Wales food restaurant tour via Bristol: Manzano’s peri peri wows

SPONSORED CONTENT HALAL STATUS Fully Halal (‘Unstunned chicken subject to availability’)

A Halal food tour to the picturesque lands of Wales has remained under the radar for far too long (sponsored by Harmony Farm in Torfaen offering B&B, BBQs, camping, yurts and more).

It was time for FtLion, therefore, to head to the ‘land of song’; but not without firstly visiting a restaurant in Bristol which recently went viral online after a video clip from the Channel 5 food series ‘Inside…’ was posted of the owner uttering what would became a memorable catchphrase.

During an impromptu moment in season two’s 4th episode Nando’s: A Peri-Peri Big Success Story, Manzano’s owner Asam Aziz was innocently caught murmuring instructions to his chef in Punabi to start applying sauce to the grilled chicken.

The hilarious off-the-cuff phrase ‘Mango lime la na sadeya’ – translated as ‘apply some mango lime on there will you, you nincompoop’ – attracted tens of thousands of views and shares across social media.

Looking past this incident though, it’s obvious that as a brand, Manzano’s is a labour of love. Located on Straits Parade in the leafy suburbs of the city, this beautifully-conceived, family-run restaurant opened in October of last year, with its Reading branch having launched in 2017.

The 50-cover venue offers cushioned-seating in an attractively designed, spacious interior, with an instagrammable garden wall, and 2-hours free parking on the side road until 6pm (Mon-Sat).

Promising “chicken addiction”, this peri-peri brand’s menu is inspired by Asam’s mother and father, who receive a nod of appreciation, with a signature sauce called Abu’s Chilli (Abu translating as father) and a kofta dish derived from his mum’s secret recipe.

Manzano’s concept menu is a labour of love with plenty to try

Being recommended Manzano’s popular Nachos from their Appetizers section isn’t the same as being presenting by a colourfully attractive plate that’s generously covered in moist little nuggets of marinated chicken.

With flecks of green guacamole, white sour cream, red salsa, and streaks of melted yellow cheese sauce, how many nachos have you had with chicken? Precisely!

Available in a choice of BBQ, buffalo hot sauce or peri-peri, you’d be remiss not to grab a portion of their glistening Buffalo Wings, particularly given their humongous size.

Speaking of chicken, this is where Manzano’s really shine with seven peri-peri marinations to choose from: BBQ, Lemon & Herb, Garlic, Mango & Spice, Medium, Hot, and Extra Hot.

And there’s plenty of choice when it comes to their assortment of peri-peri chicken, with platters ranging from just £15.99 to their Mega for £48.99.

But it’s their selection of succulent chicken (quarter £3.49, half £5.99, or a whole £9.99), that needs to be upgraded to a meal – and do not forget the side of spicy rice – and paired with one of half-a-dozen sauces (or as many as you can handle), with the famous Abu’s Chilli guaranteed to impress.

If you’re looking for something lighter, then it has to be the Hawaiian Salad which, although upgradable with chicken, will tantalise the taste buds all the same with its mixed leaves, olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and red onions enhanced by the combination of the mango and pineapple, and caesar salad dressings.

Manzano’s have quite the assortment of chicken burgers available under both the Peri-Peri and Fried Chick sections of the menu.

What’s more, in addition to an entire Gourmet range that includes their beef signature Don Manzano’s with crispy Turkey rashers, the one that’s turning heads is the recently introduced Tikka Burger under the Specials section.

Although presented with a marinated chicken breast, cheese, red onions, lettuce, annd topped with mayo and burger sauce, it can also be upgraded at request with the inclusion of a juicy beef patty, while also being enjoyed as a wrap or pitta.

Truth be told, it is the sum of the parts that makes Manzano’s menu so memorable, especially with items such as Asam’s mother’s spicious Kofta, which is packed with secret ingredients to make it an addictive winner.

The above doesn’t even begin to cover things. While they’re delicious food is deliverable through Uber Eats and Deliveroo, you’d want to visit them in a hurry to experience all that love and passion in person, and, of course, to try that famous mango lime marination… sadeya.

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Manzano’s
17-18 Straits Parade, Bristol BS16 2LE.

T: +44 (0)117 403 5463 | W: @manzanosperiperibristol | E: [email protected]

Opening Times: Mon-Sun 12:00-23:00