If you start a conversation about Middlesbrough and food, it won’t take long before someone mentions a parmo.
The parmo was originally a takeaway dish, often enjoyed after an alcoholic drink or two, but is now a mainstay on restaurant menus around Teesside.
If you’re new to the concept, you could well be in for a treat.
It’s traditionally breaded chicken or pork which is fried before being topped with bechamel sauce and cheese before it’s grilled. It nearly always comes with chips. Some people even eat the side salad.
Let’s be honest – it’s not healthy (although some venues have experimented with lower calorie venues), but the dish is part of Middlesbrough’s culture and has become more common in other areas of the country.
Whose parmos are the best?
That’s a debate that gets spicier than the optional jalapeno toppings.
Central Park’s parmos have stood the test of time. In more recent years Manjaros, just a little further down Linthorpe Road, has won rave reviews.
There’s excellent value for money to be had in Uno Momento, or out of the town centre in the Tipsy Cow. More upmarket venues such as Bazaar offer their own twists on the classic dish.
Your options from takeaways and the big delivery services are endless. Just remember that some things are best in moderation.
Other food and drink options
How about checking out the newest independent cafes and coffee shops or the best pre-match bars for 2026?
