Best Street Food in Manchester

Known as a foodie heaven, many people visit Manchester simply for the infinite variety of food you can enjoy here. Wherever you visit, you won’t be far from a unique and mouthwatering bite to eat from a variety of cuisines.

At CrossCountry, we’re exploring the best food you can eat with your hands (or a tiny wooden fork). Here’s where to find the best street food in Manchester and how to get there from Manchester Piccadilly station.

Best Street Food Markets in Manchester

Manchester’s street food markets have something for anyone and everyone, regardless of your favourite flavours or dietary requirements. Browse stalls from all over the world, sit down with friends, and try something fresh and exciting with every new visit.

Mackie Mayor

Back in the Victorian times, Smithfield Market Hall was buzzing with life. Traders bellowing their best deals to anyone who’d listen, while bargain-hunters haggled and bartered. You could find everything from fresh meat and fish to crates of fruit and vegetables.

Today, only one of the original market buildings remains, but it still carries that same energy. Inside is Mackie Mayor, a food hall that captures the zest of the old market, but with much more enticing smells!

There’s so much good food to try here: Honest Crust’s sourdough pizzas, Pico’s frozen margaritas, and Tender Cow’s steak sandwiches. Take a seat on one of the long communal tables and enjoy the atmosphere. Mackie Mayor is about fifteen minutes walking distance from Manchester Piccadilly.

Freight Island

Head to the old Mayfield Depot, just two minutes from Manchester Piccadilly station, and visit Freight Island. An open-air food market with live DJs, pop-up kitchens, and a diverse menu filled with international street food, Freight Island is a space filled with culinary delights.

Even on a drizzly Manchester day, Freight Island feels like a trip around the world. You might start with tequeños and tajadas from Mia’s Arepas, move on to arancini or pappardelle at Ornella’s Little Kitchen, and finish with flavour-packed fried chicken from Pattersons.

Authentic Asian Street Food in Manchester

Street food in Manchester hails from all four corners of the world, but it particularly excels in authentic Asian cuisine. From broth to bao buns to biryani, you’ll feel transported far beyond this city with every bite. Check out some of our go-to spots for delicious Asian street food.

ZAAP Thai Street Food

ZAAP Thai is inspired by the street food markets of Bangkok. Neon signs, colourful lights, and street art adorn the walls. The menu is just as colourful with authentic classics, like Thai fish cakes, spring rolls, plant-based Tom Yum, and Pad See Aew.

You can also find ZAAP in various other locations across the UK, including in Sheffield and Nottingham. Check out our guide to street food in Sheffield to discover more delicious markets and stalls in the North of England.

Take the tram from Piccadilly Gardens to St Peter’s Square, and ZAAP Thai Street Food is five minutes' walking distance from there.

Suki Suki

Suki Suki on Deansgate is dedicated to distilling the flavours of East Asia into your lunch. Choose amongst bao buns, ramen, curries, and big bowls of Pad Thai, Yaki Udon, and Steak Canton. Every dish is bursting with flavour.

To reach Suki Suki from Piccadilly station, take the train to St Peter’s Square, and it’s an eight-minute walk from there. Alternatively, you can walk the whole way in twenty-two minutes.

Yes Lah

Yes Lah is a Filipino establishment serving street food dishes you don’t often see elsewhere in Manchester. Lugaw, for example, is a savoury porridge served with crispy tofu puffs, pickled ginger, onions, and more. You could always try Pancit, a stir-fried noodle staple, or Chicken Adobo, braised chicken thigh with plenty of flavour.

Yes Lah is located in West Didsbury, which you can reach by tram or bus from Manchester Piccadilly.

Best Vegan Street Food in Manchester

Some of the best vegan food in the UK can be found in Manchester, but we don’t always have time for a sit-down meal. Luckily, for every vegan restaurant, you can also find some fantastic grab-n-go grub. These are our favourite plant-based street food establishments in Manchester.

Wholesome Junkies

Wholesome Junkies live up to their name with a menu full of guilt-free, nourishing street food. It’s hard to say what they’re more famous for: their delicious burgers or the vivid purple paper those burgers are wrapped in.

As well as their permanent spot in the Northern Quarter, you might also find Wholesome Junkies at a range of UK festivals. In 2025, their pink and purple shack made appearances at Glastonbury, Boomtown, Shambala, and more.

Wholesome Junkies is a six-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly – easy!

Vegan Shack

Vegan Shack started as a dream to share uncompromisingly good plant-based street food, and they’ve managed to do just that in both Manchester and London. Enjoy vegan burgers, chick’n wings, wraps, loaded fries, and more from their exciting menu.

The milkshakes are especially delicious; made with oats and plant milk, you can enjoy salted caramel shakes to Oreo shakes. Or why not try their monthly shake? Previous flavours have included honeycomb, tiramisu, and churro.

Manchester’s Vegan Shack is located in Piccadilly Gardens, a short walk from the train station.

If you’re planning to try some street food in Manchester, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.

Info

At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.