After compiling a list and a TikTok series on the desserts to try in Chinatown London, we got a request to do a Manchester version. In all honesty, at the beginning it seemed a lot tougher as there weren’t as many options as there are in London. Also, we found zero articles or blog posts regarding this topic. There’s plenty for London, but nothing for Manchester. So, this was pure research from my part primarily using and dissecting Google Maps.
Salted caramel croffle from Wasabi Dessert Room
Wasabi Dessert Room is hidden away on the top floor of Wasabi, the Japanese restaurant. We got a couple of desserts from this place: a croffle and snow ice. A croffle is a cross between a croissant and a waffle. We’ve had croffles at numerous places in London and only one really stood out. Most are more like waffles that look like croissants. This one here though is not only the first one on this list, but it is also our favourite on this list. And possibly one of the best desserts we’ve had recently. It was that good. It is exactly how a croissant waffle combo should be. The taste of the waffle with the texture and crunch of a croissant. This had it. Couple that with the salted caramel and ice cream. Wow. Elite level this.
Snow ice from Wasabi Dessert Room
We also got one of their famous snow ice desserts. This is a cross between ice cream and shaved ice. Shaved ice is a very popular dessert in East Asian countries. So, this is more of traditional dessert – something different to what the western taste is used to. They’ve got numerous flavours and we opted for black sesame as we love that flavour in a dessert. I loved the addition of wonderful things like mochi, lychee bubbles and grass jelly. For someone less adventurous, I’d recommend going for the lychee one.
Cream and pearl Lava cake from Wootea
Wootea have a branch in London, but the Manchester branch is a) their flagship store and b) they have some unique desserts on their Manchester menu that they do not have in London. Two really unique desserts to be precise. The first is a lava cake with cream and tapioca pearls on top. Looks the part and tastes amazing too. Reminds me a little of the Japanese souffle pancakes, but in cake version. Light, airy, fluffy and very subtle in flavour. So, the tapioca pearls and cream compliment it perfectly.
Cream and pearl croissant from Wootea
The second dessert we got from Wootea is a filled croissant. Extremely unique and something that real foodies have been going on about. You can get it filled with purple potato or tapioca pearls. We got the tapioca pearls one and it was pretty good. Very messy and probably wouldn’t get it again, but still decent (not “need to get it asap” good). It tasted exactly like it sounds.
Black sesame sundae from Tsujiri
Tsujiri is a traditional Japanese tea house that specialises in matcha desserts. If matcha is your thing, this has to be your number one spot. They’ve been around since 1860 (in Japan), so they definitely know what they are doing and there is a feeling of class and elegance in the place. We aren’t big matcha fans, so we opted for their famous sundae, but changed the matcha soft serve to black sesame. It was delicious and unlike any other sundae we’ve ever had. Some unique and wonderful things were found in the sundae including surprising toasted rice deep inside – this added great texture and flavour.
Strawberry tea with cheese foam from Ohayo Tea
Ohayo is one of the most popular spots here, if not the most popular. While England goes mad over bubble tea, China and Taiwan are way ahead. Bubble tea is pretty old for them (I mean even McDonalds do it) – the trendy drink for them (when I was there is 2019) is the cheese tea. It is basically a cold green/black tea or fruit tea with cheese foam on top. You have to absolutely try the strawberry cheese tea, it’ll be like drinking cheesecake! We’ve tried it at a number of places now and this is easily the best. FYI: it is a drink that has to be drunk in a way where you get the cheese foam as well as the tea, otherwise it just isn’t the same – a completely different experience.
Ohayo Shiba waffles from Ohayo Tea
They also do these small waffles filled with different fillings. Fillings include tapioca pearls and red bean. We opted for HK style peanut butter. It was good, but I think if I were to get it again, I’d go for a different filling.
Ohayo Sundae from Ohayo Tea
They do amazing and unique sundaes too. They’ve done bubblegum and honeydew melon flavour and right now they are doing a purple taro one. We had the earl grey milk tea one (no longer available). I like how these flavours are always changing.
Pandan custard bun from Wong Wong Bakery
Every Chinatown has a Chinese bakery and I love looking for amazing and unique finds in them. Wong Wong Bakery is the main bakery in Manchester’s Chinatown. What I love about this bakery is that they make it VERY CLEAR what items have lard in them and what items are suitable for vegetarians. Unlike the Chinatown Bakery in London (tutut). The first thing we picked up was this pandan custard bun. We love the pandan flavour. This was a soft brioche bun with a vibrant green pandan filling. The filling tasted like a nice cross between vanilla and coconut. It was soft, fluffy and delicious. I’d definitely get this again!
