A new restaurant selling Korean and Japanese-fusion dishes has opened in Leeds.
Called Oba Kitchen, you'll find it in Leeds' Merrion Centre on the Wade Lane Side. Serving up authentic Korean cuisine with some Japanese elements, this is Asian fusion at its finest.
Whilst it's not all vegan, there are some brilliant options for those on a plant-based diet with a huge selection of vegan starters, mains and sushi.
Think tofu katsu teriyaki, katsu curry and tofu steak, plus iconic Korean veggie bibimbap, toppokki (vegan rice cake with a sweet-spicy sauce) and Kinoko butter (assorted mushrooms, garlic and vegan butter).
Image: Oba Kitchen
As for the meat-eaters, there's plenty of options for you too - with dishes like ginger pork belly and flambe king scallops cooked in brandy, classic nobu style black cod miso and cumin lamb racks listed alongside the likes of bibimbap, katsu and beef steak wraps.
Enjoy alongside side dishes like Korean glass noodles. steamed rice, cold buckwheat noodles with wasabi or opt for a selection of their extensive sushi menu - which spans a huge selection of special handmade Oba rolls and nigiri.
On the drinks front, you'll find a selection of signature Korean wines like kooksoondang, shirokiku and soju served alongside Japanese plum wine.
Image: Oba Kitchen
Elsewhere, you'll find a good selection of whites, reds and sparkling wines alongside classic cocktails like espresso martinis, coconut slings and honey butter old fashioned, plus beers, spirits and ciders.
Oba Kitchen is not the only new addition to arrive at the Merrion centre, either. The shopping centre has also just welcomed a new hairdressing salon called Hair by Gordon, which specialises in cutting Asian men and women's hair.
Charles Newman, owners of the Merrion Centre said: “It’s fantastic to welcome this latest duo of businesses to the Merrion Centre and we’re confident their specialist offerings will prove popular with new and existing visitors including the increasing international student population within close proximity.
To find out more about Oba Kitchen, follow them on Instagram here.
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.”
Georgina Pellant -
17th September 2021 
