Manchester, England is home to one of the largest concentrations of Indian and Pakistani restaurants outside of the subcontinent. Rusholme’s “Curry Mile” delighted us on our visit.
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How To Visit
Getting to Manchester’s Curry Mile in Rusholme is easy. Just a couple of miles south of City Centre on Oxford Road, the hits begin just after Whitworth Park and near Victoria Park. The concentration of restaurants begins to taper at the Platt Fields Park in Moss Side. For students, the mile-long section conveniently runs from the University of Manchester Oxford Rd/All Saints campus to the Fallowfield campus.
Curry Mile Manchester
Wilmslow Road runs through the center of the south Manchester borough and this is where some of the best Indian restaurants in the city reside. It’s thought to be the largest concentration of Indian and Pakistani food outside of the Indian subcontinent, a substantial feat.
It’s not just restaurants, but rather a community that caters to and embraces Asian (Indian) transplants to Greater Manchester. Alongside curry houses, visitors to the Curry Mile can sample shisha bars, barbershops, Indian grocers, bakeries, and other specialty shops.
One of the most famous among these is the Muhgli Charcoal Pit, a modern take on Indian/Pakistani street food. During our most recent visit, we tried a family platter or “Tawa” at Saleem’s Tawa & Grill. While we didn’t need the fireworks in the middle, the food was excellent and I enjoy the sharing nature of a dish like this.
We also had butter chicken and rice – it’s impossible not to since our experience at Mowgli. Saleem’s take was good, but nothing compares to Mowgli’s.
A National Treasure
Visiting Manchester without stopping in at least one of the fantastic Indian or Pakistani restaurants along the Curry Mile is a missed opportunity. When we lived in Manchester we simply didn’t appreciate the cuisine and precision available, but now that it’s unavailable, we seek it out when we return.
Being home to such an impressive concentration of Indian restaurants outside of India and Pakistan is a testament to the diversity of the city and is a national treasure. If you fancy a curry, you’ve got to visit Rusholme in Manchester.
What do you think? Have you been to the Curry Mile? What’s your favorite spot?
I can hear your stomach churning from here, mate.
Definitely a good place for curry but next time you’re around LHR, if you haven’t been to Southall then go, that beats Manchester by miles.
That makes up my mind. Roti, biryani and vindaloo lamb for dinner tonight. Thanks!
Should have gone to see Charlie at the Plaza on Upper Brook Street.
I will confess I’ve never been a fan of British Indian food, but all of that does look good.
“Being home to such an impressive concentration of Indian restaurants outside of India and Pakistan is a testament to the diversity of the city and is a national treasure.”
There are actually several spots right here in the USA that measure up comparably if you don’t have the time, miles, or money to get to MAN. You visit Houston a lot; next time go to the Little India district off 59 and Hillcroft. If you didn’t know better, you’d think you were in Mumbai. The weather even matches a good part of the year.
My wife and I used to make the Rusholme pilgrimage every Sunday back in the 80s and 90s . We were regulars at the “Shezan” (trestle tables,sit where you can, etc ) The food was authentic
delicious and affordable. It was so popular that a new branch , named the Shere Khan was built at the Manchester end of Wilmslow Rd. Again,super food ,great management and staff .Every visit a joy and a foodie delight.