YouTube personality Danny Malin’s review of Bradford restaurant Mumbai Bites has garnered positive reactions of Bradford and its residents.
In his series Rate My Takeaway, Danny reviews takeaway food shops, mainly in northern England. On 1 August he uploaded a review of Indian eatery Mumbai Bites where he tried various Mumbai street food dishes like naan, dosa and kebab. He appeared to enjoy the food immensely and raved about all the items he consumed.
Most viewers couldn’t help but notice the warm and friendly reception Danny received in Bradford, from helpful restaurant workers to amiable locals passing by.
“Sod the food, I’d live there for the people!” wrote user @hellsbunniestv584. “What a great place to be!”
Another user shared how besides the food; it was the welcome from locals that stood out. As Danny sat on the street outside the restaurant, almost every person who walked by greeted him warmly, while several others honked and called out to him as they drove past. A few people excitedly took pictures with him and revealed themselves to be fans of his YouTube series.
A viewer praised the “heart warming” video, calling it a “real tonic in these troubled times.” At a time when riots and violence targeting ethnic minority have filled the streets, especially against the South Asian community, Danny’s video is seen an example of the kinship and community present in Bradford.
“With everything going on around the country at the moment this video was heart warming as it showed such a nice connection between yourself and the wider community in Bradford. Looked like great food and friendly people,” user @1566steve commented on the YouTube video.
Bradford has one of the highest percentages of South Asians in the country. As of July 2024, over one-quarter of the population identifies as South Asian.
User @79Rowingchamp commented, “This is the Britain I love… English, Asian, Caribbean, African…don’t care where you’re from, just respect and kindness to all.”
The video, which has racked up nearly 4k views, sheds a positive light on a place commonly plagued by misconceptions. With an annual crime rate of 59.8 crimes per 1000 people, public perception of Bradford, especially on social media, is often negative. However, videos such as this shows the more common, brighter side of the city.
“The amount of love the people were showing him, I haven’t seen that many people stop him for photos or a chat,” wrote user cr9179 under the video. “Lovely to see! Might have to pop down to Bradford.”
