Top 10 Caribbean restaurants in Manchester – Manchester Evening News

When the first large numbers of West Indian immigrants began to come to the UK in the 1950s, they brought with them their music, food and traditions.

The city is now home to a huge Caribbean population, with independent restaurants, bakeries and cafes serving traditional Caribbean cuisine across Greater Manchester.

Now, there's no shortage of Caribbean food in Manchester, and according to food writer Riaz Phillips the scene is changing quickly.

"In the 1940s and 1950s people largely tried to recreate dishes from back home with what they could find in England as they had no other choice. Thats why a majority of the early Caribbean food businesses were bakeries because it was easier to recreate patties and hard dough bread than the likes of Curry Goat.

"It has changed a lot, mainly because of the ease with which we can get produce from overseas now.

"Caribbean is more than wood shacks and Bob Marley! ...There are the big names on the high street, the old established names like Dougys, Buzzrocks and Kool Runnings where hopefully people in the family will keep them going for the next generation.

"At the same time theres a lot of new blood like The Drop and The Yard, people from a younger generation who can appeal to a different crowd. These places are doing the most innovative, exciting things with Caribbean food so whatever type of experience people want with Caribbean food there is something for them in Manchester."

Riaz has dedicated much of his life to finding the best places to eat across the UK, dedicating the past few years in particular to documenting the hidden Caribbean cafes, takeaways and restaurants and the stories of the people behind them.

"I'm from London but I actually used to work for Manchester City FC in a past life," Riaz recalls.

"I used to work at the stadium and stay near Piccadilly Station, and on my breaks I'd go wondering trying to find Caribbean food for lunch and dinner.

Speaking about his decision to document all these hidden gems in his new book Belly Full , Riaz explains, "These establishments mean so much to their local communities, not to mention that the families and people behind them are local legends in their own right."

"I feel that African and Caribbean food is often left out of a lot of Food Books and Guides in the UK. Not perhaps on purpose, but sometimes for outsiders its quite daunting to know where to start with the cuisine.

"I thought as someone who grew up around these foods I could at least try to document and promote some of these places especially as I mentioned, some have been around for decades and mean a lot to their local communities but they hardly get any mention anywhere in the broader stories of their cities and regions.

Here are the best Caribbean restaurants, cafes, bakeries and takeaways in Manchester, as documented by Riaz.

Where have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below, or drop us a message at @ CityLifeManc .

Few food establishments in Manchester have to deal with queues forming prior to opening their doors on a rainy weekday morning, but after more than two decades serving up his charismatic take on Caribbean food, scenes at Basil Buzzrock Andersons Buzzrocks restaurant reflect just that.

Snacks like the zesty jerk chicken wrap and Hot Flashes wings doused in his concoction of secret spices are convenient options for those on the go. A quick glance however sees the runaway favourite being the Half n Half, meal, a copious serving of curried goat alongside a winning combination of both of rice & peas and chips.

266A Moston Ln, Manchester M40 9WF / 0161 205 3555

With a name that immediately makes many recall the famous 1990s film of the same name featuring the iconic Jamaican bobsleigh team, few conversations of Caribbean food in Manchester omit Kool Runnings.

For many old timers, the mobile van situated next to the Sharon Pentecostal Church on Chorlton Road holds the most nostalgia where many local residents and workers have congregated at lunch for years.

Growing beyond the van since opening in the 1990s, the multiple shops in Manchester quickly found good standing especially with students for an abundance of indulgences like the jerk burgers, tangy sweet & sour prawns, callaloo stuffed dumplings and a myriad of meat and fish stew selections.

Next to the Sharon Pentecostal Church on Chorlton Road, and 5a Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M14 6JS / 0161 225 1621

Now with their new Dougys Uptown in Chorlton, Dougys Caribbean Delicatessen is firmly stamping its legendary mark across the city. With its own in-house bakery the 1 Cheapest in Manchester Patties and cornflake tarts have proved a hit with everyone from young school kids to city veterans.

Always standing out from the rest, owner Denis illustrates: "Everybody does jerk chicken different thats why we call it Dougys Jerk, not authentic jerk. Though some people like it on the jerk pan, we bake ours and use low-fatoils." The ability to wash this down with one of their pomegranate or aloe vera slushies is a further treat only found at Dougys.

