Oh ho! Did you make the same mistake? Did you spot the slightly grotty-looking exterior, randomly…read morenext to the junction, and assume this place had long been closed? You're thinking it and I'm saying it: books, covers, judging. Don't be that guy. (Well. You can sometimes be that guy.) My point is that almost everyone I've mentioned this place to assumed the above, making an ass out of u and me. I suggested it to a mate for a birthday do (she wanted Lebanese food) and, despite my warning that it might be closed or not-so-good, this is where we went. Maybe part of the charm is lowered expectations, but they put on one hell of a gorgeous spread. There are so many quirks to a little indie like this that you simply wouldn't get from going chain and flash: The old chap in the corner who clearly eats there on a regular basis, with his whole bottle of wine to himself. (No judging here, just an observation.) The almost 3D pictures of ladies in Niqabs. The long banquet table in the centre of the space, which sort of feels a bit like a caravan or something. The staff were lovely and very accommodating. (We drank much of their Lebanese beer. Don't worry, there's more recognisable brands if you're worried.) Since we were a huge group the food was put on buffet style, and we went back for several plates -- it was about £30 ph, all told, and for that we had a feast. The meal included, but wasn't limited to, the most delicious olives and fresh salad, houmous, beetroot style houmous, these amazing meatballs, stuffed vine leaves, pitas, these spicy saucy veggie dishes, and expertly seasoned rice. I don't think there was a dish I wasn't a fan of! Everything seemed fresh and the desserts were exquisite -- wonderful, varied pastries. The moral of this story is: give them a go. We had a wonderful time!

What a great little place. From the outside it looks closed up, but upon getting closer it became…read moreclear(er) that it was in fact open. Inside was absolutely dead, with just a single guy sitting in the corner eating on his own, with the remains of a previous table the only sign that there was every any more custom. The staff here are really friendly, but so so laid back. What I assume to be the owners kids were playing out front when we got there and then sat chatting with members of staff at the front of the restaurant. Its the sort of place that you cant help but feel comfortable in. We went for the chefs mezze, which is basically a selection of small plates picked by the chef, followed by a main course to share. First off the portions are HUGE, we left food and were absolutely stuffed. Secondly, the quality (especially of the small plates) was great. We had a spiced meat dish, stuffed vine leaves, baba ganoush, humous, pitta, haloumi and spinach wraps to begin, followed by a pork meatball tagine with more of the delicious stuffed vine leaves for main. The bill for 2, along with a bottle of wine came to £50 including tip, which is phenomenal for the sheer amount of good food we were presented with. Id definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for something a little bit different from a meal out!

I'm always interested in new shops opening in Leeds Market as I like to support local business' and…read moretraders so I was excited to try Shawarma. A Lebanese and Halal 'pop up' stall situated in the 'Upper' part of the market near the haberdashery shop and flower stall (and close to the Source) which has an array of smells and sights to strike up interest from most people who pass by. (not sure if it's to be a permanent stall). So, new year, new adventure. I went here for lunch with my friend Al who always likes to try new stuff. The staff are very encouraging, explaining what they offer and showing you how its made. There are 10/12 choices on the menu- I chose veggie, Al chose chicken. The food is prepared and cooked in front of you so you have to wait and watch. it's mainly done on a grill or the veggie stuff (mainly being falafel) is shallow fried before being 'wrapped' and warmed on a panini maker! There were dishes of olives and hummus on the counter and you could see all the ingredients that go into your order. The prices are reasonable too= £4.50 or less per wrap/kebab etc. I was happy with my falafel wrap but it was a tad lacking in the spicy punch I expected, Al like his 'kebab cake' (we couldn't remember the actual name!) It was nice to experience different cuisine in a handy way and not be so stuffed after but next time I'm gonna be brave and ask for something a bit spicier! I think this is a break off shop from the Shawarma on Raglan Road in Headingley but having never been there I couldn't be sure- they do both seem to offer similar if not the same menu!

I've passed CM several times and decided to give it a try. I wanted to try the chicken shawarma but…read morethey were out of it that day so I tried the chicken bastilla which came with hummus and salad. I loved the chicken bastilla that I had in Marrakech and had hoped for the same with this one. It wasn't bad but can't say it was the best. CM usually appears very busy as its located in the Leeds market so it might take awhile to get your order in since you're not entering an actual restaurant but more of food stand. Service was good, friendly and quick. I would try it again but would opt for something different.

