Stunning Shiruku with top-notch Pan-Asian in Manchester

There’s a number of reasons why we were eager to visit Shiruku in Salford for our restaurant tour of Manchester.

Pan-Asian Shiruku in New Bailey

The most important being that the owners of this establishment are also behind the hugely impressive Ribeye steakhouse.

We reviewed and rated Ribeye a perfect 5/5 for our historic first tour of Manchester back in 2022, before it won #FtLionAwards ‘Best Restaurant’ award that same year.

As for Shiruku, then this spectacular venue is located in the business district of New Bailey, and can cater for 130 diners, with two private rooms for 14 guests each, and an even more luxurious one accommodating 16.

“Zen-inspired space” with floating silk pillows & soft-pink butterflies

This elegantly designed restaurant aims to deliver an immersive, fine-dining experience as part of what it calls a “Zen-inspired space”, with interior features that include floating silk pillows and over a hundred soft-pink butterflies.

Shiruku offers a fully Halal Pan-Asian menu that ranges from sushi and small plates, to Creekstone steaks and refined fusion dishes, as well as a selection of carefully-designed mocktails.

Skillet Fried Gyoza – Macerated chicken & truffle farce, soya reduction & golden garlic chips, £8.00

Everything about this plate of Skillet Fried Gyoza was on point, with the semi-translucent pastry giving way to an aromatic truffle-infused chicken filling that was nicely complimented by the delicately crispy garlic disk.

Pulled Braised Beef Tacos – Layered with guacamole, tomato salsa & crispy fried shallots, £12.00

Excellent finger food this, with a crumbly-thin pastry encasing housing gorgeously moist pulled beef, and topped by crispy fried shallots, with the tangy acidity of the tomato salsa bringing balance to a superbly conceived dish.

Seared Lamb Chops – Chipotle, garlic & lime lamb cutlets, chilli & tomato salsa, £12.00

A colourful plate this with plenty going on, including wonderfully executed, medium well lamb chops covered in a mildly smoky marination.

The salsa and chilli bedding was plenty strong though, with the former coming through fairly sharply, and the heat of the chilli lagging behind. A pleasant dish that was almost there in terms of balance.

The Reggie Roll – Prawn tempura & avocado, salmon nigiri, teriyaki glaze, jalapenos, orange tobiko, £21.00

Although The Reggie Roll was touted as one of Shiruku’s most popular rolls, on this occasion, we found the rice to be a tad dry.

Nevertheless, the filling was good, with the light smokiness of the teriyaki glaze marrying well with the prawn tempura, and the signature pop of the orange tobiko (salted roe of the flying fish) rounding things off.

We were surprised, however, by how the heat of the jalapenos brought the entire dish together. Pity about the rice.

Slow Braised Pave of Beef Short Rib – Cinnamon, ginger & black cardamon, with potatoes, carrots & shallots, £34

This Slow Braised Pave of Beef Short Rib was one of the dishes of the review, driven as much by the deeply flavoured gravy as the tender slab of beef floating therein.

With the short rib being flavoured with cinnamon, ginger and black cardamon, the meat, which sat atop a velvety smooth and creamy potato mash, flaked away at the merest touch, and was paired with honey-glazed carrots and shallots.

But it was that rich and shiny gravy that made this entire plate sing the high notes. Superb!

Golden Chilli King Prawns (3pcs) – Rice noodles, hot garlic chilli butter flavoured, sour dough bread. £32.00

These Golden Chilli King Prawns epitomised the fusion element of Shiruku, as wet and slippery rice noodles were unconventionally coupled with thick slices of über-crunchy sour dough.

And though the plump and juicy prawns had a touch of chilli to their marination, with the bed of pasta they rested on being zesty, the entire dish didn’t quite gel.

The inclusion of the bread struck us as being more for textural and visual purposes rather than anything practical; it was far too crusty to help mop up the watery juices at the end. The sum of the parts were tasty, albeit disjointed.

Truffle and Parmesan Chips, £8.00

Oh yes! How can crispy chips sprinkled with plenty of parmesan, and coming with truffle aioli, not turn out to be dangerously addictive?

Brisket Mac n Cheese, £8.00

Scrumptiously good this bowl of Brisket Mac n Cheese. Very cheesy, and made even better by the beefy juices of the pulled meat beneath; and did we say ‘very cheesy’?

Tiramisu

A Tiramisu that had plenty of everything, including a hearty dusting of chocolate power, and fingers that were saturated in rather strong coffee.

Crème Brûlée

Nailed this Crème Brûlée, with the custard beneath being just right, the crunchy sugary top thin and brittle, and the accompanying pieces of sweet bread, snappy and light.

San Maria – Pineapple, lychee, yuzu, passion fruit; Love From Tokyo – Dragon fruit tea, rose syrup, guava – £8.50 each

These two drinks were outstandingly good, being smooth and crisp, such that the San Maria was tantalisingly zingy, with the sweetness of the vanilla expertly lingering in the background.

As for the Love from Tokyo, then its mellow candy sweetness was accentuated by the gentle flavour of rose meandering through.