Service is great. I got right in after being told no by a snooty Italian place across the square. Appetizers and mains are solid good food. Place is busy which is a good sign. If you like unpretentious, Asian fusion food and happen to be in Manchester, this is your spot. read more

After a heavy Friday night on the drink it was time to start thinking about where we could eat that would be quick and easy. We were sat next door to Tampopo so it was the obvious choice. We were seated straight away and considering it was half 9 it was relatively busy! We were served by a devil (halloween themed) and considering the outfit the server was lovely. We ordered a bottle of fizz and a coke, the soft drink did get lost on route however was soon rectified. I opted for the duck dumplings to start and pitting them against Wagamamas own I was left slightly disappointed. The dumplings had a sticky texture and weren't quite full to the brim with duck and didn't have much of a taste alone but needed a good dip in the soy sauce to add flavour. For my main I opted for the chicken katsu curry (I was hungry!) It arrived promptly and was a super tasty combo of sticky rice, deep fried chicken with a mild curry sauce. I would say it was on par with Wagamamas version even served with the same side salad topped with ginger. I wouldn't come here for a special occasion but its perfect for a quick and reasonable dinner! read more

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I've been to Tampopo a few times before. This one in Albert Square and the one in Trafford Centre. Previous visits I have enjoyed what I had. I remember a couple times having a starter platter - which had a variety of different things. Must of them were nice but 1 or 2 of the things were not that good. Anyway, this time I had the seafood Udon stir fried noodles - Yaki Udon. I wanted the Udon Soup Noodles I have had before (which had some tempura prawns on the side) but looks like they've changed menu since - it was a while ago! For starter, I had the tempura prawns. I am a big fan of tempura - where its prawns or veg. However, this time they were a bit too greasy I think. It was "OK". The Udon Noodles were also just OK. Stir fried Udon noodles with various veg thrown in inc. prawns, squid and a couple large mussels in the shell. For drinks, I just had some green tea which came in one of those heavy cast iron pots. Cost of £1.80 is a bit steep for just a tea bag and some boiling water. Especially when its free from Wagamama which is their rival which does similar food. Although Tampopo does do cuisine from other Eastern Asian countries so more variety. I had a voucher though for 50% food so cant that was good! :) Total excluding tip was just under £9 each. My score is overall taking into account the food and the service. read more

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This is one of my two favourite places to go for noodles since it is Manchester's own original Asian fast food place and Wagamama's decided to westernise their dishes! Our recent visit was no disappointment (except it gets 4 stars because the place is looking a bit tired and less shiny). The service was quick and friendly as usual. The menu has been recently updated to include more "small plates" and fewer main dishes so that one could now get Asian tapas, so to speak. We went for a sharing platter for two. This was freshly prepared and came with all the different dips. The BBQ chicken was more like garlic chicken though. For mains we got Nasi Goreng with Chicken and Vietnamese Pho with Chicken - both came promptly after our starters and piping hot and full of flavour. We were really full but the dessert menu was tempting! Not your usual desert spread, there were Asian twists on new classics, including freshly deep fried churros with cinnamon sugar and dipping chocolate! Mmm! We took this to share and finished it off with fresh mint tea. When we paid, we even got a voucher for a free "small plate" on our next visit! Cash back! read more

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I love the range and variety of Asian dishes at Tampopo: you'll find a Thai Tom Kha next to Korean Chap Chai and Phillipino Chicken Adobo on the menu, and like Wagamama's everything between £6-8 for a main. The food it very well presented, well, seasoned, and unlike Wagamama's, never bland. The style is much like the other Asian canteens where you sit at long tables, so this isn't somewhere you'd want to be if you wanted privacy. The staff are very quick and efficient and their policy here is to get the dishes out within 10 minutes so it's also a great place to come for a quick lunch. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Tampopo typifies one of my favourite types of restaurant: the local chain which embarrasses the big boys. A Manchester establishment, Tampopo makes Wagamama and most of the other imitators look like a bunch of amateurs and never gives you a bad meal. With several locations around Manchester City Centre and dishes full of flavour (as well as a varied menu) there is simply no reason not to head here whenever you want a stir fry, soup noodle, or the like. Prices are reasonable, particularly the lunch deal which is frankly generous. My only issue is the starters which are a bit pricey, an issue in all restaurants of this type unfortunately. read more

