National Curry Week: The top 8 places to eat on Manchester's famous Curry Mile according to Google reviews

It's National Curry Week and there really is only one place to go in Manchester - the Curry Mile.

Though not actually a mile, this stretch of Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, just outside the city centre, is home to some of the best and oldest Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurants in Manchester.

Restaurants started popping up on Wilmslow Road in the fifties and sixties as immigrants from the South Asian subcontinent arrived in Manchester to work in the city’s textile industry. By the 1980s, the term “Curry Mile” had become well-established.

These days you will find a whole host of other cuisine on the Curry Mile, including Middle Eastern, Malaysian and even bubble tea shops, but it’s the curry that continues to attract visitors to the area.

Here are the top-rated South Asian spots on the Curry Mile, according to Google reviews.

Shere Khan

3.8 stars (957 reviews)

Shere Khan is one of the oldest restaurants on the Curry Mile, having opened in 1987, and now has sites in the Trafford Centre and Meadowhall. They serve up dishes like Lamb Hyderabadi Biryani and Lamb Nehari, alongside classic dishes such as Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Rogan Josh. Their website says that they can also cater for large groups of up to 100 people on any given night.

Prices range from around £9 to £16 for more expensive items like prawn dishes. Details on how to reserve a table can be found on their website.

Mughli Charcoal Pit

4.2 stars (1,354 reviews)

Established in 1991, Mughli Charcoal Pit serves up “Indian soul food and twisted cocktails.” Their menu includes the classic curries like butter chicken and jalfrezi do-pyaaz, as well as dishes with a distinct modern twist like their bhaji romaal korma and street-food style small plates such as kulcha and gol gappay. However, as their name suggests, the star attraction is the grilled and tandoori offerings, with a whole range of grilled meats and freshly baked tandoori breads.

Their prices range from £6-14 for curries, £4-8 for small plates and £8-9 for the grill items. Sharing platter options are also available. You can check out their menu online or on Deliveroo.

MyLahore

4.4 stars (6,723 reviews)

MyLahore is one of five franchises in the country. Their flagship restaurant, located in Bradford and founded in 2002, was even honoured with a Royal visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back in 2020.  They have an extensive menu that extends beyond South Asia with items like lasagne and burgers, but also serve up the classics and “home favourites” like their karahi and lamb handi on the bone.

The prices on their curries and main range from around £8-13. They do not serve alcohol or offer BYOB. Their menu can be found on their website and delivery is available via UberEats.

Al Madina

4.4 stars (592 reviews)

Al Madina is more of a cafe and takeaway than a restaurant, but it has a good reputation for authentic Pakistani and South Asian food. Their grill menu is renowned among regulars and other specials include their selection of karahi and biryani dishes, as well chef’s specials like nehari and haleem. They are also open until 1am if you’re looking for a late-night bite to eat. A lot of their dishes come in small and large portion sizes depending on how hungry you are and they range between £7-£13. They are also on UberEats and Deliveroo.

Chit ‘N’ Chaat

4.5 stars (813 reviews)

Chit ‘N’ Chaat specialises in street food from all over India. They have long list of small vegetarian plates like vada pav and okra fries, as well as South Indian dosas, Indo-Chinese favourites like gobi manchurian, parathas, and meat dishes like kebabs and keema pav. Last but no means least are their selection of chaats. As most of the items are small plates, they range mainly between £5-9. They have another location in Cheadle and their menu can be found on their website.

Mussarat

4.5 stars (1,054 reviews)

This is another Curry Mile spot that has diversified their menu to include western and even cantonese dishes with dishes like stir-fries and pastas. However, they specialise in the classics like karahi, nehari and butter chicken, as well chaats, biryanis and a grilled sizzler menu. They are also open until 12am on weekdays and 1am on the weekends.

Mains range from around £8-12 and their menu can be found online.

Ziya Asian Grill

4.5 stars (1,839 reviews)

Ziya has a large menu of Indian food to suit all tastes and preferences. According to their menu, the “all time favourite” dishes include chicken jalfrezi, chicken madras, chicken kadai and egg curry. For those wanting to try something a little bit different, they also do an Indian Afternoon Tea, which comes with a selection of chaat items, dosa, kathi roll and sweet treats like halwa and gulab jamun. It comes with tea, coffee and two mocktails.

Prices range from £8-13 for mains. More information can be found on their website.

Bardez

4.9 stars (273)

One of the newest kids on the block when it comes to Indian food spots on the Curry Mile is Bardez. They have a variety of chicken, vegetarian, seafood and lamb mains and starters, which are all reasonably priced. For example, the most expensive main on the menu is lamb rogan josh at £16.95. Bardez also has a selection of Indo-Chinese dishes to try, including hakka noodles and schezuan fried rice. More information can be found on their website.