Red Chilli, Portland Street
Creative TouristPassionately adored by many Mancunian foodies (and the first Manchester restaurant in ages not to get a slating from notoriously picky Observer food critic Jay Rayner), this Szechuan restaurant rules the culinary roost from an unprepossessing basement on Portland Street. But rest assured, the food is as stunning as the décor is not. We especially rate their green beans with pork and chilli, and fiery lamb hot pot, and their Beijing dumplings are the ultimate comfort food. There’s a second location near the university on Oxford Road.