Where to Get the Best Vegetarian Food in Leeds

From steaming bowls of ramen to plant-based fish and chips, these vegetarian eats will have you chomping at the bit.

Whether it’s a new lifestyle choice or you’ve done it for years, you don’t have to miss out on good food when you’re vegetarian. You could be noshing on toasted English muffins stuffed with veggie sausages and perfectly poached eggs and doused in hollandaise for breakfast, slurping on yummy veggie-packed soups for lunch and finishing the day with an epic plant-based junk-food feast, all from Leeds’ finest vegetarian-friendly restaurants. So what are you waiting for? Get eatin’.

Hyde Park Book Club


There’s more than books to Hyde Park Book Club, it’s also an effortlessly cool bar-slash-deli serving some of the best vegetarian food in Leeds. They don’t shout about it, but it’s actually 100% vegetarian, with loads of options for vegans too. Hungry for brunch? You could be tucking into any number of favourites – breakfast tofu tacos, a cheesy hash brown stack bagel or eggs florentine – all meat-free. And the evening menu gets even better. We’re talking grilled sourdough sandwiches, scrumptious small plates, salads and ‘burgles’ (that’s a burger in a bagel to you and me). Go for the cheesy meatball marinara bowl for the ultimate gooey, tomatoey comfort food.

Hyde Park Book Club, 27-29 Headingley Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1BL.

Anand Sweets

Anand Sweets whip up incredible handmade Indian snacks, both sweet and savoury. They’re traditional, vegetarian and egg-free, with a huge vegan selection. We’ll let you in on a little secret – they might just make the best veggie samosas in the city (and they make a fresh batch every 20 minutes or so). But that’s just the start. As well as pakoras, bhajis and dhokla, there are loads of yummy curries to tuck into too, from saag paneer to channa masala. For dessert? You’ve got some tough decisions to make. You could be nibbling on sweet ladoo, nutty kaju or barfi, which comes in fudgy pistachio, coconut or chocolate.

Anand Sweets, 109 Harehills Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 5HS.

Manjit’s Kitchen

Manjit’s Kitchen is absolutely up there with the best when it comes to vegetarian restaurants in Leeds. Whether you go to their cafe-style dining room on Kirkstall Road or their stall in Leeds Kirkgate Market, you can expect delicious Punjabi-style street food – and it’s all vegetarian or vegan. There are curries you might not have tried before, like the butternut squash kofta, where the veg is grated, spiced and lightly fried, then simmered in a rich coconut gravy. For more familiar fare, go for the comforting house lentil dhal. Whatever you choose, pair it with roti, bhajis and cumin rice and you’ll be in for a meal straight from foodie heaven.

Manjit’s Kitchen, Leeds Kirkgate Market, 28-34 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HY.

FINT

For refined veggie dining, a trip to FINT is in order. Sit down in the light and airy Nordic-style dining room and feast your eyes on all your options. They serve Scandi-inspired food and there’s a mixture of veggie, vegan and carnivore-friendly dishes to suit every diet. Ingredients are all seasonal, organic and carefully sourced to give you the freshest of the lot. The menu shimmers with creative pairings that will get your tastebuds tingling, from roasted celeriac and shiitake mushroom with pickled apricot crumpets, to chocolate mousse and tahini granola for afters. Wash it all down with a speciality latte, a healthy smoothie or a thirst-quenching glass of wine.

FINT, 73 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3BR.

Sheaf St

Sheaf St is a cool-as cafe, bar and events space all rolled into one. They’ve got breakfast, lunch and dinner covered, but it’s the a day menu where the vegetarian options really shine. Think toasted muffins, piled high with spinach, tomato, mozzarella and runny poached eggs, all drizzled with basil oil and hollandaise sauce. There’s the Sheaf St hash, the veggie breakfast and falafel mezze to get stuck into too. In the evening, grab a Beyond Meat burger topped with vegan cheese, gherkin, onion and lettuce, served in a brioche bun with vegan mayo, ketchup and mustard. A side of meat-free mac and cheese should set that off nicely.

Sheaf St, 3 Sheaf Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1HD.

