Hansa's Gujarati Restaurant

Loved it. The best food in Leeds for me. The combination of flavours ensures the taste is just right. It is the best ever Kajori I've ever eaten. The pastry was light and thin with the filling having much more peas to dal ratio. Where most places that I've eaten make it too thick and heavy. The Shriken was also not overly sweetened and with the addition of the skinless orange gave it a freshly flavour. I had the Thali which gave me a small portion of different things to try. I was stuffed by the end. The service and staff are friendly and attentive. I highly recommend the place and look forward to coming back to try more.

Ordered Thali for dinner. Poori is ok, curd and related raitha or buttermilk are out of date products. Plain dal was sweet to my horror. Papad with sweet sauce tastes ok. Kidney beans curry lacks taste and mix veg curry(aloo, carrot, brinjal and corn is again below average). Lets not talk about pulav. Only great taste was manjo jelly. Went with great expectations but turned back with shattered experience and my bill was close to £18

Authentic gujrati food Leeds. Good ambience. Service is very good. Staff cooperative.

Amazing vegan and vegetarian experience. The staff are friendly and knowledgable. The food is AMAZING. I can't praise the food enough. I am vegan and my husband a carnivore. We both love eating here. We have been eating at Hansas over two decades. Try it, try it, you will not be disappointed. There is so much lovely food it's hard to choose but that's great as it means you can go back again, and again and again. My children asked me recently 'out of all the veggie restaurants we've eaten in around the world which was my favourite', the answer- Hansas.

Hansa's has always been the go-to place for my family to celebrate. There are few places that offer a purely vegetarian menu and even fewer that have the quality of service at Hansa's. It's a bit of a sung fit and sometimes a bit noisy but the food is amazing and the staff are courteous. I've never been disappointed with the food but I do sometimes think that a few items are pricier than expected.

Being a confirmed Carnivore I would like to point out that the food in this restaurant is magnificent. The absence of meat enhanced the food rather than detracted. Service was so so. There was 11 of us and we all ate at different times - not good when your companions have finished eating and you still have to get yours. Tables seated after us got their food before us and yes we booked before hand so no excuse there. Atmosphere was distinctly lacking. The food was good enough to give it 5* Would I go again? Most definitely yes, but not as a group

Lovely service, great atmosphere. Very quiet when my friend and I visited on a Tuesday. She's a vegan and I'm most definitely a meat eater, but the food was gorgeous. Well presented and the flavours were yummy

As always, a fantastic evening at Hansa's. I went with a group from our WI. The staff were helpful, efficient and friendly. We decided on the banquet and asked the staff to make the choice for us but asked for it all to be vegan. They provided us with a fantastic meal which we all enjoyed and those who had never been before have said they will be back. I've been with several groups previously and Hansa's never fails to provide a good experience enjoyed by all which is no mean feat in my experience.

I had long been looking forward to grabbing a bite at Hansa's, and having had the initial Supper Club date cancelled due to snow, I was really chuffed we managed to set up a second date. With five hungry Yelpers in tow, we got a seat in the upstairs bit, and I was instantly endeared by the ambiance, decor and service. Everyone was all smiles, the restaurant is pleasantly done out without being over the top if you want to go casual, and it had plenty of happy diners enjoying the place when we came in. Pretty much all of us opted for the thali, being as it's basically a plate of various exciting dishes, which is always more fun than just having one option! The thali comes with a lassi, sweet or salt, and I'm glad I went sweet. It was delicious, especially with the fennel seeds. The salt wasn't for me (I tried April K's) but it's worth a punt if you're more adventurous. When our food arrived we were discussing ingredients, and so the chap happily chatted with us about each dish, and what ingredients were used, even giving a detailed description of how things are eaten in India - this I loved. I'm a huge fan of learning about other cultures, foods, practices, so it was great to get a picture painted for us before we set to dine. Even more excitingly, we discovered a few dishes were brand new, though don't ask me which ones as I can't remember! In any case, we felt very special. Each of the dishes were a delight on the taste buds, and exciting in their own rights, as well as mixed together. I am a meat eater, but I barely noticed its absence. I also tried the chai tea, which was magnificent, and the pudding that comes with the thali really deserves a mention. It's super sweet and delectable, but sadly I only had room for half of it! In any case, it's a beautiful place, and I'm looking for an excuse to return. Delicious food, paired with such a wonderful and personable service, in ambient surrounds makes for one delightful evening out. I highly recommend!

