Asmara Bella in Manchester

A authentic menu of traditional dishes served in large plates for traditional dining! Friendly staff to guide one through menu if unfamiliar with Ethiopian / Eritrean food. A place well worth dining out in Central Manchester. A short walk from Piccadilly gardens and accessible by tr and train

This is a lovely friendly place with great food. We invited some friends who hadn't previously had Ethiopian food to join us - and they enjoyed it too. The injera (pancake style bread with which you eat) was really light and clearly a source of pride. We ordered vegetarian platters which we topped up with some additional veggie and meat dishes. Excellent indeed. And while you visit, there's a great modernist bookshop right opposite!

Good food, small, warm, the food was great to share. Good service. We went after a candlights show and was open until late.

Lovely restaurant with authentic Eritrean/Ethiopian food. I had a lovely Shekla Tibsi Special (lamb fried with onions, green chilli, spices, herbs and olive oil) served with Injera (flatbread) and followed by some traditional coffee (served with popcorn).

This place is obviously authentic and hugely popular with the Ethiopian/eritraen populace, which is a great sign. We were very excited to try this new cuisine. Unfortunately it wasn’t for us, I’m really sorry to say. Firstly there was only one option for red wine and one for white, I think if you are only offering one choice it should be better selected and not £26. The food was tasty but the lamb special we chose was a tiny portion and chewy, not tender. The spinach was OK and the beef stew the best of the bunch, but the traditional bread Injera, which made up the bulk of the meal, is not your typical flatbread, it was a bit of a culture shock to us, icy cold spongy vinegar tasting pancake- like substance with rubbery texture like thin sponge upholstery or android skin, and actually very unpleasant in temperature and texture. Never had anything like it before, and as open to new foods, cultures and experiences as we are, I never want to have it again. This is just our personal response to that food, should not put you off trying it but atleast you are aware that it is not your typical flatbread at all.

A nice place to have Eritrean and Ethiopian food bursting with flavour and with a nice selection of meats and vegetarian dishes as well. Something that requires reviewing is the size of portions; it is a bit overpriced for the portions you are getting, particularly when it comes to the meats (compared to other similar places we've been to across the UK). Nevertheless, a place we will probably return to, as it is also a good experience to share particularly with people who have never tried this type of food. The service was very nice, the place felt welcoming and friendly.

Asmara Bella restaurant is a great little restaurant where you eat with your hands. Vegan selection is good and service is very friendly. Nice beers as well.

Just superb! I was craving a spicy stew and some injera, and Asmara Bella completely delivered. The awaze tibsi (lamb) stew was delicious, the meat was tender and the sauce had plenty of kick. My son had the chicken derho and a lemon soda. The staff were friendly, the service was prompt and the food was delicious, but not expensive. A winner!

Amazing variety of tasty food with so many vegan options. It’s worth getting a tasting platter to try a bit of everything! Highly recommend trying the coffee too.

Starters were great, mains were nice enough but not generous in portion. Nice beers. Won’t come back for price alone.

Searched for something different and we found it. Most enjoyable meal, quiet night with only 3 other tables occupied but it was a Wednesday evening. We had no idea what to order so we got the sharing plate, fantastic food and as long as you didn’t mind eating without cutlery it’s a winner. Service was top notch, we didn’t wait long for the meal and price was average but well worth it.

Delicious food and warm staff delivering a wonderful Ethiopian experience in the middle of Manchester. And the coffee...❤️

Amazing food, place and staff! I went with a friend that had never tried Eritrean food and they were absolutely pleased. Please go.

Je cherchais un restaurant sympa dans le centre ville. Quelle merveille. L'hôte est extrêmement serviable et gentil. Le menu est diverse avec plein de choix disponibles. Et bien entendu c'était excellent

The food here is amazing. The place doesn’t look like much from the outside but the staff are really friendly and the food is great. You eat with your hands which is a novelty! My friends and I really enjoyed it and I’ll definitely be going back.

We visited here recently whilst on a night out in Manchester. Having never tried Ethiopian/Eritrean food before I wasn't sure what to expect but wow! It was so good. We opted for the Eritrean beers and the vegan 2 person platter. It didn't look like too much when it came out but we were both so full by the time we'd finished. Will definitely be back next time we're in Manchester

