Three apps dominate Manchester takeaway delivery: Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. They all cover the city but they’re not equal. Different apps have different restaurants, different coverage areas, and different pricing. Here’s the honest breakdown of what works, what delivers, and where the dead zones are.
The Big Three – Compared
Deliveroo
The best selection of quality restaurants in Manchester. Deliveroo has most of the independent restaurants you’d actually want to eat at – places like Rudy’s, Dishoom, Bundobust, Archie’s, Luck Lust Liquor & Burn, and many NQ favourites. The app is clean and the delivery tracking is accurate. Downside: delivery fees are higher than the others (typically £1.50-4.99 per order), and service fees add up. Deliveroo Plus (£3.49/month) gives you free delivery on orders over £25, which pays for itself quickly if you order regularly.
Coverage: Good across M1-M4 (city centre), M14-M15 (Rusholme/Hulme), M20-M21 (Didsbury/Chorlton), and M19 (Levenshulme). Gets patchy in outer areas like M9, M40, M22.
Uber Eats
Similar restaurant range to Deliveroo with a few different exclusives. Uber Eats has strong coverage of chains (McDonald’s, KFC, Nando’s, Subway) alongside independent restaurants. The app integrates with your Uber account, so if you already use Uber for taxis it’s seamless. Pricing is competitive – delivery fees range from £0.49 to £3.99. Uber One membership (£5.99/month) gives reduced fees and occasional discounts.
Coverage: Widest coverage of the three apps. Reaches further into suburban Manchester than Deliveroo. M25 (Prestwich), M27 (Swinton), M33 (Sale), and M41 (Urmston) all have reasonable Uber Eats options.
Just Eat
The oldest platform and the one with the most takeaways listed. Just Eat has every local chippy, kebab shop, pizza place, and curry house. The quality range is enormous – from brilliant local gems to places you’d regret ordering from. Just Eat doesn’t always use its own riders – many restaurants deliver with their own drivers, which means delivery times are less predictable. Fees are generally low (£0-2.50). No subscription needed.
Coverage: The widest coverage by far. If a takeaway exists in Greater Manchester, it’s probably on Just Eat. Outer boroughs, small towns, areas the other apps don’t reach – Just Eat covers them.
Quick Comparison
| App | Best for | Delivery fee | Restaurant quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | Good independent restaurants | £1.50-4.99 | Highest average |
| Uber Eats | Mix of chains and independents | £0.49-3.99 | Good range |
| Just Eat | Local takeaways, widest choice | £0-2.50 | Varies wildly |
Best Restaurants on Delivery
These restaurants deliver food that arrives in good condition and tastes close to the dine-in experience. Not everything translates well to delivery – a medium-rare steak does not, a curry does.
Indian and Pakistani
- Mughli (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) – The seekh kebabs and grilled meats travel well. Curries arrive hot. One of the best delivery options in Manchester.
- MyLahore (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat) – Huge portions, travels well. The mixed grills are a solid order.
- Zouk (Deliveroo) – Good presentation even in delivery boxes. The tikka and naan are reliable.
- Yadgar (Just Eat) – The karahi dishes hold up in transit. Cheap and generous.
Burgers
- Archie’s (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) – Burgers, loaded fries, shakes. Arrives well-packaged and still hot. Halal.
- Almost Famous (Deliveroo) – The messy burgers lose some of their charm in a box, but they still taste good.
- Five Guys (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat) – Reliable. The fries go soggy quickly so eat them first.
Pizza
- Rudy’s (Deliveroo) – Neapolitan pizza on delivery. It works surprisingly well – the boxes are designed to keep the base crispy. Eat immediately though.
- Nell’s (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) – New York-style pizza that holds up in delivery. Big slices, good toppings.
- Dough (Just Eat, Deliveroo) – Solid delivery pizza, less artisan than Rudy’s but reliable.
Chinese and East Asian
- Yang Sing (Deliveroo) – Manchester’s most famous Chinese restaurant delivers dim sum and main dishes. The dim sum is best eaten immediately.
- Tampopo (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) – Pan-Asian noodles and rice dishes. Travels well.
