Wings Dai Pai Dong

I’ve spent most of my working life in Manchester eating at the likes of Pret, Barburrito or M&S when looking for a little treat. Why has no one told me to stop fooling around and eat at Wings?
Needing to line our stomachs pre-​Christmas party, my colleagues suggested Wings for a cheap but filling lunch, and I was looking forward to trying somewhere new. Hidden away near House of Fraser, it was relatively empty when we headed in circa 12pm, though did fill up as time went on. It’s clean and clear, with ample seating, though most people were picking up takeaway.
There are the usual suspects when it comes to choosing your lunch; sweet & sour chicken, pork, satay etc., and good meal deals. I went for the sweet & sour chicken with rice, though you can also have some form of combination with ½ rice ½ noodles ½ chips, which with a drink came to £5.50. Bargain!
Everything was tasty and service was fairly efficient, though could maybe do with tightening up once the lunch rush really kicks in.

I have to admit that I am something of a Philistine when it comes to authentic Chinese cuisine. I’m at the ‘take away’ kind of level — I know what I like, and most of what I like has interesting names but you know, just *know*, that one of the ingredients is tomato ketchup. I hope that you won’t hold that against me, because I also know that loads of you like that sort of thing too. There’s something oddly comforting about a Chinese Takeaway — it makes an otherwise boring day seem so much brighter.
So… what could be better for lunch? When work is getting you down, or the rigours of your epic five hour shopping spree are just wearing you out Wings could be the place for you.
It’s simple — you go along, pick out one of the regular dishes and off you go. There’s loads to choose from, and it comes with the option to take away or eat in. If you opt for the take out, you get one of those little folded cartons — I always feel very cosmopolitan in a sad kind of way, which I suspect is the point! If you eat in, there’s plenty if bench style seating, so you might have to share a table — but that’s great, you might end up meeting someone new… Most if the dishes are around a fiver — which if you’re going for lunch is not to be sniffed at, especially since it’s all very tasty.
The food itself is pretty good — another admission looms however… I always end up getting the noodles and sweet and sour chicken. It’s almost exactly as you’d expect, which means that you are never disappointed. The combination style of food court type counter and take away is a nice touch too. The name Dai Pai Dong relates to traditional street food, which this is not, but if you want something that hits all the right spots on a rainy day (and lets face it, you’re in Manchester, so its always raining) then maybe Wings is where you want to be. Fine dining it’s not, but for a different take on the take away it might just be what you need.