TOPS Buffet Restaurant Manchester image

TOPS Buffet Restaurant Manchester

Restaurant Bar Chinese restaurant Buffet restaurant Function room facility Chinese takeaway

One of the Most Reviewed Chinese restaurants in Manchester


Address

106 Portland St, Manchester M1 4RJ, United Kingdom

Website

www.tops-restaurants.co.uk

Contact

+44 161 237 1000

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

3.90 (4.9K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 4:30 to 10:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 4:30 to 10:30 PM
  • Thursday: 4:30 to 10:30 PM
  • Friday: 12 to 4 PM, 4:30 to 10:30 PM
  • Saturday: 12 to 4 PM, 4:30 to 10:30 PM
  • Sunday: 12 to 10 PM
  • Monday: 4:30 to 10:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: buffet (21) drinks (19) dishes (16) time (15) nice (15) staff (14) restaurant (14) good (13) Chinese (10) options (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Ahmed 8 months ago on Google • 297 reviews
    It is one of the best buffet in manchester. I like the fresh grilled steaks and browns. Halal food is there and the signs are clear in front of each plate. The one note that I have on this place, is the drinks should be included in the buffet. Around 60£ for 2 adults and two kids (4,6)
    74 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Maha K. 3 months ago on Google • 261 reviews New
    Overall 3 star to this place... definitely not 4 or 5. Food quality is good but many dishes are way too far from aunthentic taste.. many starters were too oily .. Service was pathetic.. asked for lemon slices to 2 staff members and both forgot .. i was given slices 26 min after i requested. Had to wait in looonnnggg queue b4 entering.. Very strict on timings, we booked our table for 6pm and staff gathered around us to vacate the place at exact 7.30pm which was insane. We were 25 ppl and didn't get any extra min to finish our rest food in our plates... shameful service. I won't go there again tbh. Its £25 pp excluding beverages and any brew u order. NO PARKING... whatsoever... u r lucky if u can find off road (very expensive) parking or try nearby NCP ... better to use public transport. Another very awkward thing.. Many halal dishes were served right next to pork dishes, and i witnessed myself that ppl were dropping food while pouring in the plates , hence causing cross contamination which is unacceptable... they must keep this point in mind by keeping these dishes separate.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Mohammad A. 2 years ago on Google
    I heard about this open buffet from a friend, read some reviews and didn’t like it, but I said let’s give a try. In general the food taste is average, nothing special. Lower your expectations if you are coming here, for what you paid for! I couldn’t find ice cream, requested some, they said they will bring from another branch, but our time slot is ended before they do so. When we arrived we asked for another table as ours is at the toilet entrance, but they said all other tables are booked, unfortunately this is not true, I am attaching a photo of the empty tables before we leave. I can’t believe that the manager is a liar! I will never come here again and I will advise my friends not to visit this restaurant.
    31 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Irina K. 6 months ago on Google • 120 reviews
    Our first time here today. Overall food choices were good, quality was good too. Service was efficient and friendly. We were greeted at reception and on a way out stuff was super nice. Loads of stuff around if you have a question to ask or have a problem. Always great to see stuff out and about, not one or two people on a floor run off theit feet. Our drinks were served promptly, however my drink wasn't that nice. I asked for amaretto and coke, drink came too strong. On a downside some foods like desert and sushi choices were very very poor. Could do with some improvement or we just came when all was eaten. Still it has to be replenished I think. Definitely will be back if nearby. Place was super busy when we came and stayed like this throughout our stay.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Petra R. 8 months ago on Google • 73 reviews
    Really nice buffet with a wide range of food, was really delicious, definitely will visit again. Only negativ thing is the way of service, you pay upfront for the food and then separately for drinks. We ordered our drinks, went to get food , we started eating and then the waiter showed up with the terminal to pay for the drinks, weird. What if you want to order more, why can not you pay when you finished … but overall nice experience, and really tasty food.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 steffy k. 2 years ago on Google
    Read the edit as well pls! The interior of the restaurant is very nice! But I had a very weird experience in this restaurant. You have to pay before you are seated for the food, for the drinks you pay separately at the table. We went for lunch for my husband’s birthday, they had Chinese and Indian food but they were not clearly separated, like you won’t know what’s Indian or Chinese food as I don’t really like Indian food. Then the food: all kind of fried chicken were so greasy/oily and hard!!! Not nice at all! The fried rice and mains were not bad to be honest. Also it was a shame they didn’t have sushi’s during lunch time! Then the Indian waiters and waitress were very friendly. Not enough options for dessert! Name boards were placed wrong next to dishes…, For a restaurant with such an interior you would expect more! Really disappointed EDIT!!! the evening food was much better. I went another day as there were not much Chinese buffet open due COVID. But this time the food was actually much better than the lunch buffet. Things were not fried Romeo times or something you know what I mean, it was not greasy and oily this time. More dessert options and the name boards were placed right! A total different experience!
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Blanca M. 1 year ago on Google
    Place is nice and massive, different varieties of food and lots of dessert choices. But in my personal opinion, food is not the tastiest. I ordered a coke and it tasted really weird in flavour... I didn't try the meat cooked at the moment though, as there were massive queues for it, which is a good sign. Good atmosphere and nice, kind & hardworking staff making sure the place runs smoothly.
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sarah H. 5 months ago on Google • 82 reviews
    We’ve been here quite a few times over the years and it’s always been good. Lots of choice, the food is always hot and attentive wait staff. The only downside is that there is no air conditioning so if you visit on a warm day, it’s absolutely sweltering inside. The disco toilets are always a hit with my daughter.

