| Leeds
7 of the best lunches in Leeds
Looking for a great lunch in Leeds? From Indian street food to the best brunch in town, here are the team’s top lunch picks.
From our home on The Calls, we’re lucky to have a host of great restaurants and cafes right on our doorstep. With so many tempting lunch options just a stone’s throw away, we’ve found it’s well worth occasionally ditching the trusty meal deal and digging into the delicious eats the city has to offer. Here are some of the team’s favourite lunch picks.
Kirkgate Market
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Leeds Kirkgate Market is a true gem. The Edwardian market hall boasts the title of Europe’s largest covered indoor market and is a shopper’s heaven with over 600 stalls. It was even home to the world’s first Marks & Spencer, which started its life as a penny bazaar here in 1884.
Food-wise, you’ll find something to satiate every craving here. Our shoutouts go to the thali plate from Manjit’s Kitchen, the grilled chicken shish sandwiches from Mr Mackerel (don’t be put off by the name – it’s a great Turkish street food spot), and pretty much everything from Bánh & Mee.
Vicar Lane, LS2 7HY
Kapow Coffee
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We may sound a little biased with this one as we’re practically housemates, but we feel very lucky to have Kapow just down the hall from our office. The guys at Kapow have been keeping us well fed and watered with excellent coffee, brownies and a range of sandwiches that are ideal for a quick office lunch.
Ian is a fan of the freshly made toasted sandwiches, while Aymeelee raves about the hazelnut hot chocolate, which comes heaped with chocolate sauce and nuts. Not only that, but the service is always super friendly. We’ll be keeping our loyalty cards stamped for a long time.
46 The Calls, LS2 7EY | 15 Thornton’s Arcade, LS1 6LQ
IF… Up North
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A place that’s proud of its Leeds roots, IF offers a slightly different menu across its three different cafés but is known for its great breakfast and lunch fare. IF on Call Lane is a brunch-lover’s dream, serving up brunch, bakes and cocktails alongside local coffee from North Star. You can grab lunch and a coffee to take away or settle down in the relaxed café for table service.
The menu’s filled with brunch favourites, from smashed avocado toast to a full Yorkshire fry up, but Amy’s pick of the menu is the veggie brunch burrito.
43 Call Lane, LS1 7BT | 14 Vicar Lane, LS2 7HZ | 18 York Place, LS1 2EX
Bundobust
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One of the city’s most popular casual restaurants, Bundobust offers a fresh take on vegetarian Indian street food, all served alongside some unique craft beers. The dishes are on the smaller side so it’s ideal for ordering a bit of everything amongst a group and sharing – we love ordering takeaway for a team working lunch in the office.
Sean’s favourites are the tarka dhal, a warming lentil curry with rice, and the paneer tikka, barbecued tikka paneer and mushroom. We also all love the butter chicken from the limited Bundo does meat menu.
6 Mill Hill, LS1 5DQ
Döner Summer
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Vegan food has really come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. Gone are the days when vegans and vegetarians had to make do with a sad salad or tasteless mushroom burger; there’s some genuinely exciting plant-based food to be found around the city.
Döner Summer serve up “vegan junk food” in the form of Berlin-inspired kebabs, teller trays and fried chicken so good that even meat-eaters will forget they’re 100% vegan. There are two meat-inspired options – ‘chick’n’ and doner, and both give the real thing a run for their money. Ben’s pick of the menu is the Berlin Döner Kebab, a vegan take on the traditional Berlin kebab.
10-12 Call Lane, LS1 6DN
Falafel Guys
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A place with humble beginnings, Falafel Guys are a staple of Leeds street food culture. They started as a simple food truck and have since expanded to Assembly Underground and, most recently, SALT Granary Wharf. The original spot is perfect for a quick takeaway lunch – you won’t miss the bright red food truck on Briggate.
You’ll find a menu filled with made-from-scratch Middle Eastern fare, including their iconic falafel wraps made to an authentic family recipe. If you’re not in the mood for falafel, go for grilled halloumi or slow-cooked chicken with Arabian spices. And, there’s the option to get everything as a fresh salad bowl too. Just make sure you get the homemade pickles – they’re Amy’s favourite thing about this place.
Briggate (opposite Zara) | SALT Granary Wharf, Candle House, LS1 4GJ | Assembly Underground, 12 Great George Street, LS1 3Al
OWT
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Leeds Corn Exchange is home to a cornucopia of colourful indie spots, from plant to print shops, but when a lunch break calls, OWT is the place to go. From their original home among the market traders of Kirkgate Market, OWT has grown into a fully-fledged café. What hasn’t changed is the small yet perfectly formed, ever-changing menu that’s made using fresh produce sourced from their friends over at the market.
The seasonal menu changes every few weeks but is always excellent. The fried chicken shows up often and is some of the best in the city, so grab that if you can.
Leeds Corn Exchange, LS1 7BR
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