Mistal Kitchen

Mistal Kitchen is a vegetarian and vegan eatery in Otley, specialising in brunch and lunch. The cafe is situated at Yorkgate Farm, in what once was the cowshed – which is where the name comes from (literally meaning a shed for cows). You can expect comforting dishes like a crispy fried egg with homemade hash browns, yummy French cinnamon toast topped with fruit and cheesy Yorkshire rarebit, made using an Ilkley Brewery stout. Their barista-made coffees and rich hot chocolates are the perfect accompaniment. It’s in an ideal location to pop in for a refuel once you’ve had a stroll up nearby Otley Chevin.

Mistal Kitchen, Farm York Gate, East Chevin Road, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3DD.

Pho

A permanent fixture in Trinity Kitchen, Pho serve up all sorts of South Asian-inspired street food goodness. Not only do their dishes taste good, they focus on giving you plenty of nutritious fare. Every section of the menu has veggie options, whether you’re looking for a classic bowl of warming Vietnamese pho, a crunchy salad or a tasty curry. The spicy green pho sees tofu, morning glory, green beans, pak choi, fresh lime and Thai basil all bubbling away in a bowl of spicy veggie broth. You can even get prawn-less crackers to dip in sweet chilli sauce. It has to be one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Leeds.

Pho, Trinity Kitchen, 27 Albion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5ER.

Tharavadu

One of Leeds’ best all-round restaurants also has a cracking selection of vegetarian dishes. Grab a table in Tharavadu’s Keralan-inspired dining room (we’re talking seascapes on the walls and a wooden roof on the bar), and peruse the tantalising menu. With loads of influences from across South Asia, the cuisine is diverse and enticing. Think delicious curries pairing aubergine, chickpeas or spinach and paneer with spice blends that will get your tongue dancing. Whatever you order, grab a couple of appams, a rice pancake with a crisp edge and soft, fluffy centre, perfect for dunking in sauce and piling high with spicy veggies.

Tharavadu, 7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.

Bundobust

A pairing made in paradise – Indian street food and craft beer! Bundobust serves up 100% vegetarian yumminess, from the bar snacks to the epic combos. It’s all small plates, so you can sample all manner of different deliciousness all in one sitting. The okra fries and the tarka dhal are a must try, as is the bhel puri – think broken samosa pastry and puffed rice with peas, onion and tomato in a fruity tamarind chutney. It’s topped off with jewels of pomegranate seeds in amongst crunchy sev. For something more familiar, try the vada pav, a deep-fried ball of mashed potato in a brioche bun glazed with red and green chutneys.

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

Knave’s Kitchen

Knave’s Kitchen has got a reputation for serving up some of the filthiest junk food in Leeds, and guess what? It’s all vegan! Loaded fries, juicy burgers, chicken-style wings and dessert – it’s all for the taking. The menu changes on a regular basis so if something piques your interest, you’re best off heading down there post-haste. Once you’ve grabbed your tipple from Oporto’s bar, tuck into chick’n and waffles, drizzled with raspberry hot sauce and garnished with salted popcorn. Friday evenings are home to the Dogging Club (no, not that kind) – you can grab a different (and delightful) hot dog every week for just £4.

Knave’s Kitchen, Oporto, 33 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BT.

Cantina

Another all-vegan eatery, Cantina at The Old Red Bus Station specialises in serving comforting diner-style fare. You could start with deep-fried mushroom arancini, have a pile of mash and rosemary & onion sausages with a glut of gravy for main, and finish off with a deep-fried Oreo or two. In need of vegetables? They’ve got you covered here too, with a roasted carrot, fennel and feta soup or a nutritious Thai laksa to make you feel all good inside. You can grab a burger here as well, with loads of different options, including a Philly cheesesteak-style one, to fulfil your heart’s (and stomach’s) every desire.

Cantina, The Old Red Bus Station, 101 Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7NL.

The Falafel Guys

The Falafel Guys have got a quick and easy lunch covered. You can head to their van, usually found on Briggate, for a wrap to wander around with, or to SALT for more of a sit-down affair. But what do they serve? They bake their delicious homemade falafel balls til they’re golden, then stuff them in a freshly toasted Arabian wrap along with all manner of Middle-Eastern tastiness. Hummus, tahini, fresh greens, chillies, aioli and hot sauce – what more could you possibly fit in? Well, if you fancy a hit of creamy mouth-joy, you can add a couple of slices of grilled halloumi too.

The Falafel Guys, outside Marks and Spencer, 47 Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HF & SALT, 27-26 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2AJ.

