10 Best Places To Eat In Leeds | [Updated 2022]
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If you’re living in our luxury student accommodation in Leeds, you won’t be short of delicious eateries to visit.
The cities independent food scene is thriving, with a whole menu of delicious dining experiences on offer! From street food stalls like Kirkgate Market and Trinity Kitchen, to the yearly Leeds Indie Food Festival, it’s safe to say you’re never going to run out of tasty venues to explore.
With new bars and restaurants opening up all over town, Leeds is a place you can always try something new, whether that be wine tasting sessions at Yorkshire Wine School or some spicy Indian street food at Gabbar on Merrion Street.
We’ve compiled a list of the best places to eat in Leeds so you can get a head start on this taste filled city.
1. Yokohama
This venue is perfect if you’re a fan of Korean and Japanese food and is situated in the heart of Leeds on Roundhay Road. Their menu is designed to offer an oriental dining experience to enjoy with friends and family, with fresh ingredients. With over 100 dishes to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice with some incredibly tasty options.
We’d have to recommend the Salmon Teriyaki with rice and the deliciously crunchy Samgyobsal (belly pork) from their Korean BBQ. Yokohama also has a fabulous range of starters including Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab and Deep Fried King Prawn Tempura.
What’s even better about this restaurant is the fact that it’s situated right outside a key bus lane route, making it really easy to get to if you’re travelling via public transport.
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Address: 331 Roundhay Rd, Harehills, Leeds LS8 4HT
2. Gusto
Located on Greek Street in the heart of the city, Gusto Italian have over 18 restaurants across the United Kingdom, and they don’t disappoint! With glamorous interior, this venue is perfect if you want to get dressed up and enjoy some top class Italian dishes.
Their menu includes pizzas, pastas and steaks, as well as delicious dishes for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free guests. They have plenty of bread and nibbles to get you started, with the Porcini Mushroom Arancini Rice Ball with truffle mayonnaise being a firm favourite amongst guests.
For main dishes, we’d recommend the Honey-Glazed Duck & Balsamic with Creamy mash and Candied Pistachios. If you’re a steak lover, you’re in luck! Gusto have some fine steaks on the menu, including an 8oz Chargrilled Fillet Steak with garlic butter, rocket, sun-dried tomatoes and skin-on fries.
The atmosphere in this restaurant is really quite something, it’s always busy due to its sheer popularity which adds to the ambiance.
They also have a great selection of cocktails on the menu to top off your evening, our particular highlight is the Pink Rose Spritz, which consists of prosecco, rose petal liquer, and Fever-Tree tonic.
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Address: 10 Greek St, Leeds LS1 5RU
151 Otley Old Rd, Cookridge, Leeds LS16 6HN
3. Tattu
This contemporary Chinese restaurant is based in the city centre of Leeds and fuses traditional flavours and exquisite presentation for a memorable dining experience.
They have a fantastic selection of small plates on offer as well as snacks if you fancy something on the side. Tattu also have some extremely decadent desserts Including Asian Pear Sticky Toffee Pudding, and a White Chocolate Dragon Egg which is coconut, passionfruit and mango.
Larger plates include Wok Fried Angry Bird as well as a Japanese Black Wagyu Ribeye with green beans and truffle sesame soy if you want to splash out for the evening. They also have a great selection of sides including Tattu Candy Rice and Special Fried Sweet Potato.
If you need a place to go for a date with your partner or to celebrate a special occasion, this is the place!
Their menu is everchanging so keep your eyes peeled for more yummy dishes.
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Address: Minerva, 29 E Parade, Leeds LS1 5PS
4. La Taberna
Like tapas? Then you’ll love La Taberna! This family business love sharing their true admiration for food, this Mediterranean inspired eatery has a buzzing atmosphere and some sterling reviews.
This hidden gem is really worth a visit whilst studying in Leeds with a wide variety of tasty dishes on the menu for a reasonable price. Recommendations include the Deep Fried Squid Rings with aioli, and the Sizzling Prawns in a garlic and chili oil.
A nice unique drink choice is their White Wine Sangria, which won’t disappoint!
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the Churros and Chocolate are definitely worth a try, not forgetting the homemade Crème Caramel Chocolate Fudge Cake for a yummy finish to the evening.
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Address: Basement, Britannia House, 16 York Pl, Leeds LS1 2EU
5. Red’s True BBQ
This tasty BBQ joint is located just off Call Lane, a busy part of Leeds filled with lots of bars, pubs and clubs. You’re not going to want to miss this place though, their menu is jam packed with delicious barbecued meats and tasty sides.
What’s brilliant about this venue is that you can pick 2 types of meat with 1 side for £12, or 3 types of meat with 1 side for £18! The types of meat consist of Pork Ribs, Chopped Pork, Cheese & Jalapeno Sausage, ¼ Sticky Chicken and many more!
Red’s True BBQ also has a tasty range of sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers for a reasonable price. We’d have to recommend the Pitmaster Sandwich, which contains brisket, cheese & jalapeno sausage, chopped pork, slaw, mustard BBQ and ‘dirty sauce’!
