It’s not often we go out of our way to hammer home just how staggering we found a restaurant, but after now losing track of the number of times that a member of our team has eaten at Momo Shop in Chorlton and come back near speechless, it deserves more than a review.
We regularly hold ourselves back and resist the urge to talk in superlatives wherever possible, especially because we worry we might be falling into the recency bias trap, but in this instance, we’re going to go out on a limb and fall on our hospitality sword. Well, this particular writer is…
It’s official: Momo Shop Nepali Street Food – for our money, anyway – is up there with one of THE best restaurants in Manchester right now.
And there are plenty of reasons why, not least of all because of the years of practice they have feeding increasingly discerning Manc diners under a different moniker.
Simple but charming – all the focus is on the foodAnd the food speaks for itselfSome of the most flavourful fillings you’ll find in ManchesterBusy any given night of the weekNo review (Credit: The Manc Eats/Momo Shop via Instagram)
If you don’t live in/frequent Chorlton, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that this gaff was a somewhat new addition to Chorlton, but in actual fact it’s been gradually growing a loyal and passionate following for more than seven years.
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This is because before the miniamlist rebrand that saw the walls stripped back, the exterior painted blue and cutesy little bits of artwork hung amidst that familiar and atmospheric festoon lighting, Momo Shop was once The Little Yeti.
Its former iteration boasted hundreds of glowing reviews in its own right, which already plated up plenty of stunning Nepalese food, but since switching primarily towards serving a menu primarily made up of momos (Tibetan-style fried dumplings hand-folded into various shapes) they’ve well and truly shone.
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Now approaching a full 12 months under the new name, the Nepali street food spot isn’t just one of a relatviely small handful considering how much great South Asian food there is across Greater Manchester, we’d wager it could be the very best representing that Alpine-Himalayan belt in our region.
Our latest visit was genuinely just as good as our first, second, third and so on – take your pick.
From the simply incredible deep fried pork dumplings and the deeply moorish butter sauce that goes with literally any momo filling, to the super traditional buffalo ones that are not only authentic but, come on, where else can you find such a unique meat in these parts? It’s some of the best food we’ve eaten.
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And we don’t just mean of late; Momo Shop might genuinely among of the nicest scran we’ve had in ages and it’s no exagerration to say that the first taste we enjoyed from many of these flavours have formed some of the strongest culinary memories we’ve created in quite a while.
It’s also worth nothing that it isn’t just one main snack-sized dish. The chow mein, keema noodles and cheesy chops are showstoppers themselves, and we’ve already booked in again for a 30th birthday celebration purely so we can try those lambs ribs and their take on a shashlick.
Nevertheless, we love the idea of the numerous configurations and concotions by pairing different dumplings and owner Niti Karki gave us some pro-tips of the best duos and even let us in on the trade secret of her go-to combo when she’s hungover. Legend.
Once again, at the risk of sounding too hyperbolic, odd moments have felt like core foodie memories on a par with our favourite all-time meals.
Personally, I’m glad to report that this isn’t just a review: consider this a declaration that Momo Shop has quickly become my favourite restaurant not just in Chorlton but in all of central Manchester, something I haven’t had since the heartbreaking closure of Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun in 2023.
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Plenty of varietyDamn straightNiti = absolute iconWe’ll keep your condiment secret forever, Niti…
There might be an element of the almost HakkaPo-esque style drawings, the colour palette and the carefully curated pop-punk, old school emo and post-hardcore playlist that’s over half a decade in the making that makes particualrly partial to this place
But before we wrap up this glorified love letter parading as a ‘review’, we also want to give a special nod to the charming staff and Niti’s mum, specficially, who was too modest to even let us share her picture, but whose wealth of wisdom, influence and experience has clearly inspired Momo Shop’s success.
Don’t be shy, Sue – the only thing more stylish than the food was you, girl. Pop off.
Put simply, we’ll be going back here as regularly as possible until we try every different momo + sauce variation there is, and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.
If you are in the mood for more dumpling excellence, by the way, you might want to check out the unassuming Northern Quarter gem that is Chef Diao.
Tiny shipping container Italian opens its own Northern Quarter deli
Daisy Jackson
A tiny Italian cafe that started life in a shipping container has opened its very own cafe and deli in the Northern Quarter.
Marleo, one of the most authentic Italian spots in Manchester, has transformed a unit on Oldham Street into a sunny yellow Sicilian cafe.
