The best burgers of Leeds- now that's a pretty big claim to make.
Every time we even utter the words 'this might be one of the best' on Instagram or TikTok, there's a lot of controversy. Granted, we haven't sampled every burger in Leeds- and we're still up for plenty more recommendations, but we have definetly sampled plenty over the years. These are some of our favourite places to grab a burger, be it veggie, chicken, pork or beef filled.
Keep reading to find out our top 16 burgers, and how you can recommend your favourite burger spot for us to sample...
Big Buns
Inside Northern Market, Leeds City Centre
Big Buns has been raved about by plenty of Yorkshire folk over the past year or so, and the burger joint, operating inside The Brewery Tap, is quickly gaining traction as one of the city centre's go-to spots for a bite to eat before the footy or afternoon in town.
Fat Hippo
Otley Road, Headingley
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're looking for big, fat, juicy burgers with weird and wonderful toppings - then Fat Hippo is most definitely the spot for you. They're always cooking up a seasonal special too, so you can pop back time and time again to get your chops around something brand new.
Burgerism
Order food delivery apps
Hoot recommends: Classic beef burger
Burgerism keep it simple with single or double patties with cheese - but you'll still taste a rainbow of flavours in every bite. These burgers remind us of that cheeseburger in The Menu where you can see the tastiness of 'a simple cheeseburger' in both Julian and Margot's eyes as the movie comes to its dramatic crescendo.
Good Boy Burger Co.
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Hoot recommends: The Cauli Schnitzel or The Good Boy With Cheese
Good Boy Burger Co. is that familiar face that you look for at a festival. Spotted at Live at Leeds Fest and Peddler Market as well as a permanent spot in Kirkgate Market, we keep going back for the melt-in-your-mouth short rib smash patties and 'organic wherever possible' ethos.
Patty Smith's
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inside Belgrave Music Hall, Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds City Centre
You'll find Patty Smith's over at Belgrave Music Hall, nestled between the staircase leading to the rooftop terrace and the intimately lit bar.
Grab meat-free patty or two on the weekend and help yourself to the buy one get one for £1 on selected burgers each Sunday. Plus, if you pop in during the week for a lunchtime burger fix, Patty Smith's offers free chips with all burgers 12pm - 5pm.
Meat:Stack
Opposite Leeds Train Station, Bishopgate Street, Leeds City Centre
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Standing proud on Boar Lane, Meat:Stack is a cult indie favourite from Newcastle that grew so popular, they needed another venue in the north- and we're just grateful that they chose Leeds. The menu here is big and bold, just like the flavours available. Think Yellowstone burgers with bacconaise, hash browns, french onion, Carolina gold BBQ sauce for an idea of the offerings here.
Fat Annies
Inside Leeds Kirkgate Market, Leeds City Centre
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Fat Annies has been a Leeds Kirkgate Market favourite for quite some time and between their meat-free menu pledged to protect the planet and their tasty burgers and 'not' dogs certain to become your next favourite hangover cure. The Mexicana burger in particular is a real treat: made up of a vegan bean burger (with a kick and crunch) with cheese, salsa, mayo, jalapenos, nacho crunch and iceberg, dor a spicy meal deal, you can add some Chilli Cheese Fries, complete with jackfruit chilli and stringy cheese-nacho crunch and soft drink of your choice.
Kerbside Kids
The Woods, Chapel Allerton
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These legends have really made a name for themselves for serving up some of the best stacked burgers in Leeds. You can find them now at The Woods in Chapel Allerton where you can grab a pint, a burger and get nestled on their vast rooftop for hours on end. Bliss.
Banyan
Park Square, Leeds City Centre Ilkley, Harrogate and Roundhay
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The summer menu from Banyan is locally-crafted but inspired by faraway destinations- and the burger offerings are no different. The Korean Fried Chicken Burger is a spicy cajun chicken burger, served with gem lettuce, tomato caesar mayonnaise, crispy slaw and a huge chicken gravy dripping pot for that added saucy serving.
Hooyah Burgers
Albion Street, Leeds City Centre
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Recently visited by Rate My Takeaway YouTuber Danny Malin, Hooyah Burgers is the Deliveroo king of takeaway- and all because of their build your own burger concept. Choose from four different patties, including beef, chicken and meat-free options before building up your burger with different types of cheese, salads and sauces.