Laynes Espresso

One of Leeds’ finest independent coffee hotspots, Laynes Espresso doubles as one of the best vegetarian eateries in the city when you’re looking for a top notch brunch. Sweet and savoury tastes are both catered for here, with highlights being the choc chip bread & butter pudding and the chorizo hash – vegetarian chorizo and cubed potatoes with shallots, spinach and relish, topped off with a crispy fried egg and chermoula mayo. Not only that, but they have a fabulous selection of cakes and sweet treats for a more bijou breakfast. Paired with a flat white or a pot of Earl Grey, you’re on to a winner.

Laynes Espresso, 16 New Station Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DL.

Rola Wala

Rola Wala takes Indian cuisine and gives it a modern, street food twist. Quality ingredients combine with authentic spice blends for some of the best vegetarian food in Leeds. Rock up to the Trinity Kitchen stall and take your pick from the bases – will it be a naan roll, rice bowl, cauli bowl or an extra-saintly salad bowl? Then you’ve got to pick your filling, and boy, do you have a plethora of mouthwatering choice. Choose from the lentil-rich red channa dal, spicy Keralan chickpeas, comforting sweet potato saag or meatless wonder, meatball rogan josh. Finish it off with a naan and a mango soda for an unbeatable combo.

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

Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a lush greengrocer by day and organic vegetable-led restaurant by night (apart from Saturdays, when it opens at 11am). The menu is ever-changing, depending on what they can get their hands on locally. Think white casperita squash ragout with polenta, Dale End cheddar and curry granola, roasted rainbow carrots in a cashew cream and smashed potatoes with herby butter. For dessert? It’s your choice between a warm chocolate brownie with blood orange jam and candied orange peel, or iles flottante, frozen meringue ‘islands’ floating on a delicious coconut and tonka custard. This is meat-free grub of the highest order.

Eat Your Greens, 42 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DY.

Doner Summer

If brightly coloured junk food piled high in front of you gets you salivating, then you need to plan a pilgrimage to Doner Summer. Decide whether you want your vegan yumminess piled high on Turkish pide bread, garlic and coriander flatbread, vegan brioche burger buns or a plate of perfect chips. For what goes on top, you’ve got loads of options. The Bad Girl Kebab is perfect for the heat-seekers – it combines doner-style meat and garlic chilli chick’n with cucumber, peppers, tomato, pink cabbage and leaves. All of which is topped with a generous helping of scotch bonnet & garlic chilli sauce and bright pink aioli on top.

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

The Agora

Head to the Mediterranean without ever leaving Leeds at The Agora. Combining Greek and Turkish dishes, they’ve got a heady selection of veggie-friendly options. Start with a classic, falafel and hummus, or dive straight in with deep-fried potato keftedes and cheesy borek. For the main, you could go for a veggie moussaka – aubergine, courgette, potato, all layered up with lashings of béchamel sauce and oven baked to utter perfection. The dessert menu is a paradise for pudding lovers. Think sticky baklava, indulgent tiramisu, oven-baked rice pudding and, of course, cake!

The Agora, 207-209 New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS18 4DR.

Sarto

Freshly made pasta paired with delightful Italian snacks? Oh, yes. In this light and airy, minimalist dining room, you can feast on your favourite pasta shapes in style. The menu pairs flavours that set your mouth watering – we’re talking fettuccini with wild mushrooms and marsala cream, gnocchi pan-fried with Jerusalem artichoke and hazelnuts, and radiatori with pomodoro tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. Then there’s Sarto’s sides. Arancini stuffed with three different cheeses and ‘nduja, or confit celeriac with grape and caper salsa. Wash it down with a classic negroni for a feed of Italian-themed bliss.

Sarto, Munro House, Duke Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 8AG.

Mrs Atha’s

With a name like Mrs Atha’s, you might picture a quaint tearoom, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, you can get excellent coffee, tea and cake but, inside, it has an industrial vibe with exposed brick, steel beams, eclectic artwork and a dark, cosy feel. On the menu, you can find something for every taste. Veggies can feast on hearty veggie sausage sandwiches, buttermilk pancakes with berry compote, crème fraîche and maple syrup, or pesto scrambled eggs served with grilled mozzarella and tomatoes. Vegans can get in on the action too, with creamy mushrooms on toast, or porridge. Delightful!

Mrs Atha’s, 18 Central Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DE.