{"id":9323,"date":"2026-10-05T18:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T18:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/9323\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T18:50:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T18:50:00","slug":"celebrity-chef-james-martin-closes-manchester-restaurant-after-more-than-a-decade-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/9323\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrity chef James Martin closes Manchester restaurant after more than a decade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"category\">Eats<\/p>\n<p>              23 of the very best burgers in Manchester city centre and the boroughs beyond<\/p>\n<p>                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cropped-158583846_487147449326953_4216932462616341508_n-96x96.jpeg\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"avatar rounded-circle lazyload\" alt=\"Danny Jones\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 40px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 40\/40;\"\/><br \/>\n                    Danny Jones<\/p>\n<p>              <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/almost-famous-180325-DH-themancgroup-5-scaled.jpg\" class=\"img-fluid w-100 featured wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"New Almost Famous owners praised for 'honest' statement about burger joint\" decoding=\"async\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1920px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1920\/2560;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Like any normal human being, we Mancs love a good burger and, luckily for you, Greater Manchester has some of the best burgers you\u2019ll find anywhere in the country \u2013 even if we do say so ourselves.<\/p>\n<p>With tonnes of brilliant burger spots dotted all over Manchester city centre and the surrounding region, whether you\u2019re into the high-end offerings at Hawksmoor or the outrageous towers at Almost Famous and Yard and Coop, 0161 has you covered.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s even room for some solid chains on this list as well, and while the likes of Maccies and Burger King might not have me the cut, we\u2019re not going to pretend we don\u2019t indulge in the odd big-name brand from time to time; we still consider some to be among the best burgers in and around Manchester.<\/p>\n<p>Manchester is chocked full of an endless list of eateries serving up some of the most impressive patties you\u2019ll quite possibly ever see in your life, and we\u2019re really not exaggerating, so no matter if you\u2019re a meat lover, chicken fanatic, veggie or vegan, there truly is something for everyone to tuck into in our city.<\/p>\n<p>The best burger places Greater Manchester has to offer<\/p>\n<p>1. Almost Famous \u2013 Northern Quarter<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"616179\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/almost-famous-180325-DH-themancgroup-5-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"New Almost Famous owners praised for 'honest' statement about burger joint\" class=\"wp-image-616179 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"616185\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/almost-famous-180325-DH-themancgroup-11-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-616185 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><br \/>\nAlmost Famous undoubtedly offers up some of the best burgers in Manchester (Credit: The Manc Eats)<\/p>\n<p>Almost Famous is a name that\u2019s pretty much synonymous with burgers here in Manchester, and as the name would suggest, it\u2019s now so well-known it would be daft not to start off this list with one of the first burger spots that comes to mind.<\/p>\n<p>Fan-favourite burgers include the \u2018Unabomber\u2019 double cheeseburger with chorizo, the \u2018Awesome HQ\u2019, which has two beef and two chicken patties, as well as our personal favourite: the \u2018Butter, Blood and Blue\u2019 with \u2018wonderbuttered\u2019 steak and peppercorn sauce.<\/p>\n<p>They may have gone through a bit of a topsy-turvy couple of years, with all sites sadly closing before the original NQ home was resurrected, but the new management has got things back on track, and the food is as good as ever.<\/p>\n<p>2. Slap and Pickle \u2013 Society<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"556606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/slap-n-pickle-manchester-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"best burgers spots manchester\" class=\"wp-image-556606 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"556607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/slap-and-pickle-society-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"best burger places manchester\" class=\"wp-image-556607 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><br \/>\nVery few frills, just plenty of flavour. (Credit: The Manc Group)<\/p>\n<p>Not just one of the best-named burger places ever, but genuinely one of our favourite arrivals in Manchester city centre of late, Slap and Pickle is a very solid entry on this list.<\/p>\n<p>Serving up their burgers from Manc favourite food hall Society, S&amp;P don\u2019t just offer great choices for the carnivores but some pretty bloody good plant-based options as well.<\/p>\n<p>From classics like the \u2018Personal Cheesus\u2019 and \u2018Baconator\u2019 to the \u2018Double Double Trouble\u2019 (yes, four patties) and the sweet but fiery \u2018Smokin\u2019 Bun\u2019, we haven\u2019t tried a single one we didn\u2019t like yet.