From Middle Eastern wraps to loaded trays of poutine, here’s where to get your fill of street food in Leeds!
Not got the time to sit down at a proper restaurant? Join the club. Luckily for us, Leeds is teeming with street food venues where you can grab a casual bite to eat – don’t worry, though, they don’t scrimp on the flavour nor the portions. From epic beer halls to converted VW camper vans, here’s where you can find the best street food in Leeds…
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Kirkgate Market is a historic Leeds landmark that’s been the city’s go-to for locally made fresh produce for over 100 years now, but did you know it’s just as good for street food? Whether you want to wander their Market Kitchen or hunt out tasty eats hidden away in a maze of bustling stalls, you’re sure to find an absolute treat.
Jerk chicken, fish and chips, shawarma… you’ll find all this here and more. A trip to Manjit’s Kitchen to try one of their thalis is a must – think three tasty curries with rice, crispy bhajis, roti and salad. Elsewhere, Sweet Saeeda is a hidden gem that’ll have you planning your next visit. Their Tunisian salad mixes olives, tomatoes and red onion with your choice of chicken, falafel, halloumi or lamb. The big dollop of hummus at the end tops it all off.
Leeds Kirkgate Market, 34 George St, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HY.
Streat North
Is there a better combination than street food and craft beer? North Brewing Co doesn’t seem to think so. Streat North is their free-to-enter event at Springwell, which sees an ever-changing roster of vendors setting up alongside Little Bao Boy. Throw in a host of live music and DJ sets, tasty wines and a stellar cocktail list and you’ve got one of the best places to grab street food in Leeds.
Little Bao Boy’s pillowy bao buns are something of a Leeds legend, stuffed with your choice of beef brisket, pulled pork, crispy tofu and more, served alongside noodles and loaded fries. Other previous vendors have included Pizza Loco and their wood-fired pizza locomotive, Braizin Squad’s sumptuous roasts and Levantine small plates from MorMor – one thing’s for sure, each and every visit promises something new.
Streat North, Springwell, Buslingthorpe Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 2DF.
Belgrave Feast
Once a month, Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen plays host to some of Leeds’ very best indie street food traders for a day of feasting. But it isn’t just about the food – oh no, you can enjoy an art market, kids’ craft activities and live music from talented DJs. Think of it as a free-to-enter festival experience spread across three floors.
As well as the ever-reliable Dough Boys and Patty’s, each event brings new vendors to the fore. Past guests have included the likes of Sabroso Street, Kuala Lumpur Cafe and Black Day Bakes. The latter are all about sweet vegan treats, from billionaire shortbreads and butterscotch and Brazil nut cookies to a chocolate orange brookie – that’s a biscuit merged with a cookie to you and I.
Belgrave Feast, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8JP.
The Northern Market
The Northern Market is one of the most reliable places in Leeds for downright tasty street food – and if you’re a beer aficionado, even better. The venue is home to a food market and beer hall, where you can grab a crisp pint of Northern Monk’s finest from no less than 10 tap lines. But which food vendor will be calling your name?
Headlining proceedings are Falafel Guys and their glorious Middle Eastern food, taking you from stuffed chicken shawarmas to fresh salad bowls. Elsewhere, you’ll find Big Buns slinging smash burgers, Six Slice offering pizza with a twist – a slice of paneer tandoori anyone? – and a new Asian concept, The Lucky Snake. Here you can grab everything from banh mis and phos to a mountain of loaded prawn crackers.
The Northern Market, 12 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3DW.
Street Food in the Square
Every last Thursday of the month, Tower Square at Wellington Place is the place to be. Why, you ask? Because you can eat your way around the world with some of the best street food Leeds has to offer. Whether it’s Canadian poutine, gourmet Mexican sandwiches or Middle Eastern wraps, there’s something for every set of tastebuds.
Vendors rotate, and you can expect two vans each time. Past guests have included Pat’s Dhaba Indian Street Food with their totally vegan offering and homemade, wood-fired pizza from The Yorkshire Pizza Co. The Mexican Pilgrim is a permanent fixture, and it’s no wonder why – their fresh, authentic burritos are bursting with flavour, their tacos deliciously crunchy and their quesadillas filled with cheesy goodness.
Street Food in the Square, Tower Square, Wellington Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4AP.
Trinity Kitchen
Trinity Kitchen is a street food lover’s paradise in Leeds. This totally unique concept rotates six new food vans every eight weeks, with vendors cooking up a storm out of a converted VW camper van, a horse trailer and even a shipping container. You can also grab a bite from one of their six permanent stalls, whether your belly calls for Indian naan wraps or Vietnamese pho.
One of the best things about Trinity Kitchen is that it presents food offerings from every corner of the world all under one roof. One visit could see you tucking into a loaded Yorkshire pudding wrap from Jimmy Macks, only to devour a fluffy pitta gyro from Eat Like a Greek a few weeks later. If you’re looking to chow down on street food with a twist, this is the Leeds eatery for you.
Trinity Kitchen, 27 Albion St, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5ER.
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