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Reviewed: Manchester’s Top 5 Chinese Restaurants
One time, my friends and I were craving some chow mein, but with the plethora of Chinese restaurants in Manchester, we just couldn’t decide where to go! Needless to say, we ended up going to the nearest spot that’s made us feel so lo, mein.
Well, we didn’t want to go through that again—so if you’re looking for the city’s best spots that serve Chinese food, we’ve got you! We’ve put in the hard yards by rounding up the top spots that’ll wok your world!
1. One Plus Restaurant
Services: Chinese cuisine, barbecue, soups
Website: http://www.oneplusrestaurant.co.uk/
Address: 42 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 273 2888
Operating Hours:
Monday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Tuesday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Wednesday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Thursday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Friday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Saturday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Sunday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Trip Advisor Rating | 5 / 5 |
Google Reviews | 4.5 / 5 |
Total reviews | 4.2 / 5 |
Score consistency | 1 / 5 |
Menu Offerings | 5 / 5 |
Quality | 5 / 5 |
Variety | 5 / 5 |
Facilities | 4 / 5 |
Cleanliness | 4 / 5 |
Ambience | 4 / 5 |
Service | 5 / 5 |
Pricing(A higher score means better value) | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Wide range of offerings
- Has online bookings
- Offers vegan and vegetarian options
- Big portions
Cons
- Usually crowded
- Expensive for solo diners
One Plus Restaurant has earned a lot of recognition as one of the best places for Chinese cuisine around the city. This multi-floored restaurant is popular because of their many varied offerings, and this is exactly what caught our attention!
The basement level is all about their awesome rice and noodle bar, while the ground floor is where you’ll find those sizzling hotpot tables. And if you head up to the first floor, that’s where they’ve got the whole setup for Chinese barbecue and seafood delights.
Here’s the cherry on top: both the Hot Pot and Chinese BBQ sections run on a conveyor belt system, so customers can just sit back and enjoy without waiting around forever. They’re all about that smooth dining experience!
One thing we have to note though, is that the place does get a bit tight, considering that they’re pretty popular. So, it’s best to make reservations ahead of time to secure your spot.
On a brighter note, we can say that One Plus Restaurant’s prices are worth your hard-earned pound. Expect to shell out around anywhere from £30 to £50 per person – but given their hefty portions, we can say that it’s still a great deal if you’re sharing.
With this, we can truly say that our trip to One Plus Restaurant was a blast, and we’re totally down to splurge a little extra on those tasty treats every now and then.
2. Tattu
Services: Chinese cuisine, dumplings
Website: https://tattu.co.uk/
Address: 3 Hardman Square, Gartside St, Manchester M3 3EB, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +441618192060
Operating Hours:
Monday 12 PM–12 AM
Tuesday 12 PM–12 AM
Wednesday 12 PM–12 AM
Thursday 12 PM–12 AM
Friday 12 PM–1 AM
Saturday 12 PM–1 AM
Sunday 12 PM–12 AM
Trip Advisor Rating | 4.5 / 5 |
Google Reviews | 4.4 / 5 |
Total reviews | 4.2 / 5 |
Score consistency | 4 / 5 |
Menu Offerings | 5 / 5 |
Quality | 5 / 5 |
Variety | 5 / 5 |
Facilities | 4.5 / 5 |
Cleanliness | 5 / 5 |
Ambience | 4 / 5 |
Service | 5 / 5 |
Pricing(A higher score means better value) | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Authentic Chinese dishes
- Widely varied menu
- Great dining ambiance
Cons
- Expensive menu
- Requires reservations
Tattu is hands down one of Manchester’s top spots for fine dining, and it’s easy to see why! First of all, we love their setting. Think: upscale and modern and luxurious but with that undeniable oriental feel.
We especially love their fake cherry blossom tree in the middle, which they light up with pink lights. Try to get that spot for the best IG pics!
Before anything else, though, we must mention that their dishes are more expensive than the other establishments in the area.
For instance, their modern sharing plate costs £72.50, while their emperor sharing plate is £97.50, while their single-order plates range from £10.80 to £13.50. But, because of the hefty portions that they offer, we still think they’re worth the splurge.
We also noted that the place can get pretty crowded during peak hours too. So, set your expectations when visiting them during this time.
As for Tattu’s menu, we like how it’s seriously stacked. They have more options than your average Asian joint around the city, which is awesome when you’re dining with a crew with all sorts of tastes!
On that note, Tattu is perfect when you want to wow your mates with a fancy dinner, but it’s also clutch for those times when you just need a quick dim sum takeaway fix. They’ve got you covered for all occasions!
3. The Rice Bowl
Services: Chinese cuisine
Website: http://www.the-rice-bowl.com/
Address: 33A Cross St, Manchester M2 1NL, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 832 9033
Operating Hours:
Monday 12–10:30 PM
Tuesday 12–10:30 PM
Wednesday 12–10:30 PM
Thursday 12–10:30 PM
Friday 12–11 PM
Saturday 12–11 PM
Sunday 12–10:30 PM
Trip Advisor Rating | 4.5 / 5 |
Google Reviews | 4.4 / 5 |
Total reviews | 4.3 / 5 |
Score consistency | 2 / 5 |
Menu Offerings | 5 / 5 |
Quality | 5 / 5 |
Variety | 5 / 5 |
Facilities | 4.5 / 5 |
Cleanliness | 5 / 5 |
Ambience | 4 / 5 |
Service | 3 / 5 |
Pricing(A higher score means better value) | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Wide range of menu offerings
- Affordable
- Has online reservations
Cons
- Limited seating
- Inconsistent service levels
The Rice Bowl became one of our favourite spots for Chinese staples right after visiting them. We can’t resist going back, especially whenever we want a lot of veggie options.