Reading one of my fellow Yelper's reviews of a bistro in Redondo Beach earlier reminded me it's been at least a couple of weeks since I ate my favourite dish at Tampopo. It's called Gaeng Keow Wan and it tastes mouth-wateringly good.Like Joan S's dish however, the flavour is so strong that it demands you stay home the next day and gargle mouthwash for hours! If you can cope with the anti-social aspect, Gaeng Keow Wan is a deliciously spicy green coconut curry that's made with prawns, sauteed onions, thai aubergines, asian basil and lime leaf. If you're after something equally delicious but less powerful, there's a variety of fresh east asian salads, sitr-fries, noodle and rice dishes, pad thais and soup dishes like pho beef, chicken tom kha and chicken laska. There's also great starters / small dishes like prawn and chicken skewers, yakitori, tempura, gyozas and coconut prawns. The bustling atmosphere, friendly staff and great food make Tampopo a good place for a first or second date. Just don't pick the Gaeng Keow Wan! read more

Delicious! Prawn crackers and chilli/salted edamame beans with a Asahi beer while we were perused the menu, then chicken satay skewers and duck red Thai curry followed. Really can't fault this experience, the food was spot on with amazing flavour (although I wasn't so keen on the lychee in the curry) and the service was super quick and friendly. Great meal! Word of advice - make sure your seat has a little cushion in place or ask for one! read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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How have I not reviewed this Tampopo yet? I completely thought I had. Man, I love the Tampopo franchise. The thinnest vermicelli noodles, so thin that Rachel Zoe wants to be their stylist. And the most see-through glass noodles, so see-through you'll barely be able to find them with your chopsticks. I have several Tampopo faves that I find myself returning to time and again, rather like with Wagamama, and it makes me feel reet proper boring. I've had the Chap Chae so many times, but it's delicious I tells ya. Just the right combination of spicy and sweet. I've also had the Pad Thai and the red curry, and they're awesome. I can't wait to try even more dishes and be adventurous! The starters here are amazing, with delicious gyozas, veggie fritters, tasty skewers and my favourite coconut prawns. Also the spicy crackers with sweet chilli dip they bring you at the beginning go down an absolute storm. This is a more intimate and basic Tampopo than the one at the Triangle, and I know this was the first one but I do prefer the atmosphere of the second. This one fills up quite quickly and it can be tricky to get a table, plus occasionally it can feel a little claustrophobic. But these things are only minor, and certainly if I'm about the Town Hall I'll always consider this for lunch. I recently took two of my in-laws here, sister and mum, and they both loved it. The Express lunch menu is unbelievable value for money too! read more

Tasty food, good value, and very quick. A few of us from work went here to grab some food one evening. Despite different tastes and dietary needs we were all able to order something to suit us, and they were happy to switch up ingredients when asked. Prawn crackers were delicious with a real prawn flavour and came with a deliciously spicy chilli sauce. For a main course I had Yaki Udon - Udon noodles with chicken, prawn, mussels and squid. There were only two mussels in the whole dish but there was a decent amount of the other ingredients, including the squid which was really well cooked and not chewy at all. The flavours of the dish were superb but I couldn't resist adding soy sauce and sriracha at the table. The price for what I ate was really good value, especially considering how much I enjoyed my meal. I'd be really happy going back here to grab a bite to eat. read more

