A Few Stops Around Manchester’s Viral Food Spots 

Manchester’s food scene is as bold and diverse as the city itself. Once known for its industrial roots and traditional Northern fare, it has evolved into a thriving hub of independent eateries, global influences, and cutting-edge food concepts. From classic chippies and pie shops going viral for their over-the-top munch boxes to experimental fine dining and street food markets, the city is constantly reinventing itself, making it one of the most exciting places to eat in the UK. 

Right now, social media is driving a new wave of food trends, with restaurants and takeaways becoming viral sensations almost overnight. Whether it’s an outrageous sandwich, an over-the-top dessert, or a creative fusion dish, food in Manchester is bigger, bolder, and more adventurous than ever. 

We headed out on a five-stop tour of some of the city’s most talked-about food spots the places that have been setting Instagram and TikTok alight. Here’s what we saw 

Stop 1: Pho Cue 

Tucked away in Manchester’s bustling Chinatown, Pho Cue has become a social media sensation, celebrated for its big-flavour Vietnamese dishes and incredible value for money.  We were drawn in from the viral photos of the sweet and spicy pork ribs, a sticky, caramelised masterpiece that’s been making waves online. The ribs delivered everything we hoped for pull from the bone meat, a perfect balance of heat and sweetness, and a deeply umami-rich glaze that demanded to be licked off the bones. Several wet wipes were needed!! But the menu had plenty more to offer. We stuck around for more of the small bites like the Vietnamese pancake tacos, super crisp banh xeo pancakes packed with king prawns and crunchy veg finished served with a nuoc cham dressing. The steamed rice rolls with ground pork were equally good. Ground slow cooked pork and wood ear fungus were wrapped in a silky steamed rice wrapper, chewy, packed with flavour and nicely balanced with some refreshing lettuce to give texture. We didn’t get into their famous Pho broths or Bun’s but if the snacks were anything to go by, we would assume they would be great quality, a great start on our whirlwind tour of Manchester. 

Stop 2: Thief Street 

Born from a lockdown experiment Thief Street is the brainchild of Manchester chef Jon Green. Jon took his passion for globally inspired flavours and turned it into something unique, handmade retro-style potato waffles loaded with restaurant-quality toppings. What started as a small takeaway venture during the 2020 lockdown quickly gained momentum. Monthly waffle nights turned into a successful street food concept, popping up at Grub, Levy Market, and Laughterama before securing its first residency at The Spoon Inn. Fast forward to today, and Thief Street has evolved into a thriving food business with three permanent residencies, the food has evolved into Asian fried chicken with more classic flavours like Korean BBQ and Honey & Soy to some modern twists such as the Szechuan n Miso gravy and Malaysian buffalo. We opted for the latter which was crispy fried chicken tenders topped with Malaysian buffalo butter and maple sauce, lime yoghurt and sesame. A real explosion of flavour and a creative way to develop into a much-loved flavour profile. From the sides the dish that has been getting all the views online were the Nom Noms, a doughnut filled with braised beef short rib, a honey soy dip and siracha. Reminiscent of a corn dog the batter was not too heavy and the meat tender and packed with flavour. I can see why these have been a hit online.  

Stop 3: DGHNT 

Another entrepreneurial success born out of lockdown DGHNT which has a permanent residency in Mackie Mayor food hall celebrates all things doughnuts. Handmade brioche doughnuts are stuffed, drizzled, glazed and topped for the some of the most visually stunning doughnuts we have come across. The pistachio trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon and the Dubai pistachio chocolate and the pistachio cardamom halwa doughnuts were testament to that trend. We opted for the Coconut date caramel, a coconut glaze, drizzled in date caramel and finished with loads of toasted coconut. Although very decadent, against the soft and pillowy backdrop of the brioche bun it didn’t feel overly indulgent but well balanced and perfectly judged. 

Stop 4: The Flat Baker 

Manchester seems to be filled with bouji insta cafes serving the perfect flat whites and patisserie. Taking a different approach, we had seen lots of posts around a community first bakery based in Ancoats. A hole in a wall bakery in serving brilliant quality bread, pastries and cakes. You have to get there early as there can be queues and the most popular products sell out fast. We opted for one sweet and one savoury treat, the cheese and sweet chilli rolls were crisp on the exterior, soft and yielding in the centre with a great balance of sweetness, a little heat and umami cheese. The vegan chocolate tonka cookie was equally good, not overly sweet, great taste of chocolate and a hum of coconut which was used in place of the butter.  

Stop 5: Gooey Bakery 

Every dish at Gooey feels like a work of art, from their signature topped cookies to decadent French toast and next-level sandwiches. What started as a humble bakery concept has grown into one of Manchester’s most viral food spots, drawing queues of sweet-toothed fans eager to get their hands on their signature creations. The cookies are what put Gooey on the map, thick, molten-centred creations, often piled high with toppings like toasted marshmallow, caramel, or silky peanut butter. But their menu goes far beyond just cookies. Their Brioche French Toast is a revelation, thick cut, custardy, and golden on the outside, but impossibly soft on the inside, drenched in syrups, fresh fruit, and indulgent creams. And then there are the sandwiches. Gooey takes fluffy, Shokupan bead (milk bread loaf) and loads them up with savoury fillings that balance out the sweetness, egg sando’s that remind me of an elevated 7/11 egg salad sandwich in Japan or the classic crispy bacon sandwich with house made brown sauce. The Reuben had been recommended to us which is half pound of house made pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing. A big, delicious eat, well balanced with soft yielding meat and a salty crunchy twang from the sauerkraut.  

Final Thoughts 

Manchester’s food scene continues to push boundaries and capture the imagination of food lovers everywhere. What stood out most on this tour was the sheer level of innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication to quality, every spot we visited had a unique story, a cult following, and a menu that delivers beyond the hype. 

What makes Manchester truly exciting is its balance of heritage and reinvention. While the city is known for its rich food history, it’s also constantly evolving, with chefs, bakers, and food entrepreneurs redefining how we experience food. The rise of viral food culture, driven by Instagram and TikTok, has helped propel these small independents to citywide (and sometimes national) fame, proving that people are hungry for flavour, creativity, and unique experiences. 

For anyone looking for seriously good eats, Manchester is an unmissable destination. We have only just scratched the surface of what Manchester has to offer and look forward to our next visit.