Chakalaka in Manchester

Great service from Liv - happy hour and food were lovely too! Bit spicy but exactly what was needed on that Monday. Sat by the window and people watching :)

Amazing food. Fantastic gem in the Northern Quater of the city. You must book as it gets very busy. Really good value and totally worth a visit.

Lovely food, great staff who helped so much when I had questions about the food and what was best to eat! Everyone loved all the food and the atmosphere was amazing. Will be back

Our meal completely surpassed expectations, it was amazing! We had the mezze boards and the ribs which we couldn’t fault - the ribs fell off the bone, they were so juicy! To top it all off, we visited on a Wednesday so there was 50% off mains - such good value

Wanted to try this for ages so went during the January deals, it is just 50% off mains not the whole menu! There was no Lekker ribs which I was disappointed at but having asked some SA friends wanted to try some of the items they recommended. Wish more explanation on what each of the biltong was but very tasty and would return to try the ribs. Good Happy hour drink deals too

My favourite restaurant in Manchester. Amazing selection of vegetarian dishes, delicious food and drinks, amazing food offers and such a lovely atmosphere/friendly staff!

We visited on Sunday night. Really very average. Perhaps we ordered the wrong thing!? We had the large sharing platter mezze board meal. The chicken wings were nice but everything else very average. Stodgey mac and cheese with dry jerky mixed in, more Jerry on the side, the sausage lacked flavour. Was really looking forward to eating here and left disappointed. To top it off we had to ask for rhw bill to be reduced because they didn't add the January deal! Also was seated right by rhe loos which is not ideal!

Good food, great staff, good price. What else needs saying! Rustic design and simple layout. Food a bit different from the ‘run of the mill’. Loved it!

Werry werry good food and drinks. Two thumbs upp! Werry werry good food and drinks. Two thumbs upp!.

The two of us rocked up here early Saturday and it was heaving, we made a booking for the next available slot (an hour later) so definitely worth booking ahead. After reading various other comments previously we both went for the Sosatie (kebabs) I had chicken and my fella had meat, out of the two the meat was nicer. The chicken was drowned in what they call ‘monkey gland sauce’ too overpowering. The fries were nice but so heavily covered in piri piri seasoning I could feel my body withering under the onslaught of salt. We ordered 2 Staropramen also which were dark in colour and tasted weird, the house lager was much better, and the Shiraz (£20) was lovely. The staff are fab and the atmosphere is vibrant and warm and is what would probably make me return tbh

Fantastic place! Great staff! Very enjoyable experience with good food! Would highly recommend this place for family dinner.

Fantastic food, fantastic service and great value for money. Would highly recommend to everyone. We will Definitely be back!

My boyfriend and I ate here on a Tuesday evening at 6pm. When we arrived the restaurant was really quiet, and when we left about an hour and half later the whole place was bustling and buzzing! Our food was delicious and both the food and drinks had special offers on so the meal was very reasonably priced. The portions were huge! My boyfriend travels to SA a lot and he was impressed with how authentic the dishes were , ditto the beer. The staff were really friendly and attentive. The music and ambience were perfect for relaxed dining. There is a lovely garden at the back so after our meal we had another drink and sat relaxing as the sun went down. All in all a great experience and we are planning to come back with friends next time.

This place is a clear-cut five out of five. The beef ribs are comfortably the best I've had in Manchester, lovely chips and top-notch mac and cheese. Fantastic cocktails, too, and reasonable prices. I will be back...

Food was delicious with very good size portions. Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable on the menu. The 50% off mains in the week is brilliant as well as the delicious 2 for £10 cocktails. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal here and it was great value for money! Would recommend!

Disappointing. I’ve been here many times and met with super friendly staff, good vibes and nice food. Tonight I ordered a lamb curry that was quite awful- bland and tasteless. When I politely asked to change it as it taste DISGUSTING compared to normal. The manager simply said we have a different chef everyday so can’t guarantee quality and he won’t change it . Odd response in my opinion. Also found it odd that the manager was colder and more rude than the staff he manages ? Just a shame really because the rest of the staff are lovely and I used to love this place.

