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Top 10 BBQ Joints in Manchester Everyone Ends Up Obsessed With
Tender, charred, and flavourful. Three little words that hold more weight than the bone the meat slides off. It’s almost poetic for something that’s basically glorified fire and protein.
Dramatics aside, I’ve just been craving a tray piled with ribs and brisket. Grilled, slow-cooked, smoked—at this point, I’m not picky.
So my team and I did some digging and rounded up the best BBQ spots in Manchester. Read on to discover a spread of barbecue styles, from American to Brazilian to Korean.
Quarter House Beer & BBQ
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Address: 11 Stevenson Square
Contact details: For inquiries
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 12 PM – 12 AM
- Thursday: 12 PM – 1 AM
- Friday to Saturday: 12 PM – 2 AM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Pricing: ££
The cool thing about Quarter House Beer & BBQ is that it sits right in the Northern Quarter, a place that’s known for its bars, quirky shops, street art, and chill vibe. You can easily spot them, too, considering that their terrace is one of the largest in the NQ, and people are out dining.
For their main item, expect a smokehouse or street-food barbecue style that combines BBQ meats with creative flavours like Korean-glazed chicken and birria brisket tacos. And for those in groups, you can get the Smokehouse trays with things like meat, slaws, pickles, and sides.
They offer a decent lineup of drinks, too: offering 14 draught beers and ciders, and over 20 bottled/canned options. If you’re not big on beer, there’s also a selection of “easy-drink” cocktails and wine, so there’s something to choose from to match your preference.
| Pro tip: Consider timing your visit during their bottomless deal, which is usually on Fridays or weekend lunch. You’ll get a solid BBQ spread and 90 minutes of drinks, which is quite the steal. |
Pitmaster BBQ & Smokehouse
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Address: Pitmaster 31, Wilmslow Rd
Contact details: +44 7483 956934
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 12 PM – 11 PM
- Friday: 3 PM – 12 AM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 12 AM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 11 PM
Pricing: ££
You can get that American-style smokehouse BBQ at Pitmaster BBQ & Smokehouse, especially since they focus on low-and-slow smoked beef brisket, ribs, and burgers. It’s commendable that they stick to authentic charcoal or wood-smoking methods to build that deep smoky flavour.
The star of the show is probably the 16-hour smoked brisket, which you can even get sliced or pulled, and in a variety of sizes. You can also add loaded fries topped with pulled brisket and your choice of sauce, like nacho cheese, peppercorn, and of course, BBQ.
This joint is around the Rusholme area, which is slightly off the tourist radar or go-to spots, making it a great “local treat” spot. So, you’ll find a mixed crowd of casual meat lovers, families, groups of friends, and some lucky tourists.
| Pro tip: Use their QR code ordering system. Once you sit down, scan and order your mains and sides all at once to save time and make sure everything comes together. And try the loaded fries and brisket melt if you’re splitting a meal with someone. |
Bem Brasil Deansgate
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Address: 44 King St W
Contact details: +44 161 839 2525
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
Pricing: £££
Dining at Bem Brasil Deansgate is an experience in itself; it’s a traditional Brazilian churrascaria (rodizio), which basically means an all-you-can-eat style grilled meats carved at your table by passadores from skewers. You can get beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage.
With all the choices, you might even get a bit overwhelmed, but a nice introduction is their Picancha (cap of rump), which is their signature cut. And if you want to explore a bit, try the chicken hearts (Coracao de Frango), a Brazilian delicacy that’s small but flavourful.
But meat is not the only thing you can get; you can also try their desserts, like cheesecake with guava, sorbet, and caramel pudding. To complete the experience, they have a full bar with cocktails and Brazilian classics you can try.
| Pro tip: Pacing is important here, so you can start with lighter cuts or the salad bar first, then move on to the richer meats like Picancha or lamb. You can also try the cinnamon-grilled pineapple as a palate cleanser between meat rounds, too. |
Cane & Grain
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Address: 49, 51 Thomas St
Contact details: +44 161 839 7033
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12 PM – 2 AM
- Friday to Saturday: 12 PM – 3 AM
Pricing: ££
You can find Cane & Grain in the Northern Quarter, making it accessible by public transport and within walking distance from many of Manchester’s major areas. This place is spread over three floors, with each one having something different to offer, from speakeasy-style to rib joint.
They lean on the American-style barbecue, with meat smoked low and slow using their house dry rub, and finished with their house sauces. Their menu features classic ribs, wings, pulled beef, and other BBQ staples.
To dig right in, ordering their house bones tray is a good idea, it has half a rack of baby back ribs, 6 chicken wings, smoked pork links, and even sides like fries and cornbread. Drinks and cocktails are available, too—their bourbons and rums are worth trying.
| Pro tip: Given how this place is quite popular, if you want a quieter experience, try visiting on weekdays around 6 to 7 PM. You get full access to the food menu without the late-night bar crowd. |
The Blues Kitchen Manchester
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Address: 13 Quay St
Contact details: +44 161 823 6343
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Monday: 12 PM – 12 AM
- Tuesday to Wednesday: 12 PM – 1 AM
- Thursday: 12 PM – 1:30 AM
- Friday: 12 PM – 3 AM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 3 AM
Pricing: ££
If you want a side of live music with your meal, then The Blues Kitchen Manchester is a solid choice, especially if you’re exploring Manchester’s nightlife in the city centre. That said, it’s a place that easily draws both foodies and music lovers.
