Barbakan Delicatessen

Barbakan Deli is pretty much the ultimate Chorlton location. It sells a very wide range of superb foods, both ready to eat and world food ingredients. If you were being unkind you might suggest that the reason it is literally the best reviewed eatery in Manchester (#1 on Unilocal as I type) is partially down to the punters in Chorlton going hog-​crazy for what it offers, but it still offers really good stuff at very solid value.
Barbakan is a foodie’s dream, and specialises in ‘the finer things’. Everything is done to a seriously high quality, but what impresses me most is the range. Barbakan succeeds in sourcing great bread (from bagels to posh loaves), cheese (the counter needs to be seen to be believed), cold meats (even more impressive than the cheese selection), salads, quiches, and more. On Saturdays they set up a BBQ on the patio and cook bratwurst and french sausage to order for £3.30 per hot dog. And if you want to whip up something nice at home they sell everything from tahini (at a much cheaper price than M&S) to fancy Italian pastas to Polish ingredients and even the odd kosher item. It is simply a one stop shop for anyone wanting to eat or cook something a bit special.
And the value is excellent. The food isn’t dirt cheap, but it is hardly dear (and they have an odd habit of pricing things to non-​rounded numbers, for some reason). Given the luxurious nature of most of what is on offer the prices are extremely reasonable. Is it the best place to buy food in Manchester? Who knows. But if you’ve ever got a spare bob or two in the weekly food budget then head to Barbakan, you won’t be disappointed.

Shop/​deli/​bakery serving a selection of hot breakfast items. Bacon or vegetarian sausage with free range eggs on ciabatta or a barm. Plus a few extras and variations on that.
I selected a bacon & egg ciabatta with tomato ketchup. It was very tasty, though there was only just enough bacon. I also ordered a tea, which could have been a bit hotter.
The shop sells a varied mixture of goods. You wouldn’t do a weekly shop here but if you need vanilla pods or a jar of Polish horseradish then you can get it here.
Why not the full five stars? Firstly, the lady who served me made no effort to be friendly, or even particularly pleasant. Secondly there’s only seating for 2 people indoors. The rest of the seating is outside. That’s OK in July and August but not for the other 10 months of the year.
Various different sausages and onions were being cooked on a grill outside. I’ll go back for lunch someday and try one.

This delicatessen in Charlton is one of the best places I’ve got visited in Manchester. As you walk in the store, there are counters at the side and back, each selling something different — olives, cheeses, salads, meats, bread cakes, sandwiches and finally hot soup. You can sit outside on the patio to eat the food you have just bought, but there is no indoor seating. In the shop you can buy pasta, jams, luxury hampers etc. I will definitely be going back for a breakfast again as the food was excellent. This place gets five stars from me!

After a caffeine fuelled Monday morning I needed something quick, tasty and filling to spark my afternoon. I was in the area and had read some good things about Barbakan so I thought I’d give them a shot. I’m glad I did!
I ordered a sarnie that wasn’t even on the menu, yet the member of staff who served me, who was an absolute delight, had no problem going back and making it for me. I have to give her a special mention as it was probably the friendliest and cheery customer service I had ever received, anywhere. I think the Sandwich (a good size for lunch) and a bottle of water set me back £4 — I’d pay that for the customer service alone!
Now they are much more than a sandwich shop, they boast a large cheese counter and a good selection of Deli meats as well as other essentials you might need to grab if you can’t make it out to a big supermarket or prefer shopping local ( Unilocal brownie points if you do).
A great place, that seems to handle all aspects really well — oh yeah, and the customer service is fantastic, don’t think I mentioned that yet?

Barbakan is an excellent deli, with some astonishingly low prices (a large and sumptuous looking pork pie was less than £3). There’s lots to look at and a nice outdoor eating area where on Saturday morning they were cooking up several varieties of sausage, plus lamb burger. I had a delicious bratwurst and was particularly delighted by the wide range of condiments.
Excited already for my next visit!

