Lovely atmosphere once you walk in. It wasn't busy so our food came in less than 10 minutes. The staff are amazing and kind. The food was the best I'd ever had I went here 5 days ago and I'm craving the dish that I had. I'll be definitely coming back again. read more

Tampopo - Pad krapow khai Egg fried rice Thai prawn crackers with sweet chilli sauce - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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I came here once before seeing a movie as it's conveniently located near the Vue. The atmosphere is very chic and trendy with lovely decor and the menu has a lot of variety although very small number of healthy choices. I had the gyoza, Japanese salad and edamame. The portions were very small for the price and it wasn't very filling, the salad didn't taste nice either and the gyoza were tiny compared to what you get in Chinese and Japanese restaurants. The staff were friendly and service was efficient, but small portions for the price made this place more pricy than it's worth for an Asian restaurant, and the food was not that good either. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Thursday was a mammoth meeting day and whilst wandering through town I managed to find myself down by the Corn Exchange and wondering where I should go for a quick bite. Obvs there's the new kids on the block like Wahaca and Pho here but I thought I'd go to an old favourite that I hadn't been to for about 5 years to see what it was like after its makeover. On the whole it was a pleasant experience - the decor has had a revamp and it's a cool place to hang out in - the staff were friendly and I thought were very helpful. Overall I just had a few quick bites - the chicken satay and tom yum soup being especially nice and had a good fire to it! The gyoza wasn't bad but I've had better - just something about the taste wasn't quite right, the ones at YuZu are much nicer. For a chain (and a small one, having started in Manchester) - they do a good job, I'd happily go here and explore their menu in more detail. read more

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This was my first visit to Tampopo as I met some friends for food after work. I was pretty familiar with the Thai menu and ordered a Singapore style vermicelli - one of my favourites. The portion was huge! So much that I couldn't finish it, which is very unlike me! The Thai prawn crackers and chilli dipping sauce were an excellent accompaniment to share at the table. The service was fast and friendly too! read more

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Whenever I walk past this pop-up restaurant, the smell drifting from the open grill is so alluring. I finally got to sample it first hand last week when Gavin L and I decided to squeeze some spicy Pan Asian cuisine into a one-hour lunch break last week - something that's not always possible at sit-down establishments. But thanks to the simplicity of the cooking, Tampopo can have you fed, watered and back at the office in no time. And if you're really against the clock, you can order your food to take away. Result! Despite the Mancunian weather, this al fresco eatery seems to be doing incredibly well. It's been designed in the style of South East Asian food cafes, with cute plastic stools and colourful, kitsch tablecloths, which I absolute LOVE. The menu offers a small but delicious selection of street food from far-off lands such as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Now, I can't remember the names of three dishes we shared but let me tell you they were YUMMY - and reasonably priced. I think, altogether, we spent around £20 for three portions and two soft drinks. Not too shabby. read more

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It's update time again! And I wouldn't normally include updates as standalone reviews but I wanted to wax lyrical about a recent trip to Tampopo. When my friend who used to be my teacher and I were discussing our potential academic resource empire, we had such a great experience at the Triangle branch that I had to shout about it. When I asked for an additional green tea (which comes in an amazing cast iron, heavy little teapot) our waitress rather than charging me for another simply refreshed the leaves with more hot water. And when my companion asked for some gyoza to take home for her son, she was more than accommodating. But more than anything, I've now found my favourite Tampopo dish, the one I'll probably re-order time and time again - it's the Chap Chae, a Korean dish made with the most delicate little glass noodles (which melt in the mouth stunningly) and a bunch of vegetables, more so if you order the veggie version with its fried tofu, babycorn and more and more. It also comes with beef or chicken and it's the most divine thing I've tasted there, aside from the coconut prawns of course. I've even taken my in-laws-to-be there for the lunchtime express menu during Christmas shopping, and it went down a treat. Tampopo just keeps getting better and better, and it's easily some of the most authentic-tasting Pan Asian cuisine I've ever sampled. I'll be back before you know it for my take on the meat dishes now I'm incorporating it into my dining. Watch this space! read more

Really good food, but I ate too much. The wings could have been a main course with a small side dish. (I was alone, so couldn't share.) The Pinot Grigio paired perfectly with the wings. The beef ramen was good, but the beef was overcooked and was a texture more suitable for all-beef chili. It was nice to go back after all these years. read more

