Greater Manchester, Indian - Restaurant Guide

Nisha Katona’s Liverpool-based operation has two branches in London (Charlotte Street and Westfield Stratford) offering her “very tasty” Indian street food – “with the occasional hint of raw spice”. The Lancashire-born former barrister launched the business in 2014 and now has 28 outlets around the country, whose “enjoyable, authentic food” is “really great for a chain”.

“It is what it is…” – namely “a canteen, so service and ambience are minimal” – but the “unimpeachable home-style curries” at this Northern Quarter veteran remain “the best bargain in Manchester city centre”. Their famous ‘rice and three veg’ deal racks in at an absurdly cheap £6, rising only slightly if you add meat. Watch out for the odd celeb among the social media set which likes to frequent it.

“You feel alive in the good, bustling, noisy atmosphere” of this “deservedly popular”, retro Bombay-inspired Indian: part of the phenomenally successful, national – and soon-to-be international chain – which was sold to part of LVMH in August 2025 for £300million. Like its older London siblings the site is key to its success – here it’s a grand, grade II listed former Freemasons’ Hall. “Personable service helps make any mistakes more forgivable” and the “fantastic”, “really tasty dishes” are “that bit different” and “come out quickly”. Even though it’s part of a chain, it provides an experience thought worthy of a trip (“Unfortunately the wilds of Cumbria are not great for Indian food… so the dreaded trek to Manchester is the only option… just wish it was a bit nearer”!)

2022 Review: A curry house like no other, with the all-vegan dishes named after Smiths' songs; superfan Max Paley founded it as a delivery service from a kitchen inside the Retro music venue (address listed; sit-in dining planned for post-lockdown). Dishes include Girlfriend In A Korma and How Saag Is Now?.

Nisha Katona’s Liverpool-based operation has two branches in London (Charlotte Street and Westfield Stratford) offering her “very tasty” Indian street food – “with the occasional hint of raw spice”. The Lancashire-born former barrister launched the business in 2014 and now has 28 outlets around the country, whose “enjoyable, authentic food” is “really great for a chain”.

Opened in April 2025, this much-glazed 1980s landmark has, in its time, served as the HQ of the Co-operative Bank, and was converted following a £1.5million refurb into a new Indian restaurant with three banqueting suites accommodating 1,250 people plus a 400-seater restaurant. It opened too late for any survey feedback, but in his June 2025 review, The FT’s Jay Rayner was forced to rethink his prejudice against buffets (the menu format here, at £29.99 per person). “The aesthetic is classy cruise ship” and a buffet counter “so long you could run time trials down it” with 100 different dishes to a mainly British Asian crowd: the warming lights are not kind to poppadoms, but the fried items – chicken wings and samosas – turn over so fast they don’t have a chance to go soggy, while the “startling array of curries actually benefit from sitting on a gentle simmer”.