Where to eat near Bramall Lane 2023

Greedy Blades pick their favourite eating spots within a mile of S2 4SU

Photo: @IdleRoss

Sam Parry

Is my food obsession as great as my Blades obsession? Probably not but maybe.

Last year, after we published Where to Eat Near Bramall Lane - 2022, I spent a lot of time obsessing about how we could improve our recommendations. We had been too focussed on the formal knees-under. And so, this year’s version is much more snack-heavy. The stuff that’s easy to find, easy to carry and has enough about it to soak up the supping.

In fact, this year’s version is split in three. In part one, I chart the Shawarmas of London Road. In parts two and three, the floor is opened up to other greedy contributors to pick their favourite food spots (snack and knees under) within 1 mile of Bramall Lane. Let’s have it.

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Sam Parry

The first rule of Shawarma Club? Yep: don’t talk about it. Okay, you’re in.

I commute to Sheffield from London for home games. The train stops at the station. I get off. And I walk towards the pub. After the game, I make the same journey in reverse. And along that route, travelling to or from matches, is a litany of eateries selling one of my favourite foods, and I’d argue, one of the great football snacks: the Shawarma.

Encyclopedia Britannica—Shawarma: a popular street food in the Middle East, which originated in Turkey and is made of spit-roasted layers of meat that are sliced and often wrapped in or served with pita.

In my head, it’s always served wrapped in a parcel of soft pitta; that’s a shawarma to me. Over the 2022/23 season, I tried six different London Road shawarma. And now I’m going to list my top three. As for the rules, they are simple: the order is always the same, one Shawarma with every bit of salad and every sauce. Done.

1 - Kurdistan (£3.00)

Right. So. The first rule of Shawarma Club is don’t talk about Shawarma Club because I can’t be arsed to queue any further for the delight of a Kurdistan.

The best of them – and I feel entitled to say that having tried them all – is Kurdistan. By a mile? No. By some immeasurable distance? Probably.

I’m hesitant to write this paragraph because, for a long time, Kurdistan has felt like a pre-match secret. There are never extensive queues, the prices are ridiculously cheap, and the food is quietly superb. There’s chicken and lamb koftes, chicken and lamb tikka, and whole rotisserie chickens. All of it comes with chips and a rainbow of glorious countertop salads, and if you eat in, they’ll hand you a bowl of sunshine-yellow lentil soup.

All that said, there’s one dish that, once ordered, can be consumed in the exact amount of time it takes to walk to the Kop. It used to cost £2.50, although they’ve raised prices recently to *checks notes* £3.00. That investment returns you a soft, bubbling, freshly cooked naan wrapped around spiced shawarma chicken, a flourish of crisp leaves, pickles, chillis and home-made sauces ranging from sesame-heavy hummus to red-chilli heat. Look, it’s not always quick. They don’t hand anything over until the chicken is singed. The naan is one of the best I’ve ever eaten, but it’s the work of minutes, not seconds. And that’s why it’s so good. If I picked one dish on this list to eat before every game at Bramall Lane, the Chicken Shawarma wrap at Kurdistan might just be it.

2 - Middle Eastern Shawarma (£3.50)

Not so far behind is Middle Eastern Shawarma, M.E.S.

It’s busying up. United fans sit at tables with trays of rice and naan and salads and meat. There’s a bit of a queue but nothing dramatic. My usual order – Shawarma and all salads and sauces – is made to order. The disc of naan dough is popped into the oven. When it comes out, it’s a tiny bit smaller than others I’ve tried, perhaps a good inch smaller in length. Of course, this matters, because price per bite is an important measure of a shawarma. I know that this can’t match Kurdistan’s offering in that regard, but this may be quickly forgotten.

If you order all the salad – which I always do – they’re throwing olives in there. Like Norooz did too. It makes me question myself. I love olives. But there’s no place for them amongst shawarma. A fair portion of meat and salads are added, and sauces – yoghurt, garlic, chilli, hummus – are drizzled on too. The whole thing is rolled into a cylinder.

On eating, you can taste the crozzle. There’s that blackened, burnt, marmiteyness to the chicken’s edges. It’s not exactly crisp but the onion salad and red cabbage salad compensate with a bit of bite. The garlic sauce comes through. It helps that there’s an extra bottle tableside. But it’s obviously mass-produced stuff. I have no problem with this, as mass-produced sauces can be great. This one is okay.

Taken together, the quality is really good. Everyone in that restaurant looks like they’re eating happy. But the shawarma – and that’s what I’m interested in – is not as big or as bold or as moreish as at Kurdistan. It’s great though. It’s definitely second. And for £3.50 a wrap, it’s a fine thing.