Featured Image- The Hoot Leeds
Eats
Popular New York-style pizza pop-up confirms opening date for first takeaway in Leeds
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason it seems.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June in a vacant railway arch at Fourth Court on Bridge Road in Leeds' Holbeck area.
It won't be your average pizza shop though, you'll have to preorder for now but trust us - it's worth it.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Edges said: "WE FINALLY HAVE an opening date, Thursday 18th June! All pizzas are pre-ordered like we have always done, and are slightly limited for now (still looking for helping hands!!!). The pre-orders will open the day before at 12pm via our Storekit link.
"We’ll be then opening Wednesday to Friday, 4-9pm and Saturday & Sunday 3-9pm. If there are still remaining slots left on the day, you can order up to an hour before the collection time. We have limited seating, for those who travel and would like to eat in. There is plenty of car parking space, to pick up your pizza, too.
"We can’t wait to see you all soon & more importantly, we can’t wait to start making some good food for you again."
We can't wait to get our hands on a coveted Edges pizza slice again, so you best believe we'll be there at the opening with bells on.
The 80-year-old Wakefield butchers that won Jane McDonald’s heart
Declan Kelly
When Wakefield's queen of the cruise ships recommends a pork pie in Yorkshire, you listen.
TV presenter, singer and national treasure Jane McDonald has never hidden her love for her hometown. While her career has taken her around the world, from luxury ocean liners to sold-out theatre tours, Wakefield has always remained close to her heart. And among the many things she proudly champions from her hometown, one local institution receives more praise than most: Allums Butchers.
In fact, Jane has often joked that one of the reasons she still lives in Yorkshire is because of their famous pork pies. Most recently, Jane was once again singing their praises during her album launch at HMV when we interviewed her. She has also recently spoken fondly about the butcher's legendary pies on Alan Carr's podcast.
Hearing her enthusiasm sparked our curiosity, so we decided to make the trip to Wakefield and discover for ourselves what makes these pork pies so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located on Brook Street, Allums Butchers is more than just a place to pick up your Sunday roast. It's a business woven into the fabric of Wakefield's history, with a story stretching back more than 80 years.
The journey began in 1945 when Albert Allum started trading from Wakefield Market.
At a time when local communities depended on independent traders, Albert Allum built a reputation for quality produce, expert craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. Those values helped establish a loyal customer base and laid the foundations for a business that would stand the test of time.
More than eight decades later, the same principles continue to guide the company.
Today, Allums remains proudly family-owned and is run by third-generation butcher Jonathan Allum. While much has changed since Albert's early days on the market stall, the commitment to quality remains exactly the same. The business has grown into one of Yorkshire's most respected independent butchers, yet it continues to place traditional butchery, carefully sourced produce and customer service at the heart of everything it does.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Speaking to us about his relationship with Jane McDonald, Jonathan shared memories that stretch back decades. The pair first met as teenagers when Jane would visit the market alongside her mother. Like many local families, they regularly stopped by the Allum stall and, more often than not, left with one of the butcher's famous pork pies.
Jonathan remembers chatting with Jane as she collected her order.
"I'd often say, 'See you next week,'" he recalled. "And every so often she'd reply, 'No, you won't - I’m off cruising.'"
Jane has gone on to become one of Britain's most recognisable entertainers, known by millions for her television programmes and her successful career at sea and most recently her iconic Mighty Hoopla performance . Yet despite the fame, she never forgot her Wakefield roots. To this day, she remains one of Allums' most loyal supporters and regularly speaks about the business with genuine affection.
Allums' pork pies have become something of a Yorkshire institution in their own right. Handmade using a traditional recipe that has been refined over generations, each pie is crafted using seasoned pork, rich savoury jelly and a perfectly baked hot-water crust pastry. There are no modern gimmicks, just a commitment to making a classic product exceptionally well.
Naturally, we couldn't leave without trying the pork pies ourselves.
Sometimes the best food stories aren't about reinvention or chasing the latest trend. They're about preserving traditions, maintaining standards and doing one thing exceptionally well for generations.
More than 80 years after Albert Allum first opened for business in Wakefield Market, Allums Butchers continues to embody exactly that philosophy. And after finally experiencing their famous pork pies for ourselves, we can confidently say that Jane McDonald might just be right.
Clementine Hall -
21st August 2025 
