the corner of Brown Street and the top of King St, specialising in a wide range of brasserie dishes and British classics.
The deal: Mums get a complimentary glass of fizz for Mothering Sunday when purchasing any main from the à la carte menu; there’s also a special set Sunday roast menu (must put down a deposit to secure your booking).
Now, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but this is just a taster of what the city and some surrounding areas are offering for mums this year.
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If you do know of any particularly good ones we’ve missed, please feel free to drop them in the comments, and we’ll make sure to update this round-up with as many as we can.
Ferma: the new lovechild of Brewski, American Pies and Foldies
Danny Jones
The Brewski brand continues to be a Northern favourite, whether it be their mainline restaurant or now multiple spin-offs, but now they’re bringing yet another exciting addition to Manchester city centre in the form of Ferma.
Plastering the new signage across their Booth Street site (the original American Pies and then Foldies), it’s kind of a mix of all three, with a little sprinkle of Greggs thrown in there… Come on, who doesn’t love a Greggs?
And they have no qualms about leaning into another, more grab-and-go space either; Foldies always had a regular rush of people on their dinner break, but we imagine they’ll be even busier come lunch hour and beyond now.
In a world where it’s increasingly hard to find foodstuffs which nail that a true balance between filling, good-value for money and possible to eat on the move/without a knife and fork, Brewski’s Ferma ‘Pizza Bakery’ might have just struck gold.
They claim it’s the UK’s and maybe even ‘the world’s first’, at least when it comes to a place serving everything they already do as well as turning their pizza dough into the likes of sausage rolls, pasties, savoury muffins and more.
We’re not here to get into that debate; let the Italians and whoever else argue over that one, all we’ll say is that we were left very impressed and eager to try more.
Sampling one of their incredible ‘nduja sausage rolls, a cheese and marmite savoury muffin, as well as the fantastic ‘Cornish Calzone’ – and yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like – every bite was top notch.
The sweet section in particular, generously slathered in sauce and topped with juicy fresh fruit, feels perfectly moorish and still somehow simple enough that it doesn’t feel like too much of a middle finger to what passes for a dessert in Italy.
Once again, it’s worth reminding that this all revolves around their sensational pizza dough, to which they’ve now brought such a level of innovation that they might just start a new trend not just within the ten boroughs but beyond.
Brewski has always been good at experimenting with big and often crazy ideas, hence why their specials are legendary, and there are now several food and drink concepts that form part of the brand, but this one might just catch fire quicker than any of their other venues to date.
Manchester is a fast-paced city, and the market for this kind of scran is always going to be there; we’re just very impressed with how well they’ve nailed this pizza-centric approach. Oh, and you’ll be glad to hear that the already popular Foldies sandwiches and Dough2Go pies are still being served.
They’re also giving away 200 free items this coming Monday, 9 March, ahead of their official launch day to celebrate this next chapter.
Ferma: The Pizza Bakery fully opens next Wednesday (11 Mar), and these delights will be available to eat in or take away from 10am until 4pm. Catch you in the queue.
Georgina Pellant -
6th July 2023 
