Amma's Canteen in Manchester

Great food . Really really tasty. With an interesting menu. Attentive and friendly service. Down to earth and cosy but not run of the mill. People seem to give 4 stars hence overall rating lower than it should be but have no criticism. 🤷‍♀️

A lovely south Indian restaurant, lots of choice on the menu that included meals not typically found at other Indian restaurants. Food arrived promptly and service was great. Rice was perfectly cooked and the dosa well made.

Friendly staff, delicious food , calm and relaxing atmosphere

Outstanding vegetarian food from the street cart, as usual. Cauliflower bezule in a delicious chilli sauce, porucha vendaka- crispy okra stuffed with nuts. Desserts so unusual and delicious - we'll be back soon!

Amazing hospitality paired with delicious food that made everyone smile. A must try for all😁.

Fantastic food, great small plates, and curries, great service

4 of us went to Amma’s Canteen for the first time on Friday evening and we all really enjoyed the food. The vegan tofu and the ocra curry were particularly nice. I’m pretty sure we’ll be going again O)

Lovely, good quality food. Excellent, friendly service. We have eaten in and taken out and would recommend both options. Amma's Canteen has real character. The owners appear to really care about the food, which is based on the home cooked food eaten in Southern India and this is obvious when you taste it. Highly recommended.

I have ordered food from them a few times and was never disappointed. Today I visited them for the first time. A nicely decorated little restaurant with a wonderful service! Really liked the atmosphere. The food was quite good as usual and highly recommended! It's a shame that they dont serve Indian coffee/tea. Suggest the management to try and include that in the menu in the future!!

Superb food and the best waitress we’ve ever had the pleasure of being served by. Attentive, enthusiastic and knew the menu inside out. This was a return visit for a birthday, a wonderful night had by all. Highly recommended.

Excellent food. Proper genuine South Indian food. If you wanna try genuine Indian food go for this.

Having now moved out of the area a couple of years ago, we drove 45 minutes to come to Amma's for a pre Christmas treat. Sure enough, the journey was well worthwhile.

Ammas canteen is an authentic South Indian restaurant with some classic dishes 👌

GOod atmosphere.. YUmmy Food.. im from kerala..paratta and beef oh gOd really wonderful... And waitress she is very energetic and great service..5* (waitress) Worth 100% ....

This place is beyond amazing. The food is always perfect but the staff are so delightful and despite being incredibly busy they still provided outstanding service

It’s definitely a hidden gem for South Indian food in Manchester

Fantastic place with the best Indian food I've ever had. A must visit!

Just so delicious! The four of us ordered a selection to share and everything was super tasty. I need to go back and try more things.

Three of us had an evening meal on Sunday, it was the first time I’d been. The food was delicious and very different from other south Indian food I’d eaten. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Fish curry and paneer curry were both delicious, with very different spicing. Parathas tasty and flaky. The waitress was really helpful in explaining how hot each dish was, and making compromises where possible it was a lovely meal and I can thoroughly recommend Amma’s Canteen.

Food absolutely first rate. Huge variety of tastes and textures. Caters for most food preferences (GF /V). Really engaged staff who genuinely love the food. Unassuming place, off the beaten track but worth the trip. (We were three older couples out for an evening meal).

We had some delicious Indian food that had a modern twist. Very impressed by this humble Chorlton restaurant. The staff were superb and it was lovely to see their enthusiasm for the menu. We will be back very soon

Very nice Chilli Chicken and Samar

Despite living in Norfolk we made sure of a return visit to this rather special restaurant. The convivial atmosphere suits our family, who like the quality of food more than starched tablecloths. There were three stars in our meal tonight. The first were the seven vegetarian starters - we shared them all at our table - each different and not a duff one among them. The second was a fish curry - delicate and refined in texture and taste. The third we almost missed, somewhat replete when ordering coffee - a desert ungenerously described as a ‘mess’ but a delight to taste - neither too creamy nor too sweet. We will be back.

