In came the downpours, the nights suddenly got a lot longer and to make the new season, Trinity Kitchen's new food trucks arrived with plenty of winter warmers.
From bao buns and cheese bites to seafood and burgers, keep reading to check out the five new vendors on offer from September - November 2023...
Tikks Thai Kitchen
Satay Chicken Bao Buns. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Serving British street food since 2017, Tikks’ is a Yorkshire-own that you might recognise from Chow Down. Known for serving up delicious Thai curries; satay and sriracha bao buns and panko prawns, there’s going to be plenty to choose from here.
Those that have checked out Yoi Fried Chicken at Trinity Kitchen before will be excited to hear that this is a sister company of Tikks Thai Kitchen, so expect the same succulent flavours and spices, just within a different menu.
Hoot recommends: The chicken satay bao buns are our go-to option. Expect crunchy satay sauce between tender chicken thigh and fluffy baos.
Little Red Eats
Original beef burger in a GF bun. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
There’s always a burger option at Trinity, and this time, you’ll find your meat patty fix from Little Red Eats. Expect Cheesy, Smoky, Blue and Veggie options here alongside fries drenched in sauces, jalapeño poppers and much more.
Hoot recommends: There’s a range of gluten free options available here, just ask the vendor for all the information you need.
Spuds & Bros
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Spuds & Bros Poutine needs no introduction if you’re a regular eater in the city centre. Serving up a concoction of cheesy, chippy, gravy filled bowls of winter warmer food, Spuds & Bros have poutine to serve the masses. Inspired by the taste of Canadian poutine, we recommend the halloumi serving, but any of their flavours are lip-smacking good.
Hoot recommends: Cluck Norris Poutine, it’s traditional poutine packed with creamy cheese curds and potatoes before being topped with chicken, bacon, halloumi, crispy onions, chives and baconnaise.
Cheese Yard
This is going to have cheese lovers sorted for the next few weeks. Mac and cheese, halloumi fries and Philly cheesesteaks are all on the menu at the Cheese Yard (well, it's in the name really).
Fish&
A newcomer for Trinity Kitchen, Fish& is bringing 'food inspired by the sea' those searching for a bite to eat over lunchtime for the next nine weeks. You might recognise the namer from Dry Dock back in 2016 or earlier, Fish& has been on the street food scene since 2010 and even won the Best Main dish at the British Street Food Awards in 2014.
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.”
Sophie Smith -
20th September 2023 
