The past few years have seen an explosion of restaurants in Manchester, taking in cuisine from all over the world. Japanese restaurants have proved particularly popular, with sushi and teppanyaki-style food available in all corners of the city. The only problem is choosing where to go first. Fear not, we’ve done the hard work for you. Here are the best five Japanese restaurants in Manchester.
An intimate space, with a look, feel and soundtrack that brings that Tokyo-style backstreet cafe atmosphere to Manchester. The best Asian tasting menu in the city, and comes in at a remarkably pocket-friendly price point.
A smart, modern-looking space, all high windows and great lighting, with people popping in and out all day to grab something to eat, and when it comes to drink and food, the quality is sky-high.
KAJI is well known for its new-wave Japanese cuisine, thanks to one of the best sushi selections in the city, and Smith has done a fine job of merging his Ribble Valley nous with East Asian flavours.
Shoryu are clearly doing something right. It’s by far the busiest space in Piccadilly Gardens’ restaurant sector, with delightfully helpful staff and some of the most well-made -not to mention most mouth-watering – Japanese dishes in the North.
Sexy Fish brings high-glamour dining to Manchester, with bold Japanese flavours, surrealist art and a seriously showy interior.
The teppanyaki style of Japanese cooking has a chef using an iron griddle in front of diners, often performing theatrics to entertain the diners. This can be entertaining at times but runs the risk of detracting from the food itself. Teppanyaki’s aim is to bring this long-established style of cooking back to its more credible and sophisticated roots. And it works. The atmosphere is electric, every seat full of delighted diners. It’s far and away one of the most upbeat places in Manchester, with everyone full of the high spirits that only comes from being part of something special.
Yuzu don’t do sushi but they do raw fish and rice, just not wrapped up for you – here they serve sashimi donburi-style, with the seafood fanned out over a bowl of lightly dressed rice and shaved radish. The rest of the small menu focuses on simple Japanese classics – fried tofu, udon noodles, rice bowls – executed well, with minimum fuss and one or two specials to keep things interesting.
All neon lights and elegant design, with dedicated areas where the expert staff create sushi and some of the best cocktails in South Manchester. With just four options, the cocktail menu is small but each is touched by genius.
The kind of place you’ll head back to, again and again. The Pan-Asian menu is wide-ranging surprisingly affordable considering the city-centre location, connected to the ever-growing Great Northern Warehouse.
The summertime menu explores the parallels between Japan and Britain, combining intricate preparation with bold flavours from the local countryside and the UK seas.
Underbank is a new multi-storey bar, venue and kitchen for Stockport.
Stretford Mall has undergone a major transformation, turning a 60s shopping centre into a vibrant, community-led town centre. Led by Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works.
A beautifully styled multi-purpose venue, including cafe, bar, kitchen and more.
Tartuffe serve up top-notch rotisserie chicken and eye-catching small plates at their Side Street base.
Premium steak and cocktails in one of Manchester’s most striking venues.
Miru Mill is an event space and micro-factory based at Churchgate Mill in Stockport.
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The Centenary Gardens is a wonderful green space for the Old Trafford community to enjoy.
Museum of Illusions Manchester is part of the global Museum of Illusions Group, the largest and fastest-growing chain of private museums in the world.
Grand food hall with a superb outdoor space and a smart selection of in-house indie food traders
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Based at Nordie in Levenshulme, Soap Street Pizza put out the perfect pie: crispy base and inspired toppings.
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