London’s most popular ramen restaurant is teaming up with the chefs at New Wave Ramen in Mackie Mayor for a one-off takeover next week.
Kanada-Ya specialises in authentic Tonkotsu ramen and is generally considered one of the best of its kind in the capital.
First founded by Kanada Kazuhiro in Yukuhashi Japan back in 2009, the restaurant is known for its signature ramen bowl, which features a top-secret sauce imported from the original restaurant and hand-made by Mr. Kanada himself.
The signature tonkotsu ramen at Kanada-Ya features wood ear mushroom (kikurage), finely sliced spring onion, chashu pork belly, a sheet of nori, and firm but bouncy noodles / Image: instantonium
Based around an extremely time-consuming signature tonkatsu broth, the rest of the signature bowl here is built from wood ear mushroom (kikurage), finely sliced spring onion, chashu pork belly, a sheet of nori, and firm but bouncy noodles.
There’s also an option to add a hanjuku (soft boiled) egg to either dish for an additional £2.
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The dining event will run at Mackie Mayor across two days, with tickets to reserve a bowl priced at £10 each.
Dishes will also be available for walk-ins on the day, but it’s recommended you don’t chance it based on how popular New Wave Ramen’s previous takeovers have been.
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The restaurant offers whole host of delicious ramen bowls including a truffle bowl, but at the Manchester takeover there will be just two on offer: their signature Tonkotsu and Chicken Paitan / Image: Guan Cha
As well as their signature Tonkotsu ramen, Kanada-Ya will also be offering their signature Chicken Paitan ramen at the takeover with toppings like beni shoga (red pickled ginger), nori, sesame seeds and takana (pickled crunchy mustard leaf).
Ramen-making is definitely a marathon, not a sprint – but it’s the time-consuming preparations that set good bowls like Kanada-Ya’s above the rest.
“Myself and the team at Mackie Mayor are delighted to bring Kanada-Ya to Manchester,” said Philip Cook of New Wave Ramen about the upcoming takeover.
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“Their bowls are amongst those that first ignited my own passion for ramen, and an exciting U.K. ramen scene has grown alongside their own expansion over the last seven years. They have to be considered the originators, and our customers in Manchester are in for a real treat.”
Aaron Burgess-Smith of Kanada-Ya added: “New Wave Ramen has given us an incredible opportunity to share the ramen that we’ve been making for the past seven years in London with Manchester.
“Our broth is incredibly rich and overflowing with umami and I’m excited for Mancunians to finally experience it, too.”
With three sites in London to date and plans to open two more in the autumn, who knows – we might even be so lucky as to see one announced in Manchester later this year.
For now, though, this could be your only chance to try their bowls – so we recommend putting 11 and 12 August in your diaries immediately.
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Find Kanada-Ya popping up in the New Wave Ramen kitchen at Mackie Mayor next week. Grab your tickets here.
The Salmon of Knowledge pub is opening a second site in Didsbury
Danny Jones
A recent addition to the Manchester hospitality scene is building on its early success and opening up another Irish bar over in Didsbury.
Northern Quarter’s Salmon of Knowledge, which launched back in September 2024, is one of countless Irish pubs across Greater Manchester but only a handful in the vibrant district.
Having taken over the much-loved old PLY site – which sadly closed its doors last summer – they had a job on their hands to reach the same heights as the legendary late-night pizza and shuffleboard joint, but these first few months have clearly gone well enough to expand.
The increasingly popular watering hole which is one of the few places around here where you can get Murphy’s (at least in the city centre) is much more than just an Irish-themed venue: it delivers regular live music, sports on the box and great food from local brand, The Last Stop – and Didsbury is up next.
Irish favourite The Salmon of Knowledge’s sister bar comes to Didsbury later this year. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
The caption goes on to read: “Big news, Didsbury. You called and we answered. The Salmon of Knowledge is swimming upstream to bring our second site to YOU very soon!
“By popular demand, we are expanding to the suburbs, so get ready for live music, great food, live sports, and gallons of Guinness. You heard it here first… stay tuned!”
As well as a wide variety of beverages beyond the obviously stunning stouts, fans will be glad to hear the Salmon will be bringing The Last Stop’s talents with them.
From the aesthetic, prices and drinks selection to the reliable New York influences on the Heaton Chapel-based vendor’s menu, we’ve been pretty big fans of this place since minute one.
Manchester, pay attention: The Salmon of Knowledge has some wisdom to bestow upon you — mainly how to pour a proper Guinness and have a grand auld time. 🇮🇪☘️
Although they are yet to give any more information as to when we can expect The Salmon of Knowledge Didsbury to open at present, we do have an indication of where it will be popping up.
It has now been confirmed that they will be taking over the former Dockyard pub (which still has locations in Salford Quays and Spinningfields), meaning that it will sit in the heart of the busy Didsbury Village strip, which should prove great for footfall.
Just like the Stevenson Square spot, live music and sports will accompany Didsbury’s new Irish bar as well and if the phrase ‘gallons of Guinness’ doesn’t get you excited, we don’t know what will.
New pasta kitchen Soots Pasta opens at Altrincham Market
Daisy Jackson
A little piece of pasta paradise has landed at Altrincham Market and it’s got a secret you won’t believe.
Soots Pasta has taken on a spot in the covered market, where owners and co-founders Ellie Proudfoot and Ruth Duarte are hand-making fresh pasta dishes.
They’ve named this fantastic little kitchen after their cocker spaniel, Soots.
Signature dishes here include a satisfying swirl of thick ravioli, stuffed with ricotta and served on a bed of pumpkin puree and sage butter.
There’s also a vibrant green pesto tagliatelle, laced with basil, lemon and pistachio.
As for small plates, there’s freshly-made focaccia with three different butters, plus crunchy tomato arancini.
Soots Pasta is the first solo venture for Ellie, who used to work as a private chef as well as at restaurants around the region.
Soots Pasta in Altrincham Market. Credit: The Manc GroupSoots Pasta in Altrincham Market. Credit: The Manc Group
She’s taken her background – which includes culinary school in France – to create this modern European menu that takes inspiration from Italy.
What’s not immediately obvious, on reading the menu or eating it, is that everything on the Soots Pasta menu is entirely vegan – and they have gluten-free pasta available on request.
The pair hope that Altrincham Market will be a launchpad to them eventually opening their first restaurant, as it’s done for so many businesses that came before it.
Soots Pasta is on Pott Street in the covered market, and is open Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 14 January.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd August 2021 
