Go global on the sidewalks at the best street food spots in Leeds!
Look, we love a proper resto sit-down as much as the next person, but not everyone is game to cough up 40 quid on a steak or wait 30-plus minutes for a brisket.
Our fix? Street food! In Leeds, they’re often cooked fast, don’t taste like despair, and are mostly kind to the wallet.
There are scores to pick from, mind. That’s why we only went for pop-ups, food trucks, and stalls that properly fed and satisfied our greedy little hearts.
Trinity Kitchen
– From foodonhoof
Address: 27 Albion St
Contact Details: 0113 394 2415
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 11 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 5 pm
Trinity Kitchen is always cooking up something new. Unlike most digs here, their selection rotates every eight weeks, so that pho you gobbled two months ago might get replaced by a new obsession, perhaps an authentic Mexican burrito or a unique ostrich burger.
That brings us to another perk: it’s a right mix of global munch here. Just this July, we downed buttery naan, heavily spiced Turkish doner, grilled cheese sandwiches, and good old Yorkshire Wagyu burgers.
Tip: Go for a weekday trip. The weekends here are packed.
Mowgli Street Food Leeds
– From mowglistreetfood
Address: 34 Boar Ln
Contact Details: 0113 403 3215
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11:30 am to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 10 pm
Much like the home- and street-style Indian fare they roll out, Mowgli is a warm haunt for a feast. You see, hanging lanterns and twinkling lights lit up the tree-shaded interior, resulting in a cosy golden glow.
Still, the aesthetics come second to their shareable plates. Those yoghurt chat bombs will get you hooked, thanks to a trifecta of tangy, savoury, and spicy notes, which are also present in the vegan version.
Got to have the roti as well. The nutty flatbread complements most of Mowgli’s offerings, especially the curries, hand-picked by the chef and served potluck-style.
Tip: You’ll find a convenient parking spot at the nearby Trinity Leeds.
Poco
– From pocosicilian
Address: Lands Ln
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10 am to 6 pm
- Fri to Sat – 10 am to 7 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 6 pm
Sicily gifted the world with cuisine that doesn’t hold back on spices; Poco keeps that tradition alive. This rustic haunt even imports authentic ingredients from the Bel Paese.
One dish I personally return for is arancini, which are fried and stuffed Italian rice balls. Flavour-wise, it dances between umami (thanks to the ground beef) and cheesy, with touches of sharp aromatics.
To sweeten it, I normally grab a cannoli (or two). They do the tube-like dessert the traditional way here, meaning the sweet-but-not-overpowering ricotta is there, wrapped in a deep-fried scorza, a dough laced with wine and sugar.
Tip: Got no time to travel? Good thing you can order online!
Bento Japanese Street Food & Izakaya
– From bento.leeds
Address: 10 Merrion St
Contact Details: 0113 244 1190
Operating Hours: Daily – 12 pm to 10 pm
Bento sticks to its izakaya roots. That means they offer Japanese street food brought out in an unhurried, informal bar setting.
When it comes to the menu, they have a large one, so we suggest trying the best-sellers first, mainly the melt-in-your-mouth teriyaki beef. It has that classic sweet and savoury punch and is served generously, with veggie gyoza (dumplings) and seaweed salad on the side.
If you want a lighter bite, the crispy tofu isn’t a clanger, though a few don’t like the addition of seaweed. A safer bet would be the crackling salt-and-pepper chicken.
Tip: Visit their Insta first. You might find a discount there.
Mommy Thai
– From mommythai_leeds
Address: 7 Duncan St
Contact Details: 0113 244 9289
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
Homemade cooking is the biggest factor why foodies queue up at Mommy Thai. Their recipes span generations, and the majority of the options aren’t different from what you can pick up in Bangkok.
I tasted it in their kow soi. Similar to what I had in Thailand, the bowl came with a velvety and flaming yellow curry base, layered with egg noodles and robust shallots.
Fantastic prawn toast, too; I’d even say it’s more delish than their pad Thai. The prawn’s oceanic sweetness is all there, and the chilli sauce only improves it.
Tip: Pay in cash to score a 10% discount.
Delhi Wala Food
– From aidanmsinger
Address: 88 Bishopgate St
Contact Details: 0113 243 6931
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 12 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 9 pm
When I heard that Eddie Hall had a spread at Delhi Wala Food, I had to give the joint a shot. Fortunately, the World’s Strongest Man wasn’t lying; they whip out veggie flavour bombs here.
The onion bhaji is a notable example. In terms of spice, I’d say it’s just delicate, but the onion overtones are full-bodied, so each bite popped with sweet-savoury nuances, followed by the nutty accents of chickpea.
I couldn’t skip the aloo tikki chaat after that. This Indian-style potato patty with yoghurt and tamarind chutney is more on the vibrant side, though I picked up hints of chilli as well.
Tip: Take the train. The station is 2–3 minutes away from this spot.
The Med Greek Street Food
– From themedgreek
Address: 1 The Crescent, Woodhouse
Contact Details: 0113 531 6179
Operating Hours: Daily – 12 pm to 10 pm
Never come to The Med Greek Street Food with a full tummy. Their authentic gyros and souvlaki come stacked.
The former is slightly more popular. It’s pretty easy to fall for heavily spiced chicken and pork, coupled with hefty portions of chips, salad, and pita bread (you can get it wrapped as well).