<\/p>\n<p>3. Honest Burgers \u2013 Spinningfields<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"556608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/honest-burgers-manchester-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"best burger chains UK\" class=\"wp-image-556608 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"632414\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/honest-burgers-sides-menu-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"honest burger spinningfields\" class=\"wp-image-632414 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><br \/>\nIt doesn\u2019t matter how big they get, Honest Burgers will always be one of the best in the UK, in our opinion (Credit: The Manc)<\/p>\n<p>While this rapidly growing chain may be a very quick answer whenever someone asks you to think of somewhere to grab a good burger, it\u2019s for a very good reason: franchise or not, they\u2019re still very, very good, and anyone pretending otherwise is just lying.<\/p>\n<p>Honest Burgers have found a real home here among the people of Manchester, so much so that they even created their own Mancunian special: a beef burger with smoked bacon, cheddar, Honey Rum BBQ Sauce, oh-so-crispy shoestring fries, yellow pepper mayo, tomato, lettuce and onion. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a bit of us, alright, and it isn\u2019t just the fresh patties made by their own in-house butchery, those DAMN rosemary-salted chips have us smacking our lips and crawling back every single time.<\/p>\n<p>4. Little Brewski \u2013 central<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658042\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/little-brewski-021026-DH-themancgroup-1-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"Little Brewski is now open in Manchester city centre\" class=\"wp-image-658042 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658043\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/little-brewski-021026-DH-themancgroup-2-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"Little Brewski is now open in Manchester city centre\" class=\"wp-image-658043 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: The Manc Group<\/p>\n<p>If you like your meals meaty, you\u2019ll already know Brewski \u2013 and now the team have launched a brand-new concept in Manchester city centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At Little Brewski you\u2019ll find just five burgers on the menu, all made with top quality British Wagyu beef, with simple toppings chosen to show off the quality of the meat.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Inspiration comes from across the US, like the California-inspired The Bear, and the Ode to Cheval from Chicago.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>5. Yard &amp; Coop \u2013 NQ<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658044\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yard-coop-021026-DH-themancgroup--1280x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"Yard &amp; Coop\" class=\"wp-image-658044 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/1600;\"\/>Yard &amp; Coop<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"556611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yard-and-coop-burgers-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"yard and coop burgers\" class=\"wp-image-556611 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><br \/>\nWe still have days when we dream about that Great Kathmandu special \u2014 bring it back!<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s a chicken burger you\u2019re after, then you can\u2019t beat another NQ staple in Yard and Coop. A local institution for many years now, this absolute mecca of all things chicken, unsurprisingly, is just as good at sandwiching said chicken between bread as well.<\/p>\n<p>Home to cult classics like the \u2018I Don\u2019t Like Spam\u2019 (we do) and, of course, the aptly named and even more ridiculously-sized \u2018Massive Cock\u2019 \u2014 which has now been reworked as a spicy offering \u2014 we have never left this place without feeling like we haven\u2019t been absolutely stuffed. Why are you laughing?\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Never mind, just shut up and get your mouth around a load of cock and tasty buns.<\/p>\n<p>6. Brewski \u2013 Chorlton<\/p>\n<p>  @the.manc Have you seen this size of this? \ud83d\udc40 #manchester #greatermanchester #brewskis #ukfood #britishfood \u266c 1901 \u2013 Instrumental \u2013 Phoenix   <\/p>\n<p>We will literally NEVER get tired of eating at Brewski, and while we\u2019ll scran everything from their burritos and deep dish pizza to their succulent ribs and devilish desserts, their burgers really are the stuff of legend too.<\/p>\n<p>Name another place that does Korean fried chicken burgers with salt and pepper chips and an extra tub of katsu curry sauce for you to drizzle all over the gaff, or giant smash burgers with garlic parmesan fries and lashings of peppercorn sauce \u2014 we\u2019ll wait.<\/p>\n<p>Better still, this place\u2019s menu is always changing, which means two things: you\u2019ll never get bored of the food and, regardless of whether it\u2019s new or not, we can guarantee it\u2019ll be banging.<\/p>\n<p>7. Archie\u2019s \u2013 Oxford Road, Arndale, Piccadilly Station, Trafford Centre and Palazzo<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re dipping our toes back into burger chains and comfortably one of Manchester\u2019s most famous: the pretty pink neon-tinted cholesterol party that is Archie\u2019s. Still, at least you can now burn off those calories in a roller rink\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Started here in 0161 back in 2010, Archie\u2019s has gone on to be one of the biggest takeaway names in the UK and, despite how big they\u2019ve gotten, they still cook up some of the best burgers you\u2019ll find in Manchester \u2014 and plenty of them, too, boasting several sites, including a cool subway-style venue.