It's always nice to eat out and to have a meal you didn’t have to cook. Especially when you’re at uni, it's nice to take a break from Super Noodles and Morrisons savers pasta. But on a student’s budget it can be hard to find a good meal under £20. Well look no further because I have here a list of the best but cheap places to eat in Leeds. Treat this as your guide to some of the most price savvy places in the city.
Food and Drink on Female First
Cantina at The Old Red Bus Station
Now I know the name may sound odd, having food in an old bus station, but the restaurant is very quirky. It is 100% vegan so it's handy for all you non-meat eaters. For under £10 you can bag one their ‘Bigger stuff’ range which includes ‘Green Machine Burger’ or a ‘Ve-bab’, all served with chunky chips at £5.50 each. If you’re looking for a light bite they offer ‘Southern Fried Tofu Bites’ or ‘Spicy Seitan Bites’ at £4 each! With all their dishes on the menu under £10, it's the perfect place to enjoy good quality food without breaking the bank.
101 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS2 7NL
MOD Pizza
This is in my opinion is one of the best pizza places in Leeds. As a typical student I enjoy plenty of pizza, especially the day after a night out. At MOD pizza all their pizzas are under £10. With a normal sized pizza coming in at £7.87 and a large pizza costing £9.87, there is no argument that this pizza place is one of my favourites and has seen me through some hard times.
11 A, Cardigan Fields, Kirkstall Road
The Falafel Guys
Normally I would never try anything like this, however the food is delicious and so cheap. For under a fiver you can grab yourself three balls of falafel wrapped up with haloumi cheese or chicken in a wrap. For this price, it is something different to other street food vans and has a very high rating on TripAdvisor.
Outside Marks and Spencers 47 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6Hf
The Belgrave Music Hall
The Belgrave provides music and entertainment whilst serving amazing slices of pizza from ‘The Dough Boys’. You can enjoy a cold beer whilst munching on one of these cheap but tasty slices. All the slices of pizza are £3 and under. They have a range of toppings from vegan to your own speciality. So if you’re looking for a cheap way to enjoy your day then this is the place, complete with an outdoor sitting area upstairs which is perfect on sunny days.
1-1A Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, LS2 8JP
Nandos
I know that this famous chain is up and down the country, however who can say no to a cheeky Nandos? Whether you’re going for your regular or fancy a change up on your chicken, Nandos fits the bill. For a burger, wrap or pitta plus two sides it costs under £15, which for a full meal out off campus is a small price to pay. Leeds has three Nandos to choose from to fit your location so there’s always a Nandos to suit you.
422 Trinity Leeds, Albion Street
152-154 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6BR
The Light, Headrow
Trinity Kitchen
If you love street food then this is the place for you. Trinity Kitchen is full of street food which changes every few weeks - and did I mention it is all indoors? It has a large seating area so you can sit down and enjoy the food you have chosen. There is always a variety of cuisines to try, ranging from Chinese, Thai, American, Indian and Italian - the list is endless. The food is all reasonably priced and with the wide choice of meals to choose from, it is perfect if you just cannot decide what to have.
Trinity Shopping Centre
Wetherspoons
Like Nandos this is another chain of restaurants which is available everywhere. However, this is the perfect hangout for students and with six of these fabulous restaurants to choose from, you really cannot fault it. My favourite Wetherspoons has to be Beckett Bank on Greek Street as it has a brilliant outdoor sitting area and is near the shopping district, so it’s perfect for a quick refreshment. With most of their plates coming in at under £10 including a soft or alcoholic drink, there is no reason not to pay a visit.
Becketts Bank - 28-30 Park Row, Leeds, LS1 5HU
Lloyds - 43a, Woodhouse Lane Leeds, LS1 3HQ
By Fionnuala McNulty follow me on Twitter @FionnualaMcNult