Whilst most restaurants in Manchester cater for vegetarians with numerous dishes on their menus, there is also a handful of completely meat-free vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Manchester.
Morrissey and Tim Booth maybe Manchester's most famous vegetarians, but they certainly weren't the first.
In fact, Vegetarianism in the Western world began in Salford in 1809 when the aptly named Reverend William Cowherd persuaded his congregation to give up meat and the concept swept Manchester.
Although there were certainly more vegetarian restaurants in Manchester in the 1880's than today, those that have survived boast such a great reputation that even the most committed carnivores make regular visits.
The Manchester Buddhist Centre have a fantastic vegetarian cafe in the Northern Quarter whilst TV chef (and meat eater) Simon Rimmer first made his name with his highly celebrated Green's vegetarian restaurant in Didsbury, which he still owns.
The Manchester restaurants listed below boast extensive vegetarian and vegan menus.
Set in Manchester’s premier food and drink district, Spinningfields this exciting venue is inspired by the energy and vitality of the sub-continent. A visit to Scene will be a truly engaging experience that uses all the five senses. Customers will be able to see the freshness and vibrant colours of the ingredients, smell the spices used and hear the food being prepared through the theatrical open plan kitchen.
The outstanding Chinese restaurant inside the Great Northern Warehouse, on the ground floor of Manchester 235, has won rave reviews since opening its doors in December 2009. It boasts a largely Cantonese menu, influenced by the principals of healthy-eating, with extensive vegetarian options, many vegan, wheat free and gluten free dishes.
Voted The Times "Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the UK" for its extensive vegetarian menu, the multi-award winning Thai restaurant on Chapel Walks in the city centre has recently undergone an expensive refurbishment including the installation of a stunning £10,000 jelly fish tank
Celebrity chef Norman Musa's beautifully decorated Malaysian restaurant in the Northern Quarter has a focus on South East Asian specialities. The food is fresh, halal and MSG-free with more than half of the available dishes vegetarian or vegan.
Pho, pronounced 'fuh', opened in the iconic, and newly renovated, Corn Exchange in the heart of Manchester, just a stone's throw from the Manchester Arena, Royal Exchange Theatre and Manchester Arndale, the restaurant is set across three floors with a mix of cosy booth seating, large tables and benches, or external tables within the amazing central atrium.
The plush £1million Indian restaurant close to The Palace Theatre boasts an amazing menu which includes incredible vegetarian options and many healthy choices. Taking influences from Pakistan, India and North Africa, there's Punjab, Lahore, Deli and Mughlai specialities as well as Egyptian Shishas.
=World Class! 
=Great 
=OK 
=Poor 
=Awful
