There are many things that the Danes know how to do well. Denmark may be famous for its standard of living, Viking heritage, minimalist designs, hygge and brands such as LEGO, Joe & The Juice and Søstrene Grene, but it just so happens to offer delicious, high-quality sushi and yakitori dishes. Yes, you read that right, sushi and yakitori. And Manchester is set to get a taste of it too.
Restaurant brand Sticks’n’Sushi was founded in a Copenhagen basement back in 1994 by half-Danish, half-Japanese brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek and Thor Andersen and it is now heading to Manchester. Since 1994, Sticks’n’Sushi has grown to include 12 restaurants in and around Copenhagen, three in Berlin, Germany and 17 in the UK – with plans to open in Leeds following Manchester’s launch.
Danish hygge, Japanese heritage and Mancunian hustle
But what can Manchester expect from Sticks’n’Sushi’s arrival in the city? Yes, Manchester is not short of a dining spot serving sushi, but this brand is not only bringing the precision and craftsmanship of Japanese cuisine. You can also expect sleek Scandinavian design and the brand’s infamous hibachi-grilled sticks. Sticks’n’Sushi says you can expect Danish hygge, Japanese heritage and Mancunian hustle – what a combination!
Each Sticks’n’Sushi restaurant has its own distinct features and personality. Take their Tivoli Haven branch in Copenhagen, for example, the restaurant has a 400sqm rooftop terrace where you dine in small Japanese pavilions, and it overlooks one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. It also has a central open kitchen to match its location in the heart of the Danish capital city.
As for their soon-to-open Manchester branch, alas, Sticks’n’Sushi will not be bringing an amusement park with them, but it will occupy a two-storey building in Spinningfields, previously home to the Oasis merchandise store pop-up. The restaurant, designed by award-winning Berlin architects Diener & Diener, includes interiors which balance Japanese architectural precision with Scandinavian warmth. Think clean lines, glass and timber detailing to create a light-filled space that moves effortlessly from day to night – matching perfectly with its Manchester city centre location. Plus, there will be an expansive pergola terrace and bar, bringing all-day dining and drinking to one of Manchester’s most thriving neighbourhoods.
The food and drink at Sticks’n’Sushi
Having sampled some of the menu in Copenhagen myself, Manchester diners are in for a treat. You can expect a variety of sharing dishes, ranging from grilled meat, seafood and vegetables on sticks to marvellously-made maki rolls and freshly sliced sashimi.
When it comes to the ‘sticks’ element of the menu, diners can choose from the likes of shoyu tebasaki chicken wings marinated in garlic, ginger, soy & mirin; miso-marinated black cod; and succulent Japanese wagyu from Kyushu that melts in your mouth. Vegetarians and vegans are covered with the likes of king oyster mushroom & miso herb sauce; and Padron peppers, spicy gochujang, tsume & lime sauce.
Sushi highlights include their Hell’s Kitchen maki roll of tempura shrimp, avocado & spicy sauce, topped with tuna; Mamma Mia uramaki roll of avocado, cucumber, soya sesame & chives; and shake tataki consisting of salmon, sake-tamari marinated trout roe, daikon, miso, ponzu & daikon cress. For those who can’t pick, order the sashimi deluxe to share, which includes salmon, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail kingfish, lobster daikon roll, hiramasa ceviche and tamago ikura (a sweet Japanese rolled omelette topped with salmon roe).
The restaurant also offers sharing set menus, including As Good As It Gets, Set For Success and Greenkeeper, which offer a vibrant mix of starters, build-your-own Temaki Setto handrolls and grilled sticks.
As for the drinks menu, you can sip on a range of sake (some served warm), Japanese teas, and contemporary cocktails such as the Hibiscus Margarita and Matcha & Yuzu Spritz, alongside premium spirits, beer, and the brand’s own-label yuzu pale ale.
The service at Sticks’n’Sushi
However, it’s not just sticks and sushi here; it’s sticks and sushi and superb service. Whilst the sushi platters and yakatori sticks are divine, it’s the people that make it. Most of the staff at Sticks ‘n’ Sushi are invested in what they do, and the family trade is even passed on, with a founder’s nephew working in one of the Copenhagen kitchens.
Whilst Sticks ‘n’ Sushi may be opening in the glam spot of Spinningfields, the brand comes across as less about the frills and more about the hospitality and service. Sticks ‘n’ Sushi follows the spirit of ‘Omotenashi’ – the Japanese philosophy of wholehearted hospitality.
Front-of-house staff are trained to read the room, acknowledge diners’ needs, and recite dishes passionately and in detail. There is also precision and detail in their dishes, with chefs trained to carve sashimi, roll maki and sear tataki plates to perfection.
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi opens on March 30 at 14-15 The Avenue, Hardman St, Manchester, M3 3HF. Book your table here.