Just wanted to add to the glowing reviews of this wonderful business. Been a customer for 20 years at least, the home baked breads are unbeatable — theres so many to choose from but my favourite is their bacon, Tomato and Cheese Loaf. They used to do chocolate loaf but not seen that in a while (which is a shame — bring it back!). They do great hot breakfast sandwiches and Saturdays is a Chorlton institution with the bratwurst BBQ and potatoes — especially in the winter. Then of course pop across the road to the equally wonderful and complimentary Unicorn whole food co-​op. We moved from Chortlon to Swinton 6 years ago yet still make the Saturday trek for our deli and bread. Full marks to all the lovely staff. Oh — about the ticket system — its a bit of a mystery where all the missing people go but part of the fun.

This is a really well stocked deli in Chorlton. Pasta, chutneys, condiments as well as pickled and canned foods — everything very high quality. You can smell their breads outside the shop and that’s what first brought me in. Their walnut loaf is to die for! They also have a meat counter with big selection of deli meats and cheeses.
I have never eaten inside but they have a grill om the terrace outside the shop at the weekends and whatever they do there — it smells divine! I will definitely be back for more.

I came here because I was intrigued by the positive reviews from other Unilocalers but honestly I was disappointed with my coffee-​to-​go and the doughnut (special breakfast offer for £2.40).
The doughnut was dry and it was very bland. I have tasted better ones before…
However, my cappuccino was just milky and hardly any coffee flavour –probably just one shot but you could taste that it was a cheap coffee brand.
The only positive thing that they have a big outdoor seating area.
I won’t come here again for a cup of coffee — sorry guys!

This place is my heaven! wow where to start… On weekends during the summer months they have an open BBQ serving tremendous food! Home baked breads and fresh cured meats along with lots of different herbs and spices! If your looking for something a little different to your normal asda or tescos then this place is well worth a trip down Into Chorlton for! Whilst in Chorlton why not pop into one of it’s many bars or cafés!

How and why have I not reviewed the Barbakan yet?!
It is one of the great tragedies of my life that by the time I get off the bus in Chorlton on an evening the Barbakan is already closed — and yet smells unreasonably delicious.
Saturday mornings are my usual time to visit, for a bacon and egg ciabatta and a cake. I never plan to get a cake but the selection is so tempting that I can’t seem to leave without one. Anything that involves flaky pastry and a fruity filling has been a winner so far. I would also recommend the cream-​filled doughnut. Price are not cheap but also nothing out of the ordinary for Chorlton.
Be warned there is sometimes a thoroughly confusing ticket system in operation for the queues when it gets busy. My first experience of this was walking past the ticket dispenser, jumping in the queue and then standing there looking lost until someone took pity on me.
If you like bread, meat, cheese or olives you’re in luck here. My current recurring daydream is buying a huge hamper of their goodies and heading off for a picnic.
Head over on a Saturday lunchtime for a sausage cooked in a huge pan outside. I opted for a Polish sausage with onions and a range of sauces, and a portion of fried potatoes split between 2 (these portions are huge!).
Overall I think the Barbakan is an absolute gem and I feel really lucky to live so close by.

Five stars. Barbakan can’t be improved in my opinion. The bread is incredible and sets chorlton alive with the smell of fresh baking on a Saturday morning! They have everything covered, sandwiches, cakes, deli treats, and then to top it all off, they hold a weekly barbecue out front which knocks out bratwurst to put the European Market to shame. There’s Paella, roasted potatoes garlic sausage and more. Outside seating is lovely even in the winter. Much like Frosts do with meat, Barbakan provide bread products to a host of restaurants across Manchester to such a high standard that those venues advertise it proudly. When other businesses are buying your product and advertising your quality, you know you’re good. Exceptional business.

The best hangover breakfast around! The sausage pan Saturday mornings draw large queues from the Chorlton crowd and beyond. Freshly cooked to order — huge portions and good value for money. And that’s just outside!
Inside is a large selection of freshly cooked breads, meat, cheese, homemade baked goods (quiche, pastries, cakes) and salads. Also stocks international products and a variety of local producers.
Slightly more pricey than your average but not unaffordable for a deli. Quality of products always great.
And I get to live in walking distance!

