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If you are visiting Manchester and are busy wandering the streets or in a rush, grab some of the best street food for an on-the-go snack, lunch, or dinner.
There are so many wonderful food spots in Manchester and with such a mix of cuisines there will be something to satisfy your tastebuds.
In recent years both street food stalls and grab-and-go food halls have been on the increase in Manchester.
The street food in Manchester is eclectic, there’s pizza, Thai food, vegan kebabs, Indian food and more.
Be sure to check out these 16 places for the most amazing street food in Manchester.
Mackie Mayor
Mackie Mayor is located within the 1858 Grade II Smithfield Market Hall in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
This indoor food venue is now home to some of Manchester’s best food vendors.
The venue is named after an old mayor of Manchester.
Whether you are visiting for breakfast, lunch, or dinner there’s plenty of great food to choose from.
You can choose to grab something and go or dine in on the ground floor or overlooking the food hall.
Some of the food and drinks vendors at Mackie Mayor include, Honest Crust Pizza, Blackjack Brewery, Brewtap, Tender Cow, Baohouse, Fin Fish Bar and Picos Tacos.
Whether you head to Mackie Mayor for a quick coffee or an Asian-inspired bite to eat, they’ve got you covered.
You can order your food from an app but if you want drinks from the bar you will need to go up and order.
A lively atmosphere and a beautiful location make this an excellent spot for street food in Manchester.
Northern Soul
Grilled cheese or cheese on toast is a classic British household favourite, but rarely is it found in an on-the-go environment.
Northern Soul is happy to help customers with their grilled cheese cravings.
Northern Soul was actually the first restaurant in the UK dedicated to grilled cheese.
They originally opened up on Church Street but have since opened on Tib Street and in City Square (with their van) as well.
Their Tib Street location is a side-of-the-road, order-at-the-hatch kind of space with outdoor and indoor seating.
This isn’t just your regular run-of-the-mill grilled cheese though; Northern Soul has put a gourmet twist on a timeless home comfort food.
Their grilled cheese comes with a variety of interesting flavours including tuna, BLT, double bacon, Chipotle mac ‘n’ cheese and smoky sausage and pepperoni.
Added extras like mozzarella sticks and fried pickles only add to satisfying those foodie cravings.
Vanoffee
The Vanoffee van is Manchester’s answer to great coffee on the go.
This ice cream-style truck services amazing coffee and mouth-watering doughnuts called doughnoffee “on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Heading to the Vanoffee web app is the best way to find the van and order.
Sign up for the website and when the van is close to your location, order from the website and pop outside to grab your coffee.
You can even set multiple favourite locations and then the Vanoffee van will find you!
If you try the coffee and really like it you can even arrange for the Vanoffee van to come to your school/office, party or even a festival.
You just cannot go wrong with a coffee shop that goes to you!
From Cocoa Cabana hot chocolate Biscoff or Nutella filled doughnuts or a classic coffee you’ll be in for a treat at Vanoffee.
Radcliffe Market
Radcliffe Market Hall is on Blackburn Street in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.
One of the best things about this street food in Manchester is that it’s a community owned and run market hall.
They are all about ethical and local foods and services, which makes you feel good at least.
This is a great place to visit with a group of friends or your family as you can all sit in the shared market hall but order from any of the vendors.
As well as food there is also a Market Bar selling beers, ciders, and spirits.
Some of the vendors at Radcliffe Market include Dough So Good, Soul Shack, House of Bun, Arigato and Yo Thai.
There’s Mexican food, pizza, spicy Punjabi cuisine, sushi, tempura and more. Be sure to save some room for some dessert from Cow Shed.
They may just serve the best cheesecake you have ever tasted!
Street Food Market at Piccadilly
The Street Food Market at Piccadilly Gardens is open between 11am and 5:30pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
There are around 20 stalls selling a variety of delicious food from all over the world. In addition to great food on Friday and Saturday, there is also a Street Crafts Market.
An eclectic range of international cuisines is what this street food market is all about.
They’ve got everything from Yorkshire pudding wraps, halloumi fries, dim sum, chow mein noodles, Caribbean delights, and Indian food. Many visitors’ favourite vendor is Burrito Express.
Head there for some of the most filled and juicy burritos imaginable. They also serve up plenty of sweet treats.
If you are searching for somewhere to eat with a group of friends this is an excellent choice as there’s so much variety.
