Manchester’s Square Gardens is set to welcome Yaowarat, a new all-day dining concept celebrating the buzzing street food culture of Bangkok's famous Chinatown.
Opening in Unit 1 at the First Street-based co-living development, Yaowarat will offer classic Thai-Chinese cooking from breakfast through to evening, in a relaxed, pay-as-you-go setting.
The restaurant takes its name from Yaowarat Road, Bangkok's iconic street known for its electric atmosphere and exceptional food.
Mother-daughter co-founders, Pom and Deena Leese, aim to capture that same vibrancy and bring it to the heart of Manchester, filling a gap they identified in the city's already thriving food scene.
Yaowarat will be central Manchester’s only restaurant offering a true Thai-Chinese breakfast menu, with early-morning dishes including Jok (traditional rice congee), Kai Krata and Pathongo.
Lunch and dinner menus will feature classics such as Hainanese chicken rice (Khao Man Gai) and rolled noodle soup (Guay Jap), with some recipes brought over in partnership with some of Thailand's most celebrated restaurants.
The venue will also house the Gold Street Tea House a dedicated space offering traditional chrysanthemum and hibiscus teas, alongside loose-leaf varieties sourced directly from the Thai rainforest. Signature drinks including Pink Milk and Oliang (Thai coffee) round out a carefully curated beverage offering.
Beyond the food, Yaowarat has been conceived as a true community space. The operation will be staffed mainly by university students and recent graduates.
Deena Luckpatson Leese, co-founder of Yaowarat, said: "Yaowarat is the food I grew up with – the kind you eat in Bangkok’s Chinatown, from breakfast before work to late-night bowls with friends. It’s comforting and full of character.
"We wanted to create a space for everyone, where people genuinely feel at home. Manchester already has a vibrant food scene and we're trying to fill the gaps with something relaxed and welcoming.
"This is about comfort food and creating that sense of community, a place where you can reconnect with friends, get to know your neighbours or simply enjoy familiar flavours in a setting that feels right."
Yaowarat is set to open in summer 2026.
Find out more here.