Great authentic south indian food and great service.

The food is just amazing...Reached back to my homeland...Really awesome food.

Food was excellent taste! Nice ambience and very customer friendly service. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for South Indian food.

Notoriously conservative around food, it can be tricky to find something different to share with Afghan friends when eating out. Mama's Canteen bridges the gap for those wanting the fragrant flavours of vegetarian South India but also needing carnivorous options. Chicken and beef dhosas are a revelation as are some of the less well-known curries. Plenty of options for those who want to try something a bit different and artful guidance on hand from your hosts. Thank you Amma & Co for pretty much faultless food and an enjoyable ambience.

Fantastic, unique and tasty cuisine. The service is great, and we were made to feel extremely welcome! Would absolutely recommend.

Popped in last minute for a midweek treat. Lots of delicious things to try and the team were very helpful in their recommendations. Nice atmosphere and everything was utterly delicious and comforting. Good drinks menu too. Cauliflower small plate, the lentil coated prawns and the Beef Dosa were highlights but everything was great. Feels like great quality authentic food with dishes you won’t find anywhere else. Get yourself there!

Been a bunch of times in the last 18 months. Never had a bad meal. All the dishes are so interesting. Not your average korma and tikka masala. Can recommend the Keralan beef or the cauliflower bezule . But you can’t go wrong with a dosa. They’re also ace with my nut allergy. Will defo be back.

Solid, authentic South Indian food. We had the Dosa, Chicken 65 and Allephey Fish Curry. The fish was slightly too fishy for me but that might be a personal preference.

lovely evening, delicious food and excellent hosts. Recipes from their family home, prepared and presented with care and pride. We will certainly be back. Thank you for your hospitality :)

Really lovely place just a short walk from the premier inn. Friendly service and refreshingly varied food at a decent price

Sometimes, the best culinary discoveries are made by happenstance, and stumbling upon Amma's Canteen during a shopping expedition near Manchester turned out to be a truly delightful experience for my taste buds. To start off, the Chicken 65 was a true testament to the restaurant's prowess in crafting flavors that pack a punch. The succulent pieces of marinated chicken were perfectly fried to a crispy texture, while the blend of spices created a harmonious balance between heat and tanginess. It was hard to stop at just one piece, and it undoubtedly set the stage for the feast that was to follow. The Masala Dosa, a quintessential South Indian dish, showcased Amma's Canteen's commitment to authenticity. The dosa was impeccably crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, with a generous filling of spiced potatoes that danced on my taste buds. The accompanying coconut chutney and sambar were delightful complements that enhanced the overall experience. However smabar could be better. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Thalassery Lamb Biriyani. Bursting with aromatic spices, fragrant rice, and tender lamb, this dish transported me to the southern coasts of India. The distinct flavors of Thalassery biriyani were beautifully captured, and the balance between the various spices was commendable. Each bite was a journey through layers of taste, and I found myself savoring every morsel. To cool off our palate, we opted for the Mango Lassi. This classic Indian yogurt-based drink was a refreshing delight with the creaminess of yogurt. It provided a soothing contrast to the bold flavors of the dishes I had indulged in. In conclusion, my experience at Amma's Canteen was an exploration of South Indian cuisine that left my taste buds satisfied and my appetite craving more. With its authentic flavors and warm ambiance, this restaurant remains a must-visit for anyone seeking an exceptional culinary journey through the vibrant landscapes of South India. I eagerly look forward to returning and exploring more of their menu in the near future.

Incredible food! I had heard of this local hidden gem a few times but never got around to eating here. Well have I been missing out! My wife and I loved the food here. We got Allepey fish curry with steamed rice and a couple of sides. The food and service were amazing! Definitely recommend!

