Rainbow Junktion is the middleman that intercepts food waste and turns ingredients into delicious, healthy meals for the community that would have otherwise been thrown away.
Hidden in Hyde Park is one of the most generous community schemes in Leeds. Aiming to reduce food waste and food poverty, Rainbow Junktion offers a delicious range of fresh produce and warm meals on a pay-as-you-feel basis.
With a prestigious five stars glowing on their TripAdvisor, Rainbow Junktion are a firm favourite with Hyde Park residents and it's their ongoing events and hospitable staff that keep the pop-up restaurant alive and fresh.
"A hidden Hyde Park gem. This is the most wholesome foods and atmosphere. The staff and volunteers are happy to attend to your needs and you can bring your own wine."
The way it works is the non-profit intercept food that's about to be wasted and saves it from going in the bin. Their hashtag '#FeedBelliesNotBins' emphasises their belief that food is not distributed equally and this is a real cause of food poverty in the UK.
The menu at Rainbow Junktion changes daily based on the ingredients saved from being wasted. / Image: Rainbow Junktion, TripAdvisor
The popular community cafe state that: "Some people calculate that we produce 150% of our food requirements globally.
By intercepting waste and using it to feed people on a Pay As You Feel basis we aim to reduce food poverty without taking away people’s pride".
So to bring Leeds together in a non-judgemental space, the volunteer-led team create delicious healthy meals available to purchase on a pay-as-you-feel basis. By using intercepted ingredients, the cafe has a sustainable business model that helps people and the planet with respective interest.
This avoids any discriminations and brings the community together without the feeling of 'us' and 'them'. Located at All Hallows' Church every Monday and Thursday, a three or four course menu is devised based on the donations given each week.
The 'Food for Thought' event in 2019 was designed to bring Hyde Park residents together at the Rainbow Junktion. / Image: Rainbow Junktion, TripAdvisor
The team are conscious to appeal to all taste buds and cater to all dietary needs, so the menu is made up of predominantly vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Rainbow Junktion also ensure that every Friday they provide users with affordable zero waste food for the weekend. Their foodshare project also runs from All Hallows Church, as well as plenty of one-off community events.
The glowing TripAdvisor reviews suggest that the cafe truly has something for everyone:
"I've been coming here for over a year now, and the food is amazing. every day they are open there is a different menu, so you never get bored.
The volunteers are lovely and so kind and welcoming It truly is an amazing place, and there's lots of event that happen here too, like trapeze lessons and Late night dinners on some fridays."
All meals are prepared and served by volunteers. / Image: Rainbow Junktion, TripAdvisor
To get your pay-as-you-feel foodie fix, head over to All Hallows Church in Hyde Park on a Monday or Thursday before 3pm and receive your three course meal.
Leeds pho fans have got something to look forward to this September.
Why? Because the popular Vietnamese restaurant Pho is swapping Trinity Kitchen for a brand-new city centre home.
The beloved restaurant group has recently announced it will be opening at 50 Boar Lane, with a rather tempting way to celebrate the move - a whole day of free pho.
Image: Pho (Supplied)
But before we delve into that, let's reminisce...
Pho was founded by Stephen and Jules Wall in 2005 and has since grown into a restaurant group specialising in Vietnamese street food, including its famously slurpable bowls of pho.
Pho first arrived in Leeds back in 2013, opening in Trinity Kitchen in a kiosk-style format.
Image: Pho (Supplied)
Now, almost 13 years later, the restaurant is preparing to close its kiosk and move into a new, bigger location on Boar Lane.
The Trinity Kitchen restaurant will close this Sunday 6 September, before the new Boar Lane restaurant officially opens its doors on Friday 18 September.
So although you have just under two weeks of a pho-less Leeds, it'll be worth it.
Firstly, you'll be given the chance to bag 50 per cent off their food during a soft launch by signing up here via Pho’s Leeds website before 7 September to be among the first to receive the dates and booking link.
Image: Pho (Supplied)
And then comes the main event.
To mark the opening of the new restaurant, Pho is hosting a FREE PHO DAY on Friday 18 September, starting from 12pm.
The offer will be available on a first come, first served basis, while stocks last, so anyone hoping to get their hands on a free bowl might want to get there early.
So, if you’ve been waiting for an excuse to swap your usual lunch for a steaming bowl of Vietnamese noodles, 18 September might be the day to do it.
Cult favourite Leeds shawarma bar hailed ‘outstanding’ by major reviewer
Daisy Jackson
A Leeds shawarma takeaway has received a glowing review that’s left its founder with ‘the biggest goosebumps’.
If you know anything about food in Leeds, then you'll have heard of the almighty.
Starting life in Leeds and opening a second store on Manchester's Deansgate last year, Sqew has scooped up all sorts of awards and accolades during its time – including Deliveroo’s Best Kebab of 2025.
And now it’s caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 400k followers) paying Sqew a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up on Deansgate to test the claims that Sqew is serving the UK’s best shawarma.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
In their video review, Bite Twice said that the food is ‘out-f**kin-standing’, and rated it a strong 9.2 out of 10.
They said before even taking a bite: “I can tell you already we’re in for a treat. The quality of meat, cuts on that spit, look outstanding.”
Then after taking their first mouthful, they added: “That was one of the most juicy, flavour-filled, gorgeous bites into anything that I’ve ever had. It’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s got texture.
“But that meat, the quality of the chicken, it’s out-f**kin-standing. It’s been seasoned to perfection.
“This is taking the humble shawarma wrap to absolute heights, my god.
“Up there with the top three best shawarmas I’ve ever had in my life. Probably joint top with Fostok Halab, which is massive praise. 9.1. Why not, f**k it, 9.2, what you gonna do it about it?”
Responding to the video, Sqew founder Mitch Renshaw said: “Watched this 10 times. The biggest goosebumps. Thanks guys, made mine and the team’s day!”
Sophie Smith -
19th November 2021 