What a special evening with the family, the atmosphere was vibey, the food truly delicious, the hungry boys in the family blown away with the meat Mezze platters both the size and variety of meat included, ribs really good too. Made us as South Africans feel at home. The chicken curry hot and spicy, the Malva pudding to die for. Will be back next time we in Manchester.

Really friendly & great food! Recommend the Lekker Ribs and the curries. We are definitely coming back!

I’m married to a chef and the biltong nachos are honestly hands down the best food I’ve ever tasted in my life! Cannot wait to come back and bring the husband this time! Amazing service. Staff are all lovely but wow the food! I cannot praise and shout enough about how good that food is!

Chakalaka is often on the Confidentials app, where you can buy a food and drink voucher with a value that’s around double the price (e.g. £25 for £50). This time around, I went for the Sweet Chilli Bites to start, followed by a Not Dog in a Boerewors Roll with Monkey Gland Sauce, which comes with fries on the side. This wasn’t my favourite dish I’ve ever had there- it was a bit bland and dry compared to others. I don’t think the ingredients of the Not Dog are very exciting, but I wanted to give it a try. For dessert, I had a Milk Tart. Service was ever-friendly and accommodating. I think I’ll go for a Bunny Chow, next time.

Stumbled upon this place on the way to the frog and bucket comedy club. So glad turtle bay was full. We ended up here. The food was really tasty and of good quality. Definitely will return and try the bunny chow. I had meat kebabs and they were delicious. Enjoyed with a nice bottle of red. Definitely recommend you try.

My daughter is at university and had seen it on passing. Decent previous reviews so we thought we would try it. Cocktails 2 x £10 and a good choice. Very helpful and attentive staff. The food I highly recommend, South African style,very tasty . Looking forward to going back when I next visit my daughter. A quite laid back dining experience.

What a joke of a place. Gave us the wrong starters, following which we waited endlessly for the main course. In the end we asked the hapless waiter what was going on. He was clueless. The main courses duly arrived although clearly the order had...

Food is up to expected South African spices. Meat well cooked and fine rice. Friendly and quick staff. Only downside is that the local African tap ran out. Still good other selections.

My friend and I paid Chakalaka a visit since we had a Confidential voucher: £25 for a £50 spend. Our first visit (in March) was so enjoyable, we bought another voucher (£30 for £50!) and returned in June. The first time, I got Bangers n...

A lovely meal and lovely staff and very nice cocktails, great happy hour deals too! Really enjoyed the 'Paneer & Spinach Bunny Chow' - everything was so tasty from the bread to the curry to the coconut and chilli salad.

Can't speak highly enough of this little independent South African restaurant. The staff were so accommodating from the moment we walked through the door. There were 10 of us on a busy Saturday in town trying to find somewhere at the beginning of the lunch...

The food is really great! My partner LOVES biltong and he said its one of the best he has tried. 100% coming back again.

came across by accident... nice atmosphere and well heated! welcome on a chilly February afternoon! had mixed biltong and a starter of sweet chilli bites and the feta/pomegranate salad with 2 pints of the Chieftan IPA I was done! Good value and service!

Perfect evening at Chakalaka's. Nothing as too much of an issue here, & the staff really do go out of the way to look after the tables. The food was packed with flavour, authentic & hearty. Special mention to Adrian who was friendly, attentive, able...

Had the most delicious meal on Monday evening with my daughter, the place was so cosy and welcoming with friendly staff and loved the food which was fresh, hot and just fantastic. Already planning our next visit when we are down in Manchester. Also very...

We went for the 50% off on Wednesdays and was surprised we had to pay for anything at all. After complaining the food was cold and salty I don't think we even got an apology and when the bill came we were expected to pay...

Lovely little place, we weren’t hungry but wanted a drink & rest in some appalling weather & stumbled across Chakalaka. Great funky decor and nice friendly staff, after looking at the menu we decided on a dessert to go with our drink, some interesting South...

Great service and a superb lamb bunny. I had the boerie roll which was ok and my wife had the lamb bunny which was superb. Will definitely be returning next time we’re in Manchester.

We had dinner here and both had a bunny chow. The food was really tasty. There were all kinds of South African dishes to choose from and it's a nice kind of laid back cafe environment.