Had a quiet Sunday lunch at Amma’s Canteen and we were delighted with the food! Chicken 65 was excellent and a highlight for me personally. Chicken Thoran dosa was fairly good. The chutneys and sambar that accompanied it were excellent. The meat in the Kerala Beef Curry was cooked to perfection. The curry itself, although very tasty, had some room for improvement to add that extra oomph and some more depth of flavour that one would expect in an authentic Nadan Beef Curry. Parotta and Beef is a classic combination, and I absolutely loved the Malabar parotta here, it was served hot and was perfectly crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good South Indian cuisine experience in Manchester.

A lovely authentic South Indian family restaurant that’s a delight to eat from. Portion sizes are great. Service is lovely and you feel like they care not only about food quality but the customer experience too.

Amazing !!! Not just that I have been here , know the Chef, but it always amazes me. The flavours ,the service, the friendliness all deserves 5 ☆☆☆☆☆

Superb food. Seriously top quality and great atmosphere even down to the incense. Highly recommend!

Six of us all vegetarian had a good choice. The service and food was good. The starters were excellent.Dosa ordered was not crispy and sambhar should be topped up but not here. Overall good Resturant and would visit again.

Very expensive for what it offers. less than average taste. I ordered Otthapam of £10.50. It was served in a very small cardboard box with no sambhar and quantity was too small for the price (Othhampam comes with Sambhar normally and is much bigger in size, but this place rip you off) Order vada sambhar but it tasted stale and smelled of fish. You get Otthapam with sambhar for maximum £7 in city of London. Better to avoid this rip off place.

We went on a wet Saturday evening and it was absolutely fantastic. From the knowledgeable, friendly service through to the outstanding food, we had a simply wonderful time.

Hyped place. Food was okayish. I have had better Dosa & vada tbf in Manchester. It's unjustifiably pricey. Edit - Wow! Are you from India,mate? If you are, then I must say you are incredibly rude being one. Anyway, let me tell you a few things- we were three people,one was my 4 year old son. We went to your restaurant for the first time so before spending exorbitantly, we wanted to taste. Standard approach. We didn't like the food as much to order more. Period. £8 ,£18 or £1800 , doesn't matter dude/dudette! Have you heard of Indian Tiffin Room? Located in the city center but Dosa cheaper than yours and much better than yours. Bhaji Pala- Dosa is just a £5.45.... taste is authentic south Indian. Chit-o-Chaat- Dosa is £8 and brilliant. I did not want to take names to compare you to others but if you insult me don't be under the impression that I will take it. I come from a country where we say ' Atithi Devo Bhava'. Assuming you are from my country, I am in a bit of a shock. Best wishes to you & your restaurant.

We went there when they were in awaiting their new cook. Our food was cooked by the owner. His food was excellent. Very authentic Indian food, well prepared and delicious. The service was good and friendly too. Will definitely be going back for more.

Excellent ambience, quick service, helpful smiling staff. Well, excellent authentic South Indian food was there too.

I would say the most hyped place in Manchester. Being from India, I can say the food is good, but definitely not the best. I have gone to so many restaurants here, so you can trust me. Also, it is just too pricey. I can easily have 2 of such meals at any other place with the price I am paying here, so you can imagine

We had an excellent meal coupled with exceptional service 👌. Well worth a try . My daughter's Dosa was absolutely superb 👌

Great food and excellent and friendly service. It really is a hidden inconspicuous gem in Manchester, it's fairly pricy though. I think the front face of it could be more aesthetically appealing though.

Unbelievable food…. Hands down THE best Indian I have been to, a must visit, 100% recommended and look forward to coming back!

This place never ceases to amaze, the food and service are great as are the owners and the staff. Genuine Indian food, not a tandoori or tikka masala in sight, the owners are so passionate about their heritage and it shows in the food. Nearly eaten our way through the menu now just wish we didn't live 26 miles away.

A real South Indian (Tamil) restaurant, sambar vada, potato wedges with gun powder 😋 and masala dosa is a must try. Porotta is nice as well, madras mussels with peanut twist 🤩, chicken 65 and lamb biriyani 😋 overall food is awesome and they make it specially for our taste buds. The owners are so friendly and so welcoming. Will try again😋.

