Leicester Halal restaurant food tour 2023 with Evington Road

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Our Halal food tour of Leicester has been a long time coming having last visited this fascinating city for a mini-trip of sorts back in 2019.

Sponsored by HMC meat purveyors Halal Editions, an online butcher that delivers nationwide and which made our summer BBQ the epic success it was, our trip this time turned out to be truly memorable.

It should go without saying that Evington Road, with its array of Halal restaurants and its HMC-friendly clientele, featured heavily on this tour.

Nevertheless, in between our leisurely strolls and exploration of their historical city centre, which included The Guidhall and remnants of The Castle Yard, as well as a number of fascinating museums, we got to visit some of Leicester’s best restaurants.

After exploring Leicester’s vibrant city centre, there’s only one place to visit for food and some incredible coffee, and that’s the authentic family-run Italian cafe Affogato.

Located past the famous Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower in Gallowtree Gate, this is the perfect place to unwind and grab a quick bite, or enjoy a hearty breakfast, with a light and airy interior that creates a chilled-out vibe.

Not only do they authentically serve the classic Italian dessert affogato which they’re named after, but they also offer a staggering range of 24 flavours when it comes to their smooth Italian gelato ice cream, all of which is homemade by them.

Their carefully-conceived menu doesn’t just include all-day breakfast and brunch options, Italian pasta and pizza, as well as desserts defined by said gelato, but also items popular with some regulars such as their jacket potatoes.

There’s something about the love and attention put into a cafe that’s family-run that you won’t find elsewhere, and Bruberry in Evington’s quiet corner of Moat Road is a bistro that’s run by a husband and wife team.

They’ve put together an astounding menu too with exciting breakfast and brunch choices, smoothie bowls, French toast, American pancakes, burgers, waffles, backed potato, and plenty of beverage options.

Not only do they do authentic Kheema Paav, with homemade lamb mince cooked using a secret family recipe, but also sweet and savoury pastries such as their Pulled Beef Croissant, or a Pistachio & Rose Cream filled Croissant.

For those with a sweet tooth, then you’d be remiss to look past their Waffles and French Toasts, with the Churros French Toast being a popular item.

If you’re in the area of Westcote, then know that Bronkos on Narborough Road are peri-peri chicken specialists of the highest calibre.

Not only are they renowned for their marinades and flame-grilled chicken, but also serve chicken and hand-pressed beef burgers, grilled lamb chops, and some delicious dynamite prawns.

What also helps them stand out from the crowd is their prices, with their flame-grilled whole chicken only £9.99, and a quarter just £3.49; and all grilled with a choice of four memorable finger-licking marinations: Lemon & Herb, Medium, Hot, and Extra Hot.

But the versatility of their menu is further defined by Bronkos’ Lamb Chops which are one of the restaurant’s most sought-after dishes. In addition, they do an extraordinary Peri Chicken Caesar Salad you simply will not find elsewhere in the area.

Leicester’s London Road mixes the sweet with the spicy

If you’re looking for a sleek, modern Indian restaurant then don’t look past Saffron Street with an elegantly designed Instagrammable interior boasting plenty of gold and bling.

They offer a refined street food experience with a HMC-certified menu including dishes such as a Palak Chaat that’s quite literally rolled out on a wooden street food cart.

They also do a show-stopping Mixed Grill that’s presented in a bronze imitation barbecue and comprised of beautifully charred pieces of succulent meat.

Just as impressive was their Indo-Chinese inspired dishes with classics such as Chicken Lollipop, Dhamaka Prawns, Lamb Bao Buns, and the Chicken 65 Chow Mein.

Heavenly Desserts need little introduction being as they are the UK’s leading luxury Halal dessert parlour, with this one on London Road seldom not packed.

Given the sheer range of quality products available on their impressive menu, some items to consider would be the classic fondant, like the Chocolate & Pistachio, or the eye-squintingly zesty Lemon Posset.

If you fancy something hot though, then it has to be Heavenly Desserts’ rich and hearty signature Blueberry French Toast Pudding.

Otherwise there’s the Warm Brownie, Salted Caramel & Banana Sundae, and the Lotus Biscoff Milkcake, all of which only begins to touch upon their mighty range of desserts.

Leicester’s Evington ‘HMC’ Road dominates this tour & the city

On to the legendary stretch of Evington Road and all its Halal culinary destination spots, where there’s only one place to hit if you’re after top-notch burgers and pizzas.

DwnTwn has been going strong for years now and there’s a very good reason why, with a succinct menu that’s been honed to perfection.

Not only are their smashed beef and chicken burgers superb, but they offer a range of pizzas too, one of which is their famous signature DwnTwn Pizza with a layer of smashed patty, gherkins and plenty of house sauce.

Otherwise, be sure to try a portion of their DwnTwn Roulette, which is a combination of crispy buttermilk DwnTwn Wings and ones covered in their fried house batter.

Multi award-winning Bombay Bites epitomises the meaning of the word fast, with a build-your-own curry box concept they call Bombay Boxes which offer an endless variety of combinations.

But the real success lies in their fascinating back-story and the owner’s father whose journey as a restaurateur goes way back to 1967 and the opening of Kohinoor in Leicester Railway Station.

As for Bombay Bites, then the idea is fun and addictive, with a 4-step building process that involves choosing two fillings out of a staggering 18 options, a base from a choice of four, and a curry sauce and a chutney to finish the process.

As a smokehouse, Cattle & Smoke is a cut above the rest thanks to the time and effort put in by its owner in perfecting this hard-to-master art.

As Leicester’s first fully Halal HMC-certified smokehouse, they offer grass-fed Angus beef that’s slowly smoked in oak wood for 18 hours to ensure the juiciest and most tender brisket available.

Aiming to make the best quality smoked meats accessible to a wider audience, their Smoke Boxes are amazing, with a choice of either delicious sliced smoked brisket, pulled beef based in spicy Texas BBQ sauce, or a quartet of Nashville tenders, and plenty of condiments.

And aside from the amazing burgers, they even have left-key options such as Chicken & Waffles.

Fattoush is a health-oriented brand in Fosse Park that’s known for its fresh flavours and locally sourced ingredients, and which offers a Lebanese menu with an urban twist.

Looking to disrupt the country’s Halal food scene, their concept centres around build-your-own bowls which involve the fun process of choosing a base, a mezze, and additional options from a staggering 21 toppings.

But they’re also known for their unique starters too with items such as the newly-introduced Halloumi Fries, and pillowy soft inhouse bao bun – coming with a choice of five fillings: beef, chicken, halloumi, falafel, and tofu – as just two examples.