Bored of your run-of-the-mill, go-to eateries? These unusual Leeds restaurants are refreshingly unique.
Whether it’s the food that’s distinctive or it’s the decor that delivers the wow-factor, Leeds has got loads of weird and wonderful restaurants that are a bit different from the rest. We’ve got an experiential DIY Korean barbecue eatery, a pub dedicated to Yorkshire in all its glory and a Thai restaurant doing tapas, all serving delicious eats with gusto. Which will you try first?
The Empire Cafe
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
The Empire Cafe may look effortlessly simple on first glance, but there’s so much to this local favourite that makes it one of the most unusual restaurants in Leeds. First, the location, hidden away down a long-forgotten side street in place of a long-shut greasy spoon. Then when you head inside, it’s been tastefully, classically decorated, but it’s only small, whether you eat upstairs or in their underground dining room. And finally, the new wave take on old school cooking. Their ‘Wall of Flame’ chicken rotisserie whirrs all day and is mighty with a side of chicken schmaltz potatoes, but don’t sleep on the truly epic steak and chips.
The Empire Cafe, 6 Fish Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DB.
Wen’s
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
It’s not as modern, nor is it as sleek as some restaurants you’ll find in Leeds, but Wen’s unusual nature makes it a must-visit. This is a family-run Chinese restaurant on the edge of city centre that serves up authentic home-cooked food in a cosy, welcoming space that feels more akin to dining at someone’s home. Yes, you can get the classics, but it pays to be adventurous and try their real Chinese favourites, from crispy deep-fried whole sea bass in sweet vinegar sauce to braised chicken and tofu meatballs. It’s seriously tasty fare you won’t find anywhere else in Leeds.
Wen’s Restaurant, 72-74 North Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7PN.
Wapentake
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Wapentake is an ode to God’s Own County. With a down-to-earth, no frills approach, they source their food and drink locally – keeping it as Yorkshire as possible. On the menu, you’ll find crisp butties (oh, heck yes), glorious Sunday roasts and even Yorkshire pudding burgers served with gravy and wedges. Their breakfast and brunch dishes are the stars of the show – even the beans on toast gets a Yorkshire twist with a splash of Henderson’s Relish. They make sure that everything has a veggie and vegan equivalent too, so no one goes without.
Wapentake, 92 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DJ.
Bulgogi Grill
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
How’s cooking your own meal on a Korean table-top barbecue for a break from the norm? At Bulgogi Grill, that’s exactly what happens – and it’s super fun. You’re given a range of cuts of meat and fish to cook on the barbecue in front of you, some marinated in Bulgogi’s signature sauce, others brushed with oil and delicately seasoned. We’re talking tender beef, pork and duck, squid, swordfish and even sea bass. Once it’s cooked to your liking, wrap it up in lettuce along with some rice, veggies and the sauces of your choice for a mouthful of utterly delicious flavours.
Bulgogi Grill, The Arena Quarter, 9 Merrion Way, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8BT.
The Swine That Dines
The Swine That Dines is one of the most unusual restaurants in Leeds because it’s a bit of a juxtaposition. You’ve got an unassuming, homely looking dining room, full of cookbook-laden shelves, framed art and a mix of mismatch dining tables. Then, there’s the food. It’s uncomplicated, but inventive and refined – not what you’d expect from such an informal place. They love changing their menu with the seasons, so you could be tucking into venison, slow-cooked in a ragu until it’s melt-in-the-mouth or perfectly delicate coley served with artichoke, fennel and capers.
The Swine That Dines, 58 North Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7PN.
Teppanyaki
Credit: Teppanyaki Leeds & Kii Digital
Teppanyaki is a Japanese restaurant that combines cooking with theatre. You sit in front of the hot plate on which all your food is cooked, but this is not regular cooking, oh no. Instead it’s pure flair and drama as food comes to life, with tricks like the iconic flaming onion volcano, where rings of onion are stacked and set alight. When it comes to the food, we’re talking yummy teriyaki duck, tofu with ginger or thinly sliced beef and mushrooms. Served with teppanyaki fried rice and stir-fried veggies, it’s a feast that’ll have you coming back again and again!
Teppanyaki, Belgrave Hall, Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8DD.
Phranakhon
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Phranakhon take tapas and make it Thai, and just like in Thailand, each plate is made for sharing. For curry lovers, the panaeng nuea is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, made with beef and lime leaves, it’s satisfyingly creamy and packed full of umami. Fans of street food can revel in plates of chicken satay, khao pad and miang pla – crispy sea bass on lettuce with toasted desiccated coconut and a caramelised herb sauce. There are loads of options for veggies and vegans too, like the tao hoo tord (breaded tofu with sweet soy sauce) and crunchy broccoli with soy, chilli and garlic.
Phranakhon, 11 York Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2DS.
Eat Your Greens
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Why is Eat Your Greens one of the most unusual restaurants in Leeds? Because it’s got a wholly organic focus. You’ll find it in a quiet corner of the city centre, where they take fine, ethically-sourced ingredients and transform them into a medley of tasty European-inspired dishes. Think Cornish blackjack papillote with seaweed butter and coriander lime dressing. The Jerusalem artichokes served four ways – puréed, crisp, pickled & roasted, are a must-try too. Natural wines come by the glass and bottle – it’s even home to an organic greengrocers too!
Eat Your Greens, 42 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DY.
Crown Hotpot
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
It doesn’t get much more unusual than a Chinese restaurant hidden at the back of an Asian supermarket in Leeds, does it? Head to the rear of Taste the Orient to stumble upon Crown Hotpot, but don’t expect your average Chinese fare, oh no. This is an immersive Sichuan experience, one that promises discovery within every bite. Why? Their buffet takes on the form of epic Chinese hotpots – choose your soup base, decide which of the seemingly never-ending array of meats, seafood and veggies you want going in there, and then put it all together and enjoy. You can even make your very own dipping sauces!
Crown Hotpot, 1 Back Blenheim Terrace, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9HJ.
OWT
Credit: Jeremy Kelly
OWT is not your average restaurant. Oh no, this is proper cooking and dining out of the heart of Burley. They’ve adapted the French way of doing things, using fresh, local ingredients and packaging them up in simple but tasty meals, served in a restaurant that feels like a home away from home. The menu changes with the seasons, so you can look forward to something different every time. You could find yourself tucking into everything from sandwiches packed with fillings to house-made soups and their signature fried chicken, because this is a restaurant where ‘owt’ goes.
OWT, 104 Burley Road, Woodhouse, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS3 1JP.
Cover image credit: Teppanyaki Leeds & Kii Digital