Here, you’ll find a counter stuffed with classic Sicilian street food, like perfect cone-shaped arancini, fresh focaccia sandwiches, and pizzette.
Maria and Leo are the couple behind this Northern Quarter newcomer (though you might already know them from Pollard Yard), and they want to create a space that echoes the magic of the Italian island.
You can order a coffee to drink at the counter, the true Italian way, with a cannoli or a cornetto pastry on the side.
There are vibrant salads to take away, along with all those doughy Italian delights to go.
But Marleo Little Sicily also has a small seating area tucked in the back, where a lemon tree climbs up the walls and traditional Testa di Moro peer out from the shelves.
A full spread of Sicilian treats from Marleo in ManchesterFresh focaccia sandwiches at MarleoPistachio and mortadella pizzetteMushroom aranciniMarleo Little Sicily in ManchesterThe full counter at Marleo Little Sicily
Highlights on the counter include Ravazzate, a soft Sicilian bread pun stuffed with homemade, slow-cooked meat and other fillings, like a classic Genovese.
There are also Cipolline, a homemade puff pastry treat packed with fillings like spinach and chilli, or pistachio and mortadella.
Leo has brought a dish from his hometown too – nfigghiulate is a traditional, rustic Italian pastry that’s wrapped around sausage and onion and fennel.
They’ve got a full range of arancini too, stuffed with ham and bechamel sauce, or creamy mushrooms and mozzarella.
Marleo Little Sicily will open its doors at 93 Oldham Street this week.
Stockport pub set to be brought back by local brewery
Danny Jones
A once popular pub in Stockport looks set to be brought back by a big regional brewery, more than two and a half years on from its closure.
The boozer in question is The Golden Hind in Offerton, with the most recent landlords having to bid goodbye to the Lisburne Lane location back in November 2023.
Since then, the sad sight has simply stood derelict on the corner of Marple Road, a main thoroughfare which connects the SK neighbourhood to the neighbouring town of the same name.
However, now it appears as though Manchester-born brewers and pub operators, Joseph Holt, are set to resurrect the local institution as part of a major redevelopment programme estimated to be worth North of £1 million.
CEO Richard Kershaw, along with directors Jane and Andrew Kershaw. (Credit: Joseph Holt Brewery)
Native pub chain and beer-makers ‘Joey Holts’, as they’re sometimes colloquially known, announced their purchase of the building last week.
With Jane and Andrew representing the sixth generation of the Holts to work for the well-established Manc publicans, the family-run business knows all about the importance of maintaining the important community aspect of suburban cornerstones like this.
Over 176 years old themselves, Joseph Holt has plenty of experience reviving venues like this – it was only back in October that they helped reboot the Horse and Jockey in Chorlton – and have stated their intention of helping fight the growing trend of pubs, bars and restaurants closing across the country.
The Golden Hind (which was formerly a Hungry Horse pub before its Greene King era) ceased trading after being open for well over half a century, and was heavily mourned at the time.
With regulars and Offertonians at large campaigning at the time to try and save the site, this will no doubt come as great news and some much-needed relief to many in and around the area, who spent some of their most important time socialising and building connections in their much-loved local hub.
We are yet to be given a clear timeline for the comeback, but you can already tell how motivated the new owners are to make this a success, not just for themselves, but for those who live nearby.
Aforementioned CEO, Richard Kershaw, said in a statement: “Joseph Holt is a brewery committed to putting pubs back into the heart of local communities. It is at the core of our ethos.
“Since we know they play such an important role not just as places to enjoy a drink, but as welcoming spaces to meet others, take part in social groups, and enjoy live events. All of which will be happening once again once we complete our redevelopment of The Golden Hind.
“That’s why we are investing over £1 million in a comprehensive and carefully considered redevelopment, creating a pub in the truest traditional sense — complete with open fireplaces, generous outdoor spaces, and comfortable, characterful furnishings.”
The Joey Holt boss went on to add: “We are a family business, and we really understand how people feel a deep social connection with their local pub. We hope our revival of the Golden Hind will once again make it a local magnet.
“This investment will also bring real benefits to the area – creating jobs and new opportunities, while giving the wider community a meaningful boost. We’re looking forward to getting started on this exciting new chapter for both the pub and the area.”
With another long-standing Stopfordian pub, which was also previously run by the same ownership group, having confirmed its closure late last month, could Joseph Holt be about to do something similar with another well-known watering hole?…
Danny Jones -
9th October 2025 
