Moment flip-flop-clad noodle-eater flees Chinese restaurant without paying as furious staff give chase

By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:45, 7 August 2026 | Updated: 12:48, 7 August 2026 A flip-flop-wearing customer fled a Chinese restaurant without paying for his noodles as furious staff attempted to chase him down.  CCTV footage shows the diner calmly heading towards the exit before legging it out of the restaurant and down the street. Staff at Noodle Alley in Manchester city centre are seen running after him, before giving up when he disappears into the distance. Bosses at the family-run Chinatown restaurant say the man only stayed a 'very short time' and ordered noodles before 'waiting for a moment that he could run' during the incident on Tuesday. Owners Wendy and Ken Chen revealed it wasn't the first time they had been hit by dine-and-dash customers as they released the CCTV footage of the latest incident.  A restaurant statement reads: 'Today, someone ran away from our restaurant without paying. 'This isn't just about the money. Small independent businesses are already struggling with rising costs and dealing with people who deliberately run away without paying makes it even harder.' The restaurant added that staff 'reacted immediately and tried to catch him' but that the fleeing man 'disappeared within seconds'.  CCTV footage shows the diner calmly heading towards the exit before legging it out of the restaurant and down the street Bosses at the family-run Chinatown restaurant say the man only stayed a 'very short time' and ordered noodles before 'waiting for a moment that he could run' Staff at Noodle Alley in Manchester city centre are seen running after him, before giving up when he disappears into the distance Their statement continued: 'We have a very clear CCTV image of the individual, and all the evidence has been passed to the relevant authorities. 'To everyone who chooses to support small independent businesses like ours, thank you. Your kindness and support help keep businesses like ours going.' Ms Chen told the Manchester Evening News that she had been out buying chicken legs during the time of the incident, with staff alerting her when she returned. She said: 'I went to look at the CCTV. He stayed a very short time.  'He came in, only had noodles and he sat in a booth, actually looking around the bar, waiting for a moment that he could run. 'He saw a family go up to pay and he probably thought it was the best moment.   'A member of staff got up after him to clean the table and then realised he hadn't paid, so they chased him, but as soon as he got up the stairs he was running so fast, he was already off down the road.' Ms Chen added that despite it 'not being a lot of money', dine-and-dash incidents are 'hurtful', especially for independent businesses. The man is seen running down the street after fleeing the Chinese restaurant without paying for his noodles The restaurant owner said: 'The effort we put in hoping for everybody to enjoy their meal and then we are being let down. 'This is not the first time it's happened to us. We opened about three years ago and we've had other guests leave without paying.  'We are not like a fast food restaurant, we work very hard and it's very competitive.  'I sacrifice my evenings to be at home with my daughter just to make sure we can do our business. 'It makes me sad, because Manchester is such a special place and most people here are very nice. 'I've lived in Manchester 26 years now. I came when I was doing university so I decided this was the perfect city. You don't want things like this to ruin that, or the reputation of Manchester. 'We could chase them, but it's not worth the risk. You don't know what's going to happen next time, it could be dangerous. [Staff] did make the effort but he was really fast.' The Daily Mail has approached Greater Manchester Police for comment.