Looking for vegan restaurants in Leeds? This bustling, cosmopolitan city is home to countless eateries including popular big chain venues and award-winning independent gems. When scouring the internet for restaurants in Leeds, you’ll find everything from swanky Michelin starred restaurants to laidback burger joints so deciding where to eat can be an insurmountable task for most. Those who follow a vegan diet may find it a particular struggle trying to find somewhere that not only caters for them but does so well.
In this guide, we’re looking at 16 of the most popular vegan-friendly restaurants in Leeds to help make choosing where to eat that little bit easier. Some on our list specialise in vegan dishes and others put the same creativity and love into their vegan dishes as they do their meat-based ones. So, in no particular order, here are 16 of the best vegan restaurants in Leeds…
Vegan Restaurants in Leeds you need to try…
Bundobust
6 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
Bundobust first opened in Leeds back in 2014 and has achieved tremendous success. This incredibly popular casual dining venue serves vegetarian and vegan Gujarati street food. All the dishes here are served in small portions so diners can choose 3 or 4 dishes to enjoy together. If you love spice then this one is definitely for you as some of their dishes really do a pack a punch!
On the menu, you’ll find a range of flavoursome vegetable curries and spicy snacks including Tarka Dhal, Bundo Chaat, Okra Fries and their now legendary, Bhaji Butty. Priced at £6.50, the Bhaji Butty is a deliciously crispy spiced onion patty served with salad and chutney in a vegan brioche bun. It’s one of Bundobust’s most popular offerings and they donate £1 from each sale of this menu favourite to Simon on the Streets.
Punk Vegan
82 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1EG
Fast food options can be a little underwhelming when you’re following a vegan diet. PUNK Vegan in Leeds is another independent to fill this gap in the market exceptionally well. Located in Hyde Park, PUNK Vegan serves a fantastic menu of vegan-friendly fast food favourites such as meat-free burgers, fried chicken, pizzas, nachos and loaded fries.
Most of their mouthwatering menu is created entirely in-house by their talented chefs and they use only the freshest of ingredients in all their exciting dishes. Burgers start from just £6 and are served with a handful of fries. We recommend ordering a side serving of their outrageously good Frazzled Frenzie Fries which are drizzled with bacon flavour mayo and BBQ sauce before being piled high with crispy onions, spring onions and crushed Frazzles crisps. Yummy!
Scoffs Feel Good Food
86 New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4LZ
Scoffs is a family-run independent cafe in Horsforth, serving homemade plant-based dishes. One of the most popular casual eateries in Leeds’ vegan community, they open for breakfast and for lunch. Their menu is quite extensive and includes a diverse range of sandwiches, toasties and wraps plus handmade pies, plant-based burgers and vegan hotdogs. They also have an excellent salad bar at which you can serve yourself a selection of fresh vegetables and add tasty toppings such as vegan cheese, plant-based meats, samosas, pakoras and falafels. With so much to choose from, this place is well worth venturing out of the city centre for!
Meat is Dead
231-239 Kirkstall Road, Burley, Leeds LS4 2AS
Possibly the first entirely plant-based venue to open in Leeds, Meat is Dead is a vibrant eatery and bar with a great reputation. Created as a place where people can come together and enjoy fresh, clean food without judgement or prejudice, they serve delicious food in a relaxed and welcoming environment. The focus here is very much on the social aspect of eating so expect plenty of small plates and large sharers. On Sundays, they serve a superb vegan roast dinner with all the trimmings and it’s a bargain at just £18 for 2 courses and £23.50 for 3.
Doner Summer
10-12 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 6DN
Another vegan foodie favourite in Leeds is Doner Summer. Inspired by the street food available in Berlin, they serve plant-based kebabs, vegan fried chicken, loaded fries and super tasty vegan ice cream. This place gets excellent reviews and the chicken, in particular, is meant to be ridiculously good. It will come as no surprise that Doner Summer now has venues in 6 locations across the North of England.
A trendy city-centre eatery perfect for satisfying those junk food cravings. Get your lips around a spicy Buffalo Ranch burger, build your own ‘Fried Chick’n’ combo or tuck into one of their juicy kebabs which are loaded with plant-based meats, salad and sauces. Possibly one of the most talked-about vegan restaurants in Leeds!
