Inject a bit of joy into your lunch hour with these exceptional midday eats.
Lunchtime needn’t be a sad salad at your desk. Instead, it can be a riot of colour and taste, different every day of the week, with the options we’ve got here in Leeds. From all-you-can-eat sushi and Indian street food to a roast dinner in a Yorkshire pudding wrap, these utterly delicious feeds will set you up for the rest of the day in style.
Indian street food at Bundobust
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Indian street food and craft beers – is there a better way to spend lunchtime? Bundobust serve cracking Indian street food and it’s all veggie or vegan. It’s small plate style, so grab a couple of dishes and get stuck in.
You could be munching on the iconic vada pav, a deep-fried ball of mashed potato in a bun, with oh-so-addictive okra fries dusted with black salt and mango powder. Or how about the bhel puri? Puffed rice, samosa pastry, rice and veggies in tamarind chutney, it’s a riot of textures and taste.
Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.
Bánh mì at Banh & Mee
Banh & Mee in Leeds Kirkgate Market offers authentic and expertly crafted Vietnamese dishes. You can savour their iconic bánh mì sandwich, served in a crispy baguette, layered with pâté, marinated meat and crisp salad.
Or go for their flavourful pho, a rich yet delightfully light noodle soup, prepared using a broth passed down through three generations. Whether you’re in the mood for slurpable noodles or colourful sandwiches, one thing’s for sure – you’re bound to be coming back.
Banh & Mee, Kirkgate Market, 31 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DT.
Vegan döner at Döner Summer
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Döner Summer is not your average lunch spot – it’s an oasis of junk food on Call Lane that will leave you completely satisfied. The unique twist? Everything on their menu is 100% vegan, making it one of the best places in Leeds to enjoy a plant-based meal.
Expect to indulge in scrumptious fried chick’n, piled high with doner-style meat, all covered in mouthwatering sauces like cheese, chilli or Korean BBQ, and topped with pickles. You can get yours on a bed of fries or stuffed into bread.
Döner Summer, 10-12 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DN.
Japanese cuisine at Maki & Ramen
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Maki & Ramen is their name, and that’s certainly their game. Lovers of Japanese food rejoiced when they arrived on Bond Street, and for good reason – they go to great lengths to ensure their ramen is cooked the authentic way, just how we like it.
While every noodle is handcrafted with care, the broth is where the real flavour magic happens, simmering for eight hours to achieve that deeply rich taste. If you have to pick one, go for the aptly named, chilli-infused Hell Ramen – it’s eye-wateringly good in terms of both flavour and heat.
Maki & Ramen, 32 Bond Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5BQ.
Authentic falafel at Akkawi
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
A lunchtime dash to Akkawi’s Albion Street van will see you devouring tasty Palestinian food that you won’t forget anytime soon. People arrive in droves when the clock hits 12pm, so be sure to get there early if you want some of Leeds’ freshest falafel.
Wrap or box, it’s your choice, but in our opinion you can’t go wrong with a classic falafel wrap. Freshly fried in front of you, the chickpea goodness is stuffed into a fluffy flatbread before being packed with hummus, chillis, onion and more. Get your chops around that.
Akkawi, 56 Albion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6AD.
Tasty Italian dishes at La Piola
La Piola is Leeds’ ultimate hidden gem. The humble yet charming Italian cafe may not look like much from the outside, but owner Fabio has taken inspiration from the restaurants of his hometown, Cuneo, bringing with him incredible flavour, ingredients and dishes.
Walk past on a sunny day and you’ll see Park Square’s office workers basking in the sunshine, but what are they tucking into? Tasty panini, salads and small dishes, that’s what. If you fancy something bigger, the slow-cooked duck ragu pappardelle is rich, filling and simply incredible.
La Piola, 2 East Park Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2NE.
A naanwich from Shabab
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2025
From the purveyors of the largest naan in Britain comes the lunch you didn’t know you needed. Any lover of Indian food knows that the best part of the meal is loading a bit of every dish onto a piece of naan for that coveted all-in-one bite– now you can have it done for you.
The Shabab naanwich takes Indian street food to a next level. Just imagine, soft toasted naan bread, sliced up pitta-style and filled with bombay potatoes, chicken or lamb and finished with fresh salad, chutney and dressing. Mouth watering yet? Same here.
Shabab, 66-68 Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2EE.
Leeds’ only sandos at Shokupan
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
You’ve definitely seen Japanese sandos plastered all over your social media feed, but did you know you can try them at Leeds’ very own Shokupan? Be it for a morning feed or your lunchtime needs, they’ve got you covered when it comes to unusual lunches.
Our go-to lunchtime treat is the katsu chicken sando. Crispy chicken is sandwiched between fluffy milk bread, partnered with shredded cabbage, Japanese mayo and a tangy katsu sauce – it’s a flavour and a texture sensation fit for the gods.
Shokupan, 27 Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4EA.
All you can eat sushi at Blue Sakura
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Hungry? Get your fill of Japanese tapas at Blue Sakura. You get an hour-and-a-half of all-you-can-eat sushi and Asian grill dishes, ordered via the touchscreen at your table. You can go to town on the tempura, nom on the noodles and munch on the maki.
There’s practically everything you could want here, whether that’s a bowl of sweet and sour chicken and rice or a selection of sushi rolls. But it doesn’t come cheap – prices start from £29.95, and if you ask us, you can only really get your money’s worth if you smash the sushi.
Blue Sakura, 2-3 Merrion Way, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8BT.
Yummy noodles at Mr Su’s
Leeds isn’t short of great noodle restaurants, but you’ll be hard pressed to find better than Mr Su’s. With two city centre locations, you’re never too far away from some sensational slurping at cheap and cheerful prices – what more could you ask for on your lunch break?
Soup noodles? Check. Hotpot noodles? Check. Rice noodles? Check and double check! The latter has to be our favourite as it really showcases the soft and delicate texture of the noodles. Choose from sliced beef, seafood, vegetable and more, they’re all sure to be show stoppers.
Mr Su’s Noodles, 24 Blenheim Terrace, Woodhouse, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9HD & Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.
Turkish street food at Mr Mackerel
© Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Head down to Leeds Kirkgate Market on your lunch break and tuck into some Turkish street food delights from Mr Mackerel. Grab one of their combos and you’re in for a feast.
A mackerel fillet, chicken shish kebab or a couple of lamb koftas are paired with a soft pitta, crunchy salad, perfectly presented white rice or chips and a small lentil soup. All this, and you’ll still get change from a tenner. It’s so tasty, you’ll wonder if you have room for another.
Mr Mackerel, Leeds Kirkgate Market, 34 George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HY.
Cover image © Copyright Leeds-List 2024
