Manjit’s Kitchen

Review by Kitty Lo: Looking for a cute and cosy place for a heartwarming meal with a taste that will send you to the streets of India? Manjit’s Kitchen in Leeds is the ideal place. As you walk in, you’re met with friendly service before sitting back to enjoy the decor. On the walls, you can see the journey and successes the owners have achieved on their wall of fame, back when they started as a food truck. Their success has now expanded to the heart of Leeds City centre in the Kirkstall Market and, here, the dine-in restaurant in Burley.

It’s clear how they’ve achieved their success. From a handpicked menu of the most delicious recipes, you have three main options: Thinking Snacks, Small and Bigger. A popular selection is to have a couple of Small, which are Indian starters, or known by their proper name: chaat. Or you could try some of Manjit’s Kitchen’s unique options such as the Salt and Pepper Chickpea Fries with Roasted Garlic Mayo. This is a twist on traditional potato chips but still with that crisp exterior and fluffy insides, and very much recommended.

Manjit, the owner, specifically created a women-only kitchen to involve a female workforce who may have less experience than their male counterparts

When it comes to main dishes, Thali is the biggest seller at Manjit’s Kitchen. This is an absolute must-try, consisting of a set of three savoury curries including dhal and two curries of the day, accompanied by a roti, rice, pickles, salad and a spring roll. Then finish with something sweet, such as Vegan Kheer or a house chai tea. Everything is hand-prepared by the fantastic female chefs at the back of house.

Manjit, the owner, specifically created a women-only kitchen to involve a female workforce who may have less experience than their male counterparts. This is their attempt to give back to the community and to enrich the ladies’ lives further. But the sense of duty to give back doesn’t stop there. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, they have decided to start their line of beer – Manjit’s Ten – brewed in partnership with Horsforth Brewery, with ten different flavours to choose from. But act quick, this is a one-off run so they won’t be around for long.