Disappointing…read more Actually, i wasn't disappointed as I didn't really expect much. We went in on a Friday after work as Big D had a 50% off card. First impressions from outside were "you're taking me HERE?" then inside, "oh".as I looked around and thought that it would probably be better after a big drinking session so that i didn't care that there was no one else in there, that the staff were positively miserable and the tablecloths were plastic. ok. the food might be amazing as is often the case with weird restaurants down side streets. it was adequate. My babaganoush tasted the same as the houmous, but possibly with more garlic and the falafel was clove-tastic. Dave's lamb looked...chewy. lots of food for the price, but not overly enamoured I'm afraid.

This place is a bit of a hidden gem. Don't be put off by the slighty grotty location and decor, the…read morefood is AMAZING. Yes, the ambience is a bit lacking and it's often a little empty, but the food really does make up for this - it's reasonably priced, delicious, plentiful and authentic. The service is informal but the owner/manager is friendly and will enthusiastically recommend things if you can't decide. I'd personally recommend the houmous, baba ganouj, halloumi and falafel, and my non-veggie friends reckon the mixed grills and chicken plates are amazing.

Rolling up to Distrikt...well it's a bit ominous to say the least. Located on a side street, dimly…read morelit, it could have the potential to be some dodgy underground typa place. You get this gothic vibe from the building, the blue lit sign, and if it's a foggy day, that too. Entering Distrikt is a totally different matter, and when you descend the basement stairs into the main club/bar area it's a treat of colour and intimacy. Low level lighting, that could make for a romantic evening, with some delish mediterranean food, seafood mezze to start with followed by one of the cook pot dishes, which can be a side, but I just fancied something hot and savoury. I decided on the lentil stew and chorizo, whilst my counterpart ordered the lentil and butterbean clay pot stew. Piping hot and lovely. AND! after that we caught a glimpse of the deserts, which were interesting, balsamic strawberries, licorice infused figs, their special lemon syrup doughnuts, and a couple of other inexpensive sweet treats, which are great to order one of each if there's more than two of you. In addition to this the bill didn't break the bank either, £30 for the two of us including the starter, two mains, two desserts, and three soft drinks.

I truly couldn't be more impressed with this fantastic establishment. It's been said many a time…read morebefore, wander along Duncan street, and you'll spot a bit of hide away signage, some tables and a door that leads you down into the depths within. By rights it should still be classed as a hidden gem, since it's off the standard track, but there's a reputation for excellence that now precedes it -and one that holds firm. For all the right reasons. Let's get to the taste of it, firstly. Tapas. Not just any tapas, but freshly made to order, with a chef whose passion for seeking out foraged foods, unique flavours and intriguing combinations continues to delight my mouth. I've seen a few items on the menu change, but there are still the stalwart choices that remain and so they should- the incredible chicken wings, beautifully breaded, and delectable with the dipping sauce. The humungous mushrooms, the perfectly cooked squid, the amazing chips. My friend took me here recently for their incredibly reasonable half-priced-tapas deal, and we ordered a mountain of food. Call me king of climbs, since we polished off the lot, and basically had everything on the menu. How about atmosphere? During the lighter hours, which make little difference in this spacious, illuminated cavern, you can find a varied range of coffee drinkers, wifi users, diners and other such folk. The staff have never failed to proffer warm welcome, and there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the space -a glance at the walls reflect some of Leeds' finest local art and design. If you fancy tipples, there's a fairly fancy cocktail list to get excited over, and deals on appropriate days should you wish to save yet more pennies. The outside courtyard provides a fairy-lit yard, hidden away from the streets, tucked in behind the backs of several buildingswith miniature New York feel. (Try and catch the staff pulling down the fire escape stairs to the building, and you'll see what I mean.) Finally, what about entertainment? If you've ever fancied trying your hand at Salsa, you can join in the salsa dance classes from 7pm each Tuesday -beginners are more than welcome, and the class is very accommodating and friendly. It's easier than you'd think, and actually quite the laugh. No need for friends to accompany you either, since you all end up taking turns to dance with each other as well! But it's their DJ nights that have brought them the most renown. Effortlessly garnering some of the world's finest, their eclectic range of DJ events showcase some far ranging and serious talent- and I hope to dance until the wee hours at one of their parties soon. Music, food, and love, with just the right amount of booze thrown in. It's not just a bar, it's an emporium of awesome, that makes Leeds a much better place.

