Asmara Bella

Ethiopian food is one of Manchester’s more prominent sub-Saharan cuisines, and Northern Quarter restaurant Asmara Bella is one of the most quietly respected of the lot. 

This Port Street venue serves up exciting food from the Horn of Africa in a simple, unshowy space. Think buzzy café rather than equity-funded chain-in-the-making. 

Now, I’m no expert on African art but the wall decor and artwork adds to this pleasing homespun feel. Both floors offer up a cheerful mishmash of styles, like you’d imagine round your mate’s house, if your mate lived in Addis Ababa. The dreaded Frasier Crane over-curation effect is absent. (A useful metric for identifying places backed by food-lovers, rather than trend-chasers and bean counters.)

Of course, it’s not just Ethiopian food, it’s Eritrean food too, which means some subtle Italian influences and a touch more seafood on the menu (Eritrea is coastal). For all those at the back who aren’t up on their late-20th century geopolitics, they were essentially the same country until the 1990s, meaning their dishes share many, many similarities. 

And if you’re all about the algorithm, the venue was used as a location in recent Netflix smash hit, Run Away, starring CT-fave Amy Gledhill. Episode 3 at 33:20 for all you trainspotters. 

The menu is relatively short – half a dozen starters, half a dozen lamb dishes, half a dozen vegan dishes, plus some beef and chicken options. But that doesn’t matter because the back page has those magic words “Our Special Platters”, written on it, in glorious Comic Sans. 

When in doubt, go for a platter. 

We choose the Mosob, so named after the handmade basket that the food arrives in. It’s under forty quid for two people – astonishing value for a sit down meal in Manchester in 2026. Oh, and there’s a drinks licence so you can swig your authentic Ethiopian beer while you eat. It’s slightly sweeter than most, and all the better for it. 

The mosob is designed for communal dining. It’s a big round dish, with a base layer of injera. It’s also Manchester’s best take on this spongy sourdough flatbread. Both texture and flavour can be described as ‘light’, and that’s important as it allows sauce and protein to take centre stage. 

These are the rules: rip a piece of bread off, scoop up some meat or veg, then scoff. No cutlery. It’s all very relaxed and merry, and even a bit messy, if you’re a fast-eating pig, like me. 

The flavours are strong, but not overpowering. It’s a meal that’s more about texture and mouthfeel. There’s real joy going from a bite of tender beef to a mouthful of timtimo (spiced lentils coated with spices and olive oil). The vegetables have a crunch when required, and the meat is soft but not too soft – it keeps its shape when it matters.

The all-meat platter even comes with a centrally-placed boiled egg, delightfully. It’s a key part of the derho (or doro wat), the chili-laden chicken stew, used to soak up oils, heat and flavours, and a grand treat for whoever gets to grab it first. 

It’s also right next door to Port Street Beerhouse. And if the image of a bearded graphic designer getting drunk on craft ale then popping next door for some affordable African cuisine doesn’t float your boat, then I’m afraid you’re in the wrong district, in the wrong city, on the wrong timeline.