Tampopo is something of a Manchester institution at this point – it’s been serving up vibrant and flavourful food from across South East Asia since 1997.
Over the last almost-three decades, the brand has brought everything from noodles and curries to street food and loaded fries to the city.
Tampopo has sprawled to new locations from its original spot on Albert Square, with other restaurants in Greater Manchester at the Corn Exchange and the Trafford Centre (as well as a couple of spots in London).
While the menu is ever-evolving, some things at Tampopo have never changed – fun, bright interiors, authentic ingredients, and dishes that pack a proper punch.
The restaurant has recently launched a brand new menu – called ‘Same same but different’ in a playful nod to the well-known Thai expression – that’s bringing back some classic dishes with a twist.
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Signature dishes include Yamato fillet steak, served medium rare and simply with fresh garlic, black pepper and sake; and Thai fried whole sea bream with fresh mango, Thai basil and oyster sauce.
Yamato fillet steakPad Thai with noodlesThai fried whole sea bream
There are familiar favourites from South East Asia like their take on pad Thai, where the silky noodles are encased in a thin omelette; Japanese chicken katsu; and a sharing platter piled with chicken satay, sticky wings, corn fritters, Bali pork belly, and kimchi and cucumber salad. Oh yes – and loaded curry fries to die for.
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Tampopo has a decent list of Asian small plates too, like a delicious and fresh Szechuan Soy pork belly served thinly sliced with cucumber, soy, garlic, chilli oil and spring onion.
Tampopo even does brunch, including a Thai-style omelette, bubble waffles with honey, chicken and bacon, a crispy avocado stack, bacon and egg roti, and a protein filled Bang Bang steak and eggs.
The independently-owned restaurant spent a year researching these new dishes, including research trips to Hong Kong, all to bring these modern Asian flavours to Manchester.
David Fox, Tampopo Co-Founder said: “The new Tampopo menu has been over 12 months in the making. It allows guests to interact with the menu in a way that is new and unique for us.
“Our small and large plate options make it easier to graze, share, taste more, stay longer. This is how many people like to eat in the East – food is at the heart of every interaction.
“We’ve taken inspiration from restaurants in some of the most exciting global cities in the world like Hong Kong and Bangkok.
“There’s an expression in Thailand ‘same same but different’ which is what this menu is – we’ve kept all the things everyone loves, it’s the same Tampopo but you can also experience us in a completely different way with this menu.
“We’ve worked hard to keep the prices affordable and to listen to the feedback of guests – this menu reflects the tastes of people in Manchester.
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“As an adopted Mancunian I feel that Manchester is a city that has its arms wide open – to new people and flavours and so we think this new menu will be welcomed.”
The new Tampopo menu is available now at its restaurants on Albert Square, The Corn Exchange, and The Trafford Centre. See more HERE.
Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
Daisy Jackson -
25th October 2024 