What got us hooked right off the bat was their extensive menu that won’t break the bank. Their dim sum offerings range from £2.00 to £4.00, and we’re glad to say that the affordability doesn’t affect the fantastic taste!
Furthermore, we love how their chicken and beef offerings range from about £14.00 to £16.00. But, their shellfish is on the heftier side, starting at £28.00—but we think this is still quite a steal, considering the prices in other restaurants.
What disappointed us, though, was the cramped quarters at The Rice Bowl were a bit of a downer for us. The tables were snug, to say the least, which might not fly for everyone.
Additionally, there are some records of inconsistent service levels. While we had a decent experience, we’ve heard from some regulars that it can be hit or miss. We think that’s a biggie when it comes to making or breaking a meal.
Despite those little bumps, we still love The Rice Bowl for the authenticity and quality of their dishes. It’s no wonder why their regulars (ourselves included) keep coming back for more!
4. The Ivy Asia
Services: Asian cuisine, fine dining, brunch, cocktails
Website: https://theivyasia.com/
Address: 73 Cavendish St, Manchester M15 6BN, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 226 1776
Operating Hours:
Monday 12–10:30 PM
Tuesday 12–10:30 PM
Wednesday 12–10:30 PM
Thursday 12–10:30 PM
Friday 12–11 PM
Saturday 12–11 PM
Sunday 12–10 PM
Trip Advisor Rating | 4.5 / 5 |
Google Reviews | 4.4 / 5 |
Total reviews | 4.5 / 5 |
Score consistency | 5 / 5 |
Menu Offerings | 5 / 5 |
Quality | 5 / 5 |
Variety | 5 / 5 |
Facilities | 5 / 5 |
Cleanliness | 5 / 5 |
Ambience | 5 / 5 |
Service | 5 / 5 |
Pricing(A higher score means better value) | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Wide range of options
- Friendly and attentive staff
- Big portions
Cons
- Above average prices
- Requires reservations
As foodies who have been to tons of dining spots, we love it when establishments have Instagram-worthy interiors that elevate the dining experience. This is actually why The Ivy Asia made it onto our list!
From the moment we stepped in, we were taken in by the contemporary interiors that are perfectly accentuated by their signature jade-hued flooring, screaming “posh” in the best way. We love dining here on rainy days, by the way, because of the glass roof.
When it comes to their menu, what really wowed us from the get-go was the sheer variety. We’re talking about everything, from mouthwatering maki rolls to succulent wagyu steaks—there’s seriously something for everyone’s taste buds!
Additionally, we love that they offer set menus, and there’s even a vegetarian version. The range of options is fantastic if you and your mates have different preferences.
Given the above points, we weren’t surprised to find that their pricing leans towards the higher end, and a meal with them would average around £30 and £40.
But, considering their ambience and offerings, we still think they’re worth the splurge—especially for special occasions. Also, just a heads up: The Ivy Asia also requires reservations and rarely accepts walk-ins during their opening times.
Despite these minor issues, however, we still think they’re a solid contender if you’re searching for an elevated dining experience and fantastic Chinese food in Manchester.
5. Tai Wu
Services: Chinese cuisine, dim sum, set dinners, banquets
Website: https://www.taiwu.co.uk/
Address: 81-97 Upper Brook St, Manchester M13 9TX, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 273 2798
Operating Hours:
Monday 12–10 PM
Tuesday 12–10 PM
Wednesday 12–10 PM
Thursday 12–10 PM
Friday 12–10 PM
Saturday 12–10 PM
Sunday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Trip Advisor Rating | 5 / 5 |
Google Reviews | 4.3 / 5 |
Total reviews | 4.1 / 5 |
Score consistency | 3 / 5 |
Menu Offerings | 5 / 5 |
Quality | 5 / 5 |
Variety | 5 / 5 |
Facilities | 4 / 5 |
Cleanliness | 4 / 5 |
Ambience | 4 / 5 |
Service | 3 / 5 |
Pricing(A higher score means better value) | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Hefty portions
- Affordable
- Has function rooms for events
- Spacious dining space
- Wide range of Cantonese dishes
Cons
- Usually crowded
- Subpar service at peak hours
- Can get noisy
Tai Wu, on Upper Brook Street, is popular for their wide range of Cantonese dishes. That’s not all, though, because they’re also known for their fantastic function rooms with karaoke – but more on that later.
But it’s not just the variety of options we like here because we were impressed with the hefty portions in each order. Tai Wu’s dim sums are a crowd favourite (and award winners too) so we decided to give them a try.
We settled for prawn and chive dumplings, prawn balls, char siu bao, and glutinous rice steamed buns—and we weren’t disappointed! The char siu bao is a stand-out, as determined by our unanimous votes.
Additionally, we love that they’re on the more affordable side of the pricing spectrum. A meal will cost you around £20 to £30, which is a great deal!
What we’re a bit iffy about, though, is the overall ambience of the establishment. During our visit, we were quite distracted by the karaoke singing from their function rooms, which bleeds through the thin walls.
This might turn off some customers who want a quiet space to enjoy their meal. We also did a bit of digging and chatted with some regulars, and it seems like their service can be a bit hit or miss, especially during peak times.
Despite the mixed feedback, we still believe that the overall quality of Tai Wu’s dishes make them a worthwhile destination!