Moving to Leeds for university? Love to eat out and try new cuisines? Well, you are certainly in the right place!
Leeds is full of amazing places to eat out or grab a takeaway – and the good news is that they don’t all cost a fortune. It’s definitely possible to enjoy the local Leeds restaurant scene without breaking the bank, and to prove it, here are our top picks on places to eat out on a student budget…
Simpatico
Fancy a slice? If so, then head to Simpatico to sample their award-winning Roman-style pizza al taglio. All the pizzas are sold by the slice and are cooked in the traditional Roman way with a crispy bottom and fluffy top. New toppings are added daily, and you can expect experimental creations such as lamb with mint sauce, steak with black pudding, courgette with hummus and asparagus with quail’s eggs.
Slices start from as little as £3, depending on the toppings, so you can choose a few and share with friends to find your favourites!
Simpatico, 16 Queens Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LF.
Jino’s Thai Cafe
Great Thai food in a relaxed atmosphere is what you can expect from Jino’s. The dishes are fresh and light – using healthy and seasonal ingredients. There is a great range of curries, noodles, wok dishes and salads to choose from. And the prices are really affordable, with set menus starting at just £16.95 per head featuring two starters and four main course dishes and sides.
Another great selling point is that you can bring your own booze (BYOB) so that you can save on expensive alcohol restaurant prices and bring along your favourite tipple to enjoy with your food.
Jino’s Thai Cafe, 46-46a Otley Road, Leeds LS6 2AL
Bundobust
Experience Indian street-food and great beer at Bundobust on Mill Hill. The menu features many traditional Indian dishes served in bite-sized portions, starting from just £2.50.
There are plenty of vegan options as well as combos for two or four people, so you can try a selection of dishes and split the cost. Look out for the Tarka Dhal – a warm lentil curry with basmati rice and the Bhel Puri – a classic Mumbai street snack with samosa pastry, puffed rice, peas, onion, pomegranate, and tomato in tamarind chutney.
You can eat in or click and collect from Deliveroo.
Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.
Smak!
Combining their local Yorkshire venue with traditional Polish cuisine, Smak! is a great place to eat out and sample something new.
Their house speciality is the Smak! hotdog, featuring sausage which is smoked on a Yorkshire farm using a family recipe that’s been passed down through many generations. There are lots of nice vegetarian options such as the courgette cakes and the deed-fried oyster mushrooms as well as the traditional Polish gherkins. The cheesecakes are also very tempting if you have room left for desert!
Small plates start at just £6, with side orders from £2.50.
Smak! The Polish Kitchen, 372 Kirkstall Road, Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2HQ.
Humpit
Love hummus? If you do, then Humpit is THE place to eat in Leeds. Full of delicious cheap, vegan dishes, you can sample their signature silky smooth hummus in a variety of ways – either in a filled pitta, on a salad or on its own with plenty of sticks to dip in!
You can choose your toppings, sauces and pickles to suit your taste, as well as opting for white pitta, wholemeal or gluten free varieties.
Meal deals are available for £6, which include a falafel in pitta, fries and a drink.
Humpit, Leeds University Union, Lifton Place, Leeds LS2 9JZ.