Gone are the days of indecisiveness on the best restaurant to suit everyone’s food cravings.
My Thai
My Thai on John Dalton Street is an excellent option not just for Asian street food in Manchester but also vegetarian and vegan options.
This authentic Bangkok-inspired street food café strips back the dining experience and focuses on what’s most important…the food.
Though the food remains street style there are places to sit but it all feels open and as if you are sitting in someone’s mismatched home.
Plastic table clothes that are easy to clean and industrial metal cups give this place a cheap vibe (which isn’t a bad thing, everyone who has been to Asia knows cheap street food is better than a fancy restaurant).
Classics like spring rolls, steamed pork dumplings and Thai fish cakes feature on My Thai’s starter menu.
You can’t go wrong with simple main course dishes like the Tuk Tuk Fried Rice or the Chongkin Chow Mein.
Their Foodies Menu features Panang Braised Beef and dry or soup Sukiyaki.
Salt & Pepper
With almost immediate effect since its opening in 2019, Salt & Pepper has become an instant fan favourite.
Their dedicated following of foodie fanatics have elevated this place to new levels.
Its High Street location is a popular spot among city workers and weekend shoppers.
This is definitely one of the best places to get Asian street food in Manchester.
They serve up traditional Chinese takeaway dishes but with a modern twist.
From Salt & Pepper Hash Browns to Chicken Wings, Sticky Beef, Tofu, King Prawns and more the only issue with this street food venue is deciding what to eat.
Salt & Pepper pride themselves on catering for vegans, halal diets and vegetarians with their wide range of food items.
All their meat is halal, and they have Mock Chicken that vegans and vegetarians must try.
There are no bookings.
It’s a walk-in walk-out affair with the aim of serving your food quickly and to the highest of standards.
Greek Grill House
Greek food is perhaps one of the most underrated cuisines.
There can be nothing more filling and tantalising to the taste buds than a chip-filled gyro.
Greek Grill House is another excellent place for street food in Manchester. Located on Peter Street on Great Northern Square this food truck will satisfy those Greek food cravings.
They serve up gyros (or wraps) with chicken, pork, halloumi, or a mix of all three. They also serve the same fillings in boxes.
Whether you are on the go or just strolling around Manchester and suddenly get peckish, Greek Grill House is there to fill your stomach.
Just a mouthful of gyro will transport you to a previously visited Greek island (that is if you’re not experiencing a rainy day in Manchester).
Gerry’s – Chinese Pancake House
Head to Piccadilly Gardens for some of the best Asian street food in Manchester.
You would be forgiven for walking past this small somewhat unassuming food stall.
However, one clue that this is an excellent food spot is the line that is nearly always forming outside, especially at lunchtime.
You cannot head to Gerry’s without ordering jianbing which is a traditional Chinese street food that’s closest comparison is a savoury crepe.
If you are still sceptical then the Chinese students that visit daily must give some indication that this is a must-try spot.
One of the best things about ordering jianbing is watching them being made on the large crepe irons.
Not only do they serve delicious food, but it’s also reasonably priced which is great for those visiting Manchester on a budget.
Altrincham Market
Altrincham Market is one of the best places for street food in Greater Manchester.
The Altrincham Market is around a 45 minute drive from Manchester’s city centre. Altrincham itself was an old market town dating back to 1290.
At the weekend you can visit this indoor market for their themed events.
There are a host of regional food producers, as well as fashion, furniture, house and garden and craft items.
There are 10 independent food operators including Honest Crust, Tender Cow, and Wolfhouse Kitchen.
For craft beers head to Jack in the Box and for some of the best wines around visit Reserve Wines.
If you are visiting during peak times be sure to get there early to ensure a table as there are no reservations.
Hatch
The Hatch is on Oxford Road and is a pop-up food, retail and brewery space made mostly from reused containers.
This Hatch is open seven days a week. During the day up until 6pm all are welcome but come 9pm the place turns into an 18 and over lively venue.
Some of the food venues at the Hatch include Fuku, the perfect spot for Asian street food in Manchester.
Then there’s the mouth-watering Block Steak Shop which showcases locally reared beef that’s cooked to perfection.
Rio-Mex will satisfy your cravings for tacos, nachos and all the best parts of Brazilian cuisine.
There are sandwiches, Sicilian food at T’Arricrii and Herbivorous is the place to go to for vegan comfort food.
