Mowgli Street Food

Yes, Mowgli is a chain. It’s in about fifteen cities now. But before you write it off, know this – it was founded by Nisha Katona, a Liverpudlian barrister-turned-restaurateur who built the whole thing around the Indian food she actually grew up eating. Not the Anglicised curry house version. Street food, home cooking, the stuff that doesn’t usually make it onto restaurant menus. The Manchester branch sits in the Corn Exchange and it’s consistently rammed for good reason.

The format is small plates – order a few each and share. The chat bombs are the signature: crispy shells filled with yoghurt and tamarind that you eat in one go. The chip butty is a naan loaded with spiced chips and chutney. The temple dhal is comfort food at its purest. Everything is punchy, well-spiced, and designed to be eaten with your hands if you want.

What Makes It Work

Portions are small so you can try loads. Most plates are between five and nine quid, meaning two people can eat well for thirty-five to forty. The Corn Exchange location is a good-looking room with the curved ceiling and plenty of natural light. Service is fast and friendly. Mowgli isn’t fine dining and doesn’t pretend to be. It’s an honest, well-run restaurant serving food that most of its competitors don’t even attempt.