I realise that kicking off with a five star review for somewhere I've tried once might be jumping…read morethe gun, but I really think that these guys are a quality outfit. Picture the scene: a weary traveller having just spent 24 hours making her way home. Having stuffed herself beyond decency with calorific foreign delights, healthy food was required, and stat. That seems like a paradox - healthy take away? I know, but my friends, it can be done! Here's how. Lebanese and Middle Eastern treats. Of course, the dishes aren't exclusively healthy, there's still a bit of frying and such going on, but when you've had your mouth around the delectably green and fresh Tabbouleh parsley salad, you'll know you've hit flavour country. Never have I delighted in eating greens more. But why choose this place over the established Shawarma? For some reason, these guys' online menu is a lot more happening. I've been known to go overboard when Just Eating and, on this occasion, I didn't buck the trend. Yes, dropping £25+ was very much overkill, but when there's so much to pick from I get carried away. Plus I've perfected the reheating system so my take aways often fuel me for two days in the very least... Don't ask, I know. (Lazy, strange, gluttonous. All of the above.) Anyway, here's what I ordered, and here's how it tasted. For the aforementioned princely sum, I was able to stuff myself with Tabbouleh, Wark Inab, Falafel, Batata Hara, Houmous, Halloumi Cheese Sandwich, Sambousek, Lamb Shawarma, Kibbeh Shameyleh, and Arayes Dubai. A veritable feast of flavour and texture. The portions, given the price, were incredibly generous - take the Wark Inab (vine leaves with rice) - for £3 you get about seven of those bad boys. The Lamb Shawarma meal itself is a whole pile of deliciousness, and how they managed to season and flavour the thinly sliced lamb, I have no idea. In that dish, the boxed meal even came with salad, houmous, garlic mayo, and a few other treats - there were even a few chips! What a boon. In particular, the salad, potatoes (batata) and lamb meal deserve special mention. All of the above was beautifully cooked, and deliciously fresh to taste, but those really stood out for me among the goodies on offer. With this kind of food, you really do need a wee group of you so you can bulk order and share, as all the flavours combined make a truly lovely eating experience. Even the random fluorescent pink vegetable (no idea what it was in the end) was flippin' tasty! Anyway, rambling over, long story short, I loved this place. As filling as any Chinese/Indian meal, but much less heavy and full of fresh and moreish tastes. When each item sets you back between £3-6, it's not only a delicious way to spend some cash, but a very bargainous way to dine.

Right. I know I gave them 4 stars before, but I went back in for dinner today and I have to revise…read moremy earlier star rating. I had the kibbeh tonight as a starter. They have two types: round ones, and pointy egg shaped ones. The round ones are made of potato on the outside with a spiced mince on the inside. The mince in the round ones was as good as my mum's. The potato soaked up a little more oil than I would have liked but was still super crunchy and very very delicious. If I had had some lemon/lime to squeaze over it to help cut the oiliness it would have been perfect. Maybe that's just the Kenyan way of eating them! The pointy one had a mince in it that was flavoured with sumak and tasted wonderfully like sucouk - Lebanese sausage. I had the lamb kebab with khoubz for main and hubby had the mixed grill with chips. If anything, my lamb today was even better than the last time. It was just past medium, unbelievably succulent and juicy, and took me to my happy place. I think this place is going to prove very disasterous for my waistline. At least it won't dent my wallet though. Two huge meals (I saved my second kebab to have tomorrow - it tastes almost as good cold!) and a starter for just £13.50 with their student discount. I think I'm going to end up being a regular!

The reason i walked into this place the first time was a bit weird. I wanted to get something to…read moreeat and I was thinking to have a nice sandwich so I walked towards the sandwich shops that are in Headingley. There I had a small problem I know both the owners to the shops that were opposite to each other and I was feeling bad if I walk to one instead of the other so I was standing outside trying to decide what to do. Then I looked at the window of mind cafe and there I saw the magic word "COXINHA" It's a Brazilian yummy food. My mom used to make it on special occasions and I love that food. So without second thought I walked in. I'm happy I didn't get disappointed. The size of them are I think a touch smaller than a tennis ball if not the same size and they are really yummy. Second time I went with Rowena I still went with the C. but to make up for it since I wanted to try something new I tried the crepe with nutela, I did ask to have also a banana but they forgot to put it. Mistakes like that happens since it wasn't even on the menu, I just kinda missed mach from what was on the list. They did apologize for the mistake but it was still really delicious that I didn't mind about it. They some times have events, had a friend perform couple of times but unfortunalely wasn't able to go to be able to give you more details on that. But keep an eye for them. They usually post it on their window and their Facebook page.

