The Manchester Arndale market has so much going on it’s easy to breeze through and miss out.
From fresh sashimi, big tilapia, strawberry grouper and shark, to local groceries and full butcher counters selling every cut of meat you can imagine, there’s so much to get stuck into here.
But in this piece, we’re here to talk about its street food offering – because this corner of the shopping centre has some real hidden gems you really need to try.
In recent years, the Arndale food market has welcomed some of Manchester’s most exciting and talented chefs, raising the bar for some of the more long-standing traders.
The result? A real mixed bag of street food offerings that far outstrip anything you can get at the food court.
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Of course, the events of the past year have brought some changes to the lineup. Favourites like Holy Crab, Blue Caribou, and Intoku are just a few to have upped sticks – but their spaces were quickly filled by some new arrivals.
Still, it’s one of the best places in the city to grab a quick and tasty lunch. Read on to get to grips with what’s what and work out what you’re trying first.
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Smoke Shed
American comfort food with a global twist. If you’re missing Blue Caribou’s poutine, Smoke Shed has their own popular version, loaded with bbq pulled, house-smoked brisket, smoked onion gravy and melting lumps of mozzarella (£6.50). On the burger front, the go-to order is the buttermilk fried chicken burger, but there are plenty of others to choose from.
Salt & Pepper
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Opened by artist Chloe Yung and her brother, Salt and Pepper is one of the market’s most popular stalls. The pair grew up working in their grandad’s Chinese takeaway and now they’ve opened their own – with a modern twist. From chicken strips and wings to shredded beef, king prawns and tofu, everything here gets the Cantonese salt and pepper treatment. Order yours with salt and pepper chips, jasmine rice or mini flatbreads.
Wholesome Junkies
The vegan (and gluten-free) go-to for dirty burger indulgence, Wholesome Junkies began life on BBC Two’s My Million Pound Menu in 2018. Three years later, it’s still going strong. Burgers and loaded tater tots are a strong pull here, but there’s also hot dogs, mac n’ cheese, corn dogs and plenty more sides to choose from. Finish it all off with a tempting chocolate biscoff cheesecake, if you’ve got room.
South Manny Flavas
The go-to here has to be the fried chicken, especially if you like it saucy. SMF has taken over Blue Caribou’s old spot, dishing up boxes of fried chicken, burgers, sandwiches and chips to the masses. Chicken and waffles is the house signature, but if you’re feeling something different we like the look of their Manny cheese steak, which puts a northern spin on the Philly classic.
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Dunkin Burgers specialise in double smash patties, served with a side of gravy / Image: Dunkin Burgers / Lucas Smith Photography
Dunkin Burgers
The clue’s in the name here: Think classic double smash patty burgers, served with a free pot of gravy for dunking. Opened by the guys behind Viet Shack, it’s a genius concept and definitely helping us get over the loss of Fusion Lab’s spectacular squid ink tacos. The OG burger is more than enough for us, but if you’re up for getting messy they get steadily bigger from hereon out.
Viet Shack
The Bahn mi is definitely a favourite of ours here and a great quick lunch order: filled quite traditionally with BBQ meat of your choice, pickled veg, pate and sriracha. When we ask what the most popular dish is we’re hit with a barrage of suggestions. Loaded fries come out as a strong contender (‘quack’, ‘crack’ and ‘shack’ are all on the menu) closely followed in second place by noodle dishes, surf n’ turf and crackling.
Just Natas
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With a trip to sample these Portugese custard tarts in their homeland most likely off the cards this summer, it’s good to know we’ve got our own dedicated stall in Manchester. From the team behind Federal Cafe, pastels are baked fresh here daily and start from £2. Do it right and opt for espresso to enjoy alongside.
At Piazza you can order your own DIY pasta boxes / Image: Piazza
Piazza
Swan Street’s brilliant sourdough pizzeria Ciaooo also has a pasta stall in the Arndale. Build your own box from a host of options and, if you eat cheese, definitely order a burrata on top. We’d recommend checking out their deep-fried pasta sides too. Their fried ravioli and lasagne pieces are a winner.
Wings Dai Pai Don
Alongside its tubs of classic Cantonese dishes, Wings has a big selection of steamed, fried and vegetable dim sum filled with everything from char sui to custard. The go-to order here, we’re told, is “anything spicy” – so if that’s your thing, you’ll want to opt for the Wings Szechuan beef or pork.
