Eats

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

This is a real local gem.

Declan Kelly - 3rd September 2026

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.

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.

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