One of my first restaurants I ate at since working in Leeds. When they say something is spicy, it's spicy. So refreshing to have a bit of taste in this part of the world!

I'm a meat lover. Ask me about my favourite foods, and I'll tell you about meat. But ask me where I want to go and eat in Leeds, and I'll tell you Hansas. Hansas is an old Leeds institution, and you can tell why it's stood the test of time. 5 minutes out of Leeds centre (although just over the ring road), it's a little bit set apart from most restaurants, but it's totally worth the walk. The menu is varied, although all vegetarian, and everything I've ever tried has been absolutely beautiful. Everything is reasonably priced, and if there's a group of you they do 'banquet meals' which are a great way to try lots of different dishes. My favourite dish by far is the chilli paneer - devilishly hot and full of flavour. We love Hansas so much we had it for Christmas dinner last year. One word of warning - the food tends to be *very* spicy. If you like it a bit milder, it might be worth asking when you order. Or just order a delicious lassi to go with your meal.

Went here just before Chrostmas and was a bit worried, as having a curry with no meat in it was alien to me. The staff were fantastic and very helpful nad the food was gorgeous, and was worth every penny. Will definitely go again - give it a try you will be suprised!

Hot on the heels of my previous review I returned to Hansa's, this time for their Sunday lunch buffet. The buffet consisted of two types of curry, two hot rices, poppadums and pickle, pakoras, chappatis, and an impressive array of plain and more exotic salads. The food was delicious, hot and fresh as they kept bringing more up from the kitchen. The wholemeal chappatis and lentil dal in particular were amazing. There was only one waitress working and she was pretty much rushed off her feet, but we still only had a short wait to order drinks and get the bill - impressive! For £8.95 (not including drinks) all you can eat, this is a bargain. If you're going for the buffet, either book or get there at 12 sharp - this place is deservedly very popular!

Hansas is quite an old institution which has now stood the test of time and has done really well in beating other restaurants and curry/balti houses of its kind by still staying vegetarian. It is surely a feat worth commending. The menu is varied and as the menu is based on the restaurant's theme i.e. Gujurati which essentially represents a state in India famously known for food that is sweet and spicy. You get seated onto your table and are served complimentary starters called "Gaathiyaas" which are unique to them and could give places in India a run for their money as opposed to having the boring poppadoms. The food has a good variety of items. Having said all that, Hansa's does ensure that their food satisfies all palates. So if you would like it spiced up or mellowed down, ask for it. Hansa's excels in all areas like customer service, great food, a cheerful staff and wide variety to suit one and all. The only reason I am not giving this a 5 star is because I found the ambience a little outdated and a couple of dishes were slightly greasier than we would have liked but dont take any credit away from them. I can see the only way for this place to go is up and it will surely justify your hunger cravings especially if you are a vegetarian

Amazing place. We were visiting Leeds for the weekend and the Leeps Yelpers suggested this might be the place to go. And boy, they weren't wrong. I'd never eaten Gujarati style food before, so the menu was a festival of exciting possibilities for me. I had no worries about being vegan here and was completely spoiled for choice. For starter, I had Pani Puri - bite sized puris, stuffed with spicy chickpeas and onions, with tamarind sauce. My main course choice was Guwaar Bateta - a dry curry made with Indian runner beans and cubes of potato, served with daal. Both dishes were fantastic. Mr H had Hansa's special Thali, which he enjoyed immensely. Being a meat eater, this was totally new for him, and he loved it. We were both so happy with the food that on the way out, we bought one of Hansa's recipe books and have been busy creating delights in the kitchen ever since.