The Hatch is a modern and trendy place that’s ideal for a daytime or evening visit.
GRUB MCR
There’s a lot of good grub being served up at these street food spots but only one is named GRUB.
GRUB is right around the corner from Manchester Victoria train station.
GRUB always hosts independent small businesses that serve up some of the best quality food.
They have an extensive list of traders serving up main courses, snacks, and desserts.
Some of the vendors that started at GRUB and have now expanded to restaurants include Honest Crust Pizza, Wholesome Junkies and The Hip Hop Chip Shop.
Today, depending on the day and time of year you can expect to enjoy an eclectic range of food from traders like Bastards Bistro, Juke Burger, Korean Grub Club, Nina’s Taco Truck and What’s Your Beef. From burgers to waffles, meat to dumplings and Korean delights there are so many interesting offerings.
GRUB MCR is open between Wednesday and Friday from 5pm to 10pm and on Saturday from 12pm to 10pm and Sunday from 12pm to 6pm.
What The Pitta
What The Pitta is a Northern Quarter food joint that is the self-proclaimed home of the best vegan doner kebab!
They’ve also got a spot at the aforementioned Hatch which is under the Mancunian Way if you are headed in that direction.
Vegans and vegetarians will be happy knowing that the meat alternatives are top quality and meat eaters will be tempted to convert because of how good these pittas taste.
Not only is the food at What The Pitta health conscious but there’s a real environmentally friendly element.
They have a “Klimato calculator” which allows you to see the carbon footprint of their dishes and allows you to make an informed choice on the lowest carbon emission option.
From Greek-inspired Doner Gyros to Falafel Wraps and the Doner Mezze Box there’s plenty of good grub on the menu at What The Pitta.
Bundobust
For some of the best street food in Manchester for lovers of Indian dishes head to Bundobust.
Bundobust has a couple of locations across Manchester including Piccadilly and their brewery on Oxford Street.
Though the origins of Bundobust is street food their Oxford Street location is housed within the Grade II listed St James’ building.
With the ability to accommodate 150 people Bundobust has merged its street-style food with a dining experience.
Some of the delicious dishes on offer at Bundobust include the Vada Pav and iconic Indian veggie burger, the Paneer Tikka which is BBQ paneer marinated in tikka masala yoghurt and the Pav Bhaji, crushed potato, cauliflower, peas, garam masala served with toasted brioche.
You can choose to grab these delectable Indian dishes on the go or for even more enjoyment order a craft beer with your food at their on-site location.
Mowgli Street Food
So, Mowgli isn’t exactly food served on the street, it’s actually incredible Indian food served in a beautiful restaurant.
What allows Mowgli a space on this list of the best places to eat street food in Manchester is that former Barrister and owner Nisha wanted to bring authentic street and home-style Indian cooking to the streets of Manchester.
The food at Mowgli is vibrant and packed with an abundance of incredible flavours.
Maa’s Lamb Chops & Tumeric Chips showcase the restaurant’s aromatic flavours. The Mowgli Sticky Chicken is a real crowd pleaser too.
There are also a variety of rich and moreish curries to choose from.
The beautiful indoor decor at Mowgli makes this a fantastic place for a romantic date or just a place to satisfy those Indian food cravings.
Nell’s Pizza
Who doesn’t love pizza? For some of the best street food in Manchester head to Nell’s Pizza.
This pizza joint is on Edge Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter at a place called Common.
There are also branches at The Beagle in Chorlton in Greater Manchester and Nell’s New York Pizza & Bar.
Their New York-style pizza is top-class, a thin crunchy crust is what it’s all about. They serve up 14″ and 22″ pizzas.
As well as classics like the Margarita and Hawaiian there are also unique inventions like the Eat Your Greens which is covered in a roast garlic cream and smoked Lancashire cheese.
Or how about the Cheese & Onion Pie, burnt onion, Lancashire cheese, garlic, and chives perfect for vegetarians.
With vegan pizzas too there’s something for everyone at Nell’s.
You can eat inside or take your pizza and eat on the move.
The space at The Common is fresh and colourful chairs next to exposed brick walls give it a chic industrial feel.
FUN FACT: Nell’s pizza also made the headlines in 2022 because Lewis Capaldi came there and ate a full 22’’ pizza (the honey one) and paid the bill for the entire restaurant!
We hope this article has helped you learning more about the best street food spots in Manchester!
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