The best shawarma shops in Leeds serve comfort wrapped to go!
A mate living outside of Leeds once claimed that reet good scran always comes with posh rates. While I’m a fan of fine dining restos, that’s not always true.
To be fair to the bloke, he never had a taste of the city’s top shawarma joints. You know what I’m yapping about: the good old stalls with tasty and hefty meat stacks that rarely go beyond £10 a wrap or plate.
If you don’t know their names, I got you! Below are our local faves and the reasons they stay in our food-mad hearts.
Falafel Guys ‐ Northern Market
– From falafelguysuk
Address: Old School Board, Calverley St
Contact Details:
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11:45 am to 11 pm
- Thu to Sat – 11:45 am to 12 am
- Sun – 11:45 am to 10:30 pm
Have a natter with locals about where they get their Middle Eastern fix, and Falafel Guys will usually pop up first. Their salads, mezze dishes, and falafel wraps are all hits.
I personally think the chicken shawarma tops them all, though. The addition of halloumi cheese is a welcome move, especially if you’re crazy about pairing tangy flavours with spiced and smoky meat.
Mind, the Triple Decker isn’t a dodgy shout. Just add a quid, and you’ll enjoy an extra layer of nutty falafel.
Tip: They’re big on giveaways (like discounted meals for two). The deets are posted on their Insta.
Tasty Shawarma
– From leedsmarket
Address: Unit B 1904 Hall, Leeds Kirkgate Market, Kirkgate
Contact Details: 07481 014354
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 9 am to 5 pm
Tasty Shawarma does their grub the Turkish way. We had the £6 chicken twice this month, and both servings popped with the authentic taste of slow-roasted meat, with chips on the side.
A few extras are also up for grabs if you’re feeling it. I opted for the earthy lentil soup, while the tots I dragged along stuck to chicken nuggets, all for less than a tenner.
To wash it down, we had two picks: a cup of tea or a glass of authentic orange juice. It was a scorching day, so picking OJ made sense.
Tip: Folks queue up around lunchtime. Try to avoid that period if you have a choice.
Istanbul Bakery
– From kirkgatecollective
Address: Market Kitchen, Leeds Kirkgate Market
Contact Details: 07778 877323
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 9:30 am to 5 pm
A Turkish family is behind Istanbul Bakery, a good sign their desserts and savouries are dead authentic. The long line we endured was another hint (wait time was around 10 minutes).
After gobbling the £6 chicken shawarma, I can say it was worth it. That number was on the “cleaner” side; the spice levels were toned down, and there were no greasy bits.
The team didn’t have to switch to another stall for more bites either. Those baklava (a quid each) and cheesy chicken pizza (£10 for a 14” base) were to die for, the latter even rivalling the slices of our go-to pizza parlours.
Tip: Be clear about explaining your dietary restrictions. From experience, the staff aren’t too familiar with them.
Sqew Shawarma Bar
– From sqew.uk
Address: 7 Duncan St
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Wed – 11:30 am to 11 pm
- Thu to Sat – 11:30 am to 12 am
- Sun – 11:30 am to 11 pm
Sqew sources their ingredients straight from the Middle East, so good luck claiming it’s not the real deal. I mean, their khobez wrap (chicken) and lamb shawarma are fan-faves, and both only get better once dipped in a sesame- or garlic-based sauce.
In my opinion, though, the award-winning khobez is the way to go. For £9.50, I got to dig into succulent chicken wrapped inside fresh Lebanese flatbread and served alongside a salad bowl.
That said, anyone craving a more intense, slightly gamey meal is better off with the £13.20 lamb. Shaved and slow-roasted, each fall-apart strip is packed with warm Middle Eastern spices like paprika and cinnamon.
Tip: Orders for corporate gatherings must be sent out 48 hours in advance.
