The Manc Eats’ weekly food & drink hit list feat. a Hulme institution and new MIF vegan pop-up
With everyone seemingly getting pinged to isolate by track and trace right now, it’s hard to keep on top of who’s open and who’s been forced to close again.
That said, we can pretty much assure you that all of these venues are raring to go this week and well worth a visit.
Notably, it seems like fried chicken is having a bit of a moment again – not that it ever went out of fashion (we all love good fried chicken, let’s be honest).
Chorlton welcomes a new spot called ZaxxFried opposite Morrison’s – run by a chap who’s reportedly spent his whole life watching his dad perfect the trade in Liverpool.
And in town, city centre favourite Kong’s Chicken Shop continues the hype from its new home on the waterside at KAMPUS (more on that later).
Elsewhere, in non-chicken related news, down at Cathedral Gardens Manchester International Festival is now in full swing, with a host of street food traders in tow.
Working in partnership with Eat Well MCR, some of the region’s finest chefs are appearing here over the next fortnight – with the likes of Eddie Shepherd, Lorcán Kan (Things Palace / formerly WTLGI) and Joseph Otway (Higher Ground) all popping up with various delights.
There’s also a new vegan spot to be discovered here, too.
Keep reading to discover more on that, as well as our other top picks for the week, below.
Proper Curry Goat at a real Hulme institution
Formerly known as Kim By The Sea, the newly revamped and rebranded Kim’s Kitchen is a must – whether you’re from Hulme or not.
A real love letter to its residents and neighbouring community, the food here is a mix of pub grub, proper northern dishes and more exotic global flavours like curry goat which reflect the area’s cultural diversity.
Look up to spot the artistic soundproofing on its ceiling, designed to resemble a birds-eye view of the old Hulme Crescents, and stay for the event programming – which draws in local artists from neighbouring arts hub NIAMOS for a mix of musical and spoken word entertainment.
Kim’s Kitchen is open now. Find it at 49 Old Birley St, Hulme, M15 5RF.
A new vegan pop-up at MIF’s Festival Square
Plant-based chef Dan Hope (of Firebird Hope) and Laura Oates are popping up at MIF with a new vegan offering called Stellar.
Founded by fellow chef Jason Andrew Wood, the new plant-based pop-up will be on Cathedral Gardens serving barbacoa sandwiches, falafel and mushroom burgers for just £8 – plus yuba sandos and fried tofu burgers.
Find Stellar Vegan at MIF’s Festival Square on Cathedral Gardens until July 18.
Detroit pizza in a former Warehouse depot
The team behind Detroit pizza spot Ramona is currently on track to complete the renovation of a former warehouse depot next door.
They’ll be moving their famed slices into the new unit this Thursday, ahead of planned second opening The Firehouse later this month – which will focus on wood-fired small plates and wild spirits like mezcal and cachaça.
The MOT station opens this Thursday 8 July – bookings being taken now via Ramona.
The fittest chicken sandwiches to grace the streets of Manchester
These hench chicken sandwiches from Kong’s Chicken Shop are the brainchild of CBRB bar manager Tom Potts and include an extra game-changing layer of fried chicken skin, or chicken ‘crackling’.
Using chicken thigh for the ultimate sandwich, this is brined for three hours, rolled in a secret spice mix then double-dredged for a crispier texture.
Kong’s also does wings, available dry or wet, and tater tots – all perfect to help keep you going as you work your way through the craft beers, natural wines and cocktails available at KAMPUS as part of Common’s (A Kind Of) Summer Beer Thing.
Find Kong’s Chicken Shop at KAMPUS as part of (A Kind Of) Summer Beer Thing until 1st August.
Feature image – Alwayslookingforbirds