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the best restaurants in Leeds

Great food and Leeds go together hand in hand.

We're lucky enough to have plenty of impressive eateries in the city, from fuss-free favourites to fine dining, cooking up cuisines from every corner of the world. Here are some of the best restaurants to eat, drink and be merry.

The budget-friendly

These are the restaurants in Leeds where you can treat yourself without breaking the bank.

Indian street food and craft beer at cut rate prices? Say no more.

Bundobust offers serious bang for your buck, with a Lunch Express menu that'll see you tuck into two tasty dishes for £11.25. Grab a seat and soak up the laid-back, canteen-style vibe and get ready for a flavour explosion - think Bundo chaat, crispy okra fries and hearty tarka dahl.

  • Price range: Most dishes priced between £5 to £10

Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, LS1 5DQ

Kirkgate Market is where Leeds' vibrant culture collides with seriously tasty street food - it's a go-to spot for students after a budget-friendly bite.

With cuisines spanning the globe, one trip could see you tucking into a crispy banh mi from Vietnamese favourites Bahn and Mee, the next authentic Tunisian cuisine from Sweet Saeeda. With most meals coming in at under £10, they may be low in price but every bite promises to pack a punch.

  • Price range: Most mains are under £10

Kirkgate Market, Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS2 7HY

If it's quick, cheap and authentic Thai food you're after, you'll receive just that at Mommy Thai.

Their lunchtime deal means you can grab a starter and a main for just £10.95, ideal for a flavour-packed lunch break. Now the only question left is will you stay classic with the trusty pad Thai or go bold with the pla paesa, which sees seabass dressed in red curry sauce?

  • Price range: Their lunch deal is £10.95

Mommy Thai, 7 Duncan Street, Leeds, LS1 6DQ

Not only is Kuala Lumpur one of the most affordable restaurants in Leeds, but you can also bring your own booze.

The menu is small but mighty, and each dish is a standout in its own right - this is authentic Malaysian food done seriously well. Dishes come in at around £12 each, complete with rice and generous sides, making it a no-brainer for a tasty and affordable meal out.

  • Price range: Mains are around £12

Kuala Lumpur Cafe, 2-4 Bennett Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3HN

Belgrave is a favourite among students - and for good reason.

Sure the bustling rooftop, live music and perfectly-poured pints are great, but let's talk about their in-house pizza slingers, Dough Boys for a minute. The Silvio is a classic, the Salami of Darkness is perfectly spicy and What's the Quack is a vegan staple, but want to know the best part? You get it all for half the price, Sunday to Thursday from 12pm to 7pm and Friday to Saturday 12pm to 5pm. Check out more food deals here.

  • Price range: Slices are £4.50

Belgrave, Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, LS2 8JP

The underrated

These restaurants may be off the beaten track but they're worth seeking out.

La Piola is the definition of underrated.

Hidden away on Park Square, this underground eatery is intimate, small and promises to transport you to faraway Italian shores. The menu takes you through breakfast and lunch, but the star of the show has to be the dinner offering. We're talking arancini, pizza, pasta and a mean lasagne with slow cooked beef ragu - wash it down with an Aperol spritz and you're winning.

  • Price range: Mains are around £13.50

La Piola, 2 Park Square, Leeds, LS1 2NE

You've obviously tried Italian food, but have you ever tried Stuzzi?

The name derives from the dining concept Stuzzicini, small plates of Italian cuisine that are perfect for sharing. The menu changes monthly, but previous iterations have included sourdough bruschetta, truffled celeriac fondant and deep fried pasta, which may sound strange, but trust us it's delicious.

  • Price range: Stuzzicini range from £6.25 to £13

Stuzzi, 7 Merrion Street, Leeds, LS1 6PQ

Forget your salt and pepper chips - Wen's does authentic, home-cooked Chinese food and they do it seriously well.

It's a little bit out of the way, on the outskirts of the city centre, but this family-run gem boasts a cosy atmosphere, fantastic service and even better food. Sure, you've got your noodles, soups and dumplings, but why stick with that when you can sample Chinese classics like marinated jellyfish and braised pork cubes in brown sauce?

  • Price range: Mains are £12 and upward

Wen's, 72-74 North Street, Leeds, LS2 7PN

Slap bang between Hyde Park and Burley, Lupe's Cantina is a must visit for any students with a hankering for authentic Mexican food.

The interior is reminiscent of a Cancun cantina - unassuming, yet packed with loads of colour. Of course, classics take the form of tacos el pastor and enchiladas, but you can also try grilled cactus, mussels in a creamy sauce and grilled lamb rump.

  • Price range: Mains are around £12

Lupe's Cantina, 204 Cardigan Road, Burley, Leeds, LS6 1LF

With two locations in Headingley and the city centre, you're never too far away from a tasty Vietnamese lunch with Pho 37 - this street food spot serves up some of the best banh mi in the city.

If you're watching your pennies, grab their student-friendly meal deal, which is just £11 for a banh mi, chips, and a soft drink. Quick, affordable, with all the flavour.

  • Price range: Mains are around £11, with meal deals to choose from

Pho 37, 40 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 8LX and 15 North Lane, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3HG

The unusual

Anything but boring, these are the restaurants in Leeds you're sure not to forget anytime soon.