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Hansfords
Part bakery, part deli, Hansfords is one of the Arndale originals and in that time the offering has barely changed. In the bakery business for over a century, its counters are stuffed with pies, cakes, sausage rolls and cheese but it’s the sandwiches that have really got our attention. Opt for a Full English in a Vienna at breakfast, or try their legendary gravy-soaked carvery sandwiches for lunch.
Hong Thai
There’s usually a queue here but it’s well worth waiting as everything is cooked to order. A strong contender for Manchester’s favourite Arndale food stall, Hong Thai does delicious food at very generous portions. There’s a good selection of Thai curries on the ever-changing menu, alongside stir frys, Thai salads, and grilled specials like osaka teriyaki chicken served with rice. A must visit.
Hong Thai is one of the most popular stalls at the Arndale Food Market / Image: Hong Thai
Pancho’s Burritos
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Pancho’s first began life as a food stall at festivals, but now its Mexican chef Enrique Martinez and his Mancunian wife Colette are a fixture in the Arndale market. Their speciality is massive burritos (honestly, even the medium is too big for us), but they also do tacos, burritos, nachos, enchiladas and quesadillas. £6.80 gets you a medium chicken or pork wrap, with as many toppings as you like for free. Think cheese, guacamole. fresh chillies and charred sweetcorn, plus spicy house sauces like the vegan habanero XXX.
Zorbas
These Greek veterans of the food court have been around forever and do all the classics. Think wraps, gyros, stifado, salads and stuffed vine leaves, all turned around in a speedy enough window so you’re served before you can say tzatziki. There’s also a good selection of traditional mains like keftedes and lamb lentils on offer here. Gyro pittas start at £5.
Onje
The home of Afro-Carribbean meals in the Arndale, Onje was reportedly a favourite of former Manchester United player Odion Ighalo during his time at the club. Serving up fried chicken and fish, jerk chicken, curry goat and beef stew alongside jollof rice, patties, plantain, coleslaw and moinmoin, if you steer clear of the more expensive specials you’re looking at paying about £5 here for a very filling meal.
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Lotus food
This stall does it all: pizzas, wraps, stew, fish and rice. There are big shouty signs plastered on the counters, advertising lunch deals like rice with chicken leg stew and any 8″ pizza with fries for £5.50. Whilst we’re queueing, we notice one of the other stall holders asks their customer to move whilst he’s waiting because apparently the guys get cross if their signs get knocked. You’ve been warned.
Eat 2 Treat
This little stall is easy to overlook, but it’s worth paying a visit. Much like the stall itself, the menu here is also small but mighty. The counter here is loaded with giant golden fried pakoras and samosas, which can be ordered on their own or in a wrap.
Wraps cost between £2-3 pounds each, making this a tasty, filing option on a budget.
Market Point
Market Point is another stall trying to do it all. Our top pick would probably be the piri piri wings (£5.90), but if you’re a kebab fan they’ve also got a selection of kobides and sharwarmas here.
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Bollywood Dharba
Bollywood Dharba is one of the market’s longest standing residents, but has recently expanded its classic offering to include a street food selection. Now, you’ll find snacks like vada pavs, papri chaat and gol gappay alongside curry house favourites chicken tikka masala, chicken madras and lamb balti.
Cafe Greco Signature Baguette
At Cafe Greco the baguettes do look a bit pasty, but they’re very reasonably priced – starting at just £3 for a cheese and tomato sub. More exciting filling options include bolognese, meatballs and fried chicken. Make sure to get it toasted.
Micro Bar
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A favourite with Arndale food market’s more mature drinkers, you’ll find 2 German beers, 2 Belgian and two Beavertown keg ales constantly on draught here – alongside over 100 bottles and cans in the fridges. They’ve also just added cider on draught, with a choice of six now available. Bottles and cans can also be bought to take away.
One of Salt and Pepper’s most popular dishes: the infamous sticky chicken strips, served here with half rice half chips / Image: Salt and Pepper
Can It
The new, cool younger brother to Micro Bar, Can It is owned by the same team but sits on the other side of the food market near to Hong Thai. Packed with colourful cans of craft beer and with some beautiful selections on draught, you can sit in here and eat your meal from another food stall whilst enjoying a proper tipple. It’s very reasonably priced, too, considering the beers on offer.
