The best Chinese restaurants in Manchester

Live Seafood, located in a vintage red-bricked building near Etihad Stadium, is a wholesale fishmonger retailer boasting a dining area for Chinese seafood dishes. Their extensive selection includes lobsters, green crabs, live wild fish, and more, with the venue housing a total of twelve tanks for live seafood. You can order fresh market-price seafood prepared as per your preference, alongside Chinese specialties like stir-fries and hot pots. There's a private room for formal occasions in addition to the bustling main dining area.

The original Manchester branch of Tattu is an extravagant and contemporary Chinese eatery and bar. Its luxurious setting is accentuated with botanical elements, mood lighting, and sophisticated decor. A lunch menu and a variety of tasting menus are available in addition to a seasonal à la carte menu featuring an array of small plates and rice and noodle dishes. You can complement your meal with one of Tattu's imaginative cocktails.

Featuring bare brick walls and an industrial-inspired interior, Blue Eyed Panda in Ancoats offers genuine Chinese fare, with options for both dining in and takeaway. This well-regarded Chinese restaurant's menu includes a selection of classic Cantonese and Szechuan dishes, along with dumplings, soups, rice and noodle dishes, among others. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are also available.

Since the early 1980s, the bright neon sign of Happy Seasons has been a familiar fixture in Manchester's Chinatown. This family-run Chinese eatery offers an extensive menu that encompasses the entire spectrum of Cantonese cooking, featuring items such as dumplings, soups, noodles, rice dishes, and barbecued delicacies. Despite its modest and unpretentious setting, the restaurant is regularly among the busiest ones in the area.

Sweet Mandarin represents a century-long legacy of culinary aspirations, handed down across three generations from grandmother to mother and now to three sisters. This acclaimed restaurant is noted for its warm, inviting atmosphere and homemade Cantonese fare, offering a variety of authentic Chinese dishes, including dim sum. It's particularly favoured by gluten-free and vegan patrons due to its strict no cross-contamination policy.

Pacifica Cantonese embellishes the traditional Chinese dining experience with contemporary flair in both its ambiance and culinary offerings. Featuring a stylish interior with chic lighting and a rooftop bar, the restaurant presents elegantly plated Cantonese cuisine with innovative touches. On Sundays, the whole family can enjoy Pacifica Cantonese's bottomless buffet.

With a history stretching back to 1960, The Rice Bowl is among the oldest Chinese restaurants in the city. Descend into the basement and an expansive subterranean dining space opens up, able to accommodate groups of various sizes, from intimate dates to family gatherings. The menu at this family-run eatery is broad and features a range of classic Chinese dishes, with the dim sum being a particular highlight.

PhatChows offers a relaxed ambiance where guests can enjoy British twists on Chinese street cuisine. Signature dishes include a bao bun that draws inspiration from the classic McDonald's Filet-o-Fish sandwich, and a unique crispy duck nachos creation, all rooted in the traditional family recipes of the founder. Patrons have the option to build their own comfort food basket, and bottomless brunch is available on weekends.

Pinwei Chinese Restaurant, situated in Manchester's Chinatown, offers genuine Chinese cuisine in a contemporary setting, enhanced by traditional decor like red Chinese lanterns. The extensive menu features standout dishes such as Beijing roasted duck, a variety of dim sum, and signature creations like the Pinwei chicken. This award-winning restaurant merges traditional Chinese hospitality with modern culinary touches to provide a complete dining experience.

Bathed in a warm red glow and adorned with Chinese clay statues, Little Yang Sing in Manchester's Chinatown presents an inviting setting for savouring classic Cantonese dishes. The restaurant caters to a variety of patrons, from casual diners to business gatherings, offering a range of Chinese favourites including dim sum, roast duck, noodles, and more. Additionally, it accommodates vegetarians with numerous options and can arrange an authentic Chinese banquet for larger parties.

Though unassuming in appearance and online presence, Blue Diamond Chinese Restaurant in Rochdale has been considered one of the top Chinese restaurants in the Manchester region for decades thanks to its warm ambience, familial service, and authentic cuisine. This modest local treasure offers classic favourites like duck pancakes and Mongolian beef alongside a variety of vegetarian choices. It's also an ideal spot for family meals.

Located at Lincoln Square in the city's centre, Wing's is a premier destination for Chinese fine dining in Manchester. The glass-fronted venue combines classical and contemporary cooking methods to create a modern Cantonese menu, including dumplings and vegetarian dishes. A curated wine list is available to go with the food as well. Don't be surprised if you bump into a famous footballer here either – Wing's is popular with players from both of Manchester's Premier League clubs.

Salt & Pepper, having initially made its mark on Manchester's pop-up scene, runs a compact, contemporary restaurant featuring booth seating and tiled floors. Its fusion of Eastern and Western culinary styles resonates with diners seeking a satisfying and comforting meal that is both unique and familiar. Chinese kebabs, build-your-own wraps, and mains such as sticky beef or salt & pepper steak are available at this easy-going joint, complemented by signature house sauces and sides like Szechuan chilli mayo or salt & pepper hash browns.

Occupying a classic brick building with an industrial-inspired interior, One+ spans three levels, each providing a distinct dining experience. On the ground floor, create your own hot pot by selecting from a conveyor belt assortment, delve into freshly-prepared noodle dishes in the basement, or experience the thrill of cooking Chinese BBQ and seafood specialities on a tableside grill on the first floor. Whichever option you opt for, you'll enjoy genuine Chinese tastes in a laid-back atmosphere.

Lizhi is an Asian dining establishment that offers a blend of Chinese and Thai cuisine, featuring an array of dishes from Chinese dim sum to satay skewers and various other regional specialties. Catering to diverse dietary preferences, the extensive menu includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices, along with set banquet menus. The restaurant's sophisticated ambiance is enhanced by plush seating, a visually striking floral wall, and a well-lit bar.

Hunan in Manchester prides itself on being the only restaurant in the North West where you can get authentic Hunanese (Xiang) cuisine from China, renowned for its spiciness. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, including traditional Hunan delicacies like Chairman Mao's Red Braised Pork and Braised Duck in Beer Sauce. The setting is modest yet welcoming, adorned with a vibrant mural.

When it comes to dim sum in Manchester, Chinatown regulars make a beeline for Mei Dim. Tucked away in a lively basement, the restaurant has a no-frills feel, with round tables and a practical, traditional setup. Widely regarded as one of the city's top dim sum destinations, the menu features delicate dumplings alongside a range of classic Cantonese favourites, full of authentic flavours.