Manchester's post-2015 smashburger and Korean-style fried chicken scene grew from Northern Quarter pop-ups into permanent rooms. Tender Cow, Common and Pen and Pencil lead.
Manchester's smashburger and fried-chicken movement followed the wider UK trend from around 2015. Tender Cow installed itself at Mackie Mayor with native-breed beef shoulder-and-chuck smashburgers; Pen and Pencil added Buttermilk-fried sandwiches on a brioche bun. Common at Edge Street ran the reuben and grilled-cheese variants. Manchester now produces several of the country's standout permanent burger counters outside London.
3 editor picks for Manchester smashburger and fried chicken in Manchester, ranked by editorial score. All Manchester signature dishes · Manchester smashburger and fried chicken across every city.
Tender Cow at Mackie Mayor ★ 4.4
northern-quarter · 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
Native-breed beef counter inside Mackie Mayor. Dry-aged rump and a smashburger built around the same beef; the burger queue is the long one.
Common ★ 4.2
northern-quarter · 39-41 Edge Street, Manchester M4 1HW
Edge Street stalwart in Manchester's Northern Quarter since 2009. Pub plates, craft beer, chalkboard of guest taps. The reuben is the signature plate.
The Pen and Pencil ★ 4.1
northern-quarter · 85-89 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 2EH
Eighty-cover American room on the corner of Hilton and Tariff Streets, Manchester. Northern Quarter brunch crowd from 10:00; cocktail bar runs late.