If you're not often wandering up and down North Lane on your travels, chances are you'll have…read moremissed the arrival of this quaint cafe. I'd spotted it a while back, but only bobbed in for a nosy at the vintage, so when I had a chance to check it out proper I was pretty pleased. Not least because my initial judgement of this place was a little off - I'd scooped out the vintage and wasn't too impressed, so made the poor assumption that the food might not be too great either. Books, covers - you know the phrase. So, firstly, the lovely Natalia and I dived downstairs to the basement to reacquaint ourselves with the clothing. There's a few nice pieces there, some great woollen skirts, but much of the rest still isn't for me. There's a rail full of addidas style jackets for one, and those just aren't to my liking. However, the small collection of lamps is pretty cute, so do have a peek. Next, the cafe. It's pretty cosy in the front room, but there's a whole back room too if you're feeling hemmed in. We took the window seat, and besides knocking over a sugar bowl, it was a lovely cosy spot to sit in, with waiter service. Perfect! After having coxihnas (spelling may be wrong here) explained to me by N, I decided to choose one of those and the grilled halloumi salad. The range of Lebanese delights on the menu offers up a great selection, most of it being healthy too. Another thing - the prices are great, making it really easy to have a filling lunch under a tenner. I had the cinnamon tea, which was lovely, but perhaps a little less flavoursome than I'd have liked. I do like a strong taste though, and so it'd be perfect for those of a milder palate. However, the vanilla latte I had later was fabulous and strong as you like. The service here is beautifully relaxed and friendly too. You wait a while, but that only means things are cooked fresh, which is something of a rarity in certain places. I have to say, the coxhinas were delicious. Proper comfort food, slow to eat, and tasty through and through. It's basically a breaded ball of potato-y-ness, with shredded and spiced chicken inside, from what I could gather. Looks like a scotch egg, but far superior! The halloumi came in a huge portion, and was utterly delicious. I couldn't finish! Blink, and you could find that three hours have ticked by in this lovely relaxed place. The food is wonderful, and the family that run it absolutely lovely. Dotted around are little notices and flyers for local goings on, and the vibe of the space is easy to soak in. Whilst I might not return for a vintage find, I'll certainly be back to sample some more authentic home cooked goodies, and catch up with friends. Absolutely worth popping in and grabbing something fresh.

Take Away Chicken…read moreTagine with more rice than any three humans could eat in one sitting for a fiver? You'd be forgiven for thinking it'd be the single worst meal you'd ever have eaten in your life. There though you'd be wrong. Each order of this wonderful stuff comes with about a third of a large chicken that tastes as though it'd been cooked in a real tagine and a box...yes a box of cardamom infused rice. Not the single greatest take-away I've ever had, but they manage to provide really tasty food quickly and at a great price.

If, like me, you tend to order food rather a lot (no comments on my cooking habits, now) then…read moreyou'll know that Leeds has lots of places to choose for Indian, Chinese, kebabs and such like. When it comes to such cuisines as Lebanese we have much less option, so having spotted Arabian House on Yelp I was keen to give them a go. Since Hungry House had decided to gift me 20% discount again, I was all over it. Not least because it had gotten past 8pm, I'd nothing to cook, and I was starving! The menu offers a number of interesting and authentic dishes and because I'm indeciseive I opted for the mixed grill. To accompany this I chose some tzatziki, hummous, and a naan. The chap had a mosaghat batinjan (various spiced veggies with rice) and with all of the items a veritable feast arrived. Given the discount, the total order came to about £15 so it's incredibly reasonable, and they certainly don't scrimp on the portions. The hummous and tzatziki came in huge foil dishes, so there was plentiful dipping option, the naan was gargantuan, the mixed grill had tons of pieces of chicken, a huge wing, and a large lamb kebab sausage. The veggie dish was a large vat of goodness in itself, and came with a huge portion of beautifully scented rice. It really was the best rice I've had from a take away - long grained, infused with real cinnamon sticks, and other stuff. The chips I ordered as a side with the mixed grill came, also, in a huge box. We were not short on carbs. It took a little while to come, being about 10-15 minutes later than the latest possible time, so order early. As for the taste, I wasn't too impressed with the hummous, as it seemed a little bland. The garlic dip, on the contrary, was so garlicky it almost tasted spicy. The chips, being thin fries, had gotten a touch soggy from the condensation in the packet, but the mixed grill was great. I preferred the chicken to the lamb, as I've had better, but the chicken was cooked beautifully and went extremely well with the tzatziki. The rice was exquisite, and I'd certainly recommend you order it to accompany anything from here. (Except maybe the desserts.) All in all, it's certainly worth trying something from the varied menu. Russell C wasn't kidding on the portion sizes, so you can double up, save even more cash, and still enjoy a relatively healthy meal considering you're ordering take away. I'll likely try them again, but hope next time that the hummous is a little more flavoursome, and the wait not so long for arrival! In any case, it's definitely recommended.