Tampopo - I wanted Ramen. The beef was quite a bit overdone. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Big big fan of Tampopo after visiting for the first time this week. I love the idea that it's a Manchester born chain, proving that their is success and progression there for the small businesses that start off and want to expand. I was also wary that with many a like before, quality as dropped when expansion hits - but not with Tampopo. (unless it was quite frankly ridiculously tasty before). I had the Pork gyozas and Japanese style sticky chicken wings for lunch on this trip - washed down with a bottle of Beerlao, and those 2 portions together were a perfect size for lunch. Price wise, the above and some prawn crackers cost me £16 which, yes is on the expensive side, but as many foodies will vouch - if it's good quality food, you don't mind paying a premium, and the quality of the food was fantastic. The only negative I'd note is that there only seemed to be one girl serving all the outside tables - not sure if someone called in sick or they just over work their employees - but it could also be deemed a positive because she was brilliant. Despite being rushed off her feet she was courteous and took time to walk us through the menu and make sure we picked dishes we'd like! Great spot and a welcome addition to the Corn Exchange! read more

Tampopo - Beerlao - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Tampopo has this kind of fun pan-Asian menu that normally would stress me out because I'm obsessed with things being authentic but I liked the chap chae and they had very good kimchi. If they do all the classics this well then they're onto a winner. The one thing that was weird is that, although I arrived probably half an hour after they opened, I kind of was made to feel it was somewhat of an inconvience I was there - and I was getting takeaway! read more

Concept: Love the concept of this South-East Asian fusion restaurant. It even has a cool little pop up street-side tables to imitate the surroundings of a busy South-East Asian street. Unfortunately that is where the good stuff ends. Food: it does not even taste close to the ones in Asia. It isn't dreadful or anything but there are some key ingredients that is just not supposed to be in certain plates. For those who are new to South-East Asian food, I suppose Tampopo would be a good middle ground; bridging western ingredients to Asian recipes making it more suited to the local tastes. Although I recommend other restaurants in terms of authenticity. read more

Tampopo - Roadside stall in Exchange Square. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

The location of Tampopo Manchester is lovely, located in The Corn Exchange. Arriving into the restaurant late in the evening we were seated quickly and the staff were very friendly, advising on menu choices. Despite having eaten there previously it is still nice to hear suggestions. The food arrived in good time. We opted for Baby Squid with salt and pepper and Pork and lemongrass meatballs with peanut sauce for starters and Chicken Bun for mains and Pho Zao which was lovely. The meal was certainly substantial and we all felt value for money, as ever I would not hesitate to recommend and will be back next time. read more

Tampopo is doing a pretty good job of shaking up the Wagamama's brand. Tampopo has the same basic formula but I personally feel the chefs pay a little more attention to the dishes despite the restaurant having such as fast and high volume turnover. This is probably attributable to the fact that Tampopo is a comparatively small, Mancunian brand so let's hope that quantity doesn't replace quality as they more than likely will be spreading their wings further afield. From around £6-8, you can expect to find everything from Thai Tom Kha, Korean Chap Chai to Phillipino Chicken Adobo on the menu here, and everything tastes so darn good, and fresh, and well seasoned. The dishes come out within 10 minutes (as per their policy) so this is a great spot for a quick and pleasant lunch. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Tampopo!! Best ever. Nar it's kind of like a slightly better wagamama with a more authentic feel to everything they do. You sit down on long tables with lots of lanterns overhead and chop sticks for you to mess around with while you wait for your meal. The staff are quick and courteous and your not waiting very long for your meals. Tampopo do a big selection of soups and noodle type dishes, there all delicious and taking a punt on the menu is never a bad thing. Word of warning though if they warn you its going to be hot on the menu you better believe them. Prices are reasonable and you can usually get offers meaning 2 for 1 for the savvy savers. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

