An independent restaurant has been handed a special award in a “proud moment for Leeds”.
Kerala Canteen, on St Peter’s Place, city centre, has won Best South Indian Restaurant of the Year at the Indian Restaurant Summit and Honours 2026. Chefs Bobby Geetha and Abdulla Khader accepted the award on behalf of the team, with Bobby also appearing as a panel speaker at the event.
The award recognises Kerala Canteen’s focus on authentic Kerala cuisine and its distinctive Kerala–Yorkshire approach to Indian dining in Leeds. The restaurant was created by Bobby with a simple ambition, to bring the distinctive food culture of Kerala to Leeds while creating a modern restaurant experience rooted in Yorkshire.
Originally from Kerala, Bobby lived and cooked in the UK for almost two decades. His culinary career includes appearances on MasterChef UK and representing Yorkshire & Humber on BBC’s Great British Menu.
Chef Bobby Geetha competed in Masterchef
Bobby said: “It’s a huge moment for us and for everyone who works at Kerala Canteen. Chef Abdulla and the whole kitchen team work incredibly hard every day, and this award belongs to them as much as it does to me.
“But I also think it’s a proud moment for Leeds. We’ve built Kerala Canteen here because we believe Leeds diners are curious and open-minded. They don’t just want the same version of Indian food they’ve had before. They want to discover something different.
“To be recognised for South Indian cuisine in a room filled with some of the leading people in Indian hospitality is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
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Dining and Cooking