There are two things you need to know about Yard & Coop. First of all, the original restaurant is situated on Edge Street, just as the Northern Quarter teeters on the brink of Ancoats. Secondly, it’s an institution. A place where buttermilk fried chicken is such serious business it feels like a dedicated lifestyle choice.
“We’ve eaten a lot of chicken in our time. We’ve tried a lot of marinades, a whole load of sauces and we’ve fried up a shed load of crumbs. And then we discovered the secret recipe for our very own buttermilk fried chicken,” Yard & Coop proudly proclaim before moving us to the menu page. Here, you’ll find Sticky Nugz and Wings (Cherry Coke BBQ, Dorito Sauce, Salt and Pepper and Spicy McSpice Face), Classic Tenders, and a choice of three Fried Chicken Plates — thigh, full breast, or vegan-friendly seitan. Pick from eight house sauces, such as butter buffalo, Cherry Coke BBQ, bees knees hot honey, blue cheese, and vegan sriracha mayo. Alternatively, punt for a burger; the Reuben, for example, combines fried chicken thigh with pastrami, sauerkraut, Monterey Jack cheese, deep fried pickles and honey mustard.
A number of big plates are also served, and again it’s poultry-first. Like the Parmo, a North East England street food classic combining breast, skin-on fries, cheese and marinara sauces, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack, with Mac n’ Cheese. Or The Dirty Bird, where a big ol’ bowl of Yard and Coop’s signature fries are loaded with their famous cheese sauce, fried chicken and crispy smoked bacon and smothered in hot honey, Cherry Coke BBQ and blue cheese sauces. Sides keep standards very high — crispy onion rings, mac n cheese spring rolls, slaws, cheesy mash. As do the speciality drinks, such as craft beers, curated cocktails, and homemade shakes. All that aside, you’ll find a great £8 lunchtime menu, and a dedicated kids section. What’s more, little ones eat for free in school holidays, and Yard & Coop has a strong LEGO game happening to keep them entertained.