The food was good not many options though.

Food is very authentic close to Kerala.. Quick service and friend staff...

Absolutely delicious meal and excellent service. A lovely family run restaurant serving authentic southern Indian food. Would definitely recommend to others!

Honestly this place was heavily over priced. Food was okay, slightly above average, but certainly not worth the over inflated costs. Unfortunately won't return! -- Edit, quite the rude reply from owner. Yes some of my recent ratings were in Portugal due to a holiday (not like that has anything to do with it, bit of a weird personal attack). But i live in Manchester and these prices are way higher than better quality restaurants in pricier areas like city centre, Altrincham, even Hale. Clearly out to price gouge and blame it on cost of living!

Had many take away, tried in person, even better. Great selection, tastes amazing.

Finally, I got the perfect chicken 65 (like India) in Manchester. The staff is quite friendly and the food was just amazing. The chicken 65 and beef sukha is highly recommended to anyone visiting for the Time.

Less than average Indian food- some potential, but mostly misses- never seen a dosa with jalapenos and in a pizza box! Service left a lot to be desired (even though the restaurant was empty) In response to the Owner's Response: My party was my husband and I, so I am unsure what you mean because we walked in and out together. Further, I am Indian myself and definitely not confused between an oothapam and dosa. You make my case about your service (or lack thereof) even stronger with your grossly inappropriate response.

Had a very nice dinner. Fish curry highly recommended.

Amma's Restaurant is definitely a place worth visiting if you're in the area. I recently tried some of their menu items and was pleased with the overall experience. The masala vadai was average, but the chicken 65 was absolutely amazing. The lamb biryani was also really excellent, although it's worth noting that it's not a dum biryani. The chicken ghassi had great flavor, and I couldn't get enough of the Malabar porathas - they were really good, and my son loved them too. Finally, the masala dosa was very crispy and tasty. Overall, my only complaint would be that the portions were quite small and the prices were a bit high. However, the high quality of the food made up for this, and I would recommend giving Amma's Restaurant a try if you are in the mood for some great Indian cuisine.

Ate at Ammas last night with my friend. Food was excellent, and the staff were really welcoming and friendly. I could have eaten half the menu as it sounded so delicious. Had the okra, and beef dosa which were both nicely spiced and tasty. I'm definitely coming back.

Always amazing. The chicken 65 is perfect

The food is fantastic. No two dishes are alike (unlike some dishes in indian restaurants which have very similar sauces). The host is lovely and his passion for food is palpable. It is the nicest Indian meal I have had in ages!!

Can’t say enough good things about this restaurant. The food was delicious the staff were lovely and made some great recommendations about the food, especially the front of house waiter, he was so friendly and attentive. I’m coeliac and can’t remember the last time I was able to share dishes whilst eating out with friends; 99% of the menu is naturally gluten free. We will definitely be back for more, my new favourite Indian restaurant in Manchester!

this place is amazing. i recommend this place loads. i drive from didsbury to come here. authentic cuisine, affordable and staff are incredibly kind.

One of the best South Indian restaurants in town.

Fabulous place to eat they were so accommodating towards all of us

Really good food, friendly staff. Would recommend.

I visited with three other friends on 2 March 2023 was supposed to have been five in total but one could not make it. Booked a table for 1930 but then had to add 20 minutes which was done with no problems by the staff....

Lovely food, spice levels tailored to your desire. Atmosphere/decor was a little dull.

Enjoyed authentic South Indian cuisine after a very long time.

Great sambar vada and and beef curry

Fancied some South Indian food on a visit to the city so found this place through an internet search. The quality of the food definitely lives up to the positive reviews. The dosa was very good (for £12, I expected it to be!) as was...

This place is popular, and for good reason. A very enjoyable meal with excellent service. The dessert was on another level, quite exceptional.

