Eating your way out of the pits of a hangover is universally known as one of your safest bets to get back onto the path of normality. Whether it's meat, cheese, eggs, carbs, milkshakes or something else altogether that does it for you, Manchester's got your poor, weary hungover back.
For many, hangovers often need one of two things: meat or cheese. At Northern Soul you can get both, handily melted into a grilled sandwich for a salty, comforting hit, with the classic three cheese blend on sourdough for £4.50, or for £6-£7 – perhaps slightly princely for a sandwich – more exciting combos including ‘Pig on a Lead’ stuffed with mac ‘n’ cheese and nine-hour BBQ pulled pork. When you’re hungover, though, you’ll find it usually pays off.
What to order: Pig on a Lead
The great Mancunian hangover is practically synonymous with the iconic Koffee Pot, which despite a bit of uproar at the time, is now situated in a bigger unit on Oldham Street – meaning a larger space to accommodate more of Manchester’s hungover many. The full English is pretty standard fare here, but also fail-safe, with a brew and two rounds of toast included in the price. Their main meals are also worth a shout, with kippers, reuben sarnies, rarebit and shakshuka giving you some strong alternatives.
What to order: Full English
Missed breakfast all together? It might just be that pizza’s your guy – and if it is, you’ll no doubt want the greasy, ridiculous American kind instead of the fairly ubiquitous sourdough alternative that’s doing the rounds at the moment. Head to Crazy Pedro’s and order the hotdog pizza, slathered in ketchup and mustard with crispy onions and slices of those so-good-it’s-bad, salty tinned stateside hotdogs.
What to order: Hot Dog Pizza
One of Manchester’s greatest breakfast spots, Moose is known for its enormous portion sizes and wealth of choice, with Canadian and American-inspired dishes like pancakes that are as big as your head. If you’re after something savoury and salty go for their house potato hash, paired with eggs and bacon under the moniker of the ‘Mighty Moose’ or with smoked sausage, bacon, corned beef, melted cheddar and eggs as the ‘Bronx Brunch’. No messing about.
What to order: Bronx Brunch
Give your hangover a gutsy kick of Stateside/Mexican flavours with an almighty burrito from Luck, Lust Liquor and Burn. The standard El Take It Easy will sort you out, but if you're after something heartier try the 'Men of Mayhem', with a meat hit of dirty chicken, crispy beef, pulled pork, chorizo, jalapenos, and hot BBQ sauce. Fancy one on the go? Dive into the Arndale market for one from Pancho’s.
What to order: Men of Mayhem
Whilst Hawksmoor will always be a good shout for hangovers thanks to its gloriously meat-centric menu, there’s arguably little point in shelling out on a meal when your hangover probably won’t appreciate it as much as you would on top form. Instead opt for the bar menu, where you’ll find delectable morsels like short beef rib nuggets, stuffed with cheese, and poutine (chips, cheese curds and gravy). If you want a similarly meaty hit, go to Gorilla and order their bread and beef dripping. Oh boy.
What to order: Poutine
Another Manchester institution, Home Sweet Home is a favourite on the brunching scene, meaning it does get VERY busy at weekends, and you might find an irritatingly chipper family parked at the table next to you. Try the steak and eggs served with house hash, or for more tentative appetites go for the decently priced eggs on sourdough. And for those of you that like to bust your hangover with all the milk in the world (dodgy, but works for some), Home Sweet Home's milkshakes are also big hitters.
What to order: Steak N Eggs
With huge burgers piled high with grease and pure gluttony, you’ll run the risk of feeding your hangover into a monster - but you’ll feel really good whilst doing it. Order assured that whatever you go for will stave off the hangover hunger for the rest of the night, but whatever you do, always, always go for the Bacon Bacon fries, which sees skin-on chips served up dripping in bacon mayo and crispy bacon bits.
What to order: Bacon Bacon Fries
When you’re hungover you often yearn for stodge, and perhaps nothing will fulfil the brief better than a good old-fashioned pie. Manchester’s finest comes from UK chain Pieminister, where The Mothership combo will get you a pie of your choosing (beef steak, chorizo, butterbean and olive, or chicken, smoked bacon and tarragon, for example), mash, mushy peas, gravy, grated cheese and crispy onions. Another worthy contender is Pie and Ale just around the corner, where your pie will come topped with a mini pastry animal indicating what lies inside.
What to order: The Mothership
And for the vegans among us, you can get your hearty fill at V Revolution over on Oldham Street, where hangover staples like burgers and hotdogs are replicated pretty ably using vegan substitutes. Go for the ‘chicken’ burger or jumbo hot dog, served with tortilla chips for just a fiver.
What to order: Fried 'chicken' burger
Still hungry? See more places to eat in Manchester.