Along with the rest of Manchester, we were devastated to hear that Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun was closing down – but the space is now getting a new lease of life, with a very familiar face. Launched by former CBRB bar manager Tom Potts during lockdown, everything has come full circle with him now taking the keys to his old bar, opening a new Kong’s restaurant.
Kong’s has held its own, with the diner in Dog Bowl and burger bar at Hatch, so it seems the logical next step to have its own bricks and mortar. The way the switch from CBRB to Kong’s has worked out is pretty incredible, and the team promise to deliver an ode to the former menu with pan-Asian influences.
The menu is varied but ultimately delicious, with options including the tandoori chicken sandwich, beef tartare on crispy gyoza skins and pan-fried sea bass with crispy chilli oil. Kong’s also offers an intriguing sounding fried chicken Sunday roast, which we can’t decide what we think of, and a whole host of other roast options on Sundays – it’s really a diner with a difference. Kong’s will also be serving their brunch menu from 24th March, which we anticipate to be full of surprises and delights.
The announcement on a CBRB Instagram post reads: “Those of you that have been with us from the beginning, will remember our OG Tom. Tom was with us from day dot, helping build CBRB (literally) + was a huge part of making our lil ramen gaff the place it was. After flying the nest in 2021 to pursue his own food concept @kongskitchens , using the CBRB kitchen for their first pop up + coming back together a year later for our first ever collab.. we are now super happy to be able to say that the place we’ve called home, is going to be staying in the fam!
“You may of seen the news that Kongs will be opening their own venue in the NQ recently. CBRB is dead chuffed to announce they will be moving into our old home at 101-103 Oldham Street.”
Kong’s NQ, 101-103 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LW.