Rice, Manchester

I like rice. I sometimes want to eat rice rather than sandwhich if i want to grab something. Then rice is very good for me.The portion is a bit too big for me so often i give one third of them to my boyfirned though. I just do not like the gangsters around there….

I’ve heard mixed reviews about Rice, but after meeting up with some friends in Piccadilly Gardens yesterday we thought we’d give it a try. We opted for the Japanese katsu chicken and the jambalaya, both of which were served very quickly in American-style take-out boxes. I really enjoyed the food -- it was hot, tasty and very filling, and prices were reasonable at
between £5 and £7 for most dishes, which is good value for the size of the portions.

This was my first visit, and I think I need to go back a couple more times to get the measure of the place, but I will recommend it if you want a quick, healthy and filling meal whilst out in town.

A unique little place built into the concrete jungle we know as Piccadilly Gardens, Rice does exactly what it says on the tin - rice with anything, from Moroccan lamb to jerk chicken or jambalaya, all served in a card box which is a concept I’ve not seen much in the UK.

The execution is a little off - my Japanese Java chicken was a little bit chip shop curry-ish, my girlfriend’s barbecue chicken was a bit sweet, but it’s a nice alternative to other fast food outlets and definitely worth a try.

The previous comments about the shadier elements hanging around outside are definitely true, so I would recommend visiting during the day or a teatime, but no later….

the place is crap.. the food is made from off the shelf mixes. and all the staff are illegal immigrants

Rice has the answer. With dishes ranging from Jamaican Jerk Chicken to the exotic Thai Red Curry, Rice can provide you with a flavoursome, healthy meal in no more than 5 minutes. A sight quicker than the time it takes to unwrap the 3 layers of cling film off that darn sandwich.

Set overlooking Piccadilly Gardens, the atmosphere in Rice is just as electric as the city which surrounds it.
The only drawback about the place is the youths "gangster wannabes" that hang outside in the evenings.