Tucked away in a car park behind the Universal Building in Ardwick, Manchester, Brodega is already turning heads (and filling bellies).
Though still in its early days, the business has attracted a wave of TikTok attention and a growing number of loyal regulars.
Brodega is the brainchild of three university friends who bonded over a shared love for streetwear, sneakers, and New York food culture.
“Brodega is three mates who went to university together who were inspired by streetwear, sneaker culture, and New York,” they explained.
“We always wanted to work together as friends, and we came together because of these interests.”
The name itself blends “bros” and “bodega”, those iconic corner stores in NYC known for serving up chopped cheese sandwiches hot off the griddle.
“The name Brodega comes from the chopped cheese being an iconic New York sandwich. We thought it hadn’t received much love or recognition here in the UK. Whereas the Philly cheesesteak everyone knows about, the chopped cheese not so many people do,” said one of the founders.
I got the beef chopped cheese, and honestly, it lived up to the hype. They use 100% Aberdeen Angus beef, seasoned and chopped fresh on the griddle with onions and cheese, and it's all served in an Italian semolina milk roll that's delivered fresh every morning. The seasoning on the meat is unreal, and the bread is soft but still strong enough to hold everything in.
The chilli crisp chicken sandwich was unlike anything I’ve eaten before in the UK. The chicken was spicy, juicy, and perfectly fried with a satisfying crunch. The flavours hit you straight away, and the toppings balance everything without being too heavy. I had it with the jalapeño ranch, and it took me straight back to New York. This one’s bold, messy, and completely worth it.
Brodega’s portions are no joke. Unlike anything I’ve had in the UK. They didn’t hold back with portion size. It took me a few sittings to get through the sandwich. It was full to the brim.
Adding even more character, Brodega packs their meals in custom-designed trainer boxes, inspired by their love for sneakers.
“A dream for a lot of us was to have our own pair of shoes, so when it came to designing the packaging, we thought this is the closest we’re going to get to having our own pair of trainers sold.”
Their sneaker obsession is even part of the experience. Sneaker Sundays highlight customers’ favourite trainers and the stories behind them.
“I remember being in university and I had more trainers than anyone else. In a two-week period, I wouldn’t wear the same shoes twice,” joked one of the lads.
There’s a playful detail in the packaging, too, cartoon illustrations of a chicken or a cow to show what’s inside. It adds personality and ties in perfectly with the Brodega brand.
“We wanted to make a food place that other people aren’t doing. One of our slogans is not another smash burger place because everyone’s got the same style of takeout, and we thought, what can we do that brings a different flair to the market.”
Located at 37 Devonshire Street North, Ardwick, Brodega is redefining lunch from a car park in the best possible way. Whether you’re walking in or pulling up, this NYC-style sandwich stop is well worth the trip.
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