3 - Norooz (£3)

We’ve just beaten Stoke, so Norooz has the advantage of plating up a Shawarma to a happy Blade. It’s quite busy, so as the chef shaves off the meat for the people in front, I can see that what I’ll be left with are not the charred, smoky, frizzled bits of meat. And when he asks me what salads I’d like (and I reply “Everything and all sauces”) I can see on the counter that the chicken’s a bit pallid.

Still, it’s tasty. The naan is good: fresh, perfectly circular, dimpled all over and with enough of a charred edge. They don’t skimp on anything, it’s a good-sized thing. The onions and red cabbage are nice if a little vinegary. The other salady accompaniments include jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes and olives, and it runs aground here. One: there’s no place for jalapeños and olives in shawarma; it just doesn’t want more vinegar than the pickled cabbage lends it. Two: I don’t believe lettuce has much of a place either. Then again, I asked for everything. And look – it’s really nice – go and try it. The restaurant is busy, with families gathered around giant plates of mixed grill: and I imagine that’s why you’d come to Norooz. And I will come back, but maybe not for the shawarma. From my table, I look onto London Road. And it’s looking at me: Kurdistan.

Corner Jammers

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Turkey, bacon, ranch sandwich, £6.50

• 586 Queens Rd, Lowfield, Sheffield S2 4DU

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

For the 2022 version of this article, I wrote that Two Doors Down was my favourite place to eat in Sheffield. Unfortunately, it closed down shortly after the article was published. Fortunately, they have resurfaced as Corner Jammers at Hagglers Corner on Queens Road. I have been back a couple of times since the move and it has changed a fair bit. The venue is bigger and has space to sit down to eat but everything else seems to have slimmed down.

The sandwich menu is smaller although they do now have a brunch menu, the sandwiches are cheaper but they are also smaller (although there is always the option to buy two). The quality of the sandwich is still very much the same; still unlike anywhere else selling sandwiches in Sheffield that I am aware of but I do just wish they'd kept them the same size.

Phat Buns

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Grilled chicken burger meal, £12

• 113 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4LE

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

The newest addition to a small chain of burger restaurants has arrived on London Road. Phat Buns feels a bit like the younger cousin of Five Guys, one who's into prog rock and anime. The premise is that you choose a burger, choose the type of bun you want it to be sat in, choose from an array of optional extras (such as cheese curd and potato shoestrings) and away you go. The service was friendly and helpful and the decor makes you feel like you're sat in Laser Quest.

I went for the grilled chicken burger with the original bun and added caramelised onion and cheese curd, then chose crinkle fries over potato tots and added a portion of phat sauce. The burger was lovely and squishy, a little spicier than I had expected, which is no bad thing, and all in all it was a decent choice. If you want to be more adventurous, there are Cheetos and Doritos burgers on the menu as well as an all-day breakfast burger. 

Yum Yum Bites (New Era Square)

Sam Parry

• Yum Yum Bites, 8 New Era Square, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4BF

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

It’s pretty quiet at Yum Yum Bites on New Era Square when I rock up at about 1pm. Just one couple sat down in the twenty covers or so restaurant/takeaway. I’ve been on the train from London, and I’ve pre-ordered on Uber Eats. Just want a snack. Summat heavy enough to drink on and light enough not to feel bloated. I tell them I’ve preordered and the chef is wrapping up. They hand over a folded circle of puffy pancake the size of a small plate. It’s substantial but weighs next to nothing. It’s hot, crispy. Where it’s been folded, there is some teriyaki thrown in. Sweet and salty and sticky. It could be heavier on spring onions. It’s a lovely thing though. And as you get yourself to the final bites, when only a small triangle of folded pancake remains, you hit a pointed reminder that gravity beats us all: the sauce waits for you, and that last bite is the best.

Best Boy Bagels

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Guinness pork belly, blueberry ketchup and cheddar cheese bagel, £8

• 43 Chesterfield Rd, Meersbrook, Sheffield S8 0RL

• 0.8 miles from Bramall Lane

I was lucky enough to visit Best Boy Bagels on the day it opened, just before the Cardiff home game. Situated in the former home of Two Doors Down (now resurrected as Corner Jammers at Hagglers Corner) there must be something about this building that facilitates the production of incredible food.

That day I had a bagel with Guinness pork belly, cheddar cheese and blueberry ketchup. I had gone with every intention of having the salt beef but when I was standing in the queue and I saw them melting the cheese onto the bagel I had to try this one. It was definitely the right choice, although that said, I have been back a number of times since and it doesn't seem like there is a wrong choice. The menu changes fairly regularly and I have since tried the Chicken Shwarm and the BBQ Mushroom options and both were just as good. All of the bagels are made on-site and they do sell out quickly, so if you are thinking of heading here I would recommend getting there before 12:30.