If you're stuck in the centre of Manchester, and find yourself with a serious hankering for some seriously good South East Asian food, then you should definitely head over to Tampopo, one of Manchester's best independent restaurant chains. Serving up a wide array of delicious dishes from countries such as Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia, Tampopo's food is quirky, different and downright delicious. Indeed, I could very happily live off their huge bowls of Beef Pho - a delicately scented Vietnamese soup filled with coriander, aromatics and rice noodles, with pieces of delectably tender beef steak floating on top. As the above commentator has stated, their food truly is heaven in the bowl. If that wasn't enough, their dishes are designed not to break the bank - after all, they position themselves as being a café type eaterie, which people can just pop into to take a break and slurp down a bowl of noodles. I especially like their lunch deals, where for £7, you can indulge yourself in a main meal and a side dish. I usually tend to go for their gyoza - little Japanese dumplings packed to breaking point with a delicious pork filling. When dunked in a delicious soy and ginger sauce, they pop in your mouth like little pockets of sheer unadulterated joy. In fact, I seriously suggest you clamp your hand over your mouth when you eat one of them, lest you cry out in paroxysms of pleasure. Tampopo also serves a wide range of delectably interesting desserts (black rice pudding anyone?) and has an excellent beer and wine list to wash your food down with. All in all, this is an absolute treasure of a noodle outlet - and definitely one of Manchester's best and brightest cheap eats outlets. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Like the original Tampopo in Albert Square, this branch serves an inspired array of Thai, Malaysian, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Asian dishes. We're talking fresh and flavoursome soups, ramen and glass noodles, sticky rice, sauteed vegetables, grilled chicken and beef, sensational prawns, sliced rump steak and incredible chillies, herbs and lemongrass. We're talking steaming bowls of pho xao boi, pad thai, kway teow, tom yam, gado gado, pho beef, chap chae, pad thai, yaki udon, tahu goreng, ga xao xaot and chicken laska. Yup, we're talking mouth-watering food that will make you want to go back again and again. I'd give it 5 stars but I'm a sucker for the original branch. It's smaller and more intimate and as a result, less noisy and busy. read more

I am shocked that I have never written a review about Tampopo before --- It has to be one of my favorite oriental restaurants in Manchester! You can never go wrong with Tampopo and what is even better is their super fast service so if you are starving and want some delicious Ramen you know where to go. Situated right in the middle of city center, it does attract a lot of tourists but hey! that is not too bad (even you are a tourist when on holiday). When my companion decided to order Pho with beef from the menu, she very kindly suggested he orders Ramen because that is much better than Pho as it has the same soup but is more filling. I have never before seen a waitress who is so honest and willing to suggest! I was boring and ordered for Panag Curry with rice but what can I say, it always tastes absolutely orgasmic! Our prawn crackers and dumplings were an absolute stunner too! Tampopo definitely is one of the authentic chains amongst all the other Pan Asian restaurants I have been to. It is always tricky with chains but this one is a winner! We were not rushed to get the hell out of the place after we were done with our meal. Rather she did not even get is the bill till we asked for it, as we were sitting there and chatting away about how good the food was! The Bill was just 30 pounds for 2 people which included 2 starters, 2 main course and 2 drinks (alcoholic) -- now that is what I call a reasonable pricing structure. Verdict : Oh I am going back again and AGAIN! read more

So I have liked Tampopo for sometime the food is really good the staff have been trained well and it is generally a good place to go to. I am a bit fan of the starter Tampopo Platter to Share which takes your taste buds for a trip around Asia, plus of course it is good to share with whoever you have gone out with. You can eat here quite cheaply but if it is an occasion then splash out a little as I think it is is good value for money. The staff are good is not a little over intensive at times as they now have an annoying policy of asking you how the meal is going every 10 minutes or so (we asked a staff member after the 4th time of being asked if the meal was good and they said it was something to do with people eating and then saying they did not enjoy there meal and trying not to pay for it (dear cheap people stop being annoying)). Anyway apart from this minor hiccup the staff were quick and food was excellent. I do in some ways like the one by the town hall a bit more I suspect because it is smaller. read more

This review is for Tempoopo street food experience. Totaly over prices food and drinks. No toilet and staff recommending using toilet in next door pub. Plastic glasses for drinks. Starters very little. Main curse just ok. I'm not recommending this place. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Lacking in ambience. The decor wasn't fab and the seating could be better. Seats felt cheap and we were shoved up against a pillar which wasn't the best experience. Loved the variety the menu offers, if you are a fan of Asian quinine however it didn't feel very authentic. Katsu curry left a lot to be desired - chicken gravy and rice. My vegan Singaporean 'fish' curry was delicious though and has loads of veg in it which I was pleased about. We won't be rushing back as I'm sure there is better around but it was nice to try. read more

Stopped by for good lunch option. Not particular deals on but we like the mix of eastern Asian dishes. The location is good and away from the bustle of the corn exchange and prices are reasonable for sizeable portions. Weren't too keen on the rock sweet with the bill read more

