The verdict: fake meat never did taste so good, even to non-vegans.
Vegetarians and vegans in Leeds are likely to be aware of the culinary masterminds at Bundobust. Widely regarded as a game changing and critically acclaimed enterprise within the independent food and drink industry, Bundobust has forged itself as a beacon of successful casual dining in the North since opening its doors in Leeds back in 2014.
Now, in an era where meat substitutes taste just as good as their vegan alternatives, the Indian Street Food company have collaborated with Meatless Farm to inject meaty-tasting dishes to their plant-based menu.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inspired by its Gujarati roots, the Bundobust offering has always been 100% vegetarian, with around two thirds of the menu completely plant-based but this partnership marks the restaurant’s first venture into meat substitutes with Meatless Farm’s plant-based chicken and meatless mince allowing the Bundo team to explore more traditionally meat-focused Indian dishes.
The only way to try the full menu is the Bundo Does Meat Combo for Two, available for just £31. As meat-eaters and vegetarians, The Hoot Leeds' team took on the sharing platter to give our two pence to see if we could tell which meat was being replicated by each dish.
The Keema Matar was a standout favourite. The iconic mince and pea combination is a plant-based deeply flavoured spiced curry, cooked in a classic, dry-fry Karai style with cinnamon, bay leaf, onion, and chilli- delicious wrapped in Puri.
The plant-based butter chicken was also well received. The vegan spin on the decadent, creamy classic with Meatless Farm’s new chicken has all the rich, tomatoey goodness of traditional butter chicken with plant-based kick of chilli and fenugreek, just without any real meat.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We'd like to take this space to shoutout the onion bhajis at Bundobust- they're crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and every crumb tastes of an incredible fusion of spices. Dare we say they're the best we've found in Leeds so far?
Paired with Mushroom Pilau Rice, a simple dish of mushrooms, cumin, and lemon with classic basmati rice and Puri, we'd happily taste any of the Bundos Does Meat combo instead of our classic meat or cheese fuelled curry orders. There's not the same food coma feel- you're still left full, but refreshingly so rather than making you feel tired.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Although refreshing post-meal feeling might have something to do with the Brut Luxe, a special vegan 0.5% brew made with Nelson Sauvin hops and white oak on a lager base, and that upon sampling didn't make us feel like we were missing out on actual booze.
If you want a completely soft drink to wash down your Bundo's meat, there's plenty of those to choose from too. Including the Cloudwater Soda’s Spiced Fruit Chaat, a low-cal adult soft drink made with mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and Mosaic hops or Bundo’s Vegan Chai, a comforting blend of oat milk, massala and sugar – plant-based, gluten-free and delicious.
When speaking about the new menu, Mayur Patel, Co-Founder at Bundobust, said: "These specials are something we’ve been working on for months. We experimented with a selection of meat substitutes, and Meatless Farm products lent themselves best to Indian food. Both Bundobust and Meatless Farm are Leeds born businesses focusing on meat-free offerings, so it made sense to work together on these new limited edition specials.”
Meanwhile, Co-Founder Marko Husak, said: “These dishes are different to our usual Gujarati influenced menu. It was so much fun working with our Chef’s using their regional expertise and heritage to create some more traditional curry house dishes.”
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is available for a limited time only, so make sure you make the most of Veganuary and use it as an excuse to taste the famous Bundo flavours in a whole new way. For more information, including how to book at their Leeds restaurant, you can find more information on their website.
Howard Assembly Room to launch new bar with permanent kitchen from Yuzu Street Food.
HAR bar, the intimate Grade II-listed space beneath Leeds City Centre's multi-disciplinary venue, the Howard Assembly Room,will now open five days a week with a brand new permanent food partner.
If you're not familiar York’s Yuzu Street Food, then allow us to fill you in.
First established in York following an enlightening culinary trip to Asia in 2019, Yuzu Street Food is now recognised as one of the north’s finest street food vendors.
Image: Supplied
Serving up contemporary takes on bao buns, fried chicken, ramen, katsu curry and much more; Yuzu are set to be the perfect addition to the Howard Assembly Room and its new bar HAR.
First launched in February, a programme of improvements saw the space previously occupied by the restaurant Kino transformed into the HAR bar.
An intimate venue in the cultural heart of the city, HAR bar guests can now enjoy fresh coffee, quality cocktails and a rotation of beers from breweries including Leeds institution Kirkstall Brewery throughout the week.
Image: Supplied Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yuzu Street Food will open at HAR on Friday 15 May.
Michael Wilkinson, Director of Strategy and Commercial, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Yuzu to HAR bar, with their Asian-inspired street food providing the perfect accompaniment to our range of drinks and firmly establishing HAR bar as one of Leeds’ leading spots to meet and eat.
"We want everyone in the city to feel that this is their space, where great music, a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service combine to create a truly special place that embodies the city’s creativity while also supporting Opera North’s outreach work across the north.
Chris Hargroves, Yuzu Founder & CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be back in Leeds city centre! Leeds has always shown us incredible support and energy and returning really feels like coming home. We’re excited to reconnect with the community, welcome familiar faces and introduce our new menu items to the new ones. Working with such a prestigious venue as the Howard Assembly Room is something we’re absolutely buzzing about and we can’t wait to fire up the woks!”
Popular beer festival showcasing over 35 indie breweries is returning to Leeds this month
Clementine Hall
Hop City, the long-running beer festival from award-winning Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk, returns this month for its ninth year.
Beer lovers, this one's for you.
Bringing over 35 of the best independent breweries from the UK, Europe and North America together to The Old Flax Store, Hop City will have approximately 250 different world-class beers for guests to try across one weekend of festivities.
The best part? Every pour across the weekend is included in the price of the ticket alongside a Hop City branded glass to enjoy them in, so don't worry about having to continuously reach for your wallet.
Images: Supplied
Joining Northern Monk this year are UK breweries including Brighton’s Beak, Deya from Cheltenham, Manchester-based Track and Edinburgh’s Newbarns who will be pouring next to the likes of US breweries Trillium, Root + Branch, Finback and everywhere; Canadian’s Messorem and Third Moon, and a selection of Europe’s finest indie brewers.
Seriously, this is a beer lover's paradise.
And it's not just about the booze, as joining Hop City 2026 will be joined by Leeds’ own Bundobust who will be bringing their Indian street food alongside Bonehead Fried Chicken and Hermanos Caliente, courtesy of Niko’s Comfort Kitchen.
Images: Supplied
Not a beer fan? Don't fret as natural wine bar Rinse will be pouring all weekend whilst Below Stairs will be providing the cocktails.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk, said: “What started out as an idea to host some of our favourite breweries in Leeds has grown into something bigger than we could have imagined. From the beginning, the ambition was clear - to champion the best hop-forward breweries in the world and to create the first beer festival in Europe dedicated to celebrating hoppy beers and IPAs.
"Today, it’s about bringing some of the greatest breweries from across the globe together under one roof, creating something genuinely special for people who love beer as much as we do. Heading into our ninth year with a line-up of this calibre is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s not just about the beer, but the community, collaboration, and spirit behind it.”
Hop City 2026 will take place from Friday 15 to Saturday 16 of May, and you can buy your tickets here.
Sophie Smith -
14th January 2022 