Tasty food, friendly and attentive service, great value and a really relaxing place to spend an evening.

Had another great meal at Amma's Canteen last night. Lovely food and great service. The Masala Dosa is my favourite dish!

Such a lovely evening.. food was exceptional, atmosphere was great, with excellent service. Thank you very much

Perfect - wonderfully friendly, and food to really delight, with dishes that you wouldn't see in most Indian restaurants.

Parking available. Food quality and taste average - much below expectation.

Great food only popped in for a quick meal ended up having a very friendly chat with the owner. All the dishes are from Southern India (Kerala and Tamil Nadu).

Great food and excellent service.

Great food, friendly and efficient service. Squeezed us in without a reservation

Can’t fault the food at all. A really extensive vegan menu and the best dosa I’ve ever had. Really recommend and can’t wait to go back.

One of the best south indian restaurants in manchester. The owners are such a lovely couple and it was such a nice experience overall there. We had lamb biriyani and dosa there and their parathas as well which was top notch. Will be visiting again.

Absolutely amazing! We had to cater at my work for Diwali celebrations, so we had to put in a food order to feed 200+ people! They filled the order and the food was a hit in the office, there was enough for people to take home as well. The food was fresh, tasty, with so much flavour! Highly recommend if you want authentic south Asian food

Outstanding, amazing experience, like nothing we've eaten before, flavours and textures were just stunning, beautifully presented and such helpful super friendly staff. Definitely returning

Super take out meal. We were in Manchester briefly and fell upon this delightful restaurant. We would have dined in but it was not possible for us. The food selection was wide, catering well for vegetarians. Food was very tasty and fully met expectations. Would thoroughly recommend a visit.

Just absolutely delicious food, in a nice place with super friendly staff. The sort of meal you'll be thinking about for weeks afterwards and wondering how on earth they managed to make something so good

Me and my girlfriend have been wanting to visit for some time, we only wish we came here earlier! With my girlfriend being Coeliac it is always a struggle finding restaurants that offer a good selection of decent gluten free food. Ammas not only have...

Visiting friends over the new year- they are regulars. Wow, really good food. Every dosh was served quickly and piping hot. My partner is not the best with spice and the staff were so helpful in recommending items on the menu which he would enjoy....

The food was excellent, traditional South Indian food not food you get in a typical Indian restaurant. It was delicious, fresh , beautifully spiced flavoursome food. If you like to try authentic food definitely come here it’s a no no for ‘chicken tikka masala ‘...

One of the best south Indian dishes in Manchester. Very friendly atmosphere. Enjoyed it. Better to reserve a table before coming.

So good, we have to tell everyone!! We visited Ammas Canteen on Thursday 29th December and we’re delighted from them moment we arrived. People so friendly and welcoming, so helpful with the menu, service was excellent and the food is amazing, it’s excellent, so many options for vegetarians and vegans too. We will be visiting again very soon and if you like great food, great friendly service then we highly recommend a visit !

A really nice little restaurant serving south Indian dishes. A must go if you want to explore the Indian cuisine which is different from your usual ones. The portion sizes are generous, and the food tastes good too.

Great food exciting vegan menu lovely staff great evening

Absolutely incredible and mostly gluten free. Wish I’d not left it so long to try this. Delicious and tasted very fresh and home cooked. Get the chilli chicken!

Amazing! Me and my boyfriend visited on a Thursday night, the food was incredible. It was something different than your typical Indian restaurant. We are both meat eaters and there was loads of choice for us but there was also so much vegan and veggie...

Tasty South Indian food - highly recommend the Madras mussels, deep-fried okra, beef sukka and the masala dosa! The owners are a friendly couple and put so much care and effort into every dish. Highly recommend a visit!

Highly recommend the Madras mussels, deep-fried okra, beef sukka and the masala dosa! The owners are a friendly couple and put so much care and effort into every dish. Highly recommend a visit!

It is not really an Indian restaurant but it is just a bar. No traditional food and limited menu.