<\/p>\n<p>Be it their very strong breakfast menu, classic burgers like \u2018The Superstar\u2019 and \u2018The Daddy\u2019, or their take on the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, there\u2019s a reason people keep coming back to their ever-expanding menu: it\u2019s absolutely mint.<\/p>\n<p>8. Burgerism \u2013 Piccadilly Gardens, Salford, Freight Island, Gatley, and Denton<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658045\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/burgerism-0210126-DH-themancgroup-1-1200x1600.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658045 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658046\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/burgerism-0210126-DH-themancgroup-2-1200x1600.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658046 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>From a burger joint that has already been fully franchised to one so good it is well and truly on its way, Burgerism genuinely might be one of the very best all-around burger places in Manchester and Britain, for our money.<\/p>\n<p>Starting out in Salford, there are now sites in Gatley and Denton, and they even offer a special delivery service around Manchester city centre from their purpose-built delivery-only kitchen over in Ardwick.<\/p>\n<p>We could bang on and on about how much we love this place, but we\u2019d be here all day; we reckon being officially voted one of the best in the country will do for now.<\/p>\n<p>9. MLK Burgers \u2013 Old Trafford<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/mlk-burger-021026-DH-themancgroup-2-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658048 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658047\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/mlk-burger-021026-DH-themancgroup-1-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658047 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: MLK Burgers (via Instagram)<\/p>\n<p>Next up is one that we\u2019re always baffled that more people don\u2019t know about it. We ordered one time on a drunken night in with mates and thought it was amazing, but had to go back to sober to confirm it was as good as we remembered: it was.<\/p>\n<p>Situated not far from the Trafford Bar tram stop, MLK Burgers\u2018 frontage alone stands out from most of the stuff around it as a place that puts thought into its food and its presentation \u2014 a first impression that is quickly confirmed the second you take a bite.<\/p>\n<p>From their no-nonsense \u2018Classic Angus\u2019 and popular \u2018Anday Wala\u2019 with a juicy shami kebab and omelette filling, to their signature MLK Burger with Black Angus beef, turkey bacon, a Nashville chicken fillet, hash browns and cheese, this lot push the boundary on burger combos and always deliver a good product.<\/p>\n<p>10. The Bun and Bones Club \u2013 Stockport<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1236\" height=\"1238\" data-id=\"556683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791226172_627_bun-and-bones-stockport.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-556683 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1236px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1236\/1238;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1184\" height=\"1232\" data-id=\"556684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791226175_502_waffle-burgers-manchester.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-556684 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1184px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1184\/1232;\"\/>Yes, that\u2019s a waffle burger\u2026<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1240\" height=\"1240\" data-id=\"556685\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791226178_182_bun-and-bones-specials.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-556685 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1240px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1240\/1240;\"\/><br \/>\nThese folks love mixing things up (Credit: The Bun &amp; Bones Club via Instagram)<\/p>\n<p>This is another spot that doesn\u2019t get talked about enough, but thankfully, we have a couple of people in the office who know a thing or two about Stockport and can gladly vouch for Bun and Bones being not only some of the best burgers in the town but also one of the best burger places in Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n<p>Known for ever-changing and highly experimental weekly specials, B&amp;B over in Hazel Grove isn\u2019t just a staple in the SK fast food scene, but they even won Best Takeaway in the North West back in 2021, which came as anything but a shock at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, their success has even helped them spawn sister spot Dough and Bones, but they\u2019ll forever be known as the kings of unique and clever burger creations. They\u2019ve put everything from steak and ale pie filling and crispy potato cakes, to pulled treacle ham, toffee apple chutney, Asian roast pork belly, homemade schnitzel and more on their burgers \u2014 and that was in the space of a month!<\/p>\n<p>11. Smashville Burger Co. \u2013 Oldham<\/p>\n<p>  @smashvilleuk Best petrol station in the North West? #petrolstation #petrolpump #food #burger #oldham #fyp #eating  #smashburger \u266c Sunroof \u2013 Nicky Youre &amp; dazy   <\/p>\n<p>Venturing even further out into Greater Manchester in search of the best burger places, we\u2019ll confess that we hadn\u2019t tried much-loved local eatery Smashville Burger UK until very recently, but it\u2019s safe to say we\u2019ve been sleeping far too long on this one.