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.
If you're a fan of all-things chicken, then this is the spot for you.
Introducing The Rotisserie Club, that's doing exactly what it says on the tin...rotisserie chicken.
Taking over the former Shokupan site at 27 Wellington Street, the new restaurant aims to bring a new go-to lunch spot to that area of town.
And we've got a very strong feeling it's going to go down an absolute storm amongst gym bunnies and office dwellers alike.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Brought to the city by Norman of Spuds n Bros fame and Luigi from Habitum and La Bottega Milanese, you just know you're in good hands.
The idea is to split the day between the two businesses, with Habitum taking care of the morning coffee crowd before The Rotisserie Club takes over from lunchtime. Sounds like a match made in heaven if you ask us.
That means early birds can get their caffeine fix before the focus shifts to a menu centred around rotisserie-cooked chicken.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Expect chicken-filled Caesar wraps, bowls, salads, wings and stuffed pittas, as well as half and whole chickens served with their signature house dripping potatoes.
You can dip or drench your chicken in their range of sauces, and then you’ve got yourself something worth licking your fingers over.
Not only that, but in the future they'll be opening in the evenings so you can have your chicken fix alongside a tipple or two.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's great to see two independent businesses team together to create something completely new in the city, and we can't wait to see how well it's received by food lovers in the city centre.
Move over Nando's, The Rotisserie Club is officially in town.
An authentic hand-pulled noodle restaurant is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
If you're a fan of thick, chewy noodles, then you're going to like this one.
And that's because The Merrion Centre in Leeds is set to welcome Lano Noodles, an authentic hand-pulled noodle spot.
Specialising in freshly made noodles, authentic Lanzhou-style beef noodle soup and traditional Chinese snacks, the independent restaurant will be unlike anything you can currently find in Leeds city centre.
The new restaurant will occupy approximately 2,150 sq ft across two floors, and will create between seven and ten jobs.
You'll be able to grab your food to-go as well as eat-in.
Charles Newman, Associate Director of Estates at Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), owners of the Merrion Centre, commented: "We're delighted to welcome Lano Noodles to the Merrion Centre, particularly as the team has chosen Leeds for its very first restaurant.
"Its location on Merrion Way, directly opposite the first direct bank arena, is perfectly positioned to attract a diverse mix of customers, from students and city centre workers to shoppers and eventgoers.
"The combination of freshly prepared, authentic food, convenient grab-and-go options and relaxed dining is a great fit for this busy part of the city. It's fantastic to see another independent operator investing in Leeds, creating new jobs and adding to our growing international food offering."
A spokesperson for Lano Noodles Ltd added: "We're really excited to be opening our first restaurant at the Merrion Centre and introducing our freshly made hand-pulled noodles to Leeds.
"We chose the location because of its strong footfall and diverse customer base. We want to create a welcoming, informal space where people can enjoy authentic Chinese food, whether they're grabbing a quick lunch or sitting down for a relaxed meal with friends.
"We can't wait to welcome our first customers and share the flavours of Lanzhou with the Leeds community."
Clementine Hall -
24th August 2022 