Ying Bakery (London Road)

Sam Parry

• Pick: Pineapple char siu bao, £2.20

• 42-46 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4LR

• 0.4 miles from Bramall Lane

A post-match Pineapple Char Siu Bao was almost everything I hoped. In my head, sour-sweet pineapple and sticky-sweet pork would be a harmonious if unexpected marriage. However, the titular pineapple is not, as I’d hoped, actually chunks of fresh pineapple. Instead, it refers to the yellowy, crinkly crust on the outside of the bun (rue my ignorance). The crust is buttery, almost custardy, and the top crunches when you bite. The dough itself is good. Rich. Comforting. It was late when I ate it, and it would be better straight from the oven. But the inner layer of char siu pork is treacly and delicious. A steal at the price.

Street Food Chef

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Toasted burrito, £9.45

• 90 Arundel St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4RE

• 0.7 miles from Bramall Lane

This is a great place for fast and relatively healthy food, and I think one of the more authentic Mexican meals you are likely to find in Sheffield. Street Food Chef has a small menu and everything they do is done well.

On my most recent visit they had run out of guacamole, so they asked me to give them a minute while they made a fresh batch. I liked this: it shows that they are preparing everything fresh. I am yet to try the eating challenge but it is definitely on my bucket list. If you're eating in, I would recommend the toasted burrito over the classic version.

Forge House Bakery (Sheffield Train Station)

Sam Parry

• Sheffield Train station, Sheaf St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BP

• 0.7 miles to Bramall Lane

Okay, so it’s an egg custard tart. A Portuguese egg custard tart, or to give it the proper name, a pastel de nata. Not a pastry of nothing – as I thought ‘nata’ might suggest – but a pastry of cream. Singed and burnt. With an exterior that holds its contents in a flakier hug than a sweet-crust ever could, it’s my post-journey go-to with a coffee.

Potato Oven

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Tuna mayo sweetcorn jacket potato and a chocolate fudge cake, £6.30

• 66 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4LR

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

This London Road institution is the place to go if you want a quick meal which won't be too pricey or too unhealthy. They offer a wide range of hot and cold jacket potato fillings (as the sign says: "the filling is up to you") and a good range of school-dinner-style desserts.

Each jacket potato is accompanied by a large portion of salad on the side. My own personal favourites are the chicken curry and the tuna mayo sweetcorn, with the chocolate fudge cake for dessert. There are places to sit and eat in or the option to take away.

Pepe’s

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Chicken XL burger meal with added cheese and extra chicken, £11.39

• 153-155 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4LH

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

This and Middle Eastern Shawarma are my go-to spots on London Road. They never disappoint. Pepe’s always seems to be busy, especially on match days, but a free table always seems to appear just before your food is ready.

The decor has a standard small franchise aesthetic and the service is always fast and efficient. The menu offers pretty much every conceivable manner of serving peri peri chicken and you can't really go wrong. I generally go for the chicken ‘n’ rice box or the chicken XL burger.

Butta La Pasta

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Pappardelle with oxtail ragu + spinach and ricotta cannelloni

• 280 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4NA

• 0.2 miles from Bramall Lane

I have been a fan of this place since before it even opened: I was lucky enough to attend one of their pop-ups in a church in Meersbrook and had waited for their restaurant to open ever since. Everything about their food is incredibly authentic, and you can tell that an awful lot of care and thought is put into every aspect of the menu. They source a lot of their ingredients from their own allotment and you can see the freshly made pasta being hung up to dry in the kitchen.

Pappardelle with oxtail ragu + spinach and ricotta cannelloni

The menu changes every week with the latest offerings posted on their Facebook page. It is an unpretentiously decorated, reasonably-sized restaurant, usually with plenty of places to sit. An interesting quirk is the instrumental jazz music which accompanies your meal and makes you feel like a retired private detective who's about to be persuaded to take on one last job. I always order two mains when I come here but I have to say the portion sizes have grown recently and the last time I went there I left uncomfortably full – which is always a good thing!

The Beer Engine

Travelling Blade

• 17 Cemetery Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S11 8FJ

• 0.4 miles from Bramall Lane

Located just off London Road sits a somewhat-hidden treasure, far away from the land of lousy lager and the city of sickly cider. Situated on Cemetery Road lies a haven to all things hopped. Travelling fans from far and wide flock to The Beer Engine where brilliant beer, fantastic food, and cracking company all flow. The Beer Engine boasts an eclectic menu of locally-brewed beer from both the cask and keg, with a selection that rotates more frequently than United’s back line under Adkins. Whether you like to sup a stout, relax with a real ale, or quaff a craft IPA there will definitely be an option that fits the bill.