<\/p>\n<p>Having recently opened a second site in Bolton following the rave reviews from their first over in Oldham, the name is getting bigger and bigger, but the unique selling point of this brand is that it started out\u2026 in a petrol station.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s right, building on the gas station food culture that is so commonplace in America, Smashville made its name by serving as somewhat of a drive-thru whilst still slinging some of the most authentic smash burgers you\u2019ll find anywhere in the region. They do more than that, too, but we say start simple.<\/p>\n<p>12. Hawksmoor \u2013 Deansgate<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"556715\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/hawksmoor-burger-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-556715 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"986\" height=\"1236\" data-id=\"556716\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/hawksmoor-burgerism.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-556716 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 986px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 986\/1236;\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: The Manc\/Hawksmoor<\/p>\n<p>A burger\u2019s dozen! That\u2019s the right phrase, right? But on a serious note, there aren\u2019t many places that take lifting the humble cheeseburger into a gourmet dining experience like the Hawksmoor.<\/p>\n<p>Literally world famous for their meat-crafting expertise, it\u2019s no surprise that Deansgate\u2018s culinary cornerstone is really, really good at crafting the highest quality beef into perfect little patties and slapping them between perfectly baked brioche buns.<\/p>\n<p>Having collaborated with everyone from Burgerism here in Manchester to the very best food brands all throughout the nation, the Hawksmoor burger is a perfect example of it taking great skill to not just do the classics really well, but to master them and raise the bar extremely high.<\/p>\n<p>13. Bird of Prey \u2013 Circle Square<\/p>\n<p>This list is feeling very red meat-heavy at the moment, so let\u2019s take a look at one of the very best places to get a chicken burger anywhere in Greater Manchester: Bird of Prey.<\/p>\n<p>When this place first opened, we remember how mad the queues were and it didn\u2019t take long for us to figure out why. BoP, as it\u2019s affectionately known to us these days, are self-confessed \u2018chicken freaks\u2019 and we\u2019re happy to say we share their foodie affliction.<\/p>\n<p>Tucked just off the Oxford Road Corridor on one of Manchester\u2019s newest city squares, the \u2018PFK\u2019, \u2018smokestack\u2019 and \u2018the halloumi one\u2019 are still some of our go-to choices when we fancy a cheeky treat for lunch or a treat on the way home from the pub.<\/p>\n<p>14. Bird at Public \u2013 Northern Quarter<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658049\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/bird-public-021026-DH-themancgroup-2-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658049 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/bird-public-021026-DH-themancgroup-1-1280x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658050 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Public took over a prime spot on the corner of Stevenson Square a couple of years ago, and more recently launched its Bird concept. <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s all sorts of \u2018clean\u2019 battered and fried chicken in both box meal and burger format.<\/p>\n<p>The chicken here sits between tempura and classic southern-fried styles, with maximum crunch guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p>Grab yourself a box with chicken salt crinkle fries, plus a side of frickles and some smacked cucumber, and you\u2019ll be ready to box off a few more happy hour cocktails.<\/p>\n<p>15. What\u2019s Your Beef \u2013 Kargo MKT (Salford) and Bolton Food Hall<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"556733\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/whats-your-beef-burgers-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"whats your beef manchester\" class=\"wp-image-556733 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/>WHAT a feast this was.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3024\" height=\"4032\" data-id=\"632415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791226189_78_image-24.png\" alt=\"WYB burgers\" class=\"wp-image-632415 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 3024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 3024\/4032;\"\/>So many different options vying for the top spot.<br \/>\nRidiculously good \u2013 our fave has always been the spicy \u2018Freebird\u2019 with a side of those ridiculously good duck fries. (Credit: The Manc)<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2019t keep prattling on about the simple pleasures of a proper good beef burger without talking about one of the GOATs, and What\u2019s Your Beef is certainly up there.<\/p>\n<p>After enjoying a spell at Calcio! on Dale Street, WYB has now truly hit its stride at Kargo MKT inside Salford Quay\u2019s newest food and drink trader destination, Central Bay.<\/p>\n<p>In case you need an idea of just how good these guys are at what they do, their \u2018Stateside Deluxe\u2019 made it into the top five best burgers at The National Burger Awards back in 2019, and they\u2019ve been building a stellar reputation ever since.