Inside Leeds’ New Dishoom: What to Order and Why Everyone’s Excited
For years, Leeds food lovers have watched enviously as people in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh queued outside Dishoom for one of Britain’s most talked-about dining experiences.
Now, the wait is finally over.
The much-loved restaurant group has officially arrived in Leeds, bringing its distinctive blend of Bombay café culture, comforting Indian dishes and beautifully designed interiors to the heart of the city.
But if you’ve never visited a Dishoom before, what exactly is all the fuss about?
More Than Just Another Indian Restaurant
Ask anyone who’s been to Dishoom and they’ll probably tell you the same thing.
It’s not simply the food that keeps people coming back.
Inspired by the historic Irani cafés of Bombay, every Dishoom restaurant has its own story, its own personality and an atmosphere that encourages guests to slow down, share plates and linger over another cup of chai or one more cocktail.
Rather than feeling like a chain, each café has been individually designed around a fictional piece of history, creating spaces that feel warm, characterful and full of personality.
Leeds is no exception.
A Restaurant Designed Around a Forgotten Piece of History
The Leeds restaurant takes inspiration from one of Bombay’s most dramatic historical moments.
During the catastrophic explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in 1944, hundreds of tonnes of cargo—including gold bullion—were thrown across the city.
Some of that gold was famously never recovered.
Dishoom imagines what might have happened if that missing treasure resurfaced decades later, weaving the story subtly into the restaurant’s interiors through artwork, decorative details and design touches.
It’s an approach that feels more like stepping into a film set than a restaurant.
Expect Warm Lighting, Vintage Details and Plenty of Character
Located on Vicar Lane between Victoria Gate and the Victoria Quarter, the café has been designed to encourage guests to settle in rather than rush through a meal.
Leather booths sit alongside polished wooden finishes, while restored vintage lights sourced from Mumbai help create a cosy atmosphere that changes throughout the day, from relaxed breakfasts to lively evening dinners.
Even the restaurant’s playful “House Rules” have been rewritten especially for Leeds.
One references the city’s history of people bartering corn for food, while another nods to the legendary missing Bombay gold that inspired the restaurant’s design.
They’re small details, but they reinforce the storytelling that has become one of Dishoom’s defining features.
What Should You Order?
If it’s your first visit, there are a handful of dishes that regulars rarely skip.
The legendary Bacon Naan Roll has developed an almost cult following and is widely regarded as one of Britain’s best breakfasts.
For dinner, the rich and creamy Chicken Ruby remains one of Dishoom’s signature curries, while the slow-cooked House Black Daal has become famous in its own right.
Groups can also order generous sharing feasts featuring favourites such as Chicken Berry Britannia, Keema Pau, Roomali Roti and Pistachio Kulfi.
It’s comfort food designed for passing around the table rather than ordering individually.
Breakfast to Late-Night Cocktails
Unlike many city restaurants, Dishoom isn’t simply somewhere to visit in the evening.
The Leeds café will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails and its famous house chai throughout the day, making it just as suitable for a leisurely morning meeting as a weekend dinner with friends.
Most tables will be available on a walk-in basis, although breakfast and lunchtime reservations are accepted, with limited evening bookings available.
Why Leeds Has Been Waiting for Dishoom
Few restaurant openings generate this level of anticipation.
Dishoom has built a reputation that extends well beyond its menu, combining memorable interiors, thoughtful storytelling and consistently popular dishes into an experience that feels genuinely distinctive.
For Leeds, its arrival adds another major name to an already thriving food scene.
Whether the famous Bacon Naan Roll lives up to the hype or the House Black Daal becomes your new comfort food favourite, one thing is certain: this is likely to be one of the city’s busiest restaurant openings of the year.