Dishoom, Leeds – Restaurant Review
By Steve Crabtree, September 2026
It had been a while since we’d done a proper bit of socialising. In fact, it was probably about 18 months since our last ski holiday that my wife Alex, my brother-in-law Matt, his wife Judy, and I had really let our hair down together. An overdue get-together was well on the cards, and heading into Leeds for an Indian feast was something that we all fancied.
I’d eaten at Dishoom’s grand Manchester venue a few years ago, and it’s a special place. I love it there, so when news landed that they were pitching up in Leeds, I was genuinely excited to give this restaurant a go.
From the outside, this one cuts a very different shape to Manchester. Sitting proudly on Vicar Lane, it’s a noticeable, pale pink art-deco corner that’s right in your face, yet looks very inviting. It turns your head.
We were booked for a Saturday night sitting at 8pm, and despite our train journey running a little behind and making us 15 minutes late, our welcome at the door was fantastic. They didn’t mind we weren’t on time one bit, and greeted us with warmth, getting our evening off to a great start.
“Lovely aromas hanging in the air”
We were guided upstairs, through the restaurant and to our table, and the place was busy. Very busy. And those who were in, enjoying their food were creating a great atmosphere, matched by a load of lovely aromas hanging in the air. Rich spices and warm Indian kitchen scents hit our senses straight away.
We were led over to a really nice corner booth table. It was slightly elevated, giving us a grand view of all the goings-on across the floor while keeping us just on the periphery of the main hustle and bustle. Perfect for settling in and catching up.
Drinks came first to toast the reunion. Matt and I kicked things off with a Summerhouse Negroni (£13.90) – a heady mix of dry gin, Campari, sherry, and a splash of fruit liqueurs. Across the table, Alex opted for Sunny’s Star-Tini (£11.90), which went down so well she promptly ordered a second, while Judy thoroughly enjoyed her refreshing Kohinoor Mojito (£11.90).
“Riot of flavours”
When it comes to the food, there’s so much choice. Dishoom’s menu is all about sharing. We didn’t quite appreciate that at first until the dishes began arriving, but it suits a social four-person catch-up down to the ground.
We opened with poppadoms – very light with a texture reminiscent of prawn crackers – alongside a warm, buttery Garlic Naan (£4.70) speckled with minced garlic and coriander. Then landed the Dishoom House Chaat (£9.50) and the Chilli Chicken (£10.50).
The Chaat was a real riot of flavours and temperatures: golden-fried sweet potato layered with cool yoghurt, fresh pomegranate seeds, crunchy beetroot, radish, and carrot, all lifted with a punchy tamarind drizzle and green chutney. Alongside it, the crispy Indo-Chinese Chilli Chicken brought a wonderful garlic, ginger, and soy kick.
Both plates delivered a genuine, quality, fresh taste with balanced spices. Our mouths had gone quiet for the first time that evening, and that was saying something!
“I could eat them forever”
Before long, the table filled out with the main feasts. We ordered two portions of the Chicken Ruby (£18.20 each), and they were spot on. Tender pieces of chicken swimming in a silky, rich makhani sauce – traditional, comforting, and packed with flavour.
The fragrant Steamed Basmati Rice (£4.50) was generous, with one bowl easily stretching between two of us. But what really set Dishoom apart from your standard high-street curry house was dishes like the Murgh Malai (£13.90) and the Masala Prawns (£17.90). The chicken thighs, steeped overnight in garlic, ginger, coriander stems, and cream, were melt-in-the-mouth soft. Meanwhile, the king prawns were charred lightly at the edges, succulent, and bursting with smoky spice.
Then came the Gunpowder Potatoes (£9.70) – smoky grilled new potatoes crushed and tossed in butter, seeds, and fresh herbs. Pairing those with the leftover Chilli Chicken proved an absolute masterstroke. Judy couldn’t stop raving about them, declaring across the table: “Those gunpowder potatoes and that chilli chicken! I could eat them forever.” She wasn’t wrong either; we were all dipping in and swapping plates happily.
To make sure we had enough on the table (like we hadn’t ordered enough already), we also enjoyed some greens and veg samosas. To keep going on the refreshment front, Matt and I ordered a couple of crisp, citrusy Dishoom IPA’s (£6.90), while the ladies repeated their cocktail order.
Service had been speedy, and we were having a blast. Our food and drink wasn’t bad either!
“Bombay café feel”
Glancing around the room, you’ve got lots to catch your eye. The interior at Dishoom, Leeds captures a classic Bombay café feel, but with touches of elegance all over.
High, ornate ceilings and vintage milk-glass chandeliers give off a nice glow over dark wood panelling and arched windows. Potted palms give it a leafy feel, alongside polished wood chairs and lighter wood flooring.
Then you’ve got the bar – and what a centrepiece it is. With a curved marble counter, deep mahogany panelling, and backlit spirits behind, it’s very art-deco. The whole floor is warm, atmospheric without feeling stuffy. Heritage charm, and an easy place to enjoy nice, considered food quite casually.
With our stomachs well lined and nearly an hour in hand before our last train back home, we fancied finishing on something sweet.
Matt and I paired our desserts with a Baba’s Sesame Espresso Martini (£11.90 each) – a velvety, rich pick-me-up, with a slight spice kick – and both opted for the Dishoom Chocolate Pudding (£10.50). It was a warm, melting-in-the-middle treat served with Kashmiri Chilli ice cream that balanced rich cocoa with a background heat.
Alex chose the Coconutty Fruit Crumble (£10.20), packed with pineapple, raspberry, and apple underneath a crisp toasted coconut crumble and silken coconut ice cream. Judy bowed out, completely defeated by the feast before it.
“Delicious”
Although the puddings were delicious, if there was one minor blip in an otherwise flawless evening, it was the wait at the end. It took around 50 minutes from being handed the dessert menus to the puddings actually landing on our table. The bustling crowd had quietened right down by that point, so we’d have expected them to turn up as swiftly as the savoury plates did. That said, it was newly opened and early days, and you naturally get the odd teething issue as a new team finds its rhythm.
And, when the dishes did arrive, they were worth every penny.
So, just before 11pm, the four of us were done and dusted. Would we manage to get our last train home? We wouldn’t…but that gave us a great excuse to venture in to Leeds to carry on a fantastic night for a couple more hours. Win-win.
With its atmosphere, superb cocktails, and memorable food and flavours, we loved Dishoom. If you like Indian food, and like your plates to be cranked up a little, it’s the perfect addition to the Leeds city centre dining scene, and a place you have to try.
Dishoom, 68–78 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 7JH
Opening times:
Mon – Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri: 8am – 12am
Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 11pm
Tel: 011 3517 1712
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
