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Everyone has a favorite local Chinese food to take away. But not everyone is the same. Some stand out from the rest, and while a counterfeit sweet and sour taste may come out of dozens of giant kitchens in Greater Manchester, they are small touches.
In an effort to locate the most productive spot for a takeaway chow mein, crispy duck, dumplings, and fried rice, we compared the 3 top-rated places in the domain compared to others. With some settings set on the TripAdvisor review site, via Region, Total Score, Total Value (we opted for the mid-range) – the search has been refined.
The Rice Bowl on Cross Street is a bit of an establishment and still sits on the top steps of the city’s best takeout restaurants, thanks to a very impressive score of 4. 5 out of five out of nearly 2,000 visitor reviews. More than a part of them rate it as “excellent”.
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Then there’s Rainbow 88 on Cheadle, another score of 4. 5, which has been in the same circle of relatives for nearly 25 years. “.
Finally, there’s the maple at Marple Bridge, which achieves five stars from over 800 reviews. In fact, it’s hard to find a bad word about them, with accumulating praise among repeat customers and new customers.
So, with some parameters also in place: an order of meatballs, crispy duck, bird chow mein, a plate of fried rice, curry sauce and a homemade specialty compatible with takeaway, we set out to find the best Chinese takeaway in Greater Manchester.
Rainbow 88
Owner Linda Lam is a legend in those regions. Originally from Fleetwood, he worked in Hong Kong before returning to the UK, working in kin circle restaurants in Maidstone and Sterling before moving to Stockport and setting up Rainbow 88 in Cheadle. Hulme district in 1999. Since then, he has run a successful business that remains popular more than 20 years later and has raised thousands of pounds for local causes and charities.
She’s going a long way to explain why Rainbow 88 remains one of the most popular restaurants and takeaways in the area, and luckily for us, everything was on par on our recent visit. Those dim sum treats (£7. 50) are all about the dough, and in this case it’s perfect, with that glorious fine texture that melts in your mouth. And they didn’t skimp on a new shrimp deck either. Just regret it?Don’t rub them with some chili sauce to brighten things up.
As for the chow mein bird (£13. 90), the silky, shiny texture of the bird was a delight, while the crunchy vegetables created a much-needed texture. However, and this is only a small concern, the noodles were missing a little, they lacked a little tenderness, and it ended up knotting. The crispy, fragrant duck (£15. 50), meanwhile, started strong, that satisfying crunch when forks brushed against perfectly icy skin, prompting exceptions, but plummeting when the meat was dry to taste.
The menu at Rainbow 88 is extensive to say the least, but when it came time to choose a special dish, it was a no-brainer. has jumped. Dipped in a murky sauce of black pepper with chunks of garlic, tender onion and pepper floating on top, those that stood out from the takeaway, tender and more sweet tooth, were frankly promoted to the upper steps of the menu.
With some weekend discounts applied, it returns to £48. 80, which seemed very low for what in the reflected image was a fake 7 out of 10.
The rice bowl
Long established on Cross Street, there can’t be many Chinese food enthusiasts who haven’t met at some point at the Rice Bowl. Although not in China Town proper, it is as well known as many highlights around Faulkner and George. Street.
And judging by this week’s visit, it’s quite justified, even if it comes at a price. The siu mai meatballs (£5. 95) were fat and obviously homemade. While many would not dream of serving the frozen versions that are covered directly by steamboat, have them from time to time.
The theses were excellent, however, drizzled with mild soy sauce when they returned home. The crispy duck (£14. 95) came crumbled from the bone in his aluminium bag, saving him a job, taunting him with forks. Salty and salty, but maybe not a great example of this king of Cantonese dishes. It’s as smart as any other, and while it might be among the most popular takeout options possible, there’s no doubt that it’s the most productive thing served in a restaurant.
The chow mein bird (£13. 50) arrived with soft egg noodles, the perfectly velvety bird (the procedure in which it marinates in cornmeal and egg white before frying) and crispy vegetables. The special fried rice (£14. 50) hearty with shrimp and char sui pork, but it was the special Mongolian lamb (£15. 95) that raised the bar, spicier than the same old Cantonese food and seasoned with dried lime. It’s excellent.
However, the price tag is shocking, for over £64, you can comfortably feed 4 adults.
Maple
They say you have to save the last one for last, and although it is possibly a bit cliché, in the case of The Maple Tree, they are valuable topics. After a few minutes of walking around the bar, it’s easy to see why. We would possibly base those reviews primarily on the food, but the owner Sunny is an act of elegance, which seems like a real interest in my day so far: close friends and circle of relatives are taking note of this, while explaining all the dishes stacked in the plastic takeaway bag.
Setting the tone in the best way, the Siu Mai meatballs (£5), necessarily red meat and shrimp on the floor in packs of Moreish wonton, have the best mouthfeel with the shrimp chopped into large pieces to give it that touch of texture, and the juicy red meat giving it the all-important bounce. Throwing the curry sauce (£3) into the fried egg (£4) works well, mixing the two is an ideal prepared meal.
I don’t know what they did with the crispy duck (£13. 50), but it’s spectacular. That perfectly crispy skin is hard to find, as is the super sweet duck meat beneath the surface, but it’s clear that a lot of love went into perfecting this recipe. The sophisticated aroma of star anise fills the air as we tear apart the tender and crunchy duck, before temporarily catching the next pancake – it’s too smart to share.
Similarly, the bird chow mein gives noodles with an almost al dente texture, while the bird has a lustrous shine and the vegetables crunch very well. with a light, sensitive and crunchy layer. Topped with salt and pepper in the mouth, they are the best end to an epic Chinese takeaway. The winner is clear, but if it’s up for debate, it’s also the cheapest at £44. 50.