<\/p>\n<p>16. Dunkin\u2019 Burgers \u2013 Manchester Arndale Centre<\/p>\n<p>Whilst we\u2019re on the subject of food markets, any local knows that the Arndale Market has some of the best food spots you\u2019ll find anywhere in the city and, as it just so happens, one of those spots serves up some seriously good burgers. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to find Dunkin\u2019 Burgers: all you need to do is follow the massive queue that wraps around the indoor market \u2014 funnily enough, it\u2019s right next door to the other massive queue for Viet Shack.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve tried this menu from start to finish multiple times over now, but we\u2019ve found anything quite as delicious as \u2018The Manc\u2019 burger (for obvious reasons): a breakfast butty-style burger with two beef patties, bacon, sausage, a fried egg, cheese and sauce to be dunked in a pot of gravy. Perfection.<\/p>\n<p>17. Shakedown \u2013 Withington, Wythenshawe and Cheadle Hulme<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1240\" height=\"1234\" data-id=\"556801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shakedown-burgers.png\" alt=\"takeaways in wytheshawe\" class=\"wp-image-556801 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1240px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1240\/1234;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1190\" height=\"1240\" data-id=\"556800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shakedown-manchester.png\" alt=\"burger places withington\" class=\"wp-image-556800 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1190px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1190\/1240;\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: Shakedown (via Instagram)<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re getting towards the business end now, and once again branching further out into various parts of the region: three, to be specific, and the one thing they all have in common is the almighty Shakedown.<\/p>\n<p>Discovered during a takeaway night while at a mate\u2019s house, we\u2019ll admit we\u2019ve never heard of this place up until that point, but since then we\u2019ve ordered from here a few times and it\u2019s come to feel like a bit of underdog on the Manc burger scene; a cult favourite to those who know it but no way near as reputed as it should be.<\/p>\n<p>Known for sumptuous shakes, sides, crispy quesadillas and some fat ol\u2019 burgers, be it \u2018The Super Beefed Up!\u2019, \u2018The Zesty Chicken Burger\u2019 or even the grilled cheese toastie, they\u2019re all solid options and turn up just as paper and foil and they do there in the brick-and-mortar \u2014 which isn\u2019t always the case. <\/p>\n<p>18. That Burger Place \u2013 Ape &amp; Apple, city centre<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658051\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/that-burger-place-021026-DH-themancgroup-2-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658051 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658052\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/that-burger-place-021026-DH-themancgroup-1-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658052 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You already know them for their burgers, but now the couple behind That Burger Place have taken on a new job as pub landlords.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan and Megan are now behind both the taps and the fryers at the Ape &amp; Apple pub in Manchester city centre, in a unique new partnership between them and Joseph HOlt.<\/p>\n<p>Now you can get their California-inspired smash burgers, wings and loaded fries, alongside a great pint. <\/p>\n<p>19. Burger Box \u2013 Fallowfield and Longsight<\/p>\n<p>For the penultimate stop on our burger-based tour of Greater Manchester, we thought we\u2019d pick out an affordable, uni-friendly pair of accessible eateries which do exactly what they say on the tin: deliver solid burgers, often in a box. There\u2019s a place for those stumbling home fast-food takeaway vibes, and we can definitely make room for this one.<\/p>\n<p>Sky-rocketing in popularity thanks to putting in the graft as a late-night favourite in Fallowfield, a.k.a. student central, Burger Box opened up a second store down the road in Longsight not long ago, and now more Mancs are getting a taste; it helps that they serve from two entrances as well.<\/p>\n<p>Located on Stockport and Wilbraham Road, respectively, this place might be the relatively new boy on the block, but staying open until 3am is a huge perk, and the regular footfall alone should assure you of the quality. Also, the loaded boxes with your burger of choice, four wings, fries and a drink are a real value-for-money option in a cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n<p>20. Smoke and Pepper \u2013 NQ<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"658053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/smoke-and-pepper-0210126-DH-themancgroup-1-1280x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-658053 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We sadly had to say goodbye to leading veggie and vegan burger spot, The Vurger Co., a little while ago, and while it\u2019s definitely a big loss to Manc plant-based eaters and beyond, what has taken its place is, rather fortunately, an absolute belter.<\/p>\n<p>Landing in Manchester city centre direct from London, Smoke and Pepper impressed us from the moment it opened and didn\u2019t take long to begin queuing out the door, thanks to its varied and flavourful menu that\u2019s reputation clearly preceded it.