The Most Interesting Places to Have Lunch in Leeds

Got the lunchtime blues? Take a break from the boring ol’ norm with these unique eats.

In Leeds, there’s absolutely no excuse for a dull lunch. The city’s teeming with incredible cafes and restaurants, offering everything from vibrant Indian street food and spicy Thai cuisine, to steaming ramen and dripping Yorkshire pudding wraps. What are you waiting for? Scrap your sarnie and give your tastebuds a treat – lunchtime will have never tasted so good!

Rola Wala

Looking for a flavour sensation this lunchtime? Look no further than Rola Wala. The Indian street food favourite has become a lunch staple in Leeds, winning over hearts and bellies with its epic naan rolls and healthy bowls. What sets Rola Wala apart from other fast food options is that it’s all made from scratch every day, with a focus on flavour, not fat. You’ll leave feeling full but nourished, with most meals weighing in at under 500 calories, and over half the menu made up of vegan options.

Rola Wala, Trinity Kitchen, 27 Albion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5AT.

Döner Summer

Döner Summer’s larger-than-life vegan junk food is the perfect fit for a feel-good lunch in Leeds. Imagine a loaded kebab with all the trimmings, but this time it’s 100% plant-based. We’re talking mock döner and chick’n, crammed into a flatbread or – even better – Turkish pide, then smothered in an array of toppings and sauces. Aside from the kebabs, they’ve also got a mean chick’n tenders lunch deal, landing you three buttermilk chick’n tenders, skin-on fries and slaw for just £6.95.

Döner Summer, 10-12 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DN.

House of Fu

Fancy slurping your way through a piping hot bowl of ramen this lunchtime? Course you do. House of Fu’s ramen has become stuff of Leeds legend since it opened back in 2021, and it’s the perfect choice for a hearty lunch. You can take a seat in their edgy canteen-style restaurant and dive into a big bowl of tasty Japanese fare. The Original Fu ticks all the boxes, promising a fragrant tonkotsu broth with hakata noodles and BBQ chashu pork, or you can grab a bowl of homemade gyoza, choosing from pork, shiitake and kale, and a rotating special.

House of Fu, 15-19 The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.

Zaap Thai

It’s the decor of Zaap Thai that hits you first – a bustling mish-mash of neon signs, tuk tuks and colourful lights, launching you straight into the streets of Bangkok. Then it’s the smells emanating from the open kitchen, where an army of chefs cook up a storm. But it’s the menu that’ll send you over the edge – with over 80 authentic dishes, where do you start? Trusty pad Thai always delivers, but if you’re feeling adventurous, the Guay Tiew Zaap soup packs a punch, a heavenly broth of minced and roasted pork, chilli and lime.

Zaap Thai, 22 Grand Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PG.

Bubble Sing

The food counter inside Sing Kee Oriental Supermarket is one of Leeds’ hottest lunch spots. Bubble Sing is perfect for on-the-go eats – pick from a range of Asian dishes and delicacies, from chow mein and katsu, to sushi and bao. You can even order a cup noodle for less than a couple of quid. And you’ll need to try a bubble tea – after all, it’s in the name. A wide range of fruit and milk-based boba offers something for all tastes. Unsure where to start? The Thai milk tea with a cream cheese topping is a staff favourite.

Bubble Sing, Singkee Oriental Supermarket, 26-28 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8LX.

Kada’s

Kada’s ships mouth-watering Middle Eastern and Moroccan food to the heart of Leeds, lighting up the city with a taste of the Med. You’ll find all the favourites – creamy hummus and tangy tzatziki, along with plenty of bread to scoop it all up – on the Mezze platters. You can also mix and match your own plate of delicacies such as falafel, aubergine and spicy sausage. If you’re after something more filling, Moroccan-style paninis come stuffed with everything from succulent shawarma to grilled Mediterranean veggies.

Kada’s, 5 Crown Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DA.

Bundobust

Bundobust is an ever-popular choice for lunch in Leeds, dazzling diners with tasty, pocket-friendly Indian street food. Every dish on the menu is either veggie or vegan, but that doesn’t mean less flavour, oh no. Tantalise your tastebuds with the likes of warming tarka dhal, barbecued paneer tikka and the delectable Bundo chaat – layers of chickpeas and samosa pastry, laden in lashings of chilli, yoghurt and tamarind sauce. Hop aboard the lunch express to grab two of their staple dishes for just £9.

Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.

The Yorkshire Wrap Company

The Yorkshire Wrap Company takes all the best bits from a Sunday dinner and rolls it into a ruddy great Yorkshire pudding wrap. Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s indulgent. But it’s honestly a must-try. Once you bite through the soft but crispy exterior, you’ll be rewarded with roast beef, red cabbage, fried onions and homemade gravy, or the alternative – roast pork with sage and onion stuffing, smothered in mustard and apple sauce. If that’s not your bag, their all-day breakfast is basically a fry up wrapped in a Yorkshire pud. Incredible.

The Yorkshire Wrap Company, Kirkgate Market, 28-34 George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HY.

Little Bao Boy

Little Bao Boy is a great shout for a quick but tasty lunch in Leeds. Serving up soft and pillowy bao buns, full to the brim with fragrant Asian-fusion fillings from within North’s city centre taproom, they’ve made a name for themselves as a street food stalwart. The menu offers something for vegans, veggies and meat-eaters alike. Every bao hits the spot, but the KFB is a favourite – homemade buttermilk fried chicken smothered in Korean Cowboy Sauce. You’ll need a napkin – or two. Grab one bao for £5 or any two for £9.

Little Bao Boy, North Brewing Co. Tap Room, 3 Sovereign Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4BA.

Falafel Guys

You’ll smell Falafel Guys before you see it, and boy does it smell incredible. Their falafel is a must – crisp on the outside, soft in the middle, and packed with herby goodness. Wrap it up in a great big flatbread crammed with all the good stuff – ladles of hummus followed by tahini, salad, sauce and a tangy pickled chilli. There’s also halloumi, chicken shawarma and donner on offer. For a healthy option, lose the bread but none of the flavour with a salad box. Oh, and you must order the hummus trio, it’s special stuff.

Falafel Guys, SALT Granary Wharf, Candle House, Granary Wharf, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4GJ.