Tampopo - Singapore Noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

My boyfriend is fascinated by maps. So imagine my delight when I realised that this restaurant had a map of Asia on each placemat and the waitress seated us next to a gigantic wall map. Goodbye conversation... oh well, at least I had the menu to concentrate on. After a good few minutes of indecision (when the waitress was eagerly waiting a metre away from our table after we asked her to come back) I opted for the prawn pad thai. I'll ignore Emma-Louise's advice to not compare Tampopo to Wagamama - it's hard not to, as they are so incredibly similar, from the way they scribble your order on your paper placemat to the seating arrangement, to the way that your noodles come ridiculously quickly. However, unlike the other reviewers, I am not a Tampopo convert. Yes, my dish was tasty and fresh, but it didn't have much flavour (luckily there is chilli sauce on the table) and for a prawn dish it only contained 5 measly little creatures. My boyfriend was happy with his fat Japanese udon, but then again, he was still staring at the giant map. The waitress was over-attentive and we heard her arguing with a couple over their bill as she thought they had drunk more wine than they were being charged for. They claimed they were too tired and drunk to remember, but she added it to the bill anyway. The interior is quite nice, but we were seated at the end with a view of the acne clinic and Pizza Express inside the Triangle Shopping Centre. Personally I prefer the atmosphere in Wagamama, but Tampopo may be more suitable for a date as you don't have to sit next to strangers. But then again, you might not want to come here for a date anyway, at least not if you're not proficient in eating fat noodles with chopsticks! read more

Mouth-watering, fresh food: so good my non-vegan partner loved the vegan starter with sticky tofu. Great place for vegan and non-vegan food - would definitely recommend. read more

Tampopo is one of the best Asian restaurants in Manchester, and that, my friends, is saying something. Manchester has more than its fair share of Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Japanese eateries, and I have eaten at a fair few, but none of these really came close to Tampopo. The food is fantastic. I went with a group of friends, armed with Buy-one-get-one-free vouchers, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. We were lucky enough to get another meal between us (the hazard of eating out as a table of 5), so we all got to try another meal. The Penang curry is divine, and I would thoroughly recommend it, especially if served with the wok-fried Udon noodles, which are very filling, but have an amazing flavour. The food is well priced, so is affordable for most occasions, unusual for a restaurant in the central area of town. The staffs are friendly, although were not overly pleased that we only drank water and ate one course, but aside from that, the experience was superb. The Restaurant itself is modern, atmospheric and comfortable, so is nice to sit and relax over a meal. 100% Recommended. read more

I like Tampopo more than Wagamama. That's right. The shift happened last week when we went to Tampopo. Before then I was a die-hard Wagafan. But I dunno, something happened, and now I am a Tamfan (but that sounds too much like tampon, so I won't say it any more) I can put the switch down to the following: - the place mats have a map of East Asia, with info on what the food is like. This map is fun for awhile, as you can pretend you're a weatherman or cartographer. I like maps, OK. - the starter sharing thing-a-ma-bob is pure excellence. Dumplings and satay stuff and prawns, £10.95 for two people, £5.95 for every other person. - Pho. A Vietnamese noodley soup with tender, lush strips of beef and fiery birdseye chillis. TDF, basically. - the atmosphere. It's just better than Wagas. While Wagas is all about the bright, the white, the shiny, Tams is all about earthy tones and softer lighting. It's more relaxing. - They were playing Imogen Heap's album. Nuf bloody said. This is a fabtabulous pan-Asian experience that will slowly but surely make you denounce Wagas, and you'll become a Tampoompaloompa....(that's the best I can do, guys) read more

Tampopo serves dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Korea. Of all the Tampopo restaurants, the Triangle establishment is my favourite. The tables are well spaced, the staff are wonderful, the kitchen is open and you can see the chefs cooking up a storm. Even the hand dryers in the (unisex) toilets are incredible! I can heartily recommend the panang curry. It's quite literally heaven in a bowl. Apart from the aubergine. I hate aubergine. My co-eater must like aubergine or there will be tension. What makes it even better is the offer that runs from 12pm-7pm daily. A main course (with rice included) and a side order (try the pork gyoza, you won't regret it. Unless you're a vegetarian. Or a Jew) for £6.95. Bargain. The desserts are unusual and delicious (black rice pudding, ginger creme brulee, cardamom ice cream). Wash it all down with a couple of ice cold Tsing Taos and Bob's your uncle. read more

A great place for a good value relaxed meal any day of the week. Always busy, particularly Thursday - Saturday evenings where you may have to wait for a table, but is normally pretty quick. I'm no expert on South East Asia, but I have been 3 times and the food here is pretty authentic; good portions, fresh flavours, and all served quickly and without fuss. Eastern Express menu (12-7) is a great option for a cheap lunch at £6.95 but even outside of this it is priced fairly. Can't help but mention Wagamama as it is similar cuisine, but Tampopo definitely has a more friendly and local feel to it, helped by the fact it isn't in a vast setting. Just not so sure on the mixed toilets... read more

