The best food in Kirkgate Market: Where to eat in Leeds
Nov 05, 2026
The Best Food in Kirkgate Market: Our Favourite Places to Eat
If you think Kirkgate Market is just somewhere to pick up your meat, fish, fruit and veg, then think again. It’s home to some of the very best independent food in Leeds, with everything from handmade dumplings and authentic Chinese street food to Tunisian dishes and plenty more.
It’s also exactly the kind of place we love at Leeds Food Tours. There are so many brilliant spots tucked away inside that you could easily walk past without knowing what you’re missing.
Here are a few of our favourites.
Sweet Saeeda
This is one of our favourite stops on our food tours because almost no one we bring here has been before, but so many come back afterwards!
Mokhles, Sweet Saeeda owner, serves up flavour-packed traditional Tunisian street food, from brilliant Tunisian sandwiches to plates loaded with flavour. And then there’s the Brik, a Tunisian favourite that our guests are always blown away by.
It’s exactly the kind of place we love showing people on our tours: somewhere you might never have discovered otherwise, but once you have, you’ll want to come back.
Discover Sweet Saeeda in Leeds Kirkgate Market.
Hayes Seafood
If you like oysters, you needto visit Hayes Seafoods. You can pick up their brilliant seafood platters to take home, which are especially good around Christmas, but we love grabbing a seat at the counter and eating the oysters there and then.
There are always loads of different variations to try, and they’re incredibly fresh. Honestly, if oysters are your thing, put this one straight on your list.
Try some of the freshest seafood in Kirkgate Market at Hayes Seafood.
Amazing Gyoza
If you love dumplings, make a beeline for Amazing Gyoza. Their handmade gyoza are incredibly tasty, but there’s plenty more to try too, from Japanese curry bento boxes and rice bowls to Korean fried chicken.
The staff are so sweet, it’s such a lovely little spot and we’ve really enjoyed eating here. Great food, lovely people and really good value.
Eat incredible Japanese food at Amazing Gyoza in the market.
Taste of Xiangxi
Another one worth seeking out is Taste of Xiangxi, a small family-run business specialising in food from the Xiangxi region of China.
They use family recipes passed down through generations, serving everything from rice and noodle dishes to braised specialities, as well as their own homemade chilli sauces.
You'll find them tucked away in the 1904 Hall, so our best piece of advice for the market is to not stick to the most obvious parts of the market when you're exploring!
Try regional Chinese food at Taste of Xiangxi in Leeds Market.
Galley Delicatessen
If you’re after a seriously good sandwich, Galley Delicatessen is one to know. Their sandwiches are made with bread baked in-house daily and absolutely loaded with fillings, from mortadella, salami and whipped garlic ricotta to burrata, roast beef, homemade chimichurri and crispy porchetta.
They also do fresh salads, but honestly, it’s the sandwiches and quite possibly the best pickles we’ve ever had that keep us coming back. We’d go back for the pickles alone.
Try out the highly rated Galley Delicatessen in Leeds Kirkgate Market.
Banh & Mee
A Kirkgate Market favourite for good reason. Banh & Mee serves fresh Vietnamese street food, with everything from bánh mì, Vietnamese baguettes packed with meat, fresh veg, herbs and sauces, to bao buns, Saigon noodles and rice boxes.
Choosing what to order is the hardest part. Everything is fresh, packed with flavour and perfect for a quick lunch in the market.
Eat Vietnamese food at Banh & Mee in the main foodhall of Leeds Market.
Odelices Dappo
O’Délices d’Appo is well worth a stop on your market tour. Their menu is full of African dishes, from chicken yassa and mafe to thieb, a richly seasoned rice dish served with chicken or fish and vegetables. Their handmade African patties are another great shout, with beef or veggie fillings served with their homemade onion and tomato sauce.
And definitely add a side of fried plantain while you’re there.
Try some of the best African food in Leeds City Centre at Odelices Dappo.
Mr Mackerel
There’s a reason Mr Mackerel has been a Kirkgate Market favourite for years. Their grilled mackerel sandwich is the one to go for: fresh fish, plenty of salad and loads of flavour.
If you’ve ever been to Istanbul and tried one of the famous fish sandwiches served around the waterfront, this will take you straight back. Freshly grilled fish piled into bread with salad, simple but SO good.
Mr Mackerel brings those same Turkish street-food flavours to the middle of Leeds. It’s filling, very good value and one of those lunches that proves you really don’t need to overcomplicate things.
The best Turkish/Istanbul inspired mackerel sandwich in Leeds at Mr Mackerel.
Maxi’s Rotisserie
Maxi’s is popular for a reason, so don’t be surprised if there’s a queue, and make sure you’ve got cash on you because it’s cash only. But honestly, it’s SO worth it.
We went to Hong Kong earlier this year and the roast meats here are a serious contender for being on the same level of deliciousness. Go for the char siu and crispy pork on rice, then make sure you grab some of the little green garlic and chilli sauce from the counter. It’s SO good mixed through the cabbage and rice.
The most popular roast meats in Leeds Market at Maxi's Rotisserie.
So, where's the best food in Kirkgate Market?
It's a difficult one to answer, but that's half the fun!
Kirkgate Market is one of the best places in Leeds for trying something new, supporting independent businesses and finding food you might not come across anywhere else in the city.
If you take one bit of advice from us, go hungry! Have a wander, see what takes your fancy and make sure you venture beyond the main food hall. Some of the best food is tucked away in different corners of the market, and we’ve spent many a Saturday lunchtime working our way around the stalls.
And if discovering Leeds through its food sounds like your kind of day out, that's exactly what we do on our Leeds Food Tours, introducing you to brilliant independents, great food and the stories behind them.