They have an amazing range of desserts and shakes too, including a Peanut Butter Cheesecake, and a Chocolate Brownie Milkshake, both absolutely delicious may we add.
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Address: 1 Cloth Hall St, Leeds LS1 2HD
6. The Whitehall Restaurant And Bar
What’s better than a nice tasty Sunday roast to fill you up on a weekend? This restaurant is famous for theirs! The Whitehall Restaurant & Bar offers modern British cuisine using classic ingredients to create some unique, imaginative dishes.
Their Sunday roast menu consists of a fabulous choice of starters, mains and desserts.
Our personal favourite would be the Smoked Salmon with burnt orange to start with and the Roast Chicken with carrot, cauliflower cheese, green beans, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings for the main.
To finish your meal with something sweet, our top picks would be the Dark Chocolate & Orange Cheesecake or the Crème Brulee, delicious!
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Address: West Point, Whitehall Rd, Leeds LS1 4JY
7. Tharavadu
Award winning Indian restaurant Tharavadu serves up tasty Indian cuisine from Kerala in a modern, chic venue. What’s really impressive is that this venue was recommended in the Michelin restaurant guide in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019!
Kerela cuisine has a multitude of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry and red meat, meaning there’s something on this menu for everyone. The chefs themselves were born and brought up in Kerala so there’s no compromise on quality of the food provided.
Their pre-meal snacks and pickles consist of Poppadoms and Pakkavada, a popular Kerala snack made from rice flour and gram flour. For a starter we’d recommend the Grilled Tiger Prawns in the shell, sautéed with lemon and special homemade chefs sauce.
The fish curries at Tharavadu always get amazing reviews too, including a Fresh Whole Crab cooked in homemade Tharavadu spice and coconut sauce.
They’re even offering a 3-course bottomless brunch for £29.95 for two hours of unlimited beer, wines, gin and soft drinks available!
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Address: 7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
8. Ox Club
This solid-fuel grill restaurant showcases the best of Yorkshire produce at Headrow House, a funky bar and venue in Leeds city centre. They have been featured in both the Michelin Guide and The Good Food Guide for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
The main courses here are uniquely delicious with an unforgettable grilled flavour, including Char sui belly pork skewer. Why not try the Aged beef tartare with smoked beef fat and black garlic dressing and crispy shallots?
Their menu might be on the pricey side, but your taste buds will be tingling!
Finish your evening off with a glass of Dessert Wine or some Black Lemon Limoncello to really top off your experience. When you’ve had enough to eat, head upstairs for a drink and enjoy the three floors of bars in Headrow, with a rooftop and a DJ – the vibes are immaculate!
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Address: 19a The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU
9. Bundobust
If you like Indian street food, you’re going to want to try the delicious food here! Bundobust offers meat-free Indian street food and craft beer in a laid-back setting, this restaurant is right near to Leeds train station, making it a fairly central location and easy to get to.
The dining space features long wooden tables with eye-catching artwork creating an informal yet buzzing atmosphere. The Okra fries, which is Okra in crisp chickpea batter, dusted with black salt & mango powder go absolutely perfectly with a beer.
We’d also have to recommend the Bundo Chaat, which includes layers of samosa pastry, chickpea, potato, onion and chilli sauce, served cool with yogurt and tamarind chutney.
If you just want a quick bite to eat whilst you’re out shopping or heading on a train journey. They offer beer snacks like Popcorn & mini poppadoms drizzled with green chilli & garlic oil as well as Colourful rice puffs dusted with a special spice blend.
You’ll be loving life with the bursts of flavour and the friendly service!
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Address: 6 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
10. San Carlo Flying Pizza
Flying Pizza has been a very popular fixture on the Leeds dining scene for many years, the award-winning restaurant became part of the San Carlo family in 2010. You’ll find it nestled in Rounday, which is only a short drive away from the city centre.
Offering interior views of the kitchen with a stunning dining terrace with a fully retractable roof, this restaurant has to be one of the most elegant in Leeds. The terrace is open all year round and surrounded with beautifully lit olive trees so you can enjoy your meal in a serene atmosphere.
For a delectable main course, why not try the Ravioli Lobster, this delicious dish consists of ravioli stuffed with lobster and crab meat in a light creamy and pink peppercorn sauce. The Pizza Tartufo is a firm favourite too, consisting of caciocavallo cheese, porcini mushrooms and black truffle.
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Address: 60 Street Ln, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2DQ
Remember, its worth taking along your student ID card when you go out for something to eat and drink as some places do offer money off. It’s better to be prepared and make the most of a discount!
Lets stop there, before we all get majorly hungry. We hope you’ve enjoyed this post about the best places to go for food in Leeds. Where will you be going for your next meal?! If you try any recommendations out, let us know @prestigestudentliving.
You should read our post on Parks In Leeds You Need To Visit Whilst Here For Uni next.
