The best Vietnamese restaurants in Manchester

Nestled among Oxford Street’s so-called burrito alley, Banh Mi Co Ba has been a very welcome addition to many people’s lunchtime options, not least because it brings a bit of variety to the Tex Mex dense stretch of offerings. You’ll find fresh summer rolls, banh mi (obviously), bao buns and some truly excellent noodle and rice dishes. They also do a great selection of breakfast butties – which aren’t exactly Vietnamese – but perfect for beating a hangover into submission on the way into work.

No longer the solely vegan enterprise that put the ‘vi’ in their name, Banh Vi have an array of loaded sandwiched options and a reputation for shaking things up a bit. Case in point, their non-standard banh mi fillings like Korean fried chicken. There are still a couple of vegan options mind, named simply the OG and the 2.0. There are also loads of rice bowls and sides like chopped fried chicken and shoestring fries which are as irreverent as they are tempting. Find them in New Century Kitchen.

For those who like a brew you could stand a spoon up in, Vietnamese coffee is definitely the way to go. Prepared using a special filter called a phin and the slightly bitter robusta species of bean, it’s often sweetened with condensed milk to create a tasty beverage which can be served hot or cold. If you’re a coffee lover it’s definitely a must try, especially over ice on a hot day, and Ca Phe Viet is the best place to give it a go. If you fancy a bite to eat you can grab a bahn mi, the famous Vietnamese sandwich of cold cuts and crunchy salad in a warm baguette. They also do a fantastic pho, that comes in a steaming bowl the size of your head, so we reckon that that’s all bases covered.

Covering three storeys, with a small number of tables at entrance level, there’s a clear nod to the legendary subterranean food halls of the East. Descend through the building and traditional Chinese cooked meats, stunning sushi platters, Korean fried chicken and of course, an abundance of Vietnamese dishes like papaya salad and summer rolls, as well as your big hearty phos and buns. A total crowd-pleaser of a place, but one that doesn’t compromise on taste. 

Slap bang in the middle of Chinatown, I Am Pho offers something a bit different to some of the more glamorous local eateries. The decor might not be the most polished in Manchester – it’s more a canteen than a restaurant – but for anyone who’s found themselves looking for some comfort on a drizzly Manchester afternoon it’s like a little oasis of calm. And hot, meaty broth. Of course the main event is pho, but the BBQ pork skewers are also excellent.

An undisputed Instagram sensation that opened up in the heart of Chinatown in the middle of the pandemic, Pho Cue isn’t just a cheeky name and great pictures (though it is both these things) – this food is seriously special. Run by owner Cue and his family, they’ve taken traditional Vietnamese dishes and added a modern twist – with such unique offerings as their Vietnamese tacos, alongside huge pho bowls, pun and tonnes of rice and noodle dishes. Their bahn mi are outstanding, as are their salt and pepper sharing boxes. Esteemed food critic Jay Rayner of The Observer is a convert, as is pretty much anyone who stops for lunch. An excellent place.

Located up on Oldham Road, opposite the sorting office, Pho No.1 is another key addition to a ‘Nam-filled stretch of road (to such an extent it’s been christened Little Hanoi by some). You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to traditional pho, bun and banh mi. They promise ‘the best pho in town’ and it’s certainly up there, as are their excellent small dishes like summer rolls, salt and pepper tofu, Vietnamese pancakes and the unmissable stuffed betel leaf.

While you’re most likely to encounter great Vietnamese food in the city centre, the suburbs increasingly have some spots you should ignore at your peril. This pan-Asian kitchen in the centre of Altrincham turns out all kinds of deliciousness with, as the name would suggest, a leaning towards steaming bowls of restorative broth. But there’s also Japanese udon, curry rice bowls, fried chicken, Korean desserts and three-part set menus. The space is filled with cherry blossoms and modern bamboo screens, making it a go-to for light lunches or cosy dinners.

Having graduated from the Arndale Market to also having their own spot on Great Ancoats street (though they still have a takeaway in the Arndale), Viet Shack have been serving up outstanding street food with a big sense of personality for a few years now. Their kiosk in the Arndale offers up some amazing summer rolls, banh mi and their famous quack fries, loaded with crispy duck, sriracha and loads more good stuff. Over in Ancoats the restaurant still has a low-key vibe – it’s full of colourful paper parasols, street market-style – but you can enjoy a more extensive range of dishes including burgers, rice dishes and salads. The cocktail menu is a fun affair too, with loads of Asian-inspired martinis, as well as classics and mocktails too.

Another resident of Little Hanoi, Wow Banh Mi, as the name might suggest, are all about creating an impressive experience. Everything about the restaurant is designed to transport you to a food market in an old Vietnamese town, from the ‘formica everywhere’ approach to interior design to the vintage crockery used to serve authentic teas. The banh mi have traditional fillings like chargrilled beef balls, roast chicken and pork belly in soft but crispy rolls. Aside from baguette-based treats, the menu also features brimming bowls of broth and crunchy corn dogs and, somewhat bafflingly, a selection of German bratwurst. Wow, indeed.