I am so glad I finally visited Tampopo! My original thoughts were that it was a less-popular Wagamamas, however I was wrong. It's hugely popular by the looks of it, and although it took 15 minutes to be seated, it was definitely worth it. They're offers are great- I think it was around £12 for a starter and dessert which is a total bargain. The food was lovely- I can't remember exactly what I had, but some sort of Thai chicken. Drinks were also decent, around £12 for a bottle of red wine which I can't complain about. I liked the little quirks about Tampopo too; when you pick your dish, the waiter/waitress marks on their menu maps where your cuisine is from. How lovely. They also have a takeaway menu on the tables, and order list so you can create your own dishes! I really like this idea, as they sell all the ingredients from your favourite meals and extras such as a Tampopo apron and utensils. It's the perfect place to grab something to eat after a long day shopping in the Arndale or before catching a film at the Printworks. The setting is nice and intimate. They have the customary benches seen in Wagamamas too, but it's a lot more cosy in there. That may have something to do with it being smaller, but it makes a nice place for a catch up with a friend. read more

I finally got to try Tampopo today, and it was good. We arrived bang on 12pm as it opened and were seated immediately. After being told there were no prawns available (they didn't arrive with the delivery) we perused the menu and although there were a number of things I would have loved, they all contained prawns. Undaunted I still found almost everything on the menu tempting. Whilst deciding, the waitress came for our drinks order and we ordered some edamame with chilli oil and salt, and the prawn crackers, which arrived immediately with a lovely sweet chilli dip. The edamame arrived soon after, hot and spicy with a lovely sea salt crunch. The prawn crackers were lovely, I think I may have developed a slight addiction after the first bite! Not your regular polystyrene Chinese chippy version (although when done right, they're melty and crispy and great for scooping a fried rice and curry takeout) they were a thick, crunchy, spicy, intensely savoury nibble. I opted for Tahu Goreng, an Indonesian dish of wok fried tofu and mushrooms in a tangy tamarind & lime sauce sprinkled with peanuts which I paired with the sticky rice. Delicious! My dining partner had a couple of small dishes and I tried her tempura (a mushroom one) which was a little odd, the batter was light and exactly how it should be, but the mushroom inside, tasty as it was, just didn't really work for me. The textures didn't harmonize, the chewy shiitake was just too much for the delicate tempura batter to handle. I'd love to have lingered over dessert and tea but we were on a bit of a schedule so that will have to be a treat for another visit. All in all we had good friendly service and tasty food, recommended as an alternative to an equally yummy Wagamamas! read more

It certainly smelled nice but after reading we found it is not even close to a genuine asian flavour. Small portions and a large price. We left still feeling hungry and out of pocket. Disappointing. read more

Me and my dad went here for a quick lunch a few months ago. Had a nice meal together with a crisp lager. Food was within a reasonable pricerange and the service was excellent. Definitely worth coming back next time :D read more

But I'm a noodle douchebag. If you need a ramen fix, it'll be sufficient.

We had a swift and enjoyable lunch at Tampopo in Manchester city centre. It was some years since I had dined here, but I am happy to say things were still very pleasant. There were plenty of friendly staff, meaning service was kept snappy. Orders came quickly from the kitchen, and were delivered hot and flavoursome. A slight problem arose when my chicken rice dish emerged with prawns instead as I like prawns anyway, I opted to stick with the plate instead of send it back. They duly charged me at the cheaper chicken dish price, which was good. The decor is bright, though the tables look a little tired I guess that's because the a city centre location must attract a busy lunch crowd. My soda and lime at £1.80 I felt was rather overpriced, but the deal on food (side and main for £7.95) made up for it. read more

Was there with unwell child at a restaurant ordered two main meals and and a portion of rice. Requested an ice cream scoop from the kids menu, The sorry excuse for a manager called James refused flatly saying that you've not ordered a kids menu so you cannot have the desserts from the main menu. To put cherry on top he handed the main desserts menu and said that you can choose and ice cream flavour from that one, none of the flavous in the menu were child friendly. I have worked in reading and I am a regular there for 2 years, we feel that we were treated unfairly, and if there is a policy for not serving desserts without main meal seems ridiculous. The attitude from the manager to put it mildly was brash and certainly needs looking at, however the girl who served us apologised several times knowing that were being treated unfairly. Over the last two years the portion sizes have reduced as well We're going to go to wagamama next time read more

Even as an Asian myself, I was shocked when seeing so many authentic drinks and dishes from various Asian countries in one restaurant. I recommend the mixture of Asian food in the starter. read more