In our culture, big brekkies come part and parcel with a boozy night on the town, so it’s important to know where the best places are to fuel your basic (British) human needs.
We all love a Spoons fry up, but guys, if you’re gonna demolish a proper fry up, at least branch out and do it right!
The Koffee Pot
If you’re an Englishman, Irishman, Scotsman or Welshman who is hungry and looking for a decent brekkie, there’s only one place in the Northern Quarter that’ll satisfy all your needs. Whilst that may sound like the start of a bad joke, it’s true, because Koffee Pot on Oldham Street is one of the few places in Manchester that offers a traditional fry-up from every country in the UK.
Their ‘Big Yin’ breakfast includes loads of Scottish favourites such as, MacSween haggis, black pudding and square sausage, whereas their ‘Welsh Breakfast’ comes with pork & leek sausages, Penclawdd cockle and laverbread cakes. Their Irish ‘Ulster Fry’ comes served with potato cake, black & white pudding and fried soda farl, and their ‘KP Full English’ is made up of all our favourite things including hash browns, bacon and Heinz baked beans.
But no matter which part of the UK you’re from, vegans and veggies don’t have to miss out too; so be sure to head to Koffee Pot soon and order the ‘Veggie Brekkie’ or the ‘Hipster Vegan Brekkie’.
The Koffee Pot, 84-86 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE
0161 236 8918
https://www.thekoffeepot.co.uk/
Gorilla
Made up of cured & grilled back bacon, Gorilla recipe sausage, homemade hash browns, Heinz baked beans, a fried egg, mushrooms, a slow roasted tomato and buttered toast, Gorillas ‘Full English’ breakfast really is what dreams are made of. And if you’ve got eyes bigger than your belly (like me), upgrade to their ‘Royal Breakfast’ for a couple of quid, and basically have double of everything.
And for veggies, they also serve their ‘Vegetarian Breakfast’ and their enormous ‘Royal Vegetarian Breakfast’, which is served with veggie sausages, roasted Mediterranean vegetables and all of the usual favourites. If that’s not enough, look to the ‘Breakfast Extras’ and add some normal/veggie black pudding, scrambled eggs or just a million more hash browns for just a few quid more!
Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth St W, Manchester M1 5WW
0161 826 2998
https://www.thisisgorilla.com/
Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home’s glorious ‘Texan ‘Breakfast Skillet’ is essentially a fry up in one big pan, but sweet Jesus, it’s so much more than that. Imagine digging in to crispy bacon, spiced sausage patty, chorizo, house hash, melted cheese, grilled peppers & onions, smoky pitt style beans, a poached egg, and sourdough toast- all in one beautiful bite? Heaven. They also do a super indulgent ‘Full Breakfast’, and a ‘Big Brekkie’ for people with a larger appetite.
Home Sweet Home,
Unit 4, Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester M3 4EN, 0161 300 8121
49-51 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW, 0161 244 9424
homesweethomenq.com/
Albert’s Schloss
In typical Albert Schloss fashion, they don’t just serve your average fry up, they serve one fit for royalty. Their ‘Royal Breakfast’ comes with everything from treacle cured bacon to freshly baked sourdough bread, but being heavily influenced by German-cuisine, it’s one of the only places in town where you can munch on a big, juicy German sausage for breakfast (I couldn’t help myself).
But if you’re against putting fat, meaty things in your mouth (someone needs to stop me), their ‘Veggie Royal Breakfast’ sounds bloody amazing too, and includes smashed avo, grilled halloumi, veggie black pudding and a crispy potato rosti.
Albert’s Schloss, 27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR
0161 833 4040
albertsschloss.co.uk
Trof
Trof is my go-to for a hangover brekkie, because it’s simple, well cooked food that really hits the spot. I’m not a vegan, but I must say how delicious their animal-friendly fry-up is; consisting of vegan black pudding, fresh avocado, sweet potato & spinach hash, Heinz beans, mushrooms, slow roasted tomato and crunchy sourdough toast. But you’re craving meat or dairy, their veggie and ‘Full English’ breakfasts are equally as delicious, and come in regular or large portions.
Trof, 8 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1EU
trofnq.co.uk/
Cottonopolis
I’m not ducking around here guys, Cottonopolis’s Duck and Eggs breakfast is one of the best plates of food I have EVER had. This godly breakfast comes packed to the brim with ducky goodness, including duck, duck sausage, duck bacon, a crispy duck egg and juicy confit tomatoes to top it all off. This beautiful creation comes as part of the brunch menu, meaning you can team is with bottomless Prosecco, Orange and Pink Grapefruit Mimosa’s, White Peach Bellini’s or Bloody Marys- for just £15 more. You’d be quackers not to snap this up!
Cottonopolis, 16 Newton St, Manchester M1 2AE
0161 236 5144
www.cottonopolis-nq.com/
West Corner
If you’re yet to stuff your face at West Corner in the Northern Quarter, you’re doing life wrong- because they’re without a doubt on of the best places for grub in the city. A while back, the chefs at West Corner decided to trial a ‘Vegan Fry’, but it now has a permanent place on the menu after winning the hearts and bellies of Vegans from across the land. Made up of spiced scrambled Tofu, Vegan Black Pudding, smashed avo, Beetroot falafel sausages, Portobello mushroom, their house hash, beans, grilled tomatoes and spinach, it’s definitely one of the most creative fry up’s I’ve come across so far. And obviously, they do veggie and meat versions to that are also to-die-for.
West Corner, 21 Hilton St, Manchester M1 1JJ
0161 241 7070
westcorner.co.uk
Alabama’s
Alabama’s in the Northern Quarter is a proper American Diner serving proper American food- which means it’s rich, indulgent and greasy- but isn’t that the point of a fry up?! Their ‘Classic Breakfast’ is a gorgeous concoction of Free-Range eggs (however you like them), a sausage patty, streaky bacon, home fries, and your choice of a bagel, sourdough or rye. Chips for breakfast? I’m sold already. But if it wasn’t already amazing, add a 4oz Rump steak to the mix by ordering their sensational ‘Big Steak Breakfast’ for just £4 more.
Alabama’s All American Eatery, 10 Newton St, Manchester M1 2AN
www.alabamas.co.uk/