After dragging the family out not just once but twice to try the food of my home land I wish they left the kitchen closed. Very sugary cocktails and no frills, totally basic stuff but they are cheap so you get what you pay for....

One of the coolest spots in the Northern Quarter! Lovely, delicious SA food at reasonable prices. Not something you get everyday but you will not regret it. Amazing malva pudding too!

Variety is the spice of life and having never had South African food before, this is the ideal place to to rectify that. The restaurant is wonderfully bright and really appealing to our taste. The seating is a bit basic and hard, so the cushions...

Delicious food, we had the sharing platter and the Mac and cheese was delicious!! Cocktails were great! Defo a nice place to go and chill out whilst trying a new cuisine.

Had a few hours to fill and wanted to try something new and I’m so glad I decided on here. The menu offers up something for everyone and I struggled to decide to settled on the mezze board so I could try a variety, it...

The best food. Such a good atmosphere. It is not wheelchair accessible but staff did their upmost to accommodate my disability. Estelle, daina, josh and Jordan were super lovely and incredibly welcoming. This is our second time and we will defiantly come back again. Cannot...

I cannot recommend this place enough. I didnt expect to particularly enjoy the food, having booked mainly for the palate of some of my friends. However, I really enjoyed it and will most definitely return. We had a range of dishes, sharing both the meatmezze...

Bathed in South African colours, Chakalaka have done a good job of bringing classic dishes to the heart of Manchester. I found them coincidentally just as I'd been reading about bunny chow. Not 2 weeks later, walked past Chakalaka and was pleased to see it...

A very nice and comfortable restaurant, good setting and the food is very good. Servers are very sweet and the food and drinks came fast. Cocktails during happy hour are very good value for money, the rooibos one was one of the best cockatiels I've...

Made a booking for 5.30pm, arrived and was seated promptly with covid rules politely explained. Order taken in a timely manner, didn't feel rushed nor did we have to wait long. Ordered the meaty mezze platter, bunny chow and a side of gravy. All came...

So upset at the owners indifferent demeanor. The food was almost as cold as his attitude. We spent £85 to leave feeling hungry and disappointed. Everywhere has bad days but when we informed both the waiter and the owner that we werent impressed we were...

Service is 2nd to none. Very attentive and helpful with the menu. We ordered the meat mezze and the chicken Malay bunny chow. The food was very hearty and very tasty. Was nice eating outside, but probably needs more light when it gets dark. Highly...

Welcomed in by our host Stuart, again a lovely experience and the food was gorgeous, I would recommend this place if you want a chilled evening with great tunes on in the background.

Great staff, great food! Lots of veggie and vegan choices and happy hour for cocktails great value! :) the cheesy maize balls and bunny chow are insane!

We'd heard so many people rave about Chakalaka and so finally went this evening; it certainly lived up to the hype! Upon the owner's recommendation, we ordered the meat mezze board which had a great selection of delicious food; in particular, boerewors sausage and biltong...

As a South African I was really looking forward to a taste of home and was not disappointed. Food was lovely and fresh. Enjoyed the SA beer and cider. Biltong was excellent. Friendly staff and atmosphere. Will 100% be back.

Took forever to even order drinks. Then took forever to bring them over (to the point where we went to the bar and brought our own). The chips were saltier than the atmosphere of a divorced couple who can't afford to move out. The "Biltong...

Used the confidentials vouchers, a nice little gaff in the NQ, never had south african food b4.... Was a nice experience and food was tasty... Stuart waited on and was really friendly... Will be back... Try it for something different.... Music decent also.

Nice place, a little quiet on out me mid week visit- good music! The food was lovely- I had the bunny chicken and it was very tasty- quite spicy but yum. I think I could’ve done with a salad on the side- just for variety....

This place is a real gem. Comfort food and delicious tasty beer at a gorgeous price. There is always a friendly welcome.

As a native of southern africa with South African grandparents and ancestory this was a massive misrepresantation of our food, the pap was sickening (thats not how you make pap) and the relish was horendous at best. Some you guys managed to ruin boerewors sausage.

There was only one place we could watch the Springboks smash England in the world cup final and that was here. What an awesome morning spent with lovely people and amazing food and drinks in a great atmosphere The food menu is authentic South African...