Yum! Fantastic range of breads, meats and cheeses. Great for a quick sandwich during the week. Gets busy but well worth the trip.

A fantastic range of breads including my favourite… sourdough.
I pop in every week and pick up a loaf on the way to my Tai Chi class just round the corner at St Werburghs Church Hall.
Highly recommended!

Local gem! Came to Manchester to visit my boyfriend’s family and found this delicatessen on Unilocal.Great selection of breads, cured meats, cheeses and other grocery goodies. I shared a quiche and hot sandwich and was not disappointed. There is a nice patio out front to enjoy your purchases. I will be back for more!
Their website is very helpful with a nice youtube video. Enjoy!
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Parking: Ample street parking… thumbs up!

Another update, this time on the glorious merits of eating in at Barbakan on a weekday lunchtime in winter. Of course, there –is– copious outside seating under cover for the good weather. But if you want to bag one of the ten or so bar stools inside, weekday would seem to be more realistic.
I’ve now uploaded a decent photo of the Mediterranean Sizzler toasted ciabatta (£3.50) which came out just as good as on a weekend, but much more quickly! I have to say that this ciabatta beats most pizzas I have ever eaten, and so in the vicinity of Barbakan I would henceforth only be interested in a very, very exquisite artisan pizza. Here’s why:
— Cheap
— Not too much bread, but still satisfying enough that no-​one of normal appetite would want a second or even another half
— Light, airy, crisp yet substantial Barbakan ciabatta freshly baked on the premises
— Served at perfect eating temperature
— Pizza-​type ingredients — feta, roast mediterrean veg, fresh spinach — keeping it moist yet never soggy
— Very reliable — difficult to see Barbakan ever dropping the ball on this sandwich. (Contrast loads of pizzas with burnt or soggy bases *sigh*)
As I wanted a big feed, I also had mediterrean vegetable soup (see photo) which comes with a bread roll. Soup was something under £2 for a cup a bit smaller than Unicorn’s £1.58 soup, but with bread roll included it all balances out, especially as it is tough to buy a small bit of bread at Unicorn. Soup, roll and sandwich adds up to a tasty, wholesome meal which makes plenty of inroads into my five-​a-​day. (OK, quite a high carb meal, but you said you wanted pizza!)
Lastly, when I asked, they were OK with swapping the free bread roll for a bagel, so I will have soup and bagel next time. So the future is looking bright — Happy New Year, everyone!

With so many great things going for this store, it’s hard to know where to start…
*Spins the wheel*
Chronological order it is!
You’ll start off walking down the street, minding your own business, when you get the sixth sense-​style of tingle letting you know something magical is happening nearby. This is followed by the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread. It doesn’t matter if it’s morning, afternoon, or at 3 in the morning, you WILL smell the bread (I like to imagine there are several elves working throughout the night, of the Keebler variety, but more likely it’s the proofing dough). If you’re walking by on a Saturday morning, you’ll instead get a punch to the nose by the smell of delicious sausages being grilled up front, served on a bun. WARNING: unless you are a vegetarian (and in some cases, even then), exposing yourself to this smell WILL result in the immediate consumption of massive amounts of sausage, followed swiftly by meat nirvana.
So now, unable to control your movements, you have walked to the open air grill and ordered one of the many varieties of sausage they offer. If you’re particularly hungry, you’ll wind up with some potatoes, beans, or stew/​curry of some sort on your plate as well — don’t worry, this is normal, and next time you come you’ll find some items may have changed. You wait for a few minutes so they can get it juicy and cooked perfectly. It will feel as if two lifetimes have passed, but worry not, for in this land of bliss and happiness we never age, and the expert chefs are making your ambrosia to order.
At this point, the cook has handed you a perfectly cooked sausage in a roll. You have the choice to devour it all right there as people stare at you awkwardly (my usual choice of consumption), or you can act civilised and walk to the front area where they have plasticware, napkins, and a large selection of sauces to coat your brunch with. Feel free to use these sauces if the taste of pure awesomeness is too much for you and you need to have it diluted. Now grab your grub, being careful to tuck it under an arm to prevent the people in line from stealing it, and walk to one of the patio tables. Sit down, soak up some sun (if available that day), and enjoy your breakfast/​brunch/​lunch. Repeat as needed.
Now thoroughly satisfied (or, if it’s not a Saturday morning and you haven’t been distracted by the grill), your attention turns to the actual store. Through the windows, you see massive amounts of people, and assorted delicious-​looking foodstuffs. As you wander inside, the aroma guaranteeing you that this is a safe haven and no bad can come here, you’ll find a wide variety of high-​quality groceries. These can be pricey, but it’s worth the cost if you can muster the dough (pun!). The main point of activity will be the counter with people clambering for priority. This is your next destination. Go into queue, and buy bread. Don’t ask me what kind — they’ll have something you love, whether it’s brioche, wheat, or one of several varieties of sourdough, they have TONS of choices. They also have plenty of snacks to choose from — I usually end up with a handful of scones as well.
Now head home with your bag full of goodies, and enjoy! Return weekly to get your fill of bakery goodness.