  • 1/5 Z 4 months ago on Google • 10 reviews
    Apart from the grilled prawns and calamari, the buffet is the worst I've ever experienced. The majority of the food is of low quality and tastes like cheap frozen meals. I will never go back to this place again. Additionally, the tables are excessively close to each other , and you have to pay before eating. Furthermore, the drinks are not included in the buffet, and a glass of Coke costs over 3 pounds, but it's powdered Coke instead of a can.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Foad F. 2 months ago on Google • 64 reviews New
    Not a fair value for money! I was expecting a better quality but it was quite expensive and below average quality and the taste was not a wow. A 10-11-year-old kid would eat much less than an adult. Also, I’m not sure if everything was made the same day or if they mixed it with the previous day's food. Hopefully, they can improve as soon as possible.

  • 5/5 Michael N. 2 years ago on Google
    On portman street In manchester you will find Tops an eat all you can Buffet restaurant - price 19.50 per person great value for money. when the restaurant is busy you get given an hour & half slot but have to say are Christmas party was not kicked out the door we all had a great time . Staff were very helpful and welcoming. They had a good choice of food, Drinks order is taken at your table . The place seemed clean from what we see. I have been to this restaurant a few times before and would recommend it. You can book ahead or just walk in.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stuart R. 1 year ago on Google
    Best buffet I have ever been to. Very wide selection of food. Over 50 different dishes. Chinese, Indian, pizza plus much more. Incredible sweet selection chocolate fountain.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 farhana 1 year ago on Google
    Friendly receptionist staff once you enter. The food here is halal which is even better. Food is 10/10 and would highly recommend to anyone wanting a decent buffet. There is a nice variety of food, a lot of seating spaces and good customer service. Roughly £18 per person and drinks are separate
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Pj C. 1 year ago on Google
    Look at the amount of food left over. The food is barely edible. The meats taste feel like sand with how dry they are. Its actually bad. Like in the type of person who's always down to try something new, but after this restaurant ill always check the reviews of the restaurant before going
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ninh L. 11 months ago on Google
    NOT BAD AT ALL! It's an Asian themed restaurant, and as a Chinese man myself - the food is pretty stereotypically what you'd find in most Chinese takeaways. I can happily confirm that whilst quite a lot of it is fried, it is pretty authentic, with the flavours catering to more western tastes. So there's not too much explosive chilli and the saltiness is slightly higher on the savoury dishes. They also add a little bit more sugar on the sweeter dishes, again for western tastes. I'm so glad they're not dumping a whole load of MSG on their food, which I find disgusting anyway. It's all you can eat, so be sure to try everything there. The sushi comes recommended, as does any crispy shredded pork or beef. If you're boring, they also have chicken nuggets and chips, but you can find that anywhere. The decor is very modern-Oriental and the food is laid out very nicely and in a logical order. The drinks are a little pricey, hence why it's 4 stars not 5, but overall, you won't be disappointed here.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yusuf N. 1 year ago on Google
    Located in the heart of Manchester City Centre with many bus options, TOPS Buffet offers variety of Chinese, Indian and continental dishes. There are also a range of desserts but there are three major negatives. Firstly, this is the only buffet I went where I have to pay for a two year old boy, it is surprising to me as most buffet restaurants offered free buffet for children less than 5 years. Secondly, as a Muslim, you have to be carefully in selecting your dishes as there are many non halal and pork options. Although they indicate Halal and vegetarian options, but you have to look carefully. Finally, the place is usually crowded, so if you need a quiet and serene environment looks elsewhere.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Babz H. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is amazing. My daughter been before, so as a family with 2yr old grandchild in toe we decided to go .opens at 16:30pm, we did pre-book because of how popular and busy it. Its all you can eat buffet for £19 each ,we didn't have to pay for grandson. Every kind of food. The massive chocolate fountain ⛲ was tops. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. Only down the drinks not included.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jerry T. 2 years ago on Google
    For an eatery with your family and friends, look no further than TOPS. Really on top of your game, keep it up. Would be glad if something could be done about the long waiting hours.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 kandice 2 years ago on Google
    What's happened to tops?? Really bad tonight only food left was dried up leftovers, but was still charged full price? Didn't have full time in there, as staff was cleaning floors turned off music while we were still eating! We left not even full time allowance, they should have mentioned this when we arrived before 8:45. Wont waste money there again
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 emilson k. 1 year ago on Google
    I started at 6.06pm and first of all you need to pay before entering the dining hall. The staff are respectful. Also you need to pay for drinks separately. By that time of the day, it was not crowded. It however fills up really quick. The turnover is high anyway so as more customers come in some leave. The dishes are varieties and so options are plentiful. For me the dishes were nice and nicely warm-to-hot. I definitely will be back. I love this place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dani P. 7 months ago on Google • 14 reviews
    I've been at a lot of restaurants in the UK, and I have to say this is one of the best ones out there! Quantity, Quality and a decent price! You pay at the entrance for the food, and you only pay for the drinks when you're at the table, I've tried a bit of everything, some pork ribs,Chicken with curry, Beef, Pork, Dim Sum, Rice with eggs, Hong Kong Noodles, some chips.... There's a lot more, I recommend the Zombie Cocktail, oh and HAVE TO recommend the prowns they make and the pineapple is amazing as well! The staff was also friendly and the place looks great inside, in my opinion is perfect for a family gthering! Definitely will come here again!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rachel A. 1 month ago on Google • 21 reviews New
    Lovely atmosphere. And very polite, helpful and friendly staff. Food is good. Mainly serving what you would get from the Chinese takeaway, a small section of Indian, then there's a small carvery selection, and pizza and sushi. The dessert bar is OK. Only complaint was the cleanliness of the bathrooms.