Great for informal dining and for when your a bit short on time. I've eaten here before taking off to the royal exchange theatre. They do mixed Asian cuisine so you can get dishes from Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam. I dined with a friend and we went for the starter platter to share, although we did get a touch of food envy as the people sat next to us (you dine on long benches so not great if you fancy an intimate dinner a deux) had some interesting looking prawns on sugar canes. Platter was good, fresh and filling. I went for a Vietnamese noodle based dish with chicken which was very fresh - can't remember what it was called so ill have to pop back so i can update the review as it was nicely spiced and tasty. If you sign up to their mailing list they give you bottle of fizz fir your birthday which is nice read more

Love this place. A great place to eat with friends. Authentic flavours,amazing smells. From the extensive menu, I selected Bo Luc Lac (Shaking Beef) for the main,which was amazing and to start, Prawn Tempura. I love the atmosphere in here. Highly recommend:) read more

Great, reasonably priced restaurant in Manchester that some locals told us about. Tampopo is an Asian fusion restaurant with cuisine from around Asia and a map of where each entree is from. Its a creative idea and filled my craving for rice. Of course i craved rice and ordered Singapore noodles. They were really good, Tampopo definitely knew how to work with spices to bring out flavors. read more

Tampopo, where do I begin. Ok so the service was fast, friendly and efficient, that's where the compliments end. The food was very mediocre, I've had better Asian cuisine in my local Chinese takeaway. I had the imperial rice with prawns, squid and other meats. It. Contained 2 prawns, 3 pieces of small squid and not much else to be honest and for 12 quid I expected more. I was left hungry and had to go to home sweet home for dessert.. The rice was nice but just wasn't anything other than that. read more

Tampopo - Imperial rice dish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Number one reason to come here? Delicious fresh food. The chefs at Tampopo know what they are doing and it shows in the dishes. I've been here a few times and everytime the helpful wait staff serve a dish I am always stunned by how freshly cooked it tastes. The flavours too are wonderful and very different to most asian restauraunts, one of my favourites is the addition of peanuts to many dishes, very tasty indeed. The atmosphere is nice. It's a cosy place with an open kitchen so you can always see what's going on and this serves to fill the eating space with a nice ambient noise. Don't go here if you are looking for somewhere very quiet. The only letdown is the (male) toilets. I have no idea what female toilets are like but the male toilets are tiny and cramped. Literally one toilet and one urinal complemented by one sink. It's just about enough for the restuarant but very awkward and not great. I will return in the future simply because the food is sooo nice and the prices are very fair. read more

Wandering around Manchester looking for somewhere to have a late meal, we stumbled across Tampopo and decided to give it a whirl, having enjoyed meals at Umami recently. The interior is really nice, although Sparky did think there was a bit of a late 90s vibe to some of the decor. We were seated promptly and the staff were very friendly, attentive - and our waiter was also knowledgeable about the different dishes which was nice to see. The menu is themed around countries with dishes with similar flavours and style grouped by geography. Maybe I'm not explaining it well... but suffice it to say if you want a particular type of dish, there's some colour codings in the menu which help you find similar dishes. I went for chicken adobo, Sparky went for his long time favourite Singapore noodles. The chicken was great, but unfortunately the rice which came with it was somewhat undercooked (still crunchy in places!). The sweet potato chips which came with it were lovely though. Sparky's noodles were nice, but he said he'd had better. It's a nice place with nice food and I'd probably come back. I'd definitely prefer this to a big chain like Wagamama, but it's hard to get excited when Manchester has places like Umami which are more authentic and serve consistently great food. read more

A good selection of thai vietnamese chinese and other Asian cuisines. Great atmosphere with friendly staff. Great location by the Town Hall. Although I didn't choose my main well from the menu all my friends were happy. The starters are amazing with corn fritters topping the lot for me as well as the tempura vegetables. We had a voucher for 50% off which makes it taste even better. read more