180 Great Western St, Manchester M14 4LH and 51 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9PW / 0161 882 0193

With a sweet cinnamon aroma wafting out onto Shrewsbury Road from 5am onward every morning, it didnt take the produce of Old Trafford Bakery too long to capture the attention of the local residents when the Bakery opened over half a century ago.

Throughout the day the walls in the shop are lined with fresh spongy hard dough bread that help draw customers eyes to the variety of perhaps lesser known items such as bulla cakes made with molasses, spiced with ginger and nutmeg in addition to coco bread and the Jamaican classic coconut based Toto bread.

126 Shrewsbury St, Stretford, Manchester M16 7NY / 0161 226 7198

The Drops vibrant and bubbly take on Caribbean food proved such a hit when it hit Chorlton in 2015 that it was only a matter of time before demand would have them branch out to other corners of the city (Altincham).

From breakfast all the way through to dinner the restaurant offers a vivid experience. For those looking for a real belly full experience the Hench Drop Box provide a perfect example of the restaurants multicultural fusion of flavours. This rainbow-esque dish includes both curry goat and jerk chicken with a deep purple slaw, soft plantain and a crispy dumpling with the option to substitute in an array of goodies that tickles your fancy.

356 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester M21 8AZ, and 9 Goose Green, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1DW / 0161 286 3317

A community lynchpin of Moss Side, Mc Freshs bakery and supermarket has been more than just a place for food produce for over over three decades.

MC Freshs broadcasted Real taste of Jamaica doesnt just denote the vast array of Jamaican and wider Caribbean dishes on offer but also a Jamaican spin on many of the English classics on offer throughout the day, developed over the years as a way to entice people from all walks of life.

These stem from the full English breakfast to the shops incorporation of a full on traditional Chip Shop complete with jumbo sausages, steak and kidney pies and everything else you might expect in a local Chippie.

138 Claremont Rd, Manchester M14 4RT / 0161 227 9939

Mike and Maureen Hyltons M&Ms Caribbean Spice down the quaint Stamford Road in Stretford has long been a hidden gem for those looking for a island style getaway from their usual dining fare.

With Mikes three decade tenure in the food business catering for the likes of British Royalty and Manchester United the quiet setting shouldnt fool you for the professionally curated feast about to hit your palate. Refined versions of Caribbean classics like the mouth-watering oxtail and ackee & saltfish dishes are a perfect entry for novices of food from the islands.

127 Stamford St, Stretford, Manchester M16 9LT / 0161 226 6067

To the west of Manchesters Alexandra Park, Chicken Runs or as some locals call it Chickens unmissable yellow motif and iconic rainbow logo bring sunshine to those in the know looking for their daily Caribbean food pit-stop.

There is only one real contender for meal choice of first timers to Chicken Run and that is their Chicken Split. Jerk, stewed but most commonly fried chicken served up in between a Festival (sweet cornmeal dumpling) cut in half hence the split. After this its drizzled with house mayo and wrapped up ready to chomped down as quickly as it was made.

6 Yarburgh St, Manchester M16 7FJ / 0161 226 6714

Local Legend Florence Coke, known as Mama Flo hit the news when she was served with a 1 billion tax bill for her business . The real story however should have been her wonderfully homely take on Caribbean food based on a Jamaican upbringing.

With tenderly cooked steak dishes and curry goat and that almost falls off the bone its no wonder word of mouth spread fast about Mama Flos Stockport offering that have proved addictive to many first timers of Caribbean food.

314 Buxton Rd, Stockport SK2 7DD / 0161 223 5183

For those on the more outer reaches of Manchester fear not, whilst new in name, Js Rhythm Caribbean and English Takeaway in Wythenshawes Button Lane still carries the Caribbean torch brightly.

For those not to looking to get too wild, Js Rhythm gives reason to never go to a basic Chicken & Chip shop ever again with their vibrant take on the popular meal serving up BBQ, incredibly grilled Jerk or fried chicken with moreish fries. A real winner however is their Peppered steak. Tender steak swimming in a sweet sauce of herbs and spices, served with salad and choice of rice.

41 Button Ln, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 0LZ / 0161 998 2356

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Top 10 Caribbean restaurants in Manchester - Manchester Evening News