<\/p>\n<p>In complete honesty, we often just find ourselves ordering chicken tenders from this place sometimes when we\u2019re passing, but in terms of recommendations, we genuinely want you to try the divisive \u2018Flying Dutchman\u2019, which has an onion instead of a bread bun, for yourselves and let us know what you think.<\/p>\n<p>21. So Famous \u2013 Piccadilly Trading Estate<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" data-id=\"632416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791226198_248_image-25-1280x1600.png.webp\" alt=\"best burger spots in central manchester\" class=\"wp-image-632416 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/1600;\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1639\" height=\"2048\" data-id=\"632417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791226200_862_image-26.png\" alt=\"so famous burgers manchester\" class=\"wp-image-632417 img-fluid lazyload\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1639px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1639\/2048;\"\/><br \/>\nCredit: The Manc<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re nearing the finish line now; next up is So Famous \u2013 not to be confused with Almost Famous \u2013 which is based behind the main bustle of Piccadilly, where they\u2019re quietly nailing the patty game.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve featured on our Takeaway Champions (TC) series over on The Manc Eats in the past and proved to be one of our most popular episodes for good reasons: because the burgers are really, really good \u2013 not to mention being pretty well-priced too. <\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t go wrong with whatever you order here, to be honest, but what we will say is that we\u2019re a little obsessed with their onion rings, which seem to achieve that perfect balance of light, crispy, almost Cajun-style batter, whilst still giving you that deep-fried satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p>22. DRIP \u2013 Burnage<\/p>\n<p>From one delivery delight to another. Our belt loops are being sufficiently tested now, but before they drop, we urge you to try DRIP, a.k.a. another one of the best takeout burgers in all of Manchester, as far as we\u2019re concerned.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve also featured on TC before, and we\u2019ve ordered them even more often in our own private time (you don\u2019t want to see how piggy that gets), and we only reiterate how much they scratch that same itch of a naughty late-night scran, even if you grab one during the day.<\/p>\n<p>As for what to choose, their Nashville fillet gives Drake\u2019s new and viral Dave\u2019s Hot Chicken a very good run for its money. We\u2019ll leave it up to you to decide which one comes out on top.<\/p>\n<p>23. Big Licks \u2013 Printworks<\/p>\n<p>Our penultimate pick is one we think is still criminally underrated when it comes to the burger scene in Manchester city centre, maybe because they\u2019re arguably better-known for their ice cream and dessert selection.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, Big Licks \u2013 who have relocated to the Printworks from their old Liverpool Road location \u2013 do bloody good burgers and big ones, at that. They\u2019re not exactly known for portion control here, and we\u2019re glad, because if we\u2019re eating a burger, we tend not to be thinking about the ol\u2019 waistline.<\/p>\n<p>Again, perhaps another reason they\u2019re not so regularly associated with burgers is that they only have two fixed options on their menu: the smashed Angus beef burger and the buttermilk chicken version, but trust us, that 100% grass-fed meat and the signature ranch sauce on the poultry one are top quality.<\/p>\n<p>Read more:<\/p>\n<p>As always with these lists, please don\u2019t ask us to put them in order; it\u2019s simply too hard, and there\u2019s enough room for all of them in this big burger-loving corner of the world we call Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n<p>It goes without saying that there are dozens of other burger places that could rightly be considered among the best: Shack, Grand Daddy\u2019s, Fat Hippo, and now even Popeye\u2019s, just to name an unfairly small few. It was a real Sophie\u2019s Choice this, but you\u2019ll have to forgive us if your favourite isn\u2019t on here.<\/p>\n<p>Or, you know, you can always just argue with us in the comments \u2013 we\u2019ll try not to take offence.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, if you\u2019re looking for something city-centre-based or a lesser-known burger spot further out into the reaches of our 10 beautiful boroughs, we promise it won\u2019t be hard for you to find your favourite burger.<\/p>\n<p>For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester,\u00a0subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.<\/p>\n<p>Featured Images \u2014 The Manc Group<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eats 23 of the very best burgers in Manchester city centre and the boroughs beyond Danny Jones Like any normal human being, we Mancs love a good burger and, luckily for you, Greater Manchester has some of the best burgers you\u2019ll find anywhere in the country \u2013 even if we do say so ourselves. With<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9322,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,10,9420],"class_list":["post-9323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrity-chefs","tag-celebrity-chef","tag-celebrity-chefs","tag-manchester"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/vive.im\/@dnc\/117389804844441862","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/chefs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}