Tampopo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I love Tampopo and it's all due to this branch. I went to the Trafford Centre one years ago and it was rubbish so I'd not been back since despite hearing how good this one and the Triangle's one was. One works do however, the choice was taken away from me and off we went to Albert Square. I was plesantly suprised by the amount on the menu and they had tons of seafood dishes too so I was made up. I ordered the sesame prawn skewers for a starter and they were utterly amazing. I've actually ordered them twice since for takeaway, they're just so good. For my main I had the Thai Panang Curry which was very fiery but absolutely gorgeous. Amazing flavours. The thing I really like about Tampopo is that it tells you where the influence has come from for each dish e.g. Thailand, Philippines, Maylasia, Sinapore. It really gives you a chance to sample loads of different cusines and it's really affordable too at around £7-£9 a for a main course. The seating plan is the same as Wagamammas so you're all in a row on benches which someone people really don't like, I don't think it's too bad but it obviously depends on how busy the restaurant is. They serve takeaway too and the prices are what you'd expect to pay from a takeaway place in town so it's not too bad. They're very fast too which is always a bonus. read more

Om nom nom! Great restaurant with decent prices, for me personally I would have liked a bit of sushi on the menu but that's just a personal preference. for 4 of us having a main meal each and a couple of portions of prawn crackers and edemamme to share and an alcoholic drink each it was £20 each including tip which I think is really reasonable for city centre. its lots of long tables with stools so you get cosy with your neighbours which i'm not overly over the moon about but i can live with it. The edemamme were beautifully seasoned with salt and chilli and you got a decent sized portion, I opted for the katsu curry and it was really well cooked and flavourful with yummy sticky rice and a delicious katsu sauce. the staff were really attentive and friendly and really efficient, I would definatley head back here next time i'm in Manchester. My friends all really enjoyed their dishes too and they all looked really well presented read more

Tampopo's! I love Tampopo to bits! It introduced me to amazing south Asian cuisine and I've never not liked anything here. I always made it a point to try something different each time I came here. This branch, I tried the big soup bowls which is just £7 and can fill 2 people easily! It's the biggest soup bowl with literally anything and everything from noodles, seafood, vegetables and more! The kimchi is out of the world and the staff very polite and friendly! They often help you pick out the best in case you're confused. A great place to come for dinner or lunch. It has relaxed atmosphere and ambience to go with! read more

This place is probably most famous for it's signature dessert - a mango sorbet called 'Sweet Punani' (apparently this is the malaysian name for it or whatever but i've been to malaysia and never saw this on the menu at any respectable establishment, trust me. And I don't even like sorbet). Other than that, Tampopo can only offer a complete facsimile of Wagamama - fast immitation asian style food for a tenner. "Nowt" special. read more

I enjoyed thier South Asian foods very much , however I was very disappointed with ramen, Japanese noodle. It did not taste ramen as I knew at all. It does not taste anything, very poor flavour. I wonder if they have ever tasted ramen in Japan Apart from that, this is good restaurant. Staff are friendly and restaurant is clean and very lively. I also like the name, tampopo, very sweet! read more

