Friday 7th October, a cold, dark and rainy night. The type of rain that feels like someone is throwing a bucket of water at you. Basically an average night in Manchester.
But the night also called for celebration. It was my sister’s birthday. It was also my first time going to Mughli. And to top that off, it was also Curry Week. It was perfect timing to visit one of Manchester's most popular curry houses.
We dashed from our Uber to a semi suspicious looking door with the sign "Mughli" on it on Curry Mile. Apart from a very trendy mural, the outside didn't give much away of what's cooking inside. But as soon as we walked in there was a buzz of loud laughter and chatter.
It was a full house and I felt lucky we had booked ahead. My appetite was immediately spiked by the delicious smells of interesting spices and grilling meat. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The waiters smiled while greeting us and took us to our table. I looked around to the charcoal pit, excited, and hungry.
Mughli serves Indian food. In a modern space with trendy art and decor, it's a mix between authentic and contemporary aesthetics. The menu follows suit, with modern twists on Indian street food and soul food, as well as serving a few traditional dishes.
For instance, you can find dishes on the menu like “Fish Takos”. A colourful dish with a generous portion of tender battered fish in a chard grilled tortilla / naan taco. They are topped with pickled red onion and crunchy bits (perhaps chickpeas). The Indian flavours and spices combined with the different textures intrigue you with every bite. They could definitely give Mexican fish tacos a run for their money.
Another favourite of the night were the “Leopard Rolls”. The name makes a lot of sense as the roti is spotted due to being flame-grilled on their charcoal pit. The roti is filled with the juiciest lamb and packed with different flavours. It comes served with pickled red onion, giving freshness and colour.
Another side which I enjoyed very much were the Massala Fries - my mouth is watering now just thinking about them. On the menu they are described as coming wtih gunpowder (not sure what means) chutni, crispy onions and pickled chilli. I loved them. Unfortunately, I was already fairly full by the time they had arrived and I could not appreciate them as much as I should have. I will be back for those another day!
After the starters we were on to the curries. We ordered a Butter Chicken curry, “the ultimate indian comfort food” - I can agree with that statement. It was so creamy, smoky, and with charred tandoori chicken and fresh fenugreek. The creamy sauce with my garlic naan was delicious.
We also ordered the Lahori Spinach curry. A slow-cooked fresh spinach purée with baby spinach leaves, garlic, fenugreek, green chilli and a “mamma’s dollop of ghee” as described on the menu. It was buttery and comforting. Again, I enjoyed soaking it up with my garlic naan. The black lentils were a great side too, warming and gently spiced. They went well with the pilau rice. I would actually like to try make them at home.
To end the night we were all very full, and with a lot of leftovers. But we agreed we must still share a dessert. My sister chose her favourite, Gulab Jamun. I had never tried it before.They are Indian style doughnuts, soaked in cardamom sugar syrup sprinkled with desiccated coconut. A soft and sweet treat to end a great dinner.
Apparently Mughli is the highest rated restaurant of Curry Mile on Tripadvisor. It's also one of the best rated curry spots in all of Manchester. We know this as the brothers sitting next to us confessed being undercover Tripadvisor agents, sent on a mission to asses if the rating was in fact accurate. They looked a bit sceptical at the menu when they first sat down and asked us how we found the food. I smiled happily while simultaneously gulping down a mouthful of curry - "Really good! You must get the Leopard Rolls!".
By the end of our meal, I felt satisfied, happy and very full. I can understand why the rating was indeed correct, and I'm sure the undercover brothers could too. Therefore, it doesn't surprise me to hear Mughli has also been named as ‘One of Manchester’s Best Restaurants’ by the Telegraph, BBC’s Good Food Guide & the Confidentials as well as Buzzfeed's No.1 "Curry House to Visit Before You Die". Even celebrities like Ed Sheeran have enjoyed visiting it too.
Drinks
Quite unlike my usual self I decided not to drink alcohol that night. I was tempted by their mocktail options but in the end choose their "Thums Up" Indian Cola. Funny enough, it brought back memories of being a young child in Costa Rica. It was common to find cheaper alternative brands to Coca Cola served in small tied up plastic bags. I would bite into a corner and love the taste of the sweet cola, having to drink it fast before I would spill it everywhere. It was a delicious treat. And it seems like to this day I remain affectionate to the refreshingly sweet and cherry-ish flavours. So yes, I liked Thums Ups.
Let's talk money
The bill came and we received a 30% discount thanks to a promotion they had on offer (I believe thanks to it being Curry Week). That brought the bill to £90 for 3 greedy eaters. Therefore, I felt £30 each was extremely fair for a great celebration dinner, as well as for the high quality of flavours and the generous quantity we had ordered. But we did not have any alcoholic drinks. Wow, life can be so much cheaper alcohol-free! Let's see how long I last - wink wink.
How to visit Mughli - Recommendations
Book: Apparently half of the tables are allocated to walk-ins and the other half to bookings. However, I would recommend to make a reservation as it can get very busy. You can book online here. If you don't like to plan ahead there is a waiting area available by the bar though.
Discounts: It's worth checking out their website and social media pages for any promotions or discounts they are offering. They also offer discounts of 10% off the bill for university students.
Go hungry: The food is really so enjoyable, filling and the portions are big. If you have ordered more than you can eat, they can give you boxes to take it home with you. I admit, it's tastes even better for breakfast the next day!