Indian Tiffin Room
31-32 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JD
This open kitchen restaurant in Leeds city centre boasts stunning interiors! Inspired by the bustling streets of India, the vegan menu at Indian Tiffin Room is bursting with flavoursome plant-based Indian street food dishes. They’ve brought together the most popular dishes from various regions in India to create an eclectic menu of authentic Indian cuisine.
The talented team here focus on producing healthy dishes which showcase the true flavours of Indian street food so don’t expect any over-spiced creamy curries. Starters on their fantastic vegan menu begin at £4 and include Homemade Samosa, Beetroot Shami Kebab and Sev Puri. Their traditional Indian tiffin dishes range between £4.25 and £6.25. You’ll also find a number of traditional main dishes such as Puri Masala and Vegetable Biryani plus a selection of Indo-Chinese creations.
House of Fu
15-19 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU
House of Fu began as a pop-up at Belgrave Music Hall in 2014 and was so successful that it won a top award at the British Street Food Awards. Fast forward to 2022 and it’s now a much-celebrated city centre restaurant frequented by foodies and influencers. Head Chef and owner, Ben, has worked at some of the best restaurants in Leeds and also spent 9 years working in some of the best in Tokyo. Safe to say he knows his stuff!
Expect authentic ramen, perfect gyoza and colourful interiors, inspired by the trendiest spots in Toyko and L.A. They serve excellent rice bowls and salads here but it’s their ramen which will blow you away. Priced from £12, the ramen at House of Fu is prepared using authentic flavours and ingredients, by people who know exactly how it should be done. Available with numerous vegan toppings such as Kimchi, Tofu and Plant-based mince, it’s comforting and delicious.
Eat Your Greens
42 New York Street, Leeds LS2 7DY
Eat Your Greens is an absolute gem of a place! A grocery store, natural wine bar and organic restaurant all in one location! Open for lunch Thursday through to Saturday and for dinner on Thursdays and Saturdays only, it’s a must-visit if you can get a table. The menu is relatively short but the vast majority of dishes on it are vegan or available as vegan and everything is made using fresh local produce.
Main courses start at just £9 during evening sittings and include some truly delicious sounding plant-based creations. Tuck into spiced Cauliflower Pakoras or try their Charred Aubergine with peanut and tomato stew. If you still have room after your main, finished with a sweet treat such as their Grapefruit and Polenta Cake.
FINT
73 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BR
FINT, formerly Fettle, is a fantastic Nordic cafe serving a creative menu of internationally inspired dishes with a Scandinavian twist. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner they have a number of superb vegan options available throughout the day. Evening dining is available Wednesday to Saturday after 4:30 pm and it costs £27 for two courses or £32 for three courses.
Whet your appetite with local sourdough bread and miso butter before moving on to a starter of Fennel and lemon consommé. For the main course, Kale pumpkin seed ravioli with rocket, lemon, and mustard frills is currently on the menu and Espresso crème caramel is the vegan dessert. Of course, they focus on fresh local produce so the menu changes regularly. If you’re hoping to dine during the day then their brunch dishes are meant to be pretty special too!
Issho
Victoria Gate 3rd Floor Rooftop, George Street, Leeds LS2 7AU
Issho is one of the best rooftop restaurants and bars in Leeds and although far from being the most vegan-friendly restaurant in Leeds, there are a number of dishes available during both lunch and dinner services. This multi-award-winning contemporary eatery offers modern Japanese cuisine including sushi and grilled veggies cooked on their own custom-built BBQ.
Vegan dishes on the Issho A La Carte menu include Vegetable Zen Rolls, Grilled Sweet Potato with smoked lime butter and King Oyster Mushrooms with light wafu butter. If you have a craving for something sweet, they have 3 flavours of vegan sorbet on their dessert menu too. Not a great deal of choice but enough to make it worth a visit if the epic views from their rooftop aren’t enought to tempt you there.