Favourite restaurant bar none. Ridiculously delicious and unique food, lovely staff, and always seems good value for money. I love it. They do a dessert called Phoebe's Delight which if you're partial to sweet things almost tastes rude. It disappeared off the menu for a while, but Hansa still made me some for my Birthday which I was so touched by (she even refused to charge me for it!). If I had to choose my last dish on earth it would be their chilli panneer. It's very rare to find food that can be spice-hot and yet still have sweet, citrus, and sour flavours in abundance. The massala stuffed aubergines are divine too. Instead of just having a starter and a main each, go with a group of friends and order lots of dishes to share; your taste buds will never look back. It's the place that always come to mind for me when I want to show off something unique about Leeds when I have friends visiting - and it's great that you can enjoy a very un-rushed evening here unlike most restaurants. I've known so many non-vegetarians for whom this place has really changed their view of vegetarian food, and if you're already vegetarian (like me) this place is paradise. I think this independently owned restaurant has been in Leeds over 25 years and so really should be celebrated. If you get chance also try and find out about the amazing and inspiring work they've done to help both women in Leeds and children in India have a better life. Right, where's the number, I think want to book my next visit :)

A fully vegetarian restaurant in Leeds and one that has been a stable part of Indian cuisine in the city for 20 years. The food is all interesting and different to the normal 'curry' you might have wolfed down after a few pints. The menus are really well set out and original in appearance and the staff very friendly. Service is possibly slightly slow but then everything is prepared by hand and a lot of care goes into what you eat. A starter of Chilli Paneer was delcious - combining the cheesey texture with a vibrant spicy coating but not too hot. The Hansa's Sizzler was a combo of paneer, peppers, potatoes and spice served on hot plate - really excellent. My main course of Ravaiya (masala stuffed aubergines with peanuts) was very good but possibly lacking the final spicy blast I expected. There's no naan bread or poppadoms here, instead you have a choice of Rotli, Batura or Puri - these are smaller sized breads that work just as well and are in line with the food from the Gujarati tradition of Indian vegetarian cooking. I didn't have any pud as I was stuffed by that point, but happily so! The restaurant itself is smart looking and well presented. The facilities downstairs are possible lo-fi in appearance but perfectly acceptable. This is a great alternative to standard curry fodder and certainly worth a visit. No need to be a veggie to eat here (I'm not) as the variety of flavours on offer more than makes up for any lack of meat. Check it out.

First things first... the food was excellent. Delicious and different. Not just another curry house. It's completely vegetarian and you really don't miss the meat. However... The place was chaos! We had booked a table, but were left for ages without even being asked if we'd like drinks. The staff seemed confused the whole time, taking people and food to the wrong tables. The lighting downstairs is harsh and the waiting area/bar is uninspiring, but the upstairs dining areas are nicer. Other diners assured us that despite the fact it is usually this chaotic, the food was forth persevering for. And they were right, but it's just a shame... they have the difficult bit sorted (delicious food), if only they sorted out the easy things too (lighting, organisation, staff who know what's going on), the experience would be so much more enjoyable.

False advertising, this is barely Gujarati. The menu had something called "spice bomb" - baked potato with some spice mixture filled in it's core. Gujarati? No way. Tasty? No way again. The vegetable I ordered also was very ordinary. Tea took forever (the overall order took too long). The waitress was v polite, she simply had nothing from the kitchen to back her up. Finally, the rotis also were brought out last and were not good - not typical for a Gujarati place. Total letdown, honestly very surprised to see the other good reviews here.

Had a great meal here a couple of years ago, but took my Mum recently and was unimpressed. The wait for food was around an hour. We asked the waiter's advice on if dishes were hot and he said they weren't (I actually don't mind spicey food). Honestly... I don't wish to be rud, but my dish tasted like watered down canned tomato with very little flavour other than WAY too much chilli. The portion was also quite small given the price. My Mum really enjoyed the desert though and the staff were nice and the interiors are nice. Doubt I'll go again... Though kinda tempted to check the buffet and see if I just chose the wrong dish for me.