Don’t let the loud music fool your taste buds, though; their St. Louis Pork Ribs feature smoky, fall-off-the-bone ribs with BBQ sauce, pickles, and fries. They even have vegan options like Crack Tacos with roasted broccoli and BBQ sauce, perfect if you’re with someone who can’t eat meat.
Not to mention, this multi-storey building serves over 80 very strong bourbons, including those vintage and rare bottles, which can really turn up the night.
| Pro tip: They also have promos and deals. For instance, you can take advantage of the Sunday 2-for-1 burger deal, so go with a friend, share, and try different burgers without breaking the bank. Try to ask for the Texas Beef Brisket, as well. |
Old School BBQ
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Address: Alford St, Hollinwood, Chadderton, Oldham
Contact details: +44 161 682 5006
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 4 PM – 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 12 PM – 11 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Pricing: ££
Old School BBQ is a unique and quirky restaurant. Why? Well, it’s housed in an old American school bus with an outdoor space. So it has that offbeat “road-trip gem” vibe. On top of that, you can even catch live music and comedy nights.
This type of place really suits a group, so it’s a good idea to get their Pitmaster sharer—it’s a big tray with brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, sausage, and more. For your vegan friends, there are vegan options like their “Dirty Beyond” burger with vegan BBQ sauce.
Keep in mind, because it’s partially outdoors, the weather can easily affect your experience; colder days might make dining more brisk, even with heating.
| Pro tip: If you want to catch the live music, try to arrive early, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can grab a good seat, order your food, and settle before the show and rush starts. |
Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd
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Address: 33-35 Oxford St
Contact details: +44 161 236 4101
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 10 AM – 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 10 AM – 11:30 PM
Pricing: ££
You’re going to be surprised by Turtle Bay’s Caribbean BBQ approach; their jerk chicken is marinated for 24 hours in the classic blend of allspice, thyme, and scotch bonnet, then fire-grilled for that smoky-char flavour. One of the crowd-favourites is the Rum BBQ.
For something a bit diverse, their jerk platter is a feast of half jerk chicken, ribs, and jerk sausage, served with sides like rice and peas, slaw, and seasoned fries. They also have vegan and vegetarian options you can go through.
If you’re up for it, try their signature cocktails; they’re quite creative, such as Reggae Rum Punch, Koko Kolada, Side Chick martini, and more. You can try to go during happy hour to score 2-for-1 cocktails (mocktails).
| Pro tip: Give their Sunday Caribbean Roast a try; it features jerk top-side beef or pork belly with a spicy, island twist. |
One Plus Chinese Restaurant
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Address: 42 Charles St
Contact details: +44 161 273 2888
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 10 PM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Pricing: ££
You can probably tell by its name, One Plus Chinese Restaurant is an immersive experience since diners get their own charcoal grill built into the table, so you can grill meat and seafood yourself. This isn’t your typical BBQ joint, so don’t expect briskets and ribs.
The BBQ here is the act itself and not the typical dish you expect. That said, their BBQ menu is quite diverse, such as Chinese classics like lotus root, skewered vegetables, tofu strips, Chinese leek, and more.
Not to mention, because of its three-floor setup, you can go for other food trips if you still have room for more, like their hot pot or noodle bar.
| Pro tip: When grilling, you can start with the veggies and tofu; they cook quickly and give you more space and time before the meat hits the heat. |
Ban Di Bul Korean Restaurant
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Address: 77 Princess St
Contact details: +44 161 236 9733
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Pricing: ££
Now, Ban Di Bul Korean Restaurant also features tables with built-in grills so you can cook meat yourself. It’s great that their BBQ sets include various meats like beef ribs, marinated beef, pork belly, chicken, and more—but expect sliced or thin cuts, not big chunks of meat.
And while you’re here, you can also try other Korean dishes like bibimbap, seafood pancake, stews, and noodle bowls.
| Pro tip: Consider dropping by around lunchtime, you might catch their “lunch specials” like bulgogi and short rib, which are often better value than dinner BBQ. |
Knights BBQ
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Address: 181 Royce Rd
Contact details: +44 7455 000030
Operating hours: Thursday to Friday: 12 PM – 7 PM
Pricing: ££
Knights BBQ gives off that grassroots feel, especially since it’s tucked in the Hulme area.
It’s cool that they specialise in Caribbean-style BBQ, leaning towards Jamaican jerk traditions. Some of their must-tries include BBQ pulled beef and BBQ jerk quarter chicken.
They also serve other Caribbean staples like curried goat and chickpea curry.
| Pro tip: If you’re getting takeaway, go for one of their box meals; it gives you the best variety of meats and sides at a reasonable price. |