  • 5/5 Rhiannon W. 1 year ago on Google
    Food all nice and fresh . Que wasn't too long to get in . All staff on hand and friendly . Food was topped up fresh reasonable price 18.95
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michelle A. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved been back here. Very safe and comfortable following covid regulations. Staff were helpful. The food was lovely
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Zoe S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great food, loved the robots. Shame the waiter who brought us drinks would not bring a glass of water for one of our party.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Allan G. 1 year ago on Google
    Booking advised! Very busy Chinese Buffet restaurant. Pre-pay at reception. Drinks paid separately. Vast selection of food to choose from, including fresh/made to order. Eat as much as you like for a fixed price. We went on a Thursday evening. It was very busy but there were no empty bowls, everything was hot and fresh. Great value! Drinks reasonably priced.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christina A. 2 months ago on Google • 15 reviews New
    Great place to eat. All buffet for £20. They offer great beef and dessert selections, on the spot cooking ,yummy crêpes,fried shrimps . You can reserve a table ahead also. A nice place for family or friends gathering.

  • 5/5 Donna N. 8 months ago on Google
    I love this restaurant 😍 there's so much choice of food, cooked fresh, always hot and tasty. The staff are friendly and helpful. A decent bar with a choice of drinks.

  • 4/5 Marlita Putri E. 8 months ago on Google
    I spent the time with friends there and felt happy. I was amazed by all the food that this restaurant provided. I am Muslim and I rarely meet the restaurants that provide halal food with lots of options in Manchester.

  • 2/5 Alejandra De la O T. 8 months ago on Google
    My daughter had nothing to eat as everything has meat, fish and eggs which she can’t eat. The portuguese lady was vey kind to request a plain sushi which cane back boiling hot the rice. Then a salad was prepared for her but by the time this was ready she had to go which means she barely ate in a buffet which cost us almost 20 pounds. I do not recommend this place for anyone vegetarian, vegan or with allergies as the options are extremely limited.

  • 5/5 Jamal A. 1 year ago on Google
    Great selection of food, managed very well and always clean. Best buffet restaurant in manchester for me, it is wonderfully set out. Try a little taste of everything and enjoy.

  • 5/5 deirdre w. 8 months ago on Google
    Amazing choice of food. Every kind of dish you can think of and at 21 pounds a head, incredible value for money. Lovely staff and really nice atmosphere. And it was delicious. 20 of us and not a single negative comment. Highly recommended.