We stopped recently for an early evening meal, curious as to what constituted Eritrean food. We love trying new cuisines and whilst we’re somewhat familiar with the staples of North and West Africa, Eritrean food isn’t something we’ve had the opportunity to try before. The gentleman serving and hosting seated us by the radiator which was appreciated on a cold and wet night and made some recommendations. The Eritrean beer was quite malty for a lager but sweet and pleasing. We started with Sambosas, which were very much like a heavily spiced Samosa of Indian fame, with really crispy pastry. We also tried the stuffed injera rolls. Injera was a bit of a star really, it’s a bread with a soft, spongy consistency. For anybody from Staffordshire they’re kind of like an oatcake, or a savoury pancake texture. It’s hard to describe and I’m certainly doing it a disservice. The knowledgeable gentleman who served us taught us it’s a fermented bread that takes a week to prepare before serving. It was fantastic and comes as standard with all mains. Definitely try it. For main, we shared two dishes, the Zighni, a hot beef stew with an almost curried quality and the Lamb Shekla Tibsi, a clay-pot cooked almost crispy shredded lamb dish. Both were phenomenal. The lamb was gorgeous wrapped in the injera dipped in this rich unctuous dipping sauce provided that was unlike anything I’ve ever had. The Zighni was almost like a curried beef stew and again was lovely in the slightly tangy injera. I’d asked for Basmati with mine which was fragrant and soft. Keep in mind that this food is to be enjoyed eaten by hand, as is authentic. I can’t overstate how much I enjoyed the meal and the food. Great service, excellent food. It’s tucked away but I really hope more people learn about this gem and spread the word on how good it is. We’ll be back to enjoy more dishes and learn more about Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine.

Having never really tried African food I wondered whether I'd find it great because it was something different was running through my mind. I can honestly say that any preconceived ideas were immaterial as this is a fantastic place to dine. Tremendous food, lovely waitress and an absolute must for any discerning diner and not that expensive. If you get a chance please get yourself down to Asmara and you're sure to have a wonderful experience

We went to the Asmara Bella Restaurant as part of our university society group and it was a brilliant evening and really unique experience. The food and service was amazing, we would definitely recommend!

I came here after seeing the recommendation in the Guardian newspaper and I was not disappointed. It was a great introduction to East African cuisine. The was friendly atmosphere and service. The food was rich and tasty and the menu options were varied. To finish...

Love, love, love this place! Food is incredible and the service is amazing!! Definetly ask for the honey wine! It’s like one of this little places you come across that are just mega special!

I hadn't had Eritrean food for some years, so having supper at Asmara Bella was a must-do on a recent trip to Manchester, when I realised it was just around the corner from my hotel. Not only is Eritrean food as incredible as I remember,...

We were looking at the menu outside - as we'd always intended to visit but never got round to it. Anyway, got talking to the waitress - who was friendly and helpful - and we ended up eating here today. The service was great -...

Just occasionally you fall across something that you take a walk in risk. You know exactly what I mean. Splendid service (friendly,helpful,informative but not at all intrusive), remarkable menu catering for all possible tastes and,definitely, including vegan. Beautifully presented and cooked,Eritrean in roots and style....

The most amazing East African flavours. A lovely, homely Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurant on Port Street in Northern Quarter. We ordered a mixture of the chefs favourite dishes - both vegan and meat. The flavours were insane! So much depth to the sauces and a...

Great service , amazing food , we had a very great welcome once arrived , the owner was very kind, I strongly recommend for families

We came here for a midweek dinner and it has a nice relaxed atmosphere with cool traditional decorations around. The lady who served us was really nice and friendly. I got the first lamb dish which was so delicious, generous portions as well, so yummy....

We had some absolutely delicious food and the restaurant was beautifully decorated. We'll certainly be coming back..

This was our first experience of Ethiopian/Eritrean food but it was a revelation. Friendly service, great atmosphere and great value authentic food (try the honey wine!), with vegan/ meat/mixed platters. We need one in Sheffield!

A nice friendly welcome from a lovely woman but she kept forgetting to bring us things which, since there were only two tables taken in the whole place wasn't really forgivable. As for the food... Well, let's just say we all went away hungry. The...

What a wonderful restaurant that is relaxing and inviting. I was by myself, so I just ordered a meat sambosa and the meat tibsi. Excellent meal with great flavour! I wanted to try more, but I knew that the injera would expand in my stomach...

Visited yesterday after finding this place online. The atmosphere is very casual and relaxed, the staff were friendly, service was quick, and the food was delicious. Got the vegan platter and the variety was fantastic. Prices also extremely reasonable for how filling it is. My...

This is the second time I have been here now and the food is really incredible! After the first time coming with just 1 friend, second time round only a few days later I returned with 6 because I wanted them to experience what I...

Today we had platter for 2 with meat&veg option and coffee in traditional pot. The platter was very big like for 3, not 2 :) Delicious. I really enjoyed injera. The coffee served with popcorn was a brilliant combination. The service was nice. The waiter...

Weve been to Asmara Bella a couple of times now and both times it has been brilliant. The food is really tasty - we would recommend the awaze tibsi and the special kitfo. Friendly service and really great value for the amount and quality of...

love trying new cuisines and places so went here on a date. Have to warn you that the toilets are pretty derelict and the atmosphere could be an issue for some. However I adore this place the staff are friendly, helpful and kind! The food...

