Just as is the way with burgers in our city, pizzerias have some pretty stiff competition – a fact that has resulted in absolute evolutionary carnage over the past few years. Sacking off tradition for creations that blend well into the world of Instagram, Manchester’s pizzaiolo’s leave us pretty unsurprised these days when they create something utterly bonkers – even if it means they’ve chucked an entire chippy tea on it. Which, someone actually has. Fancy something a little different this weekend? Here’s our guide to the most weird and wonderful pizzas in Manchester.
1. Chippy Tea at Crazy Pedro’s
Crazy Pedro’s is the King of all things weird when it comes to pizza. Offering whacky monthly specials, the American-style pizzeria is fun in every sense, with quirky cocktails and even quirkier toppings. The Chippy Tea pizza, however, is our favourite of the bunch, combining our two favourite cuisines – pizza and the classic chippy – for an absolutely legendary creation. Think a mushy pea base, proper chippy-style chips, sausage and even chip shop curry sauce. Yum. Crazy Pedro’s, Short St, M4 1AA | 55-57 Bridge St, M3 3BQ.
2. The weekly specials at Pickle Rick’s Pizza
Always weird, always absolutely wonderful. Every week, Pickle Rick’s in Stockport offers up something a little different – with some seriously creative pizzas on offer. In the past, guests have enjoyed the likes of the Kamonohashikamo; topped with duck breast, sesame seeds, spring onions and teriyaki sauce, The Raging Cajun; topped with blackened Cajun chicken, smoked bacon, and spicy Cajun BBQ sauce, and the Cottage Pizza Pie; topped with cottage pie mince, piped butter mash potato and finished with Parmesan cheese and pickled red cabbage. Keep up with their specials here. Pickle Rick’s Pizza, 162 London Rd, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 4DJ.
3. Breakfast Pizza at PizzaLuxe
Relatively new at the Arndale, PizzaLuxe offers up a weird yet wonderful breakfast pizza, which is topped with all the good stuff, such as sausage, bacon and egg on a tomato base. But if that wasn’t enough, guests can actually create their own whacky pizza, too, with toppings such as roast spiced pineapple, ham hock and so much more available to chuck on top. PizzaLuxe, Halle Place, 16, 18 Arndale Centre, M4 3AB.
4. Fried Chicken and Waffle at Crazy Pedro’s
Another strange concoction from the geniuses at Crazy Pedro’s, the Fried Chicken and Waffle pizza is like American breakfast on steroids, topping their NYC-style base and making for a pretty tasty lunch. The pizza is finished off with fried chicken, bacon, waffles and maple syrup, and is available on their regular menu at both Manchester venues. Pop by to try this most weird and wonderful of Manchester pizzas. Crazy Pedro’s, Short St, M4 1AA | 55-57 Bridge St, M3 3BQ.
5. Baba Q at I Knead Pizza
One of the city’s biggest newcomers on the pizza scene, I Knead Pizza has some pretty tasty options on their menu – including the delicious Baba Q. Topped with a Jerk BBQ base, the pizza includes mozzarella, pepperoni Picante, mixed bell peppers and red onions, resulting in a spicy yet tasty pizza that’s not quite your average pie – with other menu highlights including the Taste of Honey pizza and the Pestoroni. I Knead Pizza, 52 Gorton Rd, Reddish, Stockport, SK5 6AH.
6. Korean Cauli at Corner Slice
Championing Detroit-style pizza, Corner Slice has not only experimented with their Foccacia-like base – which is a world away from the Neapolitan-style pizzas that dominate the scene here – but their toppings, too. On the Korean Cauli, guests will find toppings such as Korean cauliflower, salt ‘n pepper onions, gochujang mayo, radish slaw and cheese, making up just one of the pizzeria’s unique creations. Other must-tries include the East Town shawarma chicken pizza, the Red Wing and, of course, the classic Italian-style Iron Born. Corner Slice, 141 Lord Ln, Failsworth, M35 0QH.
7. The Hangover at The Foundry Project
Pizza… For breakfast? Don’t mind if I do. Found at The Foundry Project in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, not necessarily somewhere you’d expect to find one of the weirdest Manchester pizzas, The Hangover includes all the essentials for those mornings in need, including your typical full English breakfast ingredients; egg, maple bacon, sriracha sauce, cheese and marmalade. What better way to start the day? The Foundry Project, Thomas St, M4 1BD.
8. Chicken Tikka at The Laundrette
The home of some pretty cool cocktails in Chorlton, Manchester – including one in a mini bathtub – The Laundrette has some pleasantly weird pizzas to offer, with one, in particular, leaving us drooling. Meet the Chicken Tikka pizza, which is topped with chicken tikka, mozzarella, bell peppers and onion bhajis, before being drizzled with tzatziki yoghurt. The pizza is joined by a Crispy Korean Cauliflower pizza, as well as a Carbonara pizza, and Korean BBQ chicken pizza, too. The Laundrette, 32 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, M21 9EL.