I have a soft spot for places that sell quality bread, meat, and cheeses and my, oh my, was I pleased to walk into this place (and in Manchester, England of all places). The fact that England, with its notorious reputation for their cuisine, conjured up a wonderland such as this makes me think twice about our ancestors across the Atlantic. Though the odds of finding a nice sunny day to use their patio out front are slim to none in this country it shouldn’t stop you from trying out this incredible gem. Did I mention they have awards? Best bakery of 2011, among other various awards. Tourists of all kinds who are seeking something beyond what you know I urge you to go to this delicatessen.
Centered around Polish meats and breads, this delicatessen is staffed with at least one or two knowledgeable employees in each section. A simple rectangular shop with no flashy flaunt, one wall is devoted entirely to bread of the freshest and most gorgeous kind. If carbohydrates are your weakness then, lord, this is the arrow to your Achilles heel. Another wall is a shrine to cured meats and cheeses, and I nearly fell to the floor in worship. Unpasteurized cheese, my queen, my goddess and yet my malicious mistress that is so unfortunately missing in my home country. Much like my many reviews of Star Provisions and Marche Jean-​Talon, this Delicatessen is a home to all foodies who enjoy a good market with high quality food.
Here’s the amazing thing, it’s much cheaper than I thought it would be. Unlike Whole Foods and Star Provisions for 100 grams of three types of meats, and two different types of cheese it only came out to about £10. I was very happy to hear this as normally I spend over $ 20 at Star Provisions for only two cheeses. Tourists and foodie tourists alike, be sure to stop by here and try not to lose your head. England: Bad food, worse weather? The weather may be holding up to the stereotype but definitely not the food.

Fooodie fooodie fooodie heaven this is… this deli serves treats from all over Europe. imagine you are cooking and you want to add bit of X-​factor to that dish, come to Barbakan and you are more than likely to find something that is the icing on the cake.
This place is chock a block with a mouth watering range foods from spicy sausages, smoked meats, pates, olives and continental cheeses to a yumumyumungusss selection of cakes and pastries. I personally recommend polish cheese cake yowza that hit the spot when I had it yizerrr…
Throw in the fresh pasta, sauces, jams and a medley of other delights, and you’re on to a winner surely… So tell me one thing, what the hell are you doing, go get yourself some!!!

Fresh bagels w cream cheese and gherkins
Norlander rye bread with caraway seeds
Margarita olive bread
Sunblush tomatoes
Creamy Goats cheese
Gooey Taleggio
Pecorrino
Kalamata olives
Seranno ham
Smoked salmon
Potato salad
Fresh coffee
& Traditional Polish cheesecake
In a word: YuMMMMMMMy.