Tried and trusted Japanese sushi bar, Waki Maki, has just opened their second site right here in Leeds city centre.
They've been serving students and locals alike over at the university campus for quite some time now, so we're absolutely chuffed that they've opened in Wellington Place.
Famed for their poke bowls, such as the ‘Signature Salmon’, and ‘House Chicken’, or the ‘Deep Fried Tofu’ for veggies and vegans, it's the perfect spot for a grab-and-go lunch that feels fresh and healthy.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And if you're wondering what a sushi burrito is, then it's exactly what it sounds like. A huge sushi roll made fresh to order and stuffed with all the fillings.
We're talking fresh salmon, spicy tuna, crab, avocado as well as crispy onions, cucumber and lashings of sauce.
Yuzu mayo, sriracha mayo, soy sauce, sweet chilli, ponzu, katsu mayo - the saucier, the better.
Everything is so colourful and fresh, it almost looks too good to eat. Emphasis on the word almost.
They also serve up hot food such as crunchy chicken katsu with fragrant curry sauce, perfect for when the weather gets that bit cooler.
The prices are super affordable too, with a poke bowl costing £8 and a half burrito costing just £4.
Everything is completely customisable so you can choose whatever you please, with toppings like edamame beans, seaweed, pickled ginger, carrots - trust us, the options are truly endless.
They're open on Wellington Place now so get yourselves down there and show Waki Maki some love.
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Clementine Hall -
24th July 2025 
