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A new Turkish-inspired street food spot serving homemade shawarma is coming to Leeds city centre

Clementine Hall - 4th September 2026

Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.

Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.

Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.

The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.

According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.

For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.

Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.

Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.

Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.

The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

This Leeds bistro has been named one of the best restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around

Clementine Hall

A much-loved neighbourhood Leeds restaurant has been given another major accolade.

There’s no shortage of brilliant places to eat in Leeds, but one Horsforth bistro has just been given a pretty huge seal of approval - and it might be worth planning your next staycation around.

The brilliant Bavette has been named one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around by Condé Nast Traveller, appearing alongside a handpicked list of restaurants from across the country.

The list celebrates neighbourhood restaurants that are worth travelling for, with the magazine highlighting the growing appeal of venturing outside of busy city centres in search of smaller, more intimate places to eat.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

And Leeds has bagged itself a spot thanks to Bavette, and we can't say we're surprised.

The French-inspired neighbourhood bistro is run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Clément Cousin.

Since opening in 2024, Bavette has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about restaurants, attracting diners far beyond its Horsforth home and scooping up accolades such as the 2024 Good Food Guide's Best UK Local Restaurant, a 2025 and 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a place in the 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100.

Condé Nast Traveller hails Bavette as "a true neighbourhood gem", saying: "The restaurant takes its cues from the couple’s London bistro roots, serving hearty yet elegant dishes made with seasonal ingredients.”

They finish by saying: "Reservations are hard to come by - but so worth it once you get your foot in the door."

We really couldn't agree more.

And while a trip to Horsforth might not technically count as a staycation for us Leeds locals, Bavette is certainly one restaurant worth crossing the city for.

Read more: Leeds restaurant crowned one of the best local restaurants in Britain just three months after opening

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

The tiny seven-seater Leeds kitchen serving some of the best Japanese food in the city

You probably walk past it without realising, but tucked away in Woodhouse Lane is a tiny Japanese kitchen serving up seriously good food.

This small, low-lit Japanese spot has been quietly building a following with its menu of proper Japanese comfort food, from crispy karaage and handmade takoyaki to loaded yakisoba, donburi bowls, and Japanese curry.

Oishi started life back in 2022 as a Japanese street food trailer before finding a permanent home in Leeds. Today, it has kept that same street-food feel, with just seven seats inside and an open kitchen where you can watch the craft and care that goes into every dish.

Behind it all are Cyrus and Katrina, who share the day-to-day running of the kitchen. Rather than trying to turn Oishi into a huge restaurant, the pair have kept things small and personal, putting the focus firmly on the quality ingredients and making sure customers get that warm, friendly experience.

And you can really feel that when you're there.

Credit: The Manc Group

Credit: The Manc Group

Oishi isn't trying to be the biggest or flashiest Japanese restaurant in Leeds. It's a small, independent kitchen where the focus is on big flavours, generous portions and seriously comforting food.

It's also the sort of place that feels like a proper local find, somewhere you could easily walk past for months without knowing what's happening inside.

Step through the doors and, for a moment, it feels like you've left Leeds behind.

With its small, intimate setting and Japanese-inspired details, Oishi has the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel like you've stumbled down a side street in Japan and found a tiny neighbourhood kitchen tucked away from the crowds. It's cosy, unpretentious, and all about the food - the sort of place where you can imagine grabbing a quick bite, settling in with a bowl of steaming curry or noodles and watching the world go by.

And when it comes to the menu, there's plenty to get stuck into.

Credit: The Manc Group

Credit: The Manc Group

It's packed with dishes made for sharing, from crispy golden takoyaki and juicy karaage chicken to gyoza, tempura, and calamari. For something more filling, there are steaming bowls of Japanese curry, loaded yakisoba noodles, and don rice bowls topped with everything from crispy chicken to fried eggs and katsu.

It's hearty, flavour-packed and the kind of food that has you eyeing up everyone else's plate while you're halfway through your own.

So, if you're bored of your usual Leeds food rotation, fancy trying something different, or simply have a serious craving for Japanese comfort food, Oishi Kitchen deserves to be on your radar.

Because sometimes the best food in the city isn't hiding in the middle of town... it's tucked away in Woodhouse instead.

Featured Image - The Manc Group