Red Chilli, Manchester

I've eaten at the Red Chilli, Manchester a few times now and on every occasion I was served with the most amazing Chinese food I've had in the UK, and actually better than a lot of Chinese food I've eaten in the Far East.

The enxtensive menu is predominantly Szechaun, so expect spicy and flavoursome casserole type dishes, as well as the usual stir fries. Thous if you are after sweet'n'sour pork balls, you really need to go somewhere else. They did have a menu of UK Chinese restaurant standards but this has been discarded, and uite rightly when there is the chance to sample the real taste of central China. There are a lot of offal dishes too, such as including pork intestine, liver and Chinese black pudding etc. To be fair I've not had the stomach (no pun intended ) to try these. They do a fantastic dish of stewed pork with dried chillies which is incredibly tasty if maybe a bit hot for some tastes. Another of my favourites is the braised aubergine which has a lovely tangy sauce and crisp red and green pepperes, There are some great starters with a good selection of soups as well as a great line in rice.

For drinks enjoy a Tiger Beer.

It's a popular restaurant with the local Chinese community, and can be difficult to get a table of you haven't booked, although it is always possible to go in, ask when a table is available (which measn they can often fit you in in an hour or so), and go and partake of a couple of bevies in a local pub such as the Grey Horse on Portland St while you wait.