The food was excellent, a large selection of dishes. Authentic flavours, not too spicy. the injera was very good. Very good value. Definitely go back when next in Manchester.

The waitress is a G and the food bangs, 100% would recommend! Trip advisor wants me to write more words so here are more words, lovely food x

Such an amazing place to eat - hidden gem of Manchester!! Also does an amazing veggie plate. We left there absolutely stuffed!

Beautiful service yesterday! Amazing injera - both meat and veggie based. Still drooling. Roasted coffee beans presented to us on a traditional mat to whet our appetite and then the coffee, popcorn and incense came out (think it might have smoked out some other diners...

basic restaurant, the food was excellent, having never eaten Eritrean food before the guy who served us talked us through the menu which was a great help, stopped us from over ordering.

Was staying in a hotel nearby. Hotel restaurants bore me to tears and so I thought to myself "I'm in Manchester, let's see what's near" and lo and behold technology led me here. I'd never tried Eritrean food before and I'm glad I now have....

I visited Asmara on a Friday evening and it really exceeded our expectations. First the guy who served us stop us from order an excessive amount of food what was really honest from hm. He advised us through the menu and was really helpful. The...

Had dinner here a couple of weeks ago on a friend's recommendation. The decor is basic but the food was great - tasty, filling and different. Lots of vegetarian options. Friendly waitress helped us order. Give it a try!

I dragged my hubby here because of all of the positive reviews. We went on a Friday night and found it wasn’t the welcoming atmosphere others have experienced. The person who came to serve us basically wouldn’t allow us upstairs so we sat at the...

then this is definately worth a try. The decor is nothing to write home about because its rather basic, but if you want to go somewhere for the food, then go for it!

Looks like a cafe from the outside and very sparse inside, but worth persevering. Take some advice from the friendly staff if you are new to Eritrean food. Be aware that the food is served communally on a large dish on a bed of injera...

Everything was good thanks lovely everything we were very happy and nice to see everything perfect will back again

Was in Manchester for two nights for a concert and specifically came to this restaurant because of the reviews here. It is very small and our taxi man got a bit confused, but we found it in the end. We found the whole experience really...

What an amazing place to be! The food was absolutely delicious: not only freshly prepared but also an incredible presentation. We loved it and will definitely come back when we are in manchester next time!!!!

My daughter and I went yesterday and had a superb meal. Neither of us had tasted Ethiopian cuisine before but the manager was amazingly friendly and helpful. We ordered Awaze Tibsi (lamb) and Nay Tsom Bebaey Netu (Vegetarian) to share. The tastes were joyous, the...

Without doubt one of the best restaurants in Manchester, it’s down to earth, feels authentic and the food is just amazing! I had never had Eritrean food before but it is now a firm favourite! The menu is simple, and the food and wine are...

After being in so many eateries in this country with too much pretension and annoying brown-nosing waiting staff, it's refreshing to find a place like Asmara Bella. The food is amazing, yes. And the staff are friendly just because they are, not because they expect...

We have been meaning to leave a review for several months now. We stumbled into Asmara Bella on a saturday night, not knowing what to expect but met with great warmth and hospitality. It was far too late for food, we thought, so we sat...

I love the food and the setting. Having eaten here several times I now try and come in whenever I'm in Manchester. Downstairs is a cafe/bar setup (which includes Eritrean drinks) and upstairs there's more restaurant seating. There always seems to be a nice and...

Came here with a friend. This is the second Ethiopian restaurant I’ve tried in Manchester and it’s very good, the Inerja was very fluffy and spongy, and not too sour. I recommend the vegetarian dish over the meat one as you get to try lots...

We visited Asmara Bella on a Monday night. The restaurant feels more like a Café/take away inside. However we were made to feel very welcome and table service was provided. The service was fantastic and prompt. We tried the Eritrean dry honey wine and an...

Delicious food, really friendly service. Honey wine also really good. Amazing value for money. Best restaurant in Manchester!

I visited Asmara Bella today with my friends and we enjoyed every bit of it from fresh and delicious food to the warm hospitality. Worth a try.

Just out of the centre Asmara Bella won't win any awards for decor. More of a cafe/bar than a restaurant, the first sign that it might be good was the fact it was full of Eritreans. A simple menu and don't expect silver service. Drinks...

The food is absolutely delicious, both meat and vegetarian. 10 times tastier then any other place. Great spot for a quick visit, even just for a beer (definitely the cheapest in the city center). The amount of food is ludicrous, every time I struggle to...

I chose the vegetarian option for take away. The food was so lovely! And the portions were very generous (perfect for sharing!). If you love Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somalian food, I highly recommend this Eritrean restaurant! You get high quality and authentic food for a...

I like the injera which look like thin pancake and i lie the environment of the restaurant. i would definitely going back to there!