I’ve been meaning to eat here for years and finally bit the bullet on Saturday. What a revelation. Quite possibly the best Chinese restaurant in Manchester (Yang Sing perhaps, for the time being, aside). As has been stated by many reviews (including a rare positive Jay Raynor in Manchester review) this is authentic Szechuan Chinese rather than your standard ‘Chinese’ on every high street. I’m pleased it’s in Chinatown too rather than in a totally different district - it qualifies our Chinatown as a serious food place rather than tourist trap.
The menu is extensive and rather odd sounding at times. Myself and a friend really had a panic on our hands when it came to choosing. After a frantic fifteen minutes of menu perusing we were still no closer. Fortunately the staff on hand (all superb) helped us pinpoint a meal to suit us. I was close to ordering the ‘Husband and Wife’s lungs’ and almost the frogs legs dish but chickened (literally) out at the last minute. This isn’t called Red Chilli for the sake of it: my dish (hot fried chicken and red chilli) was contained about twelve thousand tiny red chillies. It was hot but a instant hot rather than the lingering burn often associated with chillies (more so in fresh chillies - these were tiny dried chillies). My friend had the chilli beef which was as perfect as my dish. The starters (crab soup and beef spring rolls/dumplings) were so good I still have the taste synthesized in my brain several days later. The restaurant was chock full and we were lucky to get a table (had a short wait which we didn’t mind), and many of these diners were Chinese which usually means you’re in the right place.

Red Chilli is located on Portland Street Manchester and is the best Chinese i have ever eaten in, the chef whom come out to see you if you are enjoying the meal he has cook and i can certainly say i do ever time!! I love the Sweet and Sour Chicken and the amazing fluffy Egg Fried Rice. They Offer a great all you can eat buffet for less than a tenner. Fab Fab Fab!!!