Whether you like yours in ramen, soups, pho and good old traditional stir-fried dishes, there are so many great places to get noodles in Leeds.
Traditional noodles make the ultimate winter warmer, and now that the seasons have firmly changed to a constant cycle of rain and blustering winds it feels like the perfect time to wrap up and head out in search of Leed's finest noodle dishes
Fortunately, we've got just the selection for you to choose from.
We've put together a list of all the best places to slurp up some delicious carbs around Leeds city centre. All that's left to do is choose your favourite and get those chopsticks at the ready.
House of Fu
This tasty ramen bowl is made up of chicken and shiitake broth, sesame & miso tare, Yorkshire kale, tantan pork, mayu, egg, chilli and garlic confit / Image: House of Fu
House of Fu has only been in Leeds for three short months but has already proven popular with noodle fans in the city centre. With a fresh interior design and tasty ramen bowls that don't take themselves too seriously, it's one of our top picks.
The Original Fu Ramen here is a winner, combining pork broth with toasted rye noodles,BBQ chashu pork, fresh menma, spring onions, nori and egg cooked with burnt garlic oil. Delicious. Wash down with a frozen cocktail but don’t forget to leave room for dessert - the vegan miso caramel ice-cream sandwiches are worth every bite.
Bar Soba
Located on Greek Street, Bar Soba is hardly subtle in its design. Its hot pink logo and street-art décor make the site one of the trendiest ramen spots in Leeds, but it’s the vast menu that makes Bar Soba so special. Paying homage to South East Asian street food artists, each meal is packed with flavour designed to ‘get your tastebuds dancing’.
Their £6 lunch menu is one of the best value meals around. Opt for a large plate of teriyaki noodles with your choice of meat or tofu filling. It’s crispy, sweet, spicy, salty and savoury all in one delicious sauce. Looking for something a little different? Add cheeseburger spring rolls for just £3.
Pho at Trinity Kitchen
This healthy spicy green noodle soup comes with pak choi, green beans, morning glory, lime and fresh Thai basil / Image: Pho Restaurant
Getting your Pho fix at Trinity Kitchen is always a delight. Whether you choose wok-fried noodles cooked with lemongrass, chilli and peanut, or aromatic pho (a rice noodle soup that is Vietnam's national dish) prepared over twelve hours, Pho really does bring the best of Vietnamese street food to the city centre.
For a truly authentic experience, pair your dish with a Cá phê (rich Vietnamese coffee from Caphe VN) or a jasmine flower tea bloom, where the flower actually blooms in front of you as you slurp and sip your way through your meal.
Senbon Sakura
Simple, fresh and authentic. That’s exactly how Senbon Sakura comes across. In the Greet George Street restaurant, guests describe the service as excellent, the food as tasty and the price as reasonable. The restaurant offers a wide selection of sushi and rice dishes, but its ramen is a standout meal on the plentiful menu.
You can grab your ramen twelve different ways, but the classic ‘Senbon Sakura soup ramen’ is a favourite - combining chicken, king prawns, salmon and cha-shu, it's perfect for those that want a bit of everything. As for veggies and vegans, there is still plenty of options including vegetable tempura or the vegan cha-shu meat ramen.
Oba Leeds
There are tasty noodle dishes aplenty at one of the newest restaurants, we're obsessed with the careful presentation too / Image: Oba Leeds
The Merrion Centre's newest restaurant fuses Korean and Japanese food for an extensive range of dishes that are bursting with flavour. Inspired by their existing food store, Hang Sing Hong on Vicar Lane, Oba Leeds is the team's latest venture to feed the people of Leeds with delicious cuisine.
Try either of their staple noodle dishes, japchae: a combination of juicy glass noodles with Korean style beef and stir-fried vegetables. Vegetarians will be delighted to hear that meat-free alternatives are available. The only way to top this meal is to have a raspberry lemonade mocktail on the table too. Made fresh-to-order with soda and fruit, it's a showstopper.
Mi's Noodles
Oba's sister store, Mi's Noodles also operate in the Merrion Centre, in fact, one is just a few steps from the other. Driven 'to use the most original methods to cook traditional cuisines', Mi's team aim to bring the ultimate taste of Yun Nan, China to the table. The only important decision here is ramen or vermicelli.
If you prefer hot, spicy food above all else; Mi's noodles are the only ones to sample. The Super Hot Special, compromising of fish, king prawn, roasted pork, crab meat sticks, fish balls and bean curd rolls, is just one of the speciality dishes that are on offer. Pair this with a salted lemon Seven Up for a truly unique sensory experience.
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo Leeds have a great selection of noodle dishes, including our favourite, the shallow stir fried noodles / Image: Little Tokyo Leeds
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you combined traditional Japanese piquancy with flavours present here in Yorkshire? Having opened over twenty years ago, Little Tokyo has been rated in the top one hundred restaurants in the country and offer the epitome of flavour fusion and continue to be leaders in their market.