Gzing bills itself as 'Leeds first and only Kurdish restaurant'. Which, if you're a taste junkie…read morelike me, should be enough to take the short trip from the centre of town to seek out the culinary delights offered here. Or you could be swayed by the recommendation of a friend who I have to thank for alerting me to this very cheap, very tasty little place. Lincoln Green estate is probably not people's first choice to find great places to eat. But just off the main road, lit up like a beacon with a bright red sign and its own car park (is it churlish of me to admit I was relieved to see the private parking?) is Gzing. The restaurant is a large room with glass windows overlooking the car park (scenic), with basic cafeteria style decor. I'm not really selling this place am I? Don't be fooled by my flippancy. As we entered we were warmly welcomed by the member of staff on the door, and chose ourselves a cafeteria table. As we were getting familiar with the menu, our host arrived with a couple of bowls of delicious vegetable soup by way of appetizer, on the house. I like these people's style. The menu features some dishes that might be familiar if you've visited Persian or Turkish restaurants. There's a charcoal grill in the kitchen and it gets well used, with a large part of the mains menu dedicated to varieties of grilled meats. Ful (broad beans), hummus and ghanoush were all dishes I recognised on the starters menu, with a number of tasty looking lamb and cereal type dishes we didn't try. Vegetable casseroles form the other part of the mains courses, with a short dessert menu featuring baklava and ice cream. We opted straight for the mains, boyfriend opting for a grilled skewer of chicken breast, with rice, salad and the delicious Kurdish flatbread/nan. I had a grilled half chicken, which was served with a bowl of vegetable casserole, rice and a flatbread. It was unseasonably cold so we fortified ourselves with delicious Kurdish cardamon black tea. The food was a triumph - tasty, tangy chicken that melted off the bone in the case of the half chicken. I chose an okra casserole, which was rich and flavourful. I suspect there was lamb in the stock that made it - this is not a place to take your vegetarian friend. Flavours are subtle, hints of lemon, saffron and cinnamon coming through. Boyfriend stopped demolishing chicken skewer long enough to indicate strong approval. I have a slight quibble with the bread - it wasn't quite fresh I thought, but boyfriend disagreed so maybe I am fussy. Portions were enough that I took half home for lunch the next day. Now here's the really amazing bit....our meal of soup, tea, chicken, rice, bread and vegetable casserole came to £11.50. For both of us. I think I almost laughed with disbelief as we paid up (yes, we did leave a tip!) Gzing also does takeaway, and throughout our meal enormous piles of flatbreads were being handed over to customers coming to pick up their order. Service is warm and friendly, it feels like a community, informal kind of place. This impression is strengthened by the existence of a shisha lounge and pool table out back. It has to be said that the community is mostly men, and whilst it was a welcoming atmosphere it was also very male (as in I was the only woman in the place!) on the midweek night we were there. I might not choose to dine there alone, although I'm sure I would be made to feel welcome. But if you want what is probably the best value tasty dinner in Leeds, in informal surroundings plus getting a bit of culture to boot, I say get yourself to Gzing!

Great food! This is one of my favourite restaurants to visit in Leeds. I absolutely love all sorts…read moreof Middle Eastern foods and this is one of the best Kurdish restaurants I've been to. There are a lot of very good choices on the menu and all reasonably priced.