Think 'Chinese restaurant' and an edgy, cool industrial basement might not immediately spring to mind, but Mans Market definitely makes it work.

Specialising in Hong Kong cuisine, it's ideal for both quick bites and sit down meals. Jot down your order, pin it up and get ready for a feast. We're talking dim sum like gyoza, popcorn chicken and spare ribs, but also delights like yakisoba, kung pao and crispy chilli beef.

  • Price range: Dim sum range from £6.95 to £9.50

Mans Market, West Point, Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4JY

Tucked away down a city centre alleyway, Empire Café may not look like much at first glance - but the food is anything but ordinary.

Housed in a building with centuries of history (look up to spot the original signage), this hidden gem offers a split menu: one side features inventive small plates, while the other showcases the fiery 'Wall of Flame' chicken spit rotisserie, served with golden chicken schmaltz potatoes. It's a great spot for sharing plates or indulging in comfort food with a twist.

  • Price range: Expect to spend between £25 to £40 per person

Empire Cafe, 6 Fish Street, Leeds, LS1 6DB

Sitting pretty on New York street, Eat Your Greens is a fully organic restaurant that’s as stylish as it is sustainable.

Cool, hip and with great food, they take ethically sourced ingredients and whip them up into delights like fennel romesco, citrus cured trout and gochujang chickpea hummus. They're also well known for their natural wine selection - after all, who can say no to a glass of orange?

  • Price range: Dishes range from £6.50 to £15

Eat Your Greens, 42 New York Street, Leeds, LS2 7DY

Crown Hotpot is definitely one of the most unusual restaurants in Leeds.

Tucked away above Taste the Orient Chinese supermarket, it's great for international students missing the taste of home and adventurous eaters keen to try something new. Each table features a bubbling bowl of broth, ready for you to cook your own noodles, vegetables and meats. From mussels and beef to chicken feet and pig intestines, the options are wide-ranging and full of flavour.

  • Price range: Priced per hot pot item

Crown Hotpot, 1st Floor, 21 Blenheim Terrace, Woodhouse, Leeds, LS2 9HJ

A visit to Neon Cactus is always a good idea.

The blaring music and colourful exterior will tempt you in, but really, it's the margaritas (just £6 with a student card) and tacos that you'll stay for. The menu ranges from al pastor pork and birria chicken to beef shin and veggie-friendly vegan chorizo - on Taco Tuesday you can even get 10 for £20, so grab a pal and tuck in.

  • Price range: Mains are under £10

Neon Cactus, 35 Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BT

The special occasion

They may be a little pricey, but these are the restaurants in Leeds that are great for celebrations. Graduation, birthdays - you name it.

Tattu's interior and food offerings are equally exquisite.

Take a seat beneath the sprawling cherry blossom tree and admire the modern tattoo-inspired artwork that decorates the walls. The menu delivers Chinese cuisine with a contemporary twist - start with dim sum like duck spring rolls in lobster sauce, then move on to mains such as mock chicken in black bean sauce or white miso salmon. It's a top pick for celebrating a special occasion in style.

  • Price range: Set menus are around £40 per person

Tattu, 29 East Parade, Leeds, LS1 5PS

A rooftop bar, killer cocktails and expertly crafted cuisine? Uyare certainly ticks all the boxes.

Perched atop Victoria Gate, it offers sweeping city centre views and Keralan food dishes designed for sharing. Highlights include an indulgent paneer masala and the chemmeen roast, which sees tiger prawns simmered in a coconutty sauce. Delicious.

  • Price range: Mains range from £10 to £18.45

Uyare, Victoria Gate 3rd Floor, Rooftop, George Street, Leeds, LS2 7AU

Headrow House may be a favourite amongst students for a good night out, but did you know they boast their own Michelin recommended restaurant?

Ox Club is a solidly fuel-grilled eatery, and although the vibe inside is pared back Scandi, they cook up elevated British cuisine. Steak and chips might not sound like anything special, but you won't get any better than the one here - plus, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday lunchtime it's £17.95.

  • Price range: Mains range from £26 to £40

Ox Club, 19a The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU

With its recent move to Headingley, The Swine Bistro is the perfect neighbourhood spot for students looking to celebrate.

Inside it's chill and laidback, with a menu that's the real star. The weekday lunch menu starts from £23 for two courses, with starters covering beef dripping hash brown, mains a cod rillette, and if you have a sweet tooth, it has to be the bread and butter pudding.

  • Price range: Mains range from £20 to £28

The Swine Bistro, 77A Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3PS

It may be on Headingley high street, but TADA wouldn't feel out of place in Tokyo or Osaka.

The restaurant evokes elements of the traditional Japanese dining scene, with soft lighting, minimalist furniture and monochrome colours. And the food? Well, it's a must for sushi lovers. Expect all the uramaki, nigiri, temaki and sashimi you can muster, plus bento boxes and ramen.

  • Price range: Expect to spend £20 to £40 per person

TADA, 6 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2AD

Explore Leeds

We've put together a handy (not-so) little map with all the things that we think are amazing in Leeds. From food and drink, to health, beauty, outdoor spots and more! Head over and see for yourself.
A quiet morning Corn Exchange in Leeds City Centre, showing the dome ceiling and circular interior
Golden owl sculpture and clock on the left Leeds Civic Hall against a blue sky
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