Kokob Italian Cafe
Here at Kokob, Eritrean and Ethiopean food sits directly alongside Italian pastas. Think lamb, injera and vegetables. There’s also a scrambled egg dish on the menu that catches our eye. Pastas meanwhile include choices like pomodoro and funghi.
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HK UK
With a banner out front that proudly proclaims ‘we’re from Hong Kong’ this stall is not hard to miss, situated on the main walk through into the Arndale from High Street. Here you’ll find food and drink inspired by its owners’ travels with choices like bubble tea, milk foam tea and bubble waffles from £2.50 (cheese, chocolate or matcha) sitting side by side with £2 ice cream scoops and milkshakes.
Pancake Cafe
This stall carries a little bit of everything, but it’s all about the pancakes really – as the name suggests. Think classic crepes, filled with classics like lemon and sugar or white chocolate, salted caramel and Oreo.
Tokyo Tokyo
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This little Japanese street food stall has a massive menu, filled with dishes like katsu curry, spicy karaage with rice, suki yaki and spicy yakisoba noodles. All mains comes with a free drink, too, making this a brilliant lunchtime steal with dishes starting from £5.50.
Smoothielicious
With over 40 choices on the menu here, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed – so we asked their stall handler what the most popular choices were to get an idea of what to order. The favourites here are the Mango Tango, a mixture of mango and banana topped with pineapple juice, and the energy boost with strawberries, banana and coconut milk apparently. Everything here is also squeezed fresh daily for maximum flavour.
Featured image: Dunkin’ Burgers
Food & Drink
The best pasta places in and around Manchester
Danny Jones
Besides the all-season pizza, we would argue that pasta is arguably the pizza we will happily eat pretty much any time of you (god, the Italians really do have it cracked, don’t they?), so we thought it was about high time we put together a list of the best places to find it in and around Manchester.
That’s right, it’s time for another ‘listicle’, so buckle up and unbutton your pants.
Whether it be a city centre star or a beloved off-the-beaten-path favourite out in the boroughs, Greater Manchester as a whole really does do Italian restaurants well and pasta, specifically, if you ask.
From well-known names you’ve probably eaten at already yourselves, to hopefully a few hidden gems that have somehow flown under your radar, here is The Manc‘s round-up of the best pasta places the Manchester foodie scene has to offer.
The best places for pasta in the city centre
1. Lina Stores – St. John’s
Up first is one we’ve visited a fair few times since it landed here from London and really has taken to life up North rather well. Lina MCR, just opposite Spinningfields and just off Deansgate on Quay Street, is their first foray into our city and captures the same laid-back split between delicatessen and restaurant.
Actually, it’s even more than that; this place rolls cafe, bar and evening eatery all into one, serving up stunning pasta dishes, delectable desserts, a great wine selection and some seriously stunning starters, sides and small plates to boot – we’re thinking of the fried ricotta, specifically…
Onto number two, and not only one of the most popular Manchester pasta spots, but a place that has recently surpassed more than 10 years here in the city centre. To some of us, it seems like just yesterday that they first opened their doors, but they’ve been serving us for a good long while now.
The parents of nearby Noi Quattro, which sits just across the road in the Northern Quarter, Pasta Factory sits just on the corner around from Victoria, and their prawn-filled miso butter pasta with burrata is to die for. Better still, you can buy their various shapes, styles and sauces to take home on your way out.
3. Anatra – Exhibition
They say three is the magic number, so they must have been talking about Anatra, which is well and truly something special. Popping up in the increasingly enticing Exhibition food hall and bar over on Peter Street back in August 2025, they’ve made a great first impression.
Head chef Grant may be from Stoke, but he still knows all about serving up tasty and substantial food to Northerners fed up of getting home after a rainy day and warming up a ready meal. Think thick, handmade pasta with the perfect bite, with big flavours like saffron, burnt chilli and brown crab butter.
Credit: The Manc Group
4. Soots – Tib Street
For number four, we have nothing but praise for the purely plant-based excellence that is Soots Pasta, created by owners and co-founders Ellie Proudfoot and Ruth Duarte, who’ve quietly become not only one of the best pasta restaurants in town but one of the best vegan restaurants in Manchester, too.
