The best curry restaurants in Manchester

Widely credited with inventing rice and three, This & That is an essential for curry lovers in Manchester. This low-key and budget-friendly eatery is family-run and offers a concise selection of homemade curries, with different options on the menu every day. Vegetarian choices are always available too, served in a bustling and casual environment.

The Original Third Eye in Didsbury is regarded as one of Manchester's best curry houses; it specialises in Indian and Nepalese recipes. Famous faces are often spotted eating here, and it's even been ranked one of the best curry spots in the country. In a simple and bright setting, diners can savour a wide array of different curries.

Located in a Northern Quarter side street, Café Marhaba has an unchanged retro appearance and serves honest and affordable Pakistani and North Indian food. More than 20 traditional curries are on the menu here, with most of them available in rice and three. The food is homemade, halal-friendly, and brimming with rich flavour.

Samsi is the place to go for a Japanese katsu curry. A wide array of Japanese dishes are on the menu, and curry lovers can try a traditional recipe with pork, chicken, or mixed vegetables. This spot has been serving Japanese food for over 20 years and boasts a spacious dining area enhanced with cherry blossom.

Thailand is known for its aromatic and flavourful curries, and you can get one in Manchester at Try Thai. Several traditional curries at different spice levels are on offer, with various meat, fish, and vegetarian ingredients. The restaurant is bright and modern, with a traditional canopy over the bar.

At Al Maidah you can gorge yourself on Indian and Pakistani cuisine. This buffet restaurant offers over 100 dishes to try, including a variety of different curries, plus starters, breads, and side dishes. The food is 100% halal, and the setting is spacious and refined. Takeaways are available, and the venue is also a popular choice for weddings.

Al Faisal Tandoori sits in the Northern Quarter and serves vibrant Pakistani and Indian food. Various authentic curries are on the menu here, including classics like jalfrezi and balti. Kebabs, biryani, and some Western dishes are served here as well. This friendly restaurant has a colourful dining area but also serves takeaway meals.

Located in Manchester's Curry Mile, Mughli Charcoal Pit is a top choice for curries and Indian street food. This popular restaurant is decorated with natural colours and bright Bollywood posters. The menu includes vegetarian and meat curries, as well as creative options like Punjabi poutine. Dishes are served tapas-style, brought out whenever they're ready.

Sangam is present in a few areas of Manchester and is named after a famous Bollywood film. Each well-appointed restaurant is decorated with flair and its own unique style. Fresh and seasonal food is available here, with the set menus including a variety of delicious curries from mild kormas to fiery Jalali.

Serving an entirely vegan menu, Little Aladdin in the Northern Quarter is a bustling spot for an Indian meal. This long-established restaurant serves a variety of different veggie curries but has other options too like biryani, falafel, and burgers. The curries are free from nuts and gluten and served in a compact and buzzing setting.

Vegetarian diners who want a curry will find what they're looking for at Lily's. This Ashton restaurant serves 100% vegetarian food and is well-known for mouthwatering desserts. An extensive choice of curries with vegetables or paneer is served, plus dosas, street food, and snacks. The setting is informal and spacious.

Located at the Corn Exchange, Mowgli Street Food is one of Manchester's top spots for Indian street food. The elegant setting features natural colours and materials, plus fun swinging seats. Several menus are available here, but the main menu features a varied choice of curriesand the ideal sides to go with them.

Arnero is a big hit in Manchester for northern Indian food. Sit in the cosy dining room or the elegant outdoor terrace to sample traditional regional dishes, including a varied choice of curries. The recipes range from mild options to spice-packed dishes. Tandoori dishes and street eats are also available here.

Bollywood superstar Asha Bhosle is the woman behind Asha's, a restaurant in a Grade II-listed building with comfy and lavish interiors. The food here is intended for sharing, and curry lovers won't be disappointed - in addition to kebabs and platters, you'll see a variety of curries on the menu, ranging from butter chicken to salmon and coconut curry.

Sanam Sweethouse & Restaurant was the first curry house in Rusholme before the Curry Mile existed. This well-established venue has a grand dining space and banqueting facilities, plus a friendly atmosphere. Curries are a speciality, with classic and signature recipes on the menu; the Longsight location serves a buffet every evening.

Fitting for the name, at Copper Lounge you'll find a smart environment with copper tones throughout. It's a warm and relaxed venue for an Indian meal with a varied menu that includes Indo-Chinese recipes, Tandoori dishes, and plenty of curries ranging from mild butter chicken to Goan fish curry and spicy malvani lamb.