Whilst there are plenty of bento boxes, sashimi and soups on offer, the shallow stir-fried noodles are our recommendation. A generous portion of noodles, boiled to perfection with stir-fried vegetarian soy sauce, delicious. Visiting on a Sunday is a particular treat as customers can feed the koi fish after enjoying their meal.
The Japanese green tea is having its moment, and we're absolutely here for it.
So, we've taken it upon ourselves to venture out and explore the city for the best matcha spots and trust us, we've found some good ones.
From your classic matcha latte to blue banana matcha, there's a tea-riffic matcha beverage to suit everyone (sorry).
So keep reading and pick out your next spot which you're keen to try.
RAW Coffee
10 Mill Hill, LS1 5DQ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a bit of a matcha snob then this is the place to go as owners Anya and James pride themselves on serving up only real, authentic matcha.
And they're constantly coming up with unique specials too including the beautiful banana blue matcha which is the perfect gateway matcha for those of you who find the green stuff a bit too 'grassy'.
It's such a lovely spot and the staff are super friendly and will be happy to help you decide which matcha you're going to go for, to drink-in or takeaway.
Federal
Boar Lane, LS1 5DA
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Not only does this Aussie-style brunch spot make fantastic food but their matcha is flipping fantastic too. Coming in a range of flavours and perfect for on the go as they come in these adorable cans that look almost too good to crack open.
MADE
165 Lower Briggate, LS1 6LY
Image: The Hoot Leeds
New to Lower Briggate, this lovely new opening is home to super fresh acai bowls, hand-whisked matcha, Erewhon smoothie dupes, split cups, tuna-cado sarnies and wonderful staff to help you decide on your order.
Tsujiri
Leeds Kirkgate Market, Ludgate Hill, LS2 7HZ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now it wouldn't be a guide to matcha without Tsujiri, would it? These guys are committed to giving the people of Leeds some of the highest-grade Japanese green tea you can get your hands on.
It's the most authentic you'll find in the city, and you can even get it in the form of soft serve ice cream and decadent crepe cakes. Yum.
Cup + Lid
29 The Headrow, LS1 6PU
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Four words - White Chocolate Matcha Latte. Yep, that's what these hot chocolate specialists on The Headrow make and they're absolutely delicious.
You can also get your hands on loads of other matcha lattes, both hot and cold, including strawberry matcha, matcha milkshakes and vanilla matcha.
The Savvy Baker
27 Albion Street
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Famed for their epic bakes, The Savvy Baker on Albion Street also has a dedicated matcha bar inside it serving up some of the most creative flavours in the city. I mean they even do a cereal milk flavoured matcha, need we say more?
Pole Pole
60 North Street
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This calming little spot is serving up beautiful homemade cakes alongside fresh matcha; nestled just outside the city centre, it’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle.
Sonder
27-28, Grand Arcade, 20 Merrion St, LS1 6PG
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For the most aesthetic matcha in Leeds, head to Sonder. The interior here will get you feeling like you've been transported to Ibiza as you relax on their beautiful boucle sofa and drink out of trendy glasses.
But it's not just all for show, the matcha is expertly made and you can even treat yourself to a matcha croisssant whilst you're at it.
Hii Grind
King Edward St, LS1 6BR
Matcha is known for its multiple health benefits, but if you want to multiply that then head to Hii. GRIND. This new spot inside Flannels specialise in bright, colourful and most of all healthy dishes that make you glow from within.
We're talking matcha lattes, vibrant acai bowls, juice and smoothies.
Beloved Leeds bistro ‘over the moon’ after being named one of the best restaurants in the UK
Clementine Hall
It's just another accolade for Bavette as the neighbourhood bistro is crowned one of the best in the UK.
And they're just as excited as we are.
Voted for by the industry's best, the National Restaurant Awards include a list of the country's top 100 restaurants every single year.
Although the official awards ceremony and numbered list will take place in June, last week the restaurants that will be included received an adorable box of confetti through the post.
And one of our very own, unsurprisingly, received just that.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
And now, they've earned themselves a coveted spot in the top 100 restaurants in the UK.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Here's what Bavette had to say after discovering the news: "Over the moon to get the news we’ve made it into @nationalrestaurantawards top 100 for this year.
"A list we’ve long since hugely admired and such a massive honour to make it this year. Voted for by industry grandees, the full list will be announced at their awards ceremony in June which we’ll be there for. Allez."
Congratulations Sandy, Clement and the wonderful team - this is absolutely so well deserved and we'll be cheering you on in June from the sidelines.
Sophie Smith -
6th October 2021 