Named after their dog and starting out life in Altrincham Market, they’ve become a real lovely hospitality story in what is an increasingly difficult sector. We can’t speak highly enough of how much we love these guys; in fact, so much so that you can read even more about this wonderful place down below.
Now, naturally, we couldn’t possibly right up a list of the best pasta places in Manchester city centre, the UK, or otherwise, without mentioning the social media sensation that is Onda, which on its day really does live up to the hype. At least it has every time we’ve managed to visit, anyway.
Starting out as an Ancoats pop-up over at New Cross, they quickly became famous for their viral ‘Tiramisu Drawer’, where they pull out giant scoops of the classic Italian dessert by the big spoonful. However, they are also known for VERY good pasta, such as their carbonara and vodka ‘nduja lamache.
From the new school to the old faithful, there aren’t many Italian restaurants that’ve been doing this in Manchester as long as Salvi’s has, and you could argue that they set many trends in motion decades before they ever took off. They’re part of the city’s dining heritage, as far as we’re concerned.
For instance, they’re still one of the places we remember doing a mozzarella bar, or offering customers the chance to buy authentic ingredients from ‘il Bel Paese‘, and if you’ve never sat down for a bowl of pasta in here, you haven’t lived basically. Hyperbole? Maybe, but the food is bloody good, that’s no lie.
Another new kid on the block that’s trying to carve out its own space in Manchester’s Italian food scene is one that we don’t just fully expect to do so, but would wager already has, even if it hasn’t only been in our neck of the woods for what feels like five minutes. Part of Big Mamma Group, Circolo is a juggernaut.
One of the most beautiful spaces we’ve ever stepped foot in – and no, that isn’t a slight exaggeration – the Italian restaurant sat at the foot of Gary Neville’s growing St. Michael’s skyscraper is a tribute to lemons and indulgence. It may have competition in Chotto Matte, but it’ll certainly handle itself.
From glitteringly gorgeous rooms to even more beautiful food, we’ve lost track of how many times someone has told us that their favourite restaurant in Manchester is The Sparrows Continental Pasta & Spätzle, to give them they’re rarely used full title.
And, to be honest, we wouldn’t disagree; even in all our years of eating incredible food in Manchester city centre and further afield, the Green Quarter spot offers some of the most unique takes on pasta noodles you’ll ever test, bringing in various global influences and some of the highest quality ingredients around.
Heading over to Ancoats, and it’s safe to say that the brilliant Bruco has some very big fans in the office over here, not to mention many more throughout the district and the Manc culinary community as a whole. This Italian spot still feels criminally unsung by the masses, but we’re big cheerleaders.
Striking that balance between bar and kitchen, they specialise in small plates and spritzes, but dishes like butternut squash gnocchi, minted lamb ragu pappardelle, fennel sausage orecchiette and slow-cooked short rib lasagne would stand out on the menu of any of the best pasta restaurants in Manchester.
Credit: The Manc
10. Italiana Fifty Five – Great Northern, Liverpool Road and Didsbury
And in a number 10, we have to give a special shout-out to one of the most reliable Italian restaurant groups in Manchester: Italiana Fifty Five, formerly known as Cibo, but still serving up solid pasta and more for some of the best prices you’ll find in the city centre.
They may have rebranded, but this small but accessible chain rarely disappoints, and it’s also worth noting that they regularly rotate deals and promotions to keep sitting down to eat good scran in town as affordably as possible. It’s important work, and we’re glad they take it seriously and are consistent, too.
Moving out of the city limits and towards the outskirts and various different areas that are each wrapped up in a scran-obsessed world of their own, we’re heading to the ever-charming Chorlton and that stretch of Barlow Moor Road that is long enough to offer up so many good places to eat and drink.
It’s possible that you know Lucky Mama’s best for their big pizzas, but of late, we’re becoming much more enamoured with their somewhat ridiculous but undeniably delicious pasta-filled pizza bowls. Yes, you heard us right, and yes, it is as fantastic and filling as it sounds. Here’s more carbs on carbs.
12. Ornella’s Kitchen – Denton (and MCR city centre)
Over to Tameside now and Ornella’s, which is also up there in the conversation for the most raved-about Italian restaurants and pasta spots in Greater Manchester; that’s not just our opinion, either, ask the hundreds of incredible five-star reviews they have online. And rightly so, we hasten to add.
