Located on North Street, this cosy restaurant is the place to go for authentic, home-cooked Chinese food at affordable prices.
Looking to celebrate the Lunar New Year with some deliciously authentic Chinese food in Leeds city centre? Then keep reading, as we've got the perfect spot for you.
A hidden gem sitting in plain sight, Wen's feels like one of those 'if you know, you know' spots and we are certainly all the better for knowing.
A few minutes walk out of the city centre, Wen's may look unassuming but my god the food is not.
We decided to pop by on a Tuesday evening, as we stepped through the door we were greeted with a warm welcome from the staff as well by a delicious aroma wafting into our noses.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The intimate restaurant was buzzing and only by chance did we manage to grab the last table in the corner. Next time we won't be taking such chances and will definitely book ahead.
We started with the Pork Xiao Long Bao and Pan-fried King Prawn Dumplings, lifting the bamboo baskets to reveal these doughy delights felt like unwrapping presents on Christmas morning.
All lovingly handmade by Mrs Wen and just as beautiful as they were delicious, served alongside a homemade chilli dipping sauce which gave them the perfect spicy hit to combat the fatty, dense flavourful fillings.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
After finishing my last dumpling I was already planning my next visit to Wen's and our main courses hadn't even reached the table yet.
Next up came the Salt and Pepper Baby Squid which was perfectly crisp and coated in a light, flavourful batter which did not detract from the fresh squid flavour.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Dandan Noodles can only be described as a hug in a bowl, served swimming in a bowl of rich, savoury broth and topped with a mound of delicious pork mince and crunchy spring onions. They were the sort of noodles where slurping took place in order to consume them as quickly as you could, and that still wasn't fast enough.
The menu is extensive and allows for multiple visits to try out all of the goodness on offer, and we are certainly not complaining.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The portions are generous and perfect for sharing, Wen's is the place to bond with friends and family over wonderful food that won't set you back a pretty penny.
To find out more about Wen's and to peruse their menu, take a look at their website.
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Clementine Hall -
24th August 2022 
