Tampopo Corn Exchange

A lovely little spot to grab food. The staff found a table for us despite it being a busy time. We’re glad we stumbled on this spot as the food was served very quickly, was fresh and tasted amazing and fragrant! Emily was a fab server and was so friendly. We loved the added touch of the sweet when we got the bill. We’ll be back to try the small plates!

Amazing!! Went here for boyfriend’s birthday and the service was awesome, did not have to wait to get seated, the staff was friendly and very helpful 😁
We even got a free dessert as a “happy birthday” to my boyfriend. I’ve got nothing bad to say, very affordable as well!!
Will definitely go again. Thank you Emily for the amazing service!

We found this little gem today, tucked away at the corner of Exchange Square and Corporation Street in Manchester City Centre.

The menu was a sumptuous fusion of pan-Asian culinary delights, and the staff were very lovely and incredibly accommodating.

Front of house was being managed by the fabulous (Rachel?), and looking after us at our table was the wonderful Lottie.

The food, drinks and service were exemplary and a visit to this fantastic restaurant is highly recommended.

Fantastic customer service by Alyssa!

The food was tasty and prepared well and not late.
The atmosphere was also cosy.

The Lychee & Kiwi was sweet and refreshing

The black pepper stir fry with rice was also perfect.

First time trying the Vietnamese coffee and it was also fantastic.

This was my second visit to Tampopo. The first time was great, so I was looking forward to returning. Unfortunately, this time was quite disappointing.

We had booked a table for the last slot of the evening at 9pm. We arrived a little early, but as soon as we sat down, we were told we had to order immediately because the kitchen would be closing. If the kitchen closes at 9pm, it’s confusing why the system allows a 9pm reservation. It felt rushed and didn’t start the evening off well.

We ordered starters and mains. One of the starters, the spring rolls, was extremely oily (not what I would expect from a place with Tampopo’s reputation). It felt like less care had been taken with the preparation, perhaps because it was the final order of the night.

One of the mains was a fish dish with a sauce that was overwhelmingly spicy, althlugh spice level was 2/3). Just a small amount had both of us in tears. I don't believe anyone can eat that. The fish itself was unfortunately undercooked and raw near the bone. To their credit, the staff handled it professionally, promptly removing the dish from our bill and offering us the chance to order something else. However, since the kitchen had already closed, that wasn’t really a realistic option.

To add to the experience, there was no soap available in the men's toilet, something I luckily noticed before using it.

Overall, while the staff were polite and tried to handle the issues as best they could, the evening was disappointing. I hope this was just a one-off experience, as my first visit had been so positive.

Order from Tampopo Corn Exchange