Not too long ago, they opened up a second location in Freight Island, meaning we city folk don’t have to go too far to try their amazing food, but in all honesty, we’d travel miles and miles for this stuff. Take it from us, you simply cannot leave without trying the pistachio carbonara and the beef shin pappardelle.
Moving in the Bury direction now and over to the leafy suburb of Prestwich, how does eating some of the best Italian food you’ve probably ever had in this country in a rustic cafe, bar, pasticceria and restaurant in an unsuspecting old industrial estate? We’ll assume we have your attention…
It might sound rough and ready on the surface, but trust us, there’s no trade-off between style and substance; it’s one of the coolest places to eat in Greater Manchester and does some of the best pasta around, for our money. The amatriciana is unreal, and the fennel sausage one is also unbelievable.
Lupo Caffe Italiano is a taste of sunny Rome on a Prestwich industrial estate… and it MUST be one of Greater Manchester's most hidden gems in a very literal sense. 🍝😍
Our penultimate pick is another south Manchester outpost famous for fantastic restaurants, so it’s no surprise that they also have plenty of great Italians, too: Casa Italia being just one of them, but perhaps our favourite of the lot – at least in this Didsbury, anyway.
More of a chill deli with pretty stocks of produce lining the walls and a healthy counter packed full of goodies, both savoury and sweet, we’ve had many memorable meals in here, and it was actually one of the first places we tried a cannelloni. You always remember your first, and we always will.
Make sure to check out their digital store as well. (Credit: The Manc)
15. Little Scarfs – Stockport
Last but not least, please ignore the grammatical error: they don’t care about tense here, they’re just interested in serving you up really good plates of pasta, and they do; in fact, they might be some of the best you’ll find in Stockport, full stop.
A little birdie who recently moved to the town told us about this one, and all we’ll say is that there’s some just so wholesome about it from top to bottom. They also have one of the prettiest aesthetics we’ve come across of late – see for yourself, then go try the food and let us know how mint it was.
Popular Japanese restaurant Sticks’n’Sushi is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Sticks’n’Sushi is set to open in the North West for the first time, announcing a brand-new restaurant in Manchester.
It’s a Danish brand but a Japanese restaurant, with 16 sites nationwide so far proving its popularity.
Sticks’n’Sushi serves (as if you hadn’t guessed) a menu of sushi dishes as well as grilled meats served on sticks.
They’re set to take over the long-empty Iberica site, right in the heart of Spinningfields, creating 75 new jobs for the city in the process.
The two-storey restaurant space will accommodate 246 guests across a ground floor restaurant and mezzanine level, with a huge L-shaped outdoor terrace.
It’ll be designed by Berlin architects Diener & Diener, who will create a space that blends Japanese architectural influences with Scandinavian aesthetics.
Sticks’n’Sushi is founded by half-Japanese, half-Danish, brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek, and Thor Anderson in Copenhagen.
They have 12 restaurants in and around the Danish capital, as well as three in Berlin, and now Manchester is set to be the 17th UK site for Sticks’n’Sushi.
The menu will feature the brand’s signature sharing dishes of sushi, sashimi, salads and grilled sticks, available à la carte or in generous set menus.
Expect favourites like Ebi Bites (tempura shrimp with miso aioli, lime and chilli) and the Maki Maki selection of four signature rolls.
The sharing side of things includes a premium selection of build-your-own handrolls, maki and sticks, and classic Japanese grills like Shōyu Tebasaki (chicken wings marinated in garlic, ginger, tamari and soy), Gindara No Miso (miso-glazed black cod), and Aka Ebi (shrimp in gochujang and garlic butter).
The drinks menu showcases sake, Japanese teas, cocktails, premium spirits, and beer – including the brand’s own-label yuzu pale ale – alongside a concise wine selection.
Andreas Karlsson, SticksʹnʹSushi Group CEO, said: “Manchester is an important milestone in our UK growth strategy – it’s been on our radar for many years, and we’re delighted to have found the perfect space for us.
“Manchester is a city that celebrates creativity, culture and great food – and that’s exactly the kind of place where SticksʹnʹSushi belongs.
“We’re excited to create new jobs, meet our new neighbours, and introduce our unique blend of Danish design and Japanese dining to the city.”
Sticks’n’sushi is set to open in Spinningfields in Manchester next spring.
Georgina Pellant -
4th June 2021 