Tattu
Minerva, 29 East Parade, Leeds LS1 5PS
With it’s chic decor, stunning floral displays and striking purple lighting, Tattu is possibly one of the most Instagrammable vegan restaurants in Leeds. Not only are it’s interiors incredibly beautiful but its seasonal menus of contemporary Chinese cusine always feature a number of tasty vegan options. Choose a few small plates to share or go it alone with a main course for one.
Small plates start at £9.50 and vegan options include dishes like Shitake Bao, Chilli Crusted Tofu and Salt and Pepper Aubergine. Vegan mains are priced around £18.00 and the menu currently includes a Sweet Tamarind Tofu Balls with melon, candied mint and chilli. Add a side of Tattu Candy Rice or Coconut Steamed Spinach and finish your experience with their Asian Pear Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Manjit’s Kitchen
333 Kirkstall Rd, Burley, Leeds LS4 2HD
Following the phenomenal success of their street food takeaway at Kirkstall Market, the owner of Manjit’s Kitchen opened a restaurant on Kirkstall Road back in 2020. Very much a casual dining venue, Manjit’s Kitchen serves a selection of vegan and vegetarian Indian street food staples. The interiors are simple with evenly spaced wooden tables and basic decor but the food is far from average.
They’ve won numerous awards and they have a reputation for serving some of the best street food in Leeds so expect plenty of fresh produce and a whole lot of flavour. Their warming Chickpea and Potato Curry will bring comfort on a chilly evening and their thalis will give you a little taste of everything brilliant.
Tharavadu
7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
A little different to your usual curry house, Tharavadu was one of the first restaurants in Leeds to serve authentic Kerala cuisine. The chefs at Tharavadu were raised in the Kerala region and brought their exceptional skills and expertise in this specific way of Indian cooking to the people of Leeds. This place has won numerous awards and was recommended in the Michelin Restaurant Guide twice.
Open for lunch and for dinner, Tharadavu’s menu features some truly mouthwatering vegan dishes that you’re unlikely to find at the majority of Indian restaurants in Leeds. Begin with Uzhunnu Vada (fried lentil doughnuts) and then order one of their delightful curried vegetable dishes or opt for their amazing Masala Dosa (filled fermented crepe). A two-course vegan meal at Tharadavu should cost you around £20 – £25.
Sukhothai
8 Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4PE
Sukhothai first opened its doors in Chapel Allerton in 2002. For twenty years they have had an enviable reputation for being one of, if not THE best Thai restaurant in Leeds. If you don’t want to head out of the city, their flagship restaurant is on South Parade. Opulent interiors, charming staff, exceptional service and mindblowingly delicious food have all contributed towards making Sukhothai a Leeds foodie legend.
The menu is huge and includes all the traditional Thai favourites as well as some tasty Chef specials. Soft noodles, spicy stir fries and stunning starters can all be enjoyed guilt free and in the most beautiful of settings. If there’s a dish on the menu that you like the sound of but it isn’t suitable for vegans, the staff are always happy to create a vegan version for you.
Blue Sakura
3 Merrion Way, Leeds LS2 8BT
If you like Japanese food then you’ll love Blue Sakura! Slightly different to other Japanese restaurants in Leeds, Blue Sakura serve tapas style dishes so it’s more of a social dining experience. All orders are placed via a touch screen at the table and they have a vegan menu which is more extensive than most we’ve seen! There’s Miso soup, sushi, salads, gyoza, tempura, stir fries, noodles and more. If spice is your thing then be sure to order the Lao Gan Ma Tofu with a side of steamed rice or udon noodles. Yum!
Knave’s Kitchen
33 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7BT
Okay, so Knave’s Kitchen isn’t a vegan restaurant in its own right. It is a pop-up street food vendor based in Oporto bar on Call Lane, with a superb reputation for serving delicious vegan junk food. Everything on their menu is 100% vegan and oh so tempting! There are tables both inside and outside Oporto at which you can enjoy generous portions of loaded fries, vegan burgers and dogs, mac n cheese, kebabs, meatballs, fried chicken, breakfast muffins and more. Being based in Leeds’ atmospheric rock n roll bar means you can wash it all down with a few beers or cocktails. Win win!
