Traditionally, English cities haven’t been known for having a vibrant culinary scene, but that’s changing pretty quickly. Manchester, for example, has become a hub for some of the country’s best up-and-coming, contemporary restaurants, and combined with the traditional staples (pies and fish and chips, of course), it makes it easy to find good food right across the city.
If you’re visiting Old Trafford to catch United in action, you’ll need to feast first! There are some great options around the stadium, whether you’re looking for budget-friendly eats, a quick snack to go, or a delicious, hearty breakfast to power you through the game.
If you’re traveling internationally to Old Trafford, it would be a crime to visit England and not experience a full English breakfast. Bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, toast, and black pudding if you’re brave – it’s unbeatably hearty. Whether that’s your go-to order, or you’re looking for something lighter, here’s where to stop for breakfast around the stadium.
I said there were plenty of good options around the stadium, but the Red Café actually gets you one step closer to the action – it’s located inside Old Trafford. It can get busy, but it’s a great place for breakfast, lunch, or a snack, whether you’re visiting Old Trafford for a game or just checking out the Man U museum. The menu is comprehensive and contains plenty of vegetarian and other options.
Located just over the bridge, Quay Kitchen is a great café that’s about a 20-minute walk from Old Trafford. The breakfast menu is pretty bare-bones, but it has everything you need – toast, a bap, and a full English, with a vegan version also offered. Breakfast starts at 7:30, and there’s also a lunch menu with pies, sausage rolls, and jacket potatoes available later in the day.
Mia’s Quality Sandwich Co. is the perfect spot for breakfast on the go before your Manchester United match experience . Around a 20-minute walk from the stadium, this place has a great selection of “breakfast butties,” or breakfast sandwiches. There are also sausage rolls, cakes and desserts, and other lighter breakfast options.
If you’re not a breakfast person, maybe you’re looking for a spot of lunch before heading to the game? There are plenty of options around the stadium, whether you’re looking to sit down for a while or need a quick bite before heading over to the action. Here are my top picks.
Bando Boxes doesn’t open until 3 pm, but if you’re a seafood fan, this is a great spot to grab a bite to eat. Their famous seafood boxes aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re full of flavor and the portion sizes are generous. Prawns, lobster, and sweet corn – what more could you want? This place is small, but great for takeaways.
Ship-Shack Kitchen has a little bit of everything, and is open for both breakfast and lunch. Choose from sandwiches, jacket potatoes, and Mediterranean souvlakis and wraps, plus some Mediterranean specials like moussaka and gözleme. You can’t go wrong here!
Every English football stadium needs to have a good chippy nearby, and for Old Trafford, that chippy is Lou Macari. Be prepared to line up and wait on gameday – this place isn’t a hidden secret but a favorite of locals and Man U diehards. It’s a short walk from the stadium, and great for fish and chips, pies, or just a big delicious serving of chips and curry sauce.
Let’s face it, Premier League games are not cheap, and it’s understandable if 90% of your budget was blown on your tickets alone! If you’re looking for some cheap options to grab food, here’s where I’d send any sports travelers on a budget.
Literally a stone’s throw from Old Trafford, Legends Fast Food opens at noon and is a great option if you want a good feed that won’t break the bank. It’s small inside, but you can always grab some takeaway here and eat on the go. They specialize in fish and chips, with everything else you’d expect – battered sausage, mushy peas, gravy beans, and curry sauce, as well as an all-day full English breakfast.
Looking for something other than fish and chips? 2 Phat 2 Fly might be just up your alley! This budget-friendly takeaway joint offers burgers, wings, pizza, hot dogs, and tacos. It’s located about 5 minutes from the stadium, and also has delicious milkshakes (available in some pretty unique flavors, like Ferrero Rocher and strawberries, or Maltesers and Kit Kats). All affordable, all tasty!
Another option that’s right by Old Trafford (less than a 5-minute walk) is the aptly named Champions. This burger joint is famous for its smash burgers, and also has chicken burgers, hot dogs, fries, wraps, and more. It gets busy on game days, but the service is quick, the price is right, and it couldn’t be much more convenient for anyone looking for something quick and easy before heading to Old Trafford.
Bringing the whole fam to see the red devils? While there aren’t a huge number of family-friendly restaurants around Old Trafford, you’ll still find a few places that will make sure nobody’s watching the game on an empty stomach. Here are a few of the best options if you’re traveling for sports with kids.
Sure, it’s a chain and they’re everywhere, but if you’re looking for somewhere that’s easy to feed a family for cheap, you can’t beat Nandos. There’s one located less than a 10-minute walk from the stadium, with a menu that has something for the whole family, from chicken and chips to burgers, wraps, salads, and even ice cream if the kids (or you) have been behaving!
Most of the places around Old Trafford are small, with just a few tables. They’re mostly designed for takeaway, but sometimes you need somewhere that the kids can sit and have a rest to get ready for the big game. The Bishop Blaize is one of the best options for this, as it’s an actual dine-in restaurant with a pub-style menu. There’s even a kid’s menu with all the staples you’d expect.
Crunch is a burger joint that also has pizzas, wraps, and chips. There are a few tables inside, but you can also order everything on the menu to take with you. Although it doesn’t have a separate kids menu, you won’t struggle to find something on the regular menu for your little ones to enjoy. It’s about a 15-minute walk from Old Trafford.
We already mentioned Lou Macari as a great spot to grab a bite before watching Man U, but it deserves another shout-out because it’s famously owned by ex-United legend Lou Macari himself. Fans treat it half as a chippy, half as a tourist attraction. Other famous Manchester restaurants are Wood and Tattu, but be warned – they both come with a price tag!
Yes – inside Old Trafford you’ll find traditional British stadium foods available, like fish and chips, pies, and hot dogs. It’s worth mentioning that the concession lines can be very long for these, which is why it’s often a better idea to find a restaurant before visiting Old Trafford.
In most cases, you can’t bring your own food into Old Trafford. There are a couple of exceptions to this, for example if you have kids with you, you can bring a small amount of packaged snack foods, and if you have a medical condition like diabetes, you can bring a small amount of food. Generally, though, outside food and beverages aren’t permitted inside the stadium.
There aren’t any specifically vegetarian or vegan restaurants within walking distance of Old Trafford, but just about every restaurant and eatery we’ve outlined in this guide has both vegetarian and vegan options. Just make sure you read the menu carefully and ask the staff if you have any specific dietary requirements or concerns.
Whether you’re looking for a wholesome breakfast to power you through the day, a spot of lunch before heading to the ground, or an ultra-traditional classic like fish and chips, you’ll find plenty of options within a short walk of Old Trafford. If you look for more travel tips for Manchester United match at Old Trafford, check out our other pages. Just remember, thousands of other fans are also trying to get their grub on before the game, so be prepared to wait and allow plenty of time – you don’t want to miss kick-off!