After last night's pre-show visit to Hansa's, I am reviewing through my curry sweat, but not unhappily. A cosy restaurant where you feel comfortable having a really good natter over some delicious food. For that, I'm willing to take the aftermath of my low spice tolerance threshold. In fact, as a hot-food wimp, although I was informed by the waitress that all the dishes had "a bit of a kick", I would be tempted to say that my milder choice was the curry equivalent of Jackie Chan giving me "a bit of a kick" (despite drowning it in yoghurt). However, after a few mouthfuls, something strange started to happen, and I was for once willing to admit that a dish was "the good kind of spicy", and really delicious (yes, it was hot with FLAVOUR) when accompanied by the sticky rice (something I've never had in Indian cooking before, and a great change). With the mouth-cooling capacities of one of the best mango lassies I have ever had, I suffered none of the normal symptoms of my stomach turning itself inside out and refusing to take any more after two mouthfuls I would have appreciated an extra napkin for my nose, though... be warned. Although it would be good to have some milder options on the menu for the English palate, I appreciated the authenticity of this place, the light food that meant I could try plenty of tempting and mysterious dishes, as well as the friendly, quick service (especially when I mentioned that my own dessert related greed had put us in a rush for the theatre and we needed the bill five minutes ago!) Oh yes... the dessert. My chari, described on the menu as "a Gujarati sweet pie, filled with Mawa, a delicious Indian fudge mixture, served hot with cream or Ice cream" (and I do appreciate the trouble taken to explain the food), was enough to inspire some serious dessert envy from across the table, and not without reason: more like a pistachio (at a guess from the appealing forest green colour!) frangipane wrapped in marzipan-like pastry, it wasn't too sickly, and was perfect with ice-cream. It left me wondering if it would be frowned on to come back just for sundries and dessert. From the table nibbles (we had some debate over whether these were edible or just pot-pourri, but were rewarded for our daring) to the pud, this little adventure is bound to have me trying out some of the food in my own kitchen, before realizing I can't top their culinary skill, and decide it's worth a return visit at a very reasonable twenty quid-ish for three generous à-la-carte courses plus drink.

Hansas is a bit of a hidden gem. Its just outside the city centre on North street. A few people mentioned we should go if we wanted to taste what traditional vegetarian Indian food should be like. We went on a monday evening and it was pretty quiet. We ordered a Thali each which is 2 curries, a rotli or puri, plain or pilau rice, daal or kadhi, farsan, shrikhand or mango pulp, papad and a glass of lassi - sweet or salty. It did take a while to arrive but boy was it worth the wait! All the different flavors of each dish really jump out at you. Its not like you typical indian curry its more delicate. The lassi's were amazing too. We got one salty and one sweet and they were both delicious. Id recommend going in you like vegetarian food and want to taste real traditional indian food!

I was brought here by my boyfriend as a anniversary surprise on a busy Saturday night, and what a surprise it was! We had a great time, the restaurant was packed and rightly so. The waitresses were obviously rushed off their feet and were doing their best to take everybody's orders, but it did still take a long time to get our food, it was still however piping hot when we got it. AND boy was it spicy! we had the 'spice bomb' to start, thinking 'we can handle our spice' how wrong we were. when they say 'try if you dare', heed their warning- its really spicy, but really tasty at the same time! There are of course non spicy dishes, i just love a challenge. The rest of the meal was fantastic, filled us up, good size portions at a really reasonable price. i shall definitely be going there again if i get the chance.

This is easily the best Indian restaurant I have been to in Leeds and one of the best Indian meals I have eaten outside of India. It cannot be compared to most of the other Indian restaurants in Leeds as it does not offer the standard curry-rice-nan meal combinations or balti/rogan josh/jalfrezi dishes. It is entirely vegetarian and has many vegan options. Instead, it offers Gujarati food, a region in the north-west of India. But it not typical Gujarati food as Hansa (the owner and chef) has created all of her own recipes. She has even brought out her own recipe book. It was a delight trying unusual and unexpected dishes such as a chickpea curry made with black chickpeas. I wanted to try as much as possible as the emphasis at Hansas is experiencing new things so I went for a starter of Masala Dhosa, a rice pancake stuffed with vegetable curry. It took me a while to decide between this, samosas or a bajhi. All of the main courses are freshly prepared vegetable curries and this was evident in my main - an aubergine and bean curry. The only downfall of the meal is that everything I tried (my food and the food of others I was with) was exceedingly spicy! Possibly spicier than any other Indian restaurant and there didn't seem to be any mild options or any warning of this. I could just about handle it but if you have a sensitive spice-awareness then it might not be such a pleasant restaurant experience. I like the fact that this restaurant was established and is still run by a woman and that she has an all-female staff.

