Spring roll heaven awaits.
The Lunar New Year is almost upon us, and it got us thinking (as usual with our stomachs) about the best places to celebrate with a Chinese.
In Leeds we’re inundated with takeaways and Asian-inspired restaurants but there are very few sit-in Chinese restaurants in the city centre.
So to ensure you have enough of a selection to celebrate the new year with a delicious meal of spring rolls, crispy duck or even inspired cocktails, here’s our selections of must-try Chinese restaurants.
Crown Hot Pot
@thehootleeds Still thinking about THAT hot pot sauce 🤤🥢 #placestovisit Crown Hot Pot, Leeds #leeds #leedsfood #leedsfoodie #foodtiktok #hotpot #chinesehotpot #hotpotsauce #yorkshire #yorkshirefood #leedsuni ♬ original sound – Thehootleeds
Hidden inside a supermarket across the road from University of Leeds’ Parkinson Building, Crown Hot Pot is the true definition of a hidden gem.
Here, you get the chance to cook your own food- and all within seconds of entering the boiling dish. The idea is that each table orders from a seemingly endless choice of meats, served by the metre, and then select smaller portions of noodles, salads and dumplings to compliment the serving.
Take your heatproof chopsticks and dunk each meat into the bubbling pot and watch an near-instant transformation from raw pinks to juicy cooked meats. We’re talking 10-20 seconds for pork, and just a few minutes for sausages and meatballs: it’s truly a blink and you’ll miss it experience. Prawns and pork belly both come highly recommended, but Crown Hot Pot truly match your meaty preferences to ensure that each member of your table is well-fed.
Read More: The Chinese hot pot restaurant hidden inside a Leeds supermarket with THAT viral TikTok sauce
Mans Market
An obvious first choice. Hidden downstairs in the heart of the city centre, Mans Market offers Chinese food in a sharing style and we’re all for it. Everything from their bottomless brunch to their Afternoon Chi and every possible meal in-between oozes with a creativity that can only be found by those truly passionate about their cuisine.
If you want our recommendation, grab a Lagerita cocktail and some dim sum and you’re set for the evening.
Read More: The Chinese afternoon tea in Leeds with dim sum and cocktails
Sweet Basil Valley
As the highest rated Chinese restaurant on TripAdvisor, we reckon Sweet Basil Valley must be worth a visit. There’s over 30 years of experience in the food industry through these doors and with it comes a confident Head Chef and “the finest quality food in Yorkshire”. Serving both Chinese and Thai dishes, Sweet Basil Valley is into its sixth year of catering for Leeds. The Szechuan Five Spice Diced Beef Shin comes recommended by staff, described as “full of classic flavours, cooked with hot bean sauce, stewed with tofu and diced bamboo shoots” and perfect for those that love chilli oil.
Please note Sweet Basil Valley will be closed from Tuesday 22 February – Sunday 13 March, so make sure you book your table before they take a well-deserved break.
Little Bao Boys
Those steamed dumplings that we all know and love are a variation of a dish called mantou from Northern China and Little Bao Boys have got the modern version down to a tee. You’ll find them at either North Brew Co venue in the city centre and we guarantee their small but tasty menu will have something for everyone. Not sure what to order? We love the Panko Aubergine, made from a vegan buttermilk mix with sesame crumbs, sriracha sauce, iceberg lettuce and spring onion.
If you’re looking for something a little different, keep an eye out for their unique combos, like pigs in blankets and deep fried shrimp and coconut panko.
Read More: This Leeds bar is serving pigs in blankets bao buns
Tattu
As one of four locations in the UK, Tattu Leeds hosts a range of cuisine, including the Char Sui Monkfish with a delicious honey glaze, served with morning glory, caramel orange and pickled cucumber, which is due to land on their menu soon. Cocktail-wise, you’re really spoilt for choice, each cocktail has a special meaning, like the Water Tiger cocktail which comes with a little red envelope to signify happiness and good blessings for the new year.
The venue was closed last weekend as it was used to film the latest Marvel TV series, Secret Invasion.
Read More: Everything you need to know about the new Marvel series filmed in Leeds
Home Restaurant
When you can get crispy shredded beef for £6, you’re on to something very special. Home Restaurant, comes highly recommended by locals with some describing the restaurant and takeaway as ‘the go-to Chinese restaurant in Leeds’. The reviewer stated that “The food is delicious, the service pretty fast and very economic. It is the place if you feel like eating typical food” and we really can’t argue with that.
You can find Home Chinese Restaurant on Blenheim Terrace, nearby to some of the University of Leeds buildings.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds (Mans Market)