I've eaten here a few times now. Food is spot on, cocktails are delicious, prices are reasonable and the staff are super friendly! Already looking forward to my next visit.

Bread was stale. Sausage and pap also mediocre.Milk tart base was dry and soft. Apricot sponge was just a big hot exploded plate of pure syrup.Only one waiter on. Overall not brilliant food and experience. Wont be going back.

The draught beer was off; the sweets were unavailable; the staff shut the door five times after we closed (like sitting in a wind tunnel;) food comprises of sausages and hollowed out bread. AVOID

What a great place. The food and cocktails are delicious. I thoroughly recommend it. There are great veggie options too.

Excellent food. Very happy with the quantity and quality of the meal. Very friendly and welcoming waitresses. Very tasty and homemade food. Oh and the espresso is wonderful!!! Definitely will repeat soon!

Meal was a reasonable price and really nice. The staff made us feel really welcome and the atmosphere was great. I would recommend popping in for a visit

We had another fantastic meal (meaty mezze) with really tasty, fresh ingredients. Always a lovely welcome and a pleasure to return - I never hesitate to recommend Chakalaka because the standards are so high. Thank you for a great afternoon and it's so lovely to...

This South African restaurant in the middle of Manchester was absolutely delightful. The food is really tasty and the prices are amazing. We had a selection of small plates and I would definitely recommend the bobotie (not sure of the spelling) and my husband particularly...

After falling in love with South Africa last September we were amazed to discover this place. We love South African food. It's Lekker! Will come again very soon.

We visited the restaurant last week and ordered the meaty mezze board. I ate everything besides the biltong as it did not look appetising. However, my partner did eat the biltong and suffered with food poisoning the next day. Avoid

After a couple of visits to this restaurant I can say the food here is very good and the service is lovely. We made to feel comfortable and relaxed. We had the chicken bunny chow which is every bit as good as we expected we...

How can one not be drawn back to a place that has a little bit of South African soul and flavour... With a variety of our favourite and delicious meals/snacks, incredible hospitality and a great selection of our South African local drinks, why wouldn't you...

Being South African and missing home Massively, when we heard there was a South African restaurant in Manchester, we couldn't wait to go! Everything was brilliant as soon as we walked in! The food, drinks, staff and owner were incredible! Ill always highly recommend this...

I’d heard a lot of interesting things about this restaurant, but was disappointed overall. The biltong was nice, the hot dogs seemed overpriced. The bunny chow said it was served in a freshly baked hollowed out bread, the picture shows like a French stick, however...

Our friends have been raving about this restaurant for months and we were finally able to make the trip from the Lakes. We absolutely loved it and will definitely return. Place looks great, food is very tasty, hot and competitive priced. Service is exceptional! Everyone...

This is the second time we have visited Chakalaka and we weren't disappointed. The staff are always extremely welcoming and the service always attentive. They also welcomed our miniature dachshund with open arms even if he wasn't in a very sociable mood. The food is...

I was taken to Manchester by my wife and was really looking forward to a independen t restaurant and eating nice food. We got an email on the morning confirming our booking. Got to the door to find the restaurant closed with a sign on...

Having never had South African food before I didn't know what to expect when I came across Chakalaka, but was pleasantly surprised. Between us we ordered a good chunk of the menu and everything was delicious! Would recommend

What a place! Biltong starter and a boery roll and grape fanta. Wow brought back memories and is one of the nicest meals I have had in ages. Staff are excellent, chatty and have a real bond with the customers. Highly recommended!

A quirky, authentic South African restaurant run by two incredible chaps 🇿🇦 Stuart and Chris were brilliant hosts for my friends birthday party. Amazing cocktails, themed shooters and beers, plus delicious food! Drinks are incredible cheap with buy 1 get 1 free and 3 beers...

Never had SA food and how awesome we could try it in Chakalaka. So many beautiful flavours, incredible and friendly service. Love these independent places. These guys put heart and soul into everything they do. Thank you Chakalaka team, we will be back

Chaka Lanka has been on our radar for a good few weeks now and decided after enjoying the Manchester Day parade that an afternoon eats and drinks was well in order. We were welcomed by a friendly and very attentive gent who helped us to...

