AS THE Corn Exchange gears up for a complete food and drink £30m refurb, transforming it into 'one of the UK's biggest and best dining destinations', long-term Exchange resident and Manchester Pan Asian stalwarts Tampopo have had to find new digs - in a big box outside.
“The spiritual home of our menu offer comes from the hawker stalls and street cafés of Bangkok, Tokyo and Hanoi. So we love that our little Pop Up allows to us take that cuisine back to its roots."
The Tam-Pop Up is a 35-cover temporary 'baby Tampopo' plonked outside the Exchange Square restaurant. The nifty design, with a glass and steel roof and retractable features, allows for light and bright al fresco dining during pleasant weather or a contained and cosy closed box during the colder months.
The look and feel of the venue is a departure from Tampopo’s usual style, with a more colourful atmosphere taking over from Tampopo’s minimalist décor. Wooden benches and long communal tables have made way for plastic stools and kitsch table clothes of patterns favoured by the street side cafes of South East Asia.
Tam-Pop Up
Tam-Pop Up
The food also offers something new for Tampopo, with the arrival of their first ‘small plates’ menu. A pared down version of the usual menu sees all dishes served as small plate options too, meaning you can work your way through a number of Tampopo favourites from as little as £2.95 - There'll also be a 'grab & go' takeaway option with a dedicated serving hatch.
"We didn't want to lose out on the 50,000 customers a year that come through our Exchange Square restaurant," said David Fox, co-founder of Tampopo. "We also didn't want to tell 26 staff that they didn't have a job - this pop-up Tampopo seemed like the perfect solution.
Small plates
Bahn Mi Vietnamese sandwich
“We’re very happy with how Tam Pop Up has shaped up. It’s a fresh, fun way to enjoy Tampopo. Customers reactions have been so far really positive and we’re excited to be a little more ‘in the thick of it’ bringing what we do best right onto the street”.
Tampopo Co-Founder Nick Jeffrey added: “The spiritual home of our menu offer comes from the hawker stalls and street cafés of Bangkok, Tokyo and Hanoi. So we love that our little Pop Up allows to us take that cuisine back to its roots."
Nick Jeffrey and David Fox
Tam Pop Up is now open from midday to 9pm (and a bit later at the weekends).
Tampopo are currently working with MAG (Mines Advisory Group), and 50p from every Bahn Mi (classic Vietnamese sandwich) sold with be donated to the charity.
Tampopo also has restaurants in Albert Square, Trafford Centre, London, Bristol and Reading.
Tampopo has just been nominated in the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 'Cheap Eats of the Year' category.