Try Rice 'n' Three if you're after a delicious curry in Bolton. As the name suggests, this place specialises in rice and three, serving a daily-changing selection of meat and vegetable curries. This is fresh and speedy food served at an affordable price. These fuss-free restaurants have bustling dining areas but you can also opt for a takeaway.

West Didsbury restaurant The Great Kathmandu is an award-winning family-run venue, ranked in 2023 as the best Nepalese restaurant in the country. The restaurant is bustling and spacious. Classic Nepalese recipes are served here, including an extensive choice of curries at various spice levels. Set menus are also available if you can't decide what to eat.

Thai curries are available from ChangYai-Thai in Levenshulme. Several different traditional curry recipes and noodles, rice, and stir-fried dishes are on offer. Starters like spring rolls, soup, and salads are available to add to your meal. This humble local restaurant has a smart and modern dining space, and you can also get a takeaway.

Indique in West Didsbury strives to reinvent Indian cuisine by adding dynamic contemporary twists to classic dishes. This family-run eatery is comfortable and contemporary, offering indoor and outdoor seating plus takeaway meals. The varied menu includes many classic and signature curry recipes. Plenty of vegetarian-friendly options are available here too.

Akbar's is an award-winning place to have a curry, boasting a restaurant in Manchester as well as locations in various other cities. It's a friendly and welcoming restaurant that offers a range of curries at different spice levels. If you're feeling brave enough, take on one of the restaurant's food challenges - try a massive meat feast balti or an ultra-spicy phall.

A charming local restaurant in Chorlton, Hungamaa has a colourful interior with rich decor. In this vibrant and atmospheric setting, diners can sample various Indian recipes, including plenty of different curries prepared with authentic spices. Other options here include street food, charcoal-grilled dishes, and Indo-Chinese recipes.

City centre restaurant Phetpailin is a down-to-earth choice for Thai cooking. This evocative spot is relaxed and has a BYOB policy. The menu includes a variety of classic Thai recipes, including four types of Thai curry served with beef, chicken, pork, or prawns. Meat-free versions of these curries are available too.

Visit Yadgar Café, where you'll get authentic Indian cooking in a humble, down-to-earth environment. The food here is considered some of the tastiest in Manchester, offering a varied selection of curries, including plenty of choices for vegetarian and vegan diners. Expect homemade food packed with flavour at this humble eatery.

Visit MyLahore in the Curry Mile for halal British-Asian dishes served in a colourful environment. The restaurant is vibrant, bold, and eye-catching, just like the food it serves. Original dishes include pakoras, burgers, pasta, and a variety of curries, such as palak paneer and classics like korma and jalfrezi.

Grab some fast and convenient Indian food from Chapati Café in Salford. This popular restaurant has indoor and outdoor seats but does takeaways too. This place serves rice and three and offers a daily-changing range of homemade curries, as well as snacks and sides. We recommend getting there early because food sometimes sells out before closing.

Award-winning Ziya Restaurant is based in the Curry Mile. It's a vibrant spot dishing up authentic Indian food in a simple, contemporary setting. Lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea are served here, and the main menu includes an extensive choice of curries – whether you favour meat, seafood, or vegetarian dishes, you'll see something tasty to try here.

Around Manchester, you'll find several branches of Unagi Street Food & Sushi, each one being bold, modern, and buzzy, showcasing its own character. Whilst sushi is one of the main attractions here, you won't be let down if you fancy a curry. Flavoursome Japanese katsu curry is served with tofu, prawns, chicken, or pumpkin.

Have a curry in Chorlton-cum-Hardy at Amma's Canteen. This award-winning local restaurant focuses on southern Indian cooking, offering a diverse menu that includes street food, dosas, and a range of curries to satisfy every preference. This warm and comfortable restaurant is decorated in a rustic and earthy style, with both the food and setting having a homey feel.

Pan-Asian eatery Tampopo offers plenty of options for curry fans. Whether you want a fragrant Thai curry or a warming katsu curry from Japan, the menu here has something you'll enjoy. Other dishes from across Asia are on the menu as well. The restaurants are modern and bustling with hungry diners.

Sample Malaysian curry recipes at Restaurant Nur Malaysia, fittingly located in the Curry Mile. This low-key restaurant serves vibrant traditional dishes, with a simple space for eating-in as well as offering takeaways. Diners can choose from a range of curries like rendang and coconut-based kari. Other dishes here include nasi goreng and satay skewers.