Great super trendy relaxed atmosphere very friendly owners. And the food was excellent especially the hot dog will definitely be visti g again. Cindy and Pete

Visited with 2 friends on a Saturday afternoon. We chose the meat platter, the veggie platter plus a dish of spinach and pap. Wow! So many fabulous flavours and new foods to try. Bright, vibrant interior, friendly staff and delicious food and drinks. What more...

Thought we'd see what South African food is all about so tried this place last Sunday. Was very quiet inside maybe due to poor weather and also Parklife being on. Quite basic inside but colourful and welcoming. Long bench seats with cushions were actually very...

Located in the hip Northern Quarter, the small, brightly decorated, informal spot felt like the way I imagine a similar place would feel in South Africa. We went for lunch, and it wasn't very crowded. They are open until 2am and are busy in the...

I was organising a group work meal out in Manchester a couple of weeks ago, and was looking for somewhere a bit different than the usual places. Chakalaka Bar felt like a bit of a gamble, just based on lots of good reviews here, but...

We went here last night and had such a lovely time. Chakalaka sausage was "one of the best I've ever had" with "incredible seasoning". Highly recommend the Not Dog, peri peri fries and the Maize balls too. The fact this is a two man operation...

This place is fantastic. Food very tasty mezze is great and well priced. The drinks are great and great pricing. What really makes it is the service and the guys who work there. Top class and friendly, very attentive. Will certainly go back many times...

My friend introduced me to this place 8 weeks ago and I have been at least once a week ever since! Love it. Great value for money too atmosphere and an even better host. It's welcoming with a key eye for detail. Outwardly you could...

This restaurant is quite special, a surprise introduction to South African cuisine myself and my party found the food to be delicious and exciting. The owners Stewart and Chris were fabulous and couldn’t do enough for us, advising us on both the cocktail and food...

We stumbled across this superb restaurant purely by chance. We were having a walk round the pubs of Manchester and noticed it. Very welcoming and with a nice ambiance. We perused the menu which is South African, and was advised by the owners on the...

Out having a drink with friends and we were just passing this amazing place, I have never had SA food before so this was a first for me. WOW I had the Mezzy which was tasty as anything I have ever had. Friendly staff excellent...

Spotted ChakaLaka whilst walking up Oldham St. heading to another Northern Quarter restaurant. The menu in the window looked really interesting showing South African food which we had never tried. We decided to give it a try, and we were glad we did. The food...

Great little place in the NQ! There is a great choice of drinks on the menu. Something to suit everyone and very reasonably priced (I perticularly enjoyed the 2 for 1 on cocktails) There is also an impressive food menu. I wasn't intending to eat...

Not many people here when we arrived but food was very tasty, cocktails nice and staff friendly. Would definitely recommend.

Lovely food, great cocktails and lovely staff! I find it hard to get good service in the northern quarter. Chakalaka staff are really welcoming and the food is great!

Lovely little place, extremely welcoming and the food is delicious. The best sausage I've ever tasted. And the drinks menu is great with lots of cocktails spirits and beers to choose from which are more than reasonably priced. I will be visiting as much as...

This was our first visit and first time for South African food - fantastic food (we had the Mezze board) - so tasty and so fresh. Great choice of drinks. This was a fabulous bar - with a really lovely friendly welcome and we really...

So we were attending WIM and fancied a quick bite. As next door we popped in. Well we were not disappointed. Really good food, decent prices and great service.i can honestly say will be returning, and hoping for more of the same 😁

Great service, authentic food and amazing atmosphere! The owners Stuart and Chris are great company! Located in Manchester's vibrant northern quarter, this bar/restaurant is perfect for drinking and eating the night away!

The menu is easy to understand, has a good range without being overwhelming and everything is delicious! Decent portion sizes, extremely friendly staff and banging music/atmosphere (great for pre drinks). Plus there is an amazing lunch deal and 2 4 1 happy hour on drinks....

A real hidden gem in the NQ of Manchester. Ridiculously tasty food, super friendly service and a lovely atmosphere. The food is suitable for veggies and meat-eaters alike, and the 'not dog' (a vegetarian hot dog) is one of the best I've tasted, super impressed....