- Chopstix (Uber Eats, Deliveroo) – Fast Chinese. Not gourmet, but cheap and consistent.
Middle Eastern and Lebanese
- Bakchich (Deliveroo, Uber Eats) – Wraps and platters travel perfectly. The garlic sauce is essential.
- Istanbul Grill (Just Eat, Deliveroo) – Mixed grills and kebabs. Proper portions.
Restaurants You Wouldn’t Expect to Deliver
Several Manchester restaurants that feel like “dine-in only” are actually on delivery apps:
- Dishoom – Yes, you can get the black daal delivered. And the bacon naan roll at breakfast. Life-changing.
- Bundobust – Indian street food delivered. The vada pav and okra fries arrive in good shape.
- Mackie Mayor – Some of the vendors inside Mackie Mayor are on Deliveroo. Check the app for which ones are live.
- Hawksmoor – Not on delivery apps (the steak wouldn’t survive), but they’ve done limited delivery collaborations. Check seasonally.
- Kala Bistro – Fine dining on Deliveroo. The tasting menu doesn’t travel, obviously, but selected dishes do.
Local Delivery Services
Beyond the big three, a few local options are worth knowing:
- Restaurant own-delivery – Many curry houses in Rusholme and Longsight still do their own delivery. Call directly and you’ll often get cheaper prices than the apps (no commission means they can offer better deals). Yadgar, many Curry Mile restaurants, and most local chippies have their own drivers.
- Social media ordering – Some Manchester food businesses operate primarily through Instagram DMs and WhatsApp. Home bakers, meal prep services, and small-batch food producers. Worth following local food accounts to find these.
Delivery Coverage by Area
Excellent Coverage
M1-M4 (City Centre, NQ, Ancoats) – The best delivery coverage in Manchester. Hundreds of options on all three apps. Fast delivery times (15-30 minutes typically). Living in the city centre is delivery paradise.
M14-M15 (Rusholme, Fallowfield, Hulme) – Excellent thanks to the Curry Mile and student population. Dozens of options, cheap prices, fast delivery.
M20 (Didsbury) – Good range. Didsbury’s restaurants are well-represented on Deliveroo and Uber Eats, plus all the citywide chains reach here.
M21 (Chorlton) – Good. Chorlton has its own food scene and most of it delivers.
Decent Coverage
M19 (Levenshulme) – Growing. Levy’s food scene is improving and the delivery options reflect it. Good local takeaways on Just Eat.
M3, M5 (Salford, Salford Quays) – Decent. Benefits from proximity to the city centre. MediaCityUK area has good options.
M32-M33 (Stretford, Sale) – Reasonable. Chains and local takeaways cover these areas well.
Limited Coverage
M9 (Blackley, Harpurhey) – Mostly Just Eat local takeaways. Deliveroo and Uber Eats have limited reach here.
M22-M23 (Wythenshawe) – Just Eat covers it. Deliveroo and Uber Eats are patchy. Fewer restaurant options overall.
M40 (Moston, Newton Heath) – Similar to M9. Local takeaways on Just Eat, limited premium delivery options.
Tips for Better Delivery
- Check all three apps. The same restaurant can have different prices and different delivery fees across apps. A 30-second comparison can save you a few quid.
- Order at off-peak times. Delivery fees surge on Friday and Saturday evenings (7-9pm). Ordering at 6pm or after 9:30pm is cheaper.
- Collection saves money. Most apps offer collection at a reduced price. If the restaurant is a 10-minute walk, collection saves you £3-5 in fees.
- Tip the rider. Delivery riders in Manchester are out in the rain on bikes. A quid or two makes a difference to them and often gets your food prioritised.
- Group orders. Deliveroo and Uber Eats have group ordering features. One delivery fee split between four people makes more sense than four separate orders.
- Check reviews on the app. Restaurant ratings on delivery apps are specifically for delivery quality, not dine-in. A 4.8-star restaurant might be a 3.5-star delivery because the food doesn’t travel well. Read the recent reviews.
Manchester’s delivery scene is strong – the combination of a proper food city, a large student population, and three competitive apps means you can eat well without leaving the sofa. Just don’t order a souffle for delivery. Some things need to be eaten in person.
