Top Ten Asian Restaurants in the North West

Gimmicks and great logos can only get you so far. But when it comes to meeting the high standards of food, service and décor you have to work a little harder.

10. East Z East, Preston
We have to admit we did not like this place when we first visited. In fact, we found the interior harsh and parts of the restaurant soulless. Sometimes brand names have to work a little harder to convince the die-hard curry fans that they are better than just a fancy name. But several visits later and we have to say it has made an impression. Well laid out and the range on the menu makes for some interesting dishes. Great presentation too and a good drinks menu.

9. Nawaab, Manchester
The only buffet restaurant on the list and there is a reason for it. Putting on a good buffet is tough as you have to make sure your food is fresh and you don’t try to confuse the punters. The Nawaab though puts on one hell of a buffet and they have been doing it for a while now. It doesn’t have the same power to enthral as it did on our first visit way back but it does have a habit of surprising you with a new dish every so often. Avoid the weekends though if you want a decent trouble free visit. 

(Picture: Yaya’s Facebook)

8. Yaya’s, Manchester
A great place if you are looking for a mix of steaks and traditional dishes. It has had a makeover in recent years and it needed it to be honest. The old place had certainly had its day.  The food though was always the real attraction as well as a range of drinks. Yes, we agree on occasions it can be very busy but the staff do make up for the slightly cramped interior. As meals go though one must say ‘yah’ to this joint.

(Picture: www.bukharasamlesbury.co.uk)

7. Bukhara Samlesbury
The Bukhara sent the trend when it opened and took Asian cuisine to another level. There was a real focus on presentation and many restaurants followed suit to raise the game when it came to signature Asian dishes. We would have to say this restaurant needs a slight makeover but Bukhara is still up there with the best.  Originality counts a lot. That’s why this Bukhara and not the two others that have recently opened under the same brand make our list. You still have to go a long way to beat the starters here and the ‘leg of lamb kings’ are still a force to be reckoned with.

6. My Lahore, Manchester
You will be surprised to learn this is the only restaurant on the world famous Wilmslow Road that makes this list.  My Lahore makes the list because on the whole the food is good. Of course, the place is let down a little by the service and sometimes you do actually feel like walking straight out but like an ex-girlfriend you end up returning on your hands and knees. Five of our reviewers just could not get enough of the Karahi dish.

5. Rump ‘n’ Ribs, Manchester
Small it may be but it certainly pulls a punch. Great steaks and for those of us who want to really savour the sirloin steaks of the highest standards then you could just take a gander to Oxford Street. When someone goes out of their way to source the best produce it actually does show and on several visits here we have been impressed with not only the quality of the steaks but the side dishes. You may well serve one hell of a steak but when the sides knock you back a couple of quid you don’t want to be short changed. Sit back, eat and sleep it off. Then return when you have enough money.

4. Kebabish Original Blackburn
If you are looking for a traditional Indian/Pakistani meal then the Kebabish is without a doubt the place to go. The great marks on Trip Advisor don’t lie – the food and service here is of a high standard. A good menu and interior renovations recently have helped to glam up the restaurant. But we don’t go here for the way it looks– we make repeat visits here because you get a fantastic meal for a decent price. It is the type of place to take your mother and wait until she says… ‘That’s just like how mum used to make it back home.’ Ask for the VIP saag ghost. Do it.

(Picture: www.vermilion.uk.com)

3. Vermilion
There are few restaurants that have the ‘wow’ factor as much as this. Here you can order high quality Thai and Indian food and it comes in a setting which still boggles the mind at every visit. Yes, when this first opened we were taken aback by the amount of unnecessary bling. But it works. It would have been easy to make us marvel at the interior and then serve up sub-standard dishes. They manage to find new and ingenious ways of keeping us coming back for more. Oh, they have a wedding and banqueting suite here now too. And that’s just as marvellous.

2. Scene Manchester
This place has only been open a few years but the street food concept is unique and has made a real impression with diners. Yes, you could go for the traditional dishes but why would you when you can sample the delectable range of meals served here. Unlike many other Asian restaurants, the interior is a little more understated. And the look works. A bit pricey but we are talking about Spinningfields in central Manchester but you seriously cannot beat this place on a long hot summer Saturday evening. It hits the number two spot for many defining reasons but none more so than this one - it tries hard not to be magnificent…but it is.

1. Asha’s Manchester
We are not taken in by ‘posh upmarket’ type restaurants but here at Asha’s one could not help to be impressed with the level of detail they put into your experience. The food and presentation is exquisite to say the least and the service when we visited was second to none. The restaurant has a wonderfully simple menu with fantastic vegetarian options and a dessert list to die for. Whilst the food may not be to everyone’s taste – we even spotted lobster on the list (Lobster Panchphoran) – there is something quite unique about Asha’s that gives it that eloquence and elegance of the very singer it is named after. Simple, exquisite and divine. Did we say it is also listed in the 2018 Michelin Guide?