The cool new Chinese dining concept hidden in a creative studio

Dainā is a brand new Asian dining concept launching this week at Side Street Studio in ABC Buildings at St. John’s.

Pronounced “day-nah”, this new concept will kickstart the venue’s kitchen collaboration initiative, which will see upcoming chefs given an opportunity to develop their culinary and cultural ideas in a city centre space.

The destination, ABC Buildings, is home to leisure and retail brands, as well as a community of tech, media and creative organisations including BBC, ITV, The Farm and Barry’s Bootcamp.

The food at Dainā

The first kitchen residency from Side Street Studio brings together chefs Jake Huxley and Samuel Jethro – formerly of Seesaw Cafe on Princess Street – and their love for creative cooking, Asian techniques and local British ingredients.

The pair will ‘meld together’ Samuel’s love of Asian cuisine and Jake’s passion for making dough, to create a carefully crafted menu of small plates, for a casual dining experience. Diners can expect bao buns (with all bao dough made in-house), alongside the likes of red braised pork belly with marinated egg, and smoked mackerel with daikon and lemon.

Food will be accompanied by a drinks list including organic wines, beers, classic and remixed cocktails. Dainā will incorporate ingredients from local suppliers as well as making use of authentic produce sourced from the city’s considerable Chinese community.

“Our concept is a collision of love and appreciation for Chinese cuisine combined with the science of making perfect dough,” said Samuel Jethro & Jake Huxley, Chefs at Dainā.

“We want people to enjoy the food we enjoy creating. Our food is best enjoyed in good company in a relaxed environment, making Side Street Studio’s setting an ideal backdrop. Our aim is to elevate some familiar and unfamiliar ingredients into wholesome dishes so we can showcase the brilliant art of Asian cooking in a way that brings something new to the table.

“We first met in 2016 working in a kitchen together and became great friends instantly. We share the same philosophies and beliefs about cooking, eating and dining. Since then we’ve made it our goal to work together and can’t wait to deliver Dainā’s concept in this exciting new venue.”

When is Dainā open?

Dainā’s Side Street Studio residency will begin on Thursday (30th November 2023), and open Wednesday-Saturday each week 5pm – 10pm.

Side Street Studio is an experiential destination which aims to offer a platform for the Manchester’s arts, music and design talent to share their craft with the community. The new destination will become a creative hub for the St. John’s district. The dynamic lounge and studio offers a space to work, socialise, create, perform and exhibit – at all times of the day and night. The venue hosts a revolving roster of DJs, brand pop-ups, industry workshops and events.

A new dining concept in St John’s district

“Side Street Studio’s concept is formed around the notion of collaboration,” Callum Stretton, General Manager at Side Street Studio.

“Our kitchen is no different from our creative studio; it’s an opportunity for emerging and established talent to come together and showcase their skills and art. We set out to put a spotlight on creatives, brands and artists from around Manchester and beyond, which will come to life in our diverse calendar of events and residencies across multiple disciplines.

“The first kitchen residency and collaboration adds another dimension to Side Street Studio’s mission – a culinary one. We’re collaborating with Jake and Samuel to bring a new dining concept to St John’s district. Creativity isn’t bound by a single form and our space enables the community to come together and express themselves in alternative ways. We’re looking forward to evenings of delicious food, drinks and DJs.”

DJs every Friday and Saturday night

Side Street Studio hosts a series of DJs in its lounge every Friday and Saturday. It also hosts Album Club each Wednesday night, a specially curated evening of uninterrupted and un-shuffled albums, handpicked by the Studio team and Manchester tastemakers.

Book a table at Dainā

Join the Dainā team from 5pm on Thursday 30th November for food, drinks and DJs at Side Street Studio in the ABC Building, Lower Byrom Street, St. John’s, Manchester.

Table bookings can be made online here or walk-ins always welcome.

Follow Side Street Studio on Instagram for more information on Dainā and future events at: https://www.instagram.com/sidestreetstudiomcr/