Whether you’re on your lunch break, at an event or otherwise looking to grab some good food on the go, the street food revolution has taken the city by storm, taking fast food to a whole new level.
Don't go assuming it's all about burgers, though – there's much more to the Leeds street food scene than just these old favourites.
So, if you're looking to dine on something a little bit different, here are five exciting vendors to seek out who do things their own special way:
Shoot the Bull
If you’re looking for Michelin style street-food, innovative creations and affordable prices then you've hit the target with Shoot the Bull.
Formed last year by founders Chris and Emma, Shoot the Bull has travelled around Yorkshire knocking the socks off people with their culinary delights.
Having trained at Michelin star restaurants The Fat Duck and The Hand and Flowers, chef Chris’ technical experience and creativity is evident throughout the entire menu.
Offering unusual flavours and using only the finest quality ingredients from carefully selected local suppliers you can expect delectable delights such as their Crayfish mac ‘n’ cheese topped with smoked bacon foam and tomato gel, or their risotto balls, topped with crumbled goats cheese and truffle powder.
Following a six week pit-stop at the Trinity Kitchen, Shoot the Bull has now embarked on a new adventure and will be settling at its new home at The Faversham this November.
Zaap Thai Street-Food
Having set up shop in the Grand Arcade, Zaap is a haven for all Thai food lovers.
Far from the ornate decoration of a traditional Thai restaurant, Zaap is designed to replicate the hustle and bustle of eating from a Bangkok street vendor. Here, you'll find neon signs and quirky art – even a tuk-tuk where you can sit and devour your delicious street-food.
The authentic street food is bound to hit the spot for even the fussiest Thai food connoisseur, with a menu boasting over 80 dishes including roasted meats, stir fries, curries, hot pots and noodles.
There's an extensive drinks list, too, ranging from Thai beer through to unusual soft drinks such as Bubble Tea, Ma Tom and An Chan Soda. There’s nothing else quite like Zaap in Leeds.
Rola Wala
Drawing inspiration from Kolkata backstreets, Bombay beaches, and Keralan waterways, Aussie Mark Wright has brought the incredible experience of Indian street food to the UK in the form of Rola Wala.
Having set up shop in Trinity Kitchen, Rola Wala stamps a modern twist on traditional Indian street-food flavours: think fusions of bold tastes, sharp chutneys and perfectly balanced spices.
Each carefully handmade naan roll has at least 43 different ingredients, creating an epic combination of sweet, sour and savoury, all complimented with the perfect crunch.
Pack your naan roll with a selection of meats such as their melt in the mouth Bengali beef or the north Indian street-style Kashmiri chicken tikka, marinated overnight and charred over flames.
Fear not veggies and vegans, you can also stuff your roll or top up your rice bowl with Rola Wala’s Keralan Dal (a combination of beetroot, coconut, and channa dal), or the Roasted Mumbai Gobi which blends kale, sweet potato, cauliflower, chickpeas and green beans all packed with the perfect punch of spices.
Northern Bloc
A beautiful 1970’s ice cream van awaits you in Trinity Kitchen, which prides itself on selling honest ice cream without all the artificial nonsense. The Northern Bloc philosophy is simple: ice cream should be enjoyed by everyone at anytime (even in the harsh northern winter).
Northern Bloc ice creams include flavours that are dairy free, low in fat and vitamin rich. And they use only the best responsibly sourced natural ingredients. So yes, its strawberry ice cream really is made with strawberries – 60% of it, in fact! You could almost say this ice cream is good for you...
You won’t find any synthetic syrups or additives in their delicious ice cream combinations, which range from White Chocolate & Popcorn to Raspberry & Sorrel and even Ginger Caramel.
To top it all off, you can add a bit of sprinkle to your selection with the almond & brown butter crumble or the passion fruit caramel jam. Northern Bloc has given us a reason not to wait until summer to satisfy our ice cream cravings.
Duck ‘n’ Roll
At Duck ‘n’ Roll, Pascal Aussignac, Vincent Labeyrie and the team behind Michelin-starred Restaurant Club Gascon have created a culinary celebration focusing on, you guessed it – duck.
Combining flavours from around the world, their Michelin morsels have become a winner on the street-food scene. Whilst the sole focus on duck might seem a little quackers (we had to get that one in there), their delectable dishes are truly a culinary delight.
The menu consists of delicacies such as their Foie Gras Burger with Truffle Chantilly and the wickedly moreish Hot Duck Pastrami Sandwich.
Even the confit fries are smothered in crunchy duck salt and are perfectly paired with the Cornetto of Mussel 'popcorn', served in a paper cone to give their creations that street food style edge.
Are there any others you think deserve to be on this list? Let us know.
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