There’s a very specific kind of smugness that comes with grabbing an outdoor table in Manchester when the sun’s out. On one of those rare, properly warm afternoons, Maki & Ramen felt exactly like where you’d want to park yourself for a few hours and forget you’ve got emails waiting.

The prawn tempura arrived first, and they did not disappoint. We sank our teeth into the massive prawns in a light batter that actually stayed crisp instead of turning into greasy pub wallpaper five minutes after hitting the table. The homemade dipping sauce had that slightly sweet, salty edge that makes you immediately start rationing pieces against how much sauce is left.

Then came the yakisoba, and fair play, these portions are no joke. The chicken yakisoba arrived in a bowl that could genuinely stretch to two, maybe even three meals. Thick stir-fried noodles coated properly in that glossy sweet yakisoba sauce, topped with crunchy karaage chicken that stayed crisp despite sitting on steaming noodles. The bonito flakes nicely finished it off.

The yasai tofu yakisoba could’ve easily played second fiddle, but it absolutely didn’t. The tofu had actual texture, and the pak choi kept everything fresh enough to stop the whole thing from becoming too heavy. Comfort food, basically, but done with a bit of care.

Sushi-wise, the Volcano roll was the standout. Big flavours, loads of crunch and a very generous tempura prawn filling, with plenty of chilli and togarashi heat. The Rainbow roll was fresher and lighter, piled with salmon, tuna and sea bream over creamy avocado and cucumber, and looked extremely photogenic in the sunshine.

What really sticks with Maki & Ramen, though, is that it doesn’t feel stingy in any direction. Big plates, reasonable prices, quick service even when it’s rammed, and an atmosphere that sits comfortably somewhere between laid-back lunch spot and accidental all-day session.