Danny Malin: I tried every pop-up food vendor at Trinity Kitchen - and found a clear favourite
I love the buzz - and the variety on offer
I’ve always enjoyed the food court inside Trinity Leeds.
While we’re spoilt for choice nowadays, when Trinity Kitchen opened in 2013, it was one of the first of its kind in the city, with a range of independent food traders inside the shopping centre.
Some are permanent, others are rotational units, enabling start-ups and small traders to try it out for several weeks. For me, it’s great because each time I go, I get to try something different.
On my Danny Vs Food channel I decided to taste all five of the temporary vendors last month, which include poutine, burgers, tacos, lasagne and bao buns.
I had a small but delicious taco from Jimmy Macks, which packed a punch. These guys specialise in gluten-free street food and their Birria beef tacos.
Lasagne from Luigi Street Food Italiano, poutine from Spuds & Bro’s and a tasty burger from Wagyu Lookin’ At?. I also tried a crispy chicken bao bun from Yoi Fried Chicken.
My favourite for a quick bite and the most inexpensive were the tacos. They were compact but packed full of Birria beef.
My least favourite, but still tasty all the same, were the bao buns, as the crispy chicken was overcooked and there wasn’t enough of it.
You can’t beat poutine fries done well either, with all the cheese curds and gravy. This Canadian dish always reminds me of Christmas markets.
I love the buzz of Trinity Kitchen and the huge variety on offer.
This month, the new arrivals are Rico, serving fusion dishes including golden empanadas stuffed with tender meats and oozing melted cheese.
They are joined by Ayubowan, which serves authentic Sri Lankan dishes such as Parrippu Vadai – spicy deep-fried lentil and onion fritters – and Nasi Goreng topped with chicken, prawns or beef and garnished with fresh garlic and chillies.
Chicken Bandits has also brought its Nashville-style fried chicken to Leeds, with chicken burgers, loaded fries and saucy wings on the menu. Meanwhile, Fat Cat Bao is serving fluffy bao buns filled with chicken or tofu and topped with pickled onions and tangy sauces.