It’s January and everyone is looking for a cheap bite to eat after December’s excesses (well I know I am). I went to Salford Quays’ new foodie haven Kargo’s Central Bay, to see if they had any weekday lunch deals to feed hungry Salfordians on a budget.
On my hunt for a cheap deal, I went to Nila’s Burmese Kitchen (NBK for short) during a busy Tuesday dinner rush. Online reviews were glowing for the Burmese street food pop-up which received the Manchester Food Festival’s “affordable eats award” in 2023.
It is offering lunch deals from £7.50 with a menu packed with curries ranging from pork, chicken, or beef to vegetarian options. Each meal includes jasmine rice, salad, and prawn crackers.
Choosing the Tamarind pork curry I placed my order and waited with a buzzer for it to be ready- watching the hall fill up with hungry office workers. I sat for no longer than five minutes before a steaming bowl of pork curry was ready for me at the counter, perfect for a rainy day in Salford. I paid £8.50 for my meal which included a drink. A student-friendly option for adventurous eaters.
Image credit- Thomas Whittleton
Melt-in-your-mouth tamarind pork was in excellent company with pickled cucumber side salad which added a freshness to the rich stewed curry, the jasmine rice was aromatic and fluffy. Giving flashes of the high-end Asian cuisine found across Greater Manchester but at a fraction of the price.
Image credit- Joshua Eyre
I was seriously impressed with the meal. NBK is a not-so-hidden gem for anyone wanting to try Burmese cuisine, which is something that is often overlooked in a sea of Thai and Vietnamese food spots.
The hall was jam-packed but the staff still had the time to provide smiley and talkative service, which is appreciated in the hospitality graveyard shift of January.
Other stalls are also offering lunchtime deals. Bab Korean Food is offering rice bowls and a drink for £8 (Mon-Fri 12-5pm), Locale Coffee is keeping people caffeinated with bottomless filter coffee or tea for just £6 ( Mon-Fri 9 am-3 pm) and Chuan Chuan is selling four skewers for £6 (Mon-Fri 11 am-5 pm).
Together they transported me back to the humid food markets and Instagram-friendly backpacker spots of South East Asia – and that’s a rare gem as storm Isha batters the windows in Salford.
Perfect for lunch breaks or dinner-time walks around the Quays. If you get better weather than I did, Central Bay’s food market is the place to go.
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