For the hungry among you, there is also an ever-changing tapas-style menu. Whether you want crispy jerk chicken, Korean BBQ cauliflower wings or some patatas bravas, the offering is abundant with pint-adjacent food. With ample meat, vegetarian, and vegan options, carnivores and herbivores are welcome alike. A friendly, laid-back vibe offers a chance for a civil natter with opposition fans without things ever getting heated (except the superb food, obviously…). The Beer Engine also boasts some rather pleasant outside seating so you can soak up the sun alongside your tipple of fancy. If you like proper beer and proper food in a proper pub, then look no further. It’s the business.

Sushi Express

Karl Sheehan

• Grilled salmon sushi roll, £12.90

• 6 Milton St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4JU

• 0.7 miles from Bramall Lane

This has been one of my favourite places to eat in Sheffield for over a decade now and in my humble opinion makes by far the best Sushi that our city has to offer. The grilled salmon maki just might be my last meal if I ever found myself on death row. I’ve eaten the black garlic ramen a few times in the last month and it really is a bit special.

As well as the sushi they also offer a wide range of hot Japanese meals. The decor hasn't really changed much over the last 10 years but it still looks pretty modern and clean. You can see into the kitchen and can watch the chefs at work.

South Street Kitchen

Karl Sheehan

• South Street Mezze, £8

• 19-20 South St, Sheffield S2 5QX

• 1 mile from Bramall Lane

Part of the regeneration of Park Hill flats, South Street Kitchen sits under the refurbished block and has two floors of indoor seating as well as outside space. The café has a completely vegetarian/vegan menu with lots of choice for people of all dietary denominations. It is also an environmentally-conscious menu, where crushed peas are substituted in for smashed avocado.

The large windows flood the place with natural light and the venue in general has a nicely open and clean feel to it. I have been a few times and my favourite choice to date is the South Street Mezze: as the name suggests, this is a mix of different foods including spring onion and feta fritters and roast onion baba ganoush. There is also a good selection of vegan and non-vegan cakes on offer and they do a pretty decent coffee. 

Tamper Sellers Wheel

Karl Sheehan

• Weekly French toast, £10.50

• 149 Arundel St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2NU

• 1 mile from Bramall Lane

An iconic brunch spot in Sheffield. Good coffee, and food that looks good and tastes great. A specials board includes a new take on their French toast every week, and the decor makes you feel like you're eating where the cool people eat. What more could you ask for?

Chinatown

Karl Sheehan

• 27 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4LA

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

Formerly Candytown, I remember going to this restaurant as a child to celebrate big events, back when it seemed like there were only three restaurants in Sheffield and nobody really went out for meals. Since then the name and ownership have changed but there is still something comforting about a Chinese restaurant inhabiting that premises looking out above London Road. One day, I want to head back here and really get stuck into the dim sum, as a number of people have said it is the best in Sheffield. In my recent experience, the chicken satay used proper chunks of meat rather than the reconstituted stuff that seems to be 50 per cent water and the prawn dumplings really packed a punch.

Jimmy's Kitchen

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Mixed grill, £18.90

• 270 Glossop Rd, Broomhall, Sheffield S10 2HS

• 1 mile from Bramall Lane

There is no shortage of Turkish-style grilled meat eateries in Sheffield but in my opinion, Jimmy's is the best of the bunch. The place is small and unpretentious and is pretty much built around a sizeable grill, situated right at the front of the restaurant and where all of the action happens. All of the meat is well marinated and well cooked; the rice is also a bit special. If you are feeling hungry and unadventurous then go for the mixed grill, but if you want something a bit different then the sarma beyti is a personal favourite.

Noodle Inn

Karl Sheehan

• Pick: Big plate Singapore noodles, £11.90

• 156 London Rd, Highfield, Sheffield S2 4LT

• 0.3 miles from Bramall Lane

A regular spot for me on London Road, Noodle Inn always provides good food at great value. The big plate noodle and rice dishes are big enough to be a meal (or two meals) on their own, but if you find yourself here when the buy 3 get 1 free dim sum offer is running then I would recommend getting stuck in.

Char siu bao is always going to be my favourite dim sum item but the emperor prawn dumplings are also really good. If I can't decide on the 4th/8th choice then I will blindly follow what the waiter recommends, but this has yielded mixed results.

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Where have we missed?

If you have a favourite place within 1 mile of Bramall Lane, let us know.

And if you fancy writing up your experience, we’re all ears!