  • 5/5 Kemi A. 6 months ago on Google
    Good place. Good food - well arranged buffet. Really good ambience. Staff were polite and efficient in clearing used plates timely. You pay for drinks, and drinks were reasonably priced. Food variety, even the kids, are not left out. Didn't like the ice cream, tho. Loved a particular chocolate cake. Loads of options for cakes. 22pounds. Kids 11/12 pounds.

  • 3/5 Sofia 1 year ago on Google
    3 Stars because you have to pay separately for drinks! Soft drinks cost £2.50 for half a pint and a pint costs £3.50. Food was alright, would however expect a better quality and taste for the price I paid🤷🏾‍♀️ dessert was delicious however the water were the ice cream scooper lies in needs to be regularly changed please, because it doesn’t look that pleasant. I can’t lie I was a bit disappointed by the Indian food. The garlic naan bread was essentially just normal garlic bread 🤔 However the Chinese and Italian options were good! Also the rice pretty much lacks seasoning and salt. As improvement I suggest leaving salt and pepper at tables as well as tooth picks for when people are done eating. Customer service was great. They were constantly taking away plates we didn’t need anymore in a friendly approach🤗 I don’t regret going as I was still able to enjoy myself due to their variety of food!

  • 3/5 Georgia P. 10 months ago on Google
    Food has gone massively down hill been coming here for about 5 years and the food has not improved at all, the large selection of desserts has now changed to a selection of tinned fruits and frozen cake bites which are quite solid still, people cross contaminating the food, it's definitely no longer worth what you pay in entrance fees, ut also took three times to make my drink correct which was incredibly frustrating as by the time they'd sorted it we'd lost half an hour of the 1.5h time slot you get in there. The sweet and sour is probably the only thing I do enjoy now when eating here

  • 4/5 Romz 1 year ago on Google
    Went for the lunch buffet, £12.50, some dishes better than others, some dishes taste the same, some were dry, some dishes were tasty – nothing was bad. One star off as I wasn't too impressed with the deserts, however a reminder – £12.50 so can't complain to much. Staff were nice, plates cleared regularly, £3.25 for a pint of coke, so left feeling happy and full for under £20!

  • 4/5 Betty “Bbee” B. 1 year ago on Google
    The place is big, nice and cleaned. Buffet was good, great varieties to choose from. Customer services wasn't too bad.

  • 3/5 Martin W. 1 year ago on Google
    We had early dinner tonight. It was just an average buffet in terms of food quality and variety. The Japanese suishi was particularly unimpressive, salmon suishi was not even available if my memory counts. The dishes stood out were grilled pineapple and Indian's lamb curry. In conclusion, it was still good value for money. We paid app. £19 each to get ourselves full.

  • 5/5 amanda b. 1 year ago on Google
    So much to choose from! I was in my element at this place, the quality of food was good! I would definitely recommend and I’d visit again if I was in the area! You pay for the buffet at the reception in the way in and then drinks can be purchased at the table while your seated. Friendly staff and a unique robot carrying plates around.

  • 1/5 Anna K. 1 month ago on Google • 9 reviews New
    one thing this place should not call himself is “all you can eat” , you are barely “allowed” to eat at this place … booked at table for 4, starting at 2.30pm .arrived at 2.45pm. we were told straight away that they’ll stop topping up the food containers at 3pm 👀 we managed to get one plate of food , some containers were already empty ( no one refilled those the entire time we were there) we saw half the desserts were already gone , barely anything left , by 3pm ( it was 15mins after we arrived) there zero mini cakes or desserts on the shelves , only a chocolate and a sponge cake plus some ice cream pots in the freezer . there is no ice cream machine or chocolate fountain either ( we went with kids so we kind if expected it) we ordered a drink , my friend ordered a bottle of zero alcohol beer , no glass were offered with the beer👀 the waiters are completely uninterested and probably has not been trained at all.. food is forgettable and very limited selection anyways .. the security person came up to our table at 3.40pm telling us we have 5 mins till they are closing . we thought we paid till 4pm lol . he did not leave us to finish out plate , kept coming back literally every minute then decided to stand a steps from us and just stared at us .. it was intimidating , we felt like we were in refuge or soup kitchen where you have limited time to eat you one bowl of food before the next round of people comes in… it’s not worth one penny , we wanted to go to Cosmo but they were fully booked unfortunately . Pictures of the amount of dessert at 3pm 👀


Call +44 161 237 1000 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Halal food
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ All you can eat
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Takeout

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