This place seems to have changed a lot over the years, and if you go after reading this review, then you will undoubtedly see further changes, as it is currently closed for some sort of makeover for a fortnight. Tampopo is situated in a most inviting part of Manchester, in a well-lit, airy basement on Albert Square. Any approach across the square is sure to kindle a sense of civic admiration amongst visitors to the city, and re-kindle a sense of civic pride amongst its citizens. The square itself is flagged in patterns that remind me of Red Square during the Cold War. Despite never having been there nor having seen any pictures. On the occasions when it's not hidden beneath the tents and tables of the many visiting markets and mini-festivals that afford the city a continental air these days, I often long to stride purposefully across its cobbles, patting myself about the chest in a theatrical effort to stimulate body heat and fend off another onslaught from the Siberian winter. Tampopo offers up its delicately beautiful countenance by way of a remarkable contrast to the northern aspects of Albert Square and its elaborately gothic town hall. The merest glimpse into the basement restaurant from the pavement outside is enough to transport the casual pedestrian into an oasis of Eastern cullinary delight. Large, Japanese-style, tables stretch across the length of the dining area neatly flanked by a series of attendant benches that snuggle up to the mothership, afraid to stray to far. Though Lord knows why: this is a congenial restaurant where it would be difficult not to smile and exchange a few pleasantries with one's dining neighbour, and the waiting-on staff are well-mannered and attentive. Service comes with a smile and they are consitently well-informed. The menu stretches from starters of the steamed dumpling, deep-fried prawns variety and then dishes from all over the Orient are listed in considerable detail and organised into categories according to country of origin and type of dish - e.g. curries, flat noodle dishes, soups etc. Choosing can again be difficult as the choice initially appears overwhelming. Spice strength indicators are a helpful hint at this point for the diner who is unfamiliar with Oriental cuisine. There is a good range of Asian beers in the form of a selection of premium lagers such as Cobra, Tiger and less well-known Japanese imports. The beers are a good crisp and clean accompaniment to the hotter dishes, although they come at a premium price too. But one of the best things about Tampopo is its situation: poised at a strategic vantage point between two halves of contemporary Manchester - head along Cross Street and the Northern Quarter beckons, head towards St Peter's Square and the traditional student corridor pans out along Oxford Road; similarly the temptations of Deansgate are also less than a ten minute walk away. Like the fantastic film from which it takes its name, that has never been released on DVD, Tampopo could one day be the stuff of legends. read more

First visit to Tampopo and was wondering how the menu worked, fear not the phenomenal waiting staff took you through it step by step. Food was exceptional and only bettered by the service, the place was rammed but the three waitresses were on top of everything and superb. Great selection of food and can't wait to return read more

Good food in a good location. I have never been to Tampopo before and went early evening for an eastern cuisine deal which was a starter and main for about £8. This was good value and the choice was pretty good. The food came quickly and was really good although not quite as good as it is in Asia but thats the case with all restaurants. Its just a tad disappointing when you order something to bring back holiday memories and its never quite the same. The layout and atmosphere was like Wagamamas but slightly better as there were a few smaller tables you could have to yourself. All in all i was very impressed and for the price would recommend it. read more

There are many things wrong with chain restaurants: The food is all the same, the interior is uniform and there is no atmosphere whatsoever. Tampopo is a chain restaurant yet somehow manages to stay fresh, zingy and fun. Yes, the menu is the same at each of the Manchester branches, but with such a great menu you can understand why. With a selection of South East Asian food spreading from creamy Penang Curries to crispy Gzoya Dumplings, Tampopo selects the essence of each country and produces a few key dishes from the region. Unlike other chains like Pizza Express who reheat a lot of pre-prepared meals, Tampopo's chefs cook everything fresh in front of you. The waiting staff are pleasant and attentive without lingering around for tips or getting in the way. The decor in the Albert Square branch is clean, simple and welcoming. With warm colours and long wooden benches to eat from (noodle bar style), Tampopo is a great place to bring large groups as you can all bunch up together. There is a great lunchtime deal which offers a starter and main, or a main and dessert from a set menu for an excellent £5.95. Pop into this branch, or the one in the Triangle, and set your snobbery aside. read more

Pretty reliable food in a central location. I am sure there are more interesting places to grab a bite but this is good food cooked well, and quickly, with reasonable prices. I'm afraid I can't remember exactly what I got but it was a lovely Korean dish that was generous and filling. I'd visit again happily! read more

My favourite noodles and Asian food. I don't really like the new decor but I love yasai gyosa. If you're in Manchester you won't go wrong eating here. read more

Tasty east Asian food served promptly with a smile. Evocative of the Wagamama experience, but the menu ranges more widely. The tables are communal, but you've separate seats. The paper place mat illustrate geographically the source of your dish: maybe a little cheesy, but I like it. I can't vouch for authenticity of each dish, but can say the platter to share makes a fun starter. I prefer the Nasi Goreng served in Mao and the Korean Rare Beef salad is overpowered by spring onion. The curries I tried were all enjoyable. I'd happily return and recommend it to friends. Try the homemade lemonade: refreshing, with hint of mint. read more