Eastern Oven – فطاير أبو محمد
– From easternovenleeds
Address: Leeds Kirkgate Market, Stall 5, 1976 Hall
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 10 am to 5:30 pm
Freshness-wise, my money is on Eastern Oven. Their open setup lets foodies see how they knead and bake those cloud-like pides, which are flattened and boat-shaped Turkish flatbreads.
I’ve got no gripes on the flavour end, too. The juicy lamb and chicken shawarma are done authentically, accented by za’atar, a thyme-based condiment with oregano-like and sour notes.
If that doesn’t hit the spot, you have falafel wraps and Lahmacun (thin, minced-meat pizza) as backups.
Tip: Seating is pretty limited, so it’s best to order takeaway instead of staying.
Holbeck Shawarma
– From holbeckshawarma
Address: 134 Domestic St, Holbeck
Contact Details: 0113 244 0639
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 11 am to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 12 am to 9:30 pm
Holbeck Shawarma offers the savoury dish in loads of different ways. Predictably, the £6.96 chicken wrap is the most popular, followed by the “lighter” doner, priced at £7.95.
You also have shawarma rice meals to wolf down, with each box letting you tweak the heat level to your liking (no chilli is an option). What’s sweet is that every order is served with one dip and a drink of choice.
Past that are the slightly pricier trays. Between £9 and £11.50, these combine shawarma, doner meat, salad, halloumi, and falafel.
Tip: Wait times are often short between 6 pm and 9 pm.
Mezaj Shawarma
– From mezaj_shawarma
Address: 73A Raglan Rd, Woodhouse
Contact Details: 07516 736863
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Wed – 3:30 pm to 10 pm
- Thu – 3 pm to 10 pm
- Fri – 3:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 4 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 3:30 pm to 10 pm
Lebanese and Arabic flavours are what Mezaj Shawarma brings to the table. In other words, prepare for some plump chicken and spiced lamb in golden halloumi and tangy hummus.
For the hungrier folk, the mezze picks will do. A tenner scored me a platter of chicken shawarma dipped in minty tzatziki and joined by tabbouleh, a bright, Middle Eastern salad.
Can’t forget about the mixed grill selection either, ideal for groups with loaded pockets (it’s £27.99). Charcoal-smoked, this one is an ensemble of Mezaj’s best-sellers, like the shawarma chicken, lamb shish, doner, and wings.
Tip: You can score a discount by opting for collection orders. Last time around, we got 10% off our meal.
Akkawi
– From akkawifood
Address: 73A Raglan Rd, Woodhouse
Contact Details: 07516 736863
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Wed – 3:30 pm to 10 pm
- Thu – 3 pm to 10 pm
- Fri – 3:30 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 4 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 3:30 pm to 10 pm
Even the garlic paste of Akkawi is proper Palestinian. Don’t be shocked if the shawarma is just as legit.
The chicken version is what keeps me swinging by; it nails that tangy, smoky, and savoury profile I want in my shawarma. Plus, the £7.50 tag is a steal, considering the size (it’s twice as big as most) and extras, specifically the garlic paste and drink.
Akkawi has other Arabic specialities to sweeten the deal, so bring some extra cash for the equally loved falafel and halloumi wraps. Oh, bring a bit of patience, too, as the lunchtime line is no joke.
Tip: You have two options to avoid the queue: either swing by around the opening or closing hours.
Taza Shawarma
– From taza_shawarma_
Address: 17 Iveson Approach
Contact Details: 0113 345 3200
Operating Hours: Daily – 11 am to 9 pm
Taza Shawarma just opened in April 2025, but it’s already among our lot’s go-to joints for wraps and plates.
Both their chicken and lamb don’t disappoint, price- and flavour-wise. See, they’re prepped Kurdish-style, meaning the notes are a tad milder and less fiery, but the overall taste is still bold.
Everything is also whipped up in-house. From what we’ve peeped, the staff kneads the dough in front of diners, and the salads don’t have any odd colours or smells.
Tip: Consider driving to get here. It’s 20 minutes from Leeds, and parking isn’t an issue.