Now, we’re not saying the souvlaki only plays second fiddle. If you’re more into an herb-forward dish with a clean, smoky profile, this pork/chicken skewer is a wiser choice.
Tip: Bring your student ID to enjoy discounts.
Fat Annie’s
– From nosh.off
Address: Leeds Kirkgate Market, 28-34 George St
Contact Details: 07857 950954
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 10:30 am to 5 pm
With a couple of vegans in the group, Fat Annie’s is almost a no-brainer for us. This American-style joint has been meat-free since 2020, with plant-based, German-style hot dogs as the bread and butter.
Our go-to? Annie Mac. It’s their house special, and the combination of smoked tofu, onions, cheese, and a secret sauce gets real close to the classic.
The Supreme Burger isn’t far behind. Prepared smash-style, this heavyweight features two plant-based, cholesterol-free patties, each loaded with 15 grams of protein and finished with tangy pickles and sweet onions.
Tip: Specials are posted on their Insta.
Banh & Mee Leeds
– From banhandmee
Address: Leeds Kirkgate Market, Westminster Buildings, 31 New York St
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 11 am to 5 pm
Owners Sengy and Mylin started Bahn & Mee to bring legit, Vietnamese on-the-go meals to Leeds. Judging by our recent trips, they pulled it off.
Predictably, bahn mi, a baguette-style sandwich, is their biggest crowd-puller. We ordered some and got delicately sweet chicken and pork fillings, aromatic herbs like lemongrass, and tart mayo, all packed in crunchy buns.
Their pho, which is heavy on star anise and cinnamon infusions, pleased the crew as well. The deep, slow-simmered flavour of beef bones was dominant, yet it was more ‘clean’ than greasy, enough to make us want prawn spring rolls as a little extra.
Tip: Holidays here, especially the New Year, often come with freebies, mainly cookies.
London Street Kitchen, Lands Lane
– From londonstreetkitchen_leeds
Address: Lands Ln
Contact Details: 07597 094070
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11:30 am to 7 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 7:30 pm
Most food trucks feel and look a tad grubby if we’re being honest—London Street Kitchen breaks that label. Every time we dropped in, there wasn’t a greased-up counter or out-of-place napkins.
Their food is also quite fresh, with an emphasis on uncomplicated, pick-your-own flavours. For instance, the in-demand burrito is a clean number of battered chicken and fresh stuffing of your choice (I go for jalapenos and torched cheese or paneer).
The same thing applies to their American burgers, gyros, and loaded fries. You get basic non-greasy components, such as roasted chicken, beef fillet, and fries in garlic mayo, and how to jazz things up is all up to your cravings.
Tip: Don’t forget to try their beloved hot sauce!
YUZU Street Food – Northern Market
– From the_kids_and_the_dogs
Address: The Northern Market, 12 Great George St
Contact Details: 0113 466 0308
Operating Hours: Daily – 12 pm to 11 pm
Casual and intimate, YUZU is bang on for low-key dining. Its lengthy menu, however, shakes things up by fusing Asian meals and profiles, mainly Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
The crew popped by on a rainy evening, so the steaming miso ramen was a must, not that we moaned about it. Topped with chashu pork and alive in nutty-umami nuances, the Japanese ramen staple, which could be taken fiery hot here, comforted the team.
Those bao buns were also to die for. Most pieces nailed the dish’s light and cloud-like character, but it’s the fusion flavours that broke our diet plans; think red-hot Korean pulled pork and garlicky katsu chicken smothered in Japanese curry!
Tip: Join their loyalty program for discounts.
Zaap Thai Street Food Leeds
– From zaap_thai_streetfood
Address: 22 Grand Arcade
Contact Details: 0113 243 2586
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 9 pm
Zaap Thai is straight out of the Land of Smiles. Seriously, their menu consists of 80 traditional Thai street fare, and you’ll clean them up in an open-kitchen venue with quirky tuk tuk-inspired decor and blazing neon lights.
Pad Thai is one reason patrons circle back, though the classic take isn’t the fan favourite. That title goes to Moo Krob Pad Thai, which ups the indulgence by topping stir-fried noodles with glazed pork belly.
You’d also be mad not to skip the sweet and sour chicken, another crowd-pleaser. What’s nice about this veggie and pineapple-loaded ensemble is that it’s a steal; the portions are hefty for the £14.50 tag.
Tip: You can use your purchases here to lower fees on your Travelodge stay.
Dough Boys
– From doughboysleeds
Address: 1A Cross Belgrave St
Contact Details: 0113 234 6160
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 12 pm to 11:30 pm
- Thu – 12 pm to 12:30 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 1:30 am
- Sat – 11 am to 1:30 am
- Sun – 11 am to 11:30 pm
We can’t really yap about Leeds’ street food scene without giving Dough Boys a shout. These iconic, hand-stretched pizza slingers have been fuelling Belgrave Music Hall regulars since 2013—yup, same year the venue opened.
Their selling point? They don’t sell bog-standard pizza (pizza leeds). For example, my go-to, Sausage Fest, is a diet-breaking melange of black pepper sausages, sweet-salty prosciutto, hot salami, and gentle mascarpone.
Oh, and they charge per slice, with rates falling between £4 and £4.60!
Tip: Half-priced slices are available from Sundays to Thursdays (12 pm to 7 pm) and Fridays to Saturdays (12 pm to 5 pm).