This is a quirky, below street level, authentic restaurant that provides a good selection of Asian cuisine. The dining area is quaint with a mixture of length tables, although on the larger tables you may not be separated from other customers if it's busy. There is some space to hang coats etc but it could be disturbing to other customers and you cannot really hang things with you as the seating is small stools that are fixed to the ground. You can see all the food being prepared and cooked fresh as you have direct access to view the kitchen and that's very interesting to watch. read more

Really nice food, but a little pricey. Good place for food before The Albert Hall.

A winner of a place this. Offering great asian food (indonesian, vietnamese, thai and malaysian) at really cheap prices. Its in a small but light underground place on Albert Square, and generally you sit at long shared tables. Its not candlelit and romantic but its perfectly possible to have a private conversation. There are a few set meals (the Eastern Express being notable for its 2 course for £6.95 offer) and a short menu, but it doesn't matter what you order as its all tasty. Alcohol is available, but this is more a quick stop off place than a lingerer. But go! Its great. read more

Tampopo is an informal, pan asian restaurant serving dishes from all over. I went recently and was pleased to see it was much improved from the last time, with a better menu and a range of condiments and sauces on the tables to go with your meal. They have dispensed with the benches too, so you get a bit more privacy and you aren't sitting on top of your neighbour. I had the chicken laksah, which was really lovely. For me, Tampopo is similar to, although much better than Wagmama's which I find a bit sterile and conveyor-belty. read more

This is the original Tampopo in Albert Square - tucked downstairs in a contemporary space. Food is unusual and tasty - especially the tempura veg and the coconut prawns .. i don't even like coconut and they were delicious!! Very reasonably priced and very attentive service. A good value night out read more

Lovely corn fritters and other starters, but recommend street food been boring and too dry. Not impressed and not coming back.. just not my type place it is... read more

me and my friend went in for our noodles. When the noodles arrived we quickly tucked into the meal only to find in my friends dish , the noodles still uncooked and raw in a peice under the veg and meat it was just uncooked bathing in the soup. Obviusly complained about it but they just changed the noodles they didnt even change the veg and meat on top!!! read more

My favourite restaurant in Manchester. No processed, microwaved food here. Wonderful flavours. I prefer this place as they dont over sauce the food with soy sauce. Very reasonable prices. Although I would like to request better quality chicken as it tastes cheap. read more

Overseas Filipinos, do not be tempted by Tampopo's Chicken Adobo. It is a far cry from the simple, garlic-onion-soy sauce-vinegar-and-meat soul food that you know and love. Tampopo's adobo amounts a Chinese stir-fry served with a spoon and fork. The proportions were all off: too much broccoli, not enough chicken; the sauce had too much corn starch, and not nearly enough vinegar. Also, the meat was all boneless white meat. I'd give Tampopo another chance: the pho's and pad thais looked all right. read more

Went there with my boyfriend for a meal out after work - restaurant wasnt particulary busy. Spent ages waiting to be served, the pork gyoza were not cooked properly and horrible, the replacement veggie ones werent much better. my pad thai was OK, and boyfriends beef dish was passable. Spent another age waiting to pay, and when I complained about having to pay for the gyoza, waited AGAIN to see the manager. I've visited this branch before and it's was never this awful! Think I'll be sticking to Wagamama in the future. read more

Great food for value. The service is very good as well. The menu has everything you need and has dishes from a lot of different Asian countries, it is not an exhaustive list of unknowns which is good. The food is served fast and very tasty. Nice place to go for a semi casual night or just night out with friends. Very affordable as well. Very similar to wagamama; probably cheaper though. Only inconvenient point for some maybe is that you sometimes have to sit next to people you don't know since it is just several really long tables; this didn't bother me at all though. Had a awesome night. read more