Eats

The best restaurants from around the world to open in Leeds in 2021

We've chosen our favourite Asian cuisine openings for 2021, with speciality dishes from Korean-Japanese fusion to Vietnamese coffee.

The Hoot The Hoot - 24th December 2021

What will 2022 bring to the Leeds foodie scene?

As 2021 comes to a close, we've been reflecting on our favourite new openings of the year.

Given the vast range of restaurant openings this year, it didn't seem possible to miss out the fantastic cuisine that's landed on our doorstep over the past twelve months.

We've chosen our favourite openings for 2021, with speciality dishes from Korean-Japanese fusion to Vietnamese coffee.

Oba, Merrion Centre

Several dishes from Oba on a table: they include vegetarian sushi, chicken katsu curry and rice, amongst other small dishes
Image: The Hoot Leeds

Specialises in: Korean-Japanese fusion dishes

Tucked away on the corner of Merrion Street, Oba Leeds is serving some of the best Korean and Japanese fusion dishes, with a range of vegan-friendly meals available. This hidden gem offers a warm welcome from the the moment you walk through the glass doors. The bright hues of sunflower yellow and bright blue mirror off the panelling and glass windows and match the service, always delivered with a smile, to a tee, since opening in September.

Find out more here.

Nam Song Caphe, Merrion Street

Image: Nam Song Caphe

Specialises in: Vietnamese coffee and cuisine

What was formerly Rum and Reason on Merrion Street was taken over by Nam Song Caphe back in June. The new cafe and restaurant has since been serving up authentic Vietnamese coffees, bahn mi baguettes, bowls of pho and more. Now, customers can enjoy a good range of teas and homemade cakes from the day menu, which also features breakfast items and a variety of Bahn mi with filling choices like lemongrass chicken, nam song pork or garlic and sesame/sriracha/ginger tofu; with noodle salads and omelettes also on the cards at lunchtime.

Find out more here.

Sakku, St Peter's Place

Sakku meat dish with skewers, duck and beef.
Image: The Hoot Leeds

Specialises in: All-you-can-eat Asian grill

If there’s one thing that the pandemic starved us of, it’s all-you-can-eat buffets. Long gone were the days of piling up plates of delicious cuisine from around the world, or so we thought. Sakku has brought back one of the best ways to eat at their sashimi and Asian grill restaurant, using local and imported ingredients to bring unlimited dishes back to the dining table, at their hidden Leeds restaurant.

Find out more here.

House of Fu, Headrow

May be an image of indoor and text that says 'HOUSE OFFU'
Image: House of Fu

Specialises in: Ramen dishes and karaoke

Following years of pop-ups, House of Fu opened its own restaurant in the city back in June this year. They teased out their ‘green ramen’, right from the beginning which will be one of the headline plant-based bowls on offer here. Filled with gorgeous ingredients like kohlrabi chashu, sapporo noodles and super deep burnt garlic oil, it’s evident a lot of care and attention went into putting this menu together, and Leeds loves it. Finishing the year on a high, the restaurant have just added a karaoke studio to their venue.

Find out more here.

Read More: Tom Zanetti is opening a new dine, drink and dance concept in Leeds

Grand Pacific, Queens Hotel

Image: Queens Hotel

Specialises in: fusion dishes

The Queens Hotel in central Leeds had a huge £16 million refurbishment in 2021, ushering in a grand new era for the 84-year-old property. As part of the overhaul, the hotel has welcomed an opulent new Raffles-inspired restaurant, Grand Pacific. The new luxurious all-day drinking and dining destination is styled on the old colonial hotels of south-east Asia and can seat up to 100 guests in the main restaurant.

Find out more here.

Feature Image- Grand Pacific

Eats

Popular Leeds cafe known for its fluffy Japanese sandos is moving to a bigger space

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

One of the city's best independents is expanding into a bigger premises.

Shokupan on Wellington Street is a proper little gem that food-lovers across Leeds will rave nonstop about if given the opportunity.

Husband and wife team Alan and Alison took inspiration from trips around the world to bring a taste of Japan to the city and over the past few years it's gained a loyal following.

They're famed for their delicious Japanese sandos made with pillow-like fluffy shokupan bread, stuffed with everything from crunchy chicken katsu and flavourful pork to fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

But it's not all just about sandwiches, they also serve rice bowls and katsu curries as well as small bites such as chicken karaage and octopus balls.

Their food is so bloody good, that they've had to find a better location and this time it's slap bang in the city centre on Central Road.

And they're joining brilliant company too, with the likes of House of Koko and Vinyl Grounds as neighbours.

Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Shokupan said: "You guessed right…we are moving to Central Road, LS1 6DE. We are nearly there…

Images: The Hoot Leeds

"All the building work is complete and now we are finishing off the decorating. You might also start to see some signage appearing over the next few days…It has been lovely seeing some of our customers dropping by to see us whilst we slowly lose our sanity.

"Powered on caffeine and determination! Not long to go before we can announce our opening date and welcome you through the doors."

We can't wait to check out the new space, keep an eye on their opening date here.

Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

Cult favourite burger chain Burgerism is officially coming to Leeds this August

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

An award-winning burger chain is coming to one of Leeds' suburbs.

If you don't know Burgerism, then get to know.

The Manchester-based burger chain is known by many for its incredible smash patties and quick, reliable service.

Their concept is simple: good burgers made with quality ingredients and cooked fresh to order. Delicious.

And it's not just burgers, they've also got some great wings and fries available too with a range of homemade sauces on offer for dunking, drizzling and devouring. We're a particular fan of the buffalo wings with their garlic ranch dip.

The chain used to have a dark kitchen on the outskirts of the city where people could order via Deliveroo, however this closed down and since then there's been a Burgerism-shaped hole left in our foodie scene.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

Burgerism recently applied to move into a vacant shop unit in Meanwood at 605 Meanwood Road, seeking change-of-use planning permission for the former Papa Johns site which was previously only allowed to serve...well, pizzas.

And the plans have now been approved, which means Burgerism will officially be coming to Leeds. Hurray!

Burgerism's new takeaway will be walking distance from the The Meanwood Tavern, perfect for those looking for some post-pint burgers.

It will be strictly takeaway with no dine-in option available.

The brand-new Burgerism will employ 15 people from the local area with food being served between 11am and 11pm.

We'll keep you up to date as and when we find out more, but for now we're aware that Burgerism Leeds is set to open this August.

Read more:

Featured image - Supplied (Burgerism)

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