Shamefully, I only recently made it to Hansas having lived a footstep away for over a year. The boyfriend and I attended the Sunday buffet recently and found it great value for money, and very delicious. I would definitely return for that again. The other week we returned for a full meal. On the whole, we enjoyed it. The boyfriend had something called a Spice Bomb for his starter. It definitely lived up to its name; he was dripping disgustingly. Our mains were also very nice; I don't recall the names but mine was potato-ey and although a little hotter than my usual choice was still very nice. We also had coriander rice which I really enjoyed. The problem was on this occasion the service. I ordered a mint tea and the boyfriend requested a lemonade and a jug of water. The lemonade arrived very quickly, but my the end of the starter the other two drinks were still outstanding. I queried their whereabouts and was told they were on the way in a very casual fashion. Another waitress came over showing a little more urgency which was appreciated but still the mint tea turned up about five minutes before I finished my main. I can't really see how it took so long as it was about half eight and there were only two other tables occupied. When my plate was cleared, the waitress asked with a considerable tone of alarm if there was anything wrong with the tea. As it had only been poured literally five minutes earlier and I do not (unlike my grandmother) have an asbestos mouth) I was a little taken aback. I wasn't charged for this tea, but regrettably I was almost charged for a lot of things I hadn't chosen when the wrong bill arrived. Luckily this was an occasion when I checked properly, and it was rectified but it was all a bit disappointing as I had really been anticipating a good experience given all the other positive reviews The food was good and I do hope to return again and have a better experience, but for now it is only a-ok.

I have eaten at Hansa's two or three times now and each time I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The food is delicious, the service is good and the atmosphere is pleasant. Each time I have gone I have ordered a platter that comes with two different curries, bread, dessert, a lassi, and rice. And each time I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was flavourful and the mango lassi tasted fresh, as opposed to some restaurants where they taste too sweet or processed. I am not a vegetarian but I do like vegetarian food. I would definitely recommend Hansa's to anyone who enjoys good Indian food.

Hansas has been family-run for the last twenty years and let's hope to God it never changes. One of the only vegetarian curry houses in Leeds City Centre, Hansas serves traditional Indian food in the traditional Indian way. (Make sure you go for the Hansas Delight, followed by the Hansas Sizzler panir dishes that you won't find tastier anywhere else in the country!) The service isn't always the best, but when it eventually arrives it tastes so good you can't help but forgive them. Introduce your vegetarian friend and you'll never be able to do wrong by them again!

I was really underwhelmed coming here at the end of 2013. There were bad signs when the mango lassi arrived: it was very pale and watery and didn't taste very mangoey at all. Everything on the starter platter tasted...the same. The mains were too small. Nothing stood out. And it feels kind of shabby inside, slightly neglected. I would choose Leed's Corner Café over this place any day. And Bradford's wonderful Prashad. I've been a vegetarian for 15 years and have eaten lots of vegetarian Indian food so I was looking forward to eating here. I was so disappointed. I'm not going back again.

Favourite restaurant bar none. Ridiculously delicious and unique food, lovely staff, and always seems good value for money. Love it.

can falter under pressure.. my starters was lying for 20 minutes because they didn't know who it was for. Worst was that it was served cold.

Amazing food and the owners are lovely and friendly. It's a bit of a jumble (you go past the kitchens to get to the loos, etc) and although I don't have a problem with pure-veg, I suppose some meat-eaters might. Fresh, light, taste-sensation food (try the carrot cake pudding. You will not regret it).