Leeds Japanese restaurant launch date revealed

A Japanese restaurant is set to crown the £165m Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds, opening in June.

Restaurant group D&D London has confirmed that Issho will open on 21 June.

The 7,807 sq ft restaurant is D&D’s third venue in Leeds, after Angelica and Crafthouse at Trinity Leeds.

Issho, which means ‘together’ in Japanese, will serve Asian dishes created by executive chef Ben Orpwood, who previously held the same position at Zuma and Sexy Fish in London.

Dishes on offer include wagyu pastrami, smoked Dorset char with wasabi leaf dressing, barley miso lamb cutlets with smoked aubergine and cucumber, and duck breast with pickled nashi pear and a spring onion sauce.

Orpwood said of the launch: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Japan several times and have worked in Asian restaurants across the globe, from Turkey and Dubai to London and Australia. My experience has certainly helped shape the menu at Issho and create eye-catching dishes that are full of flavour.

“It’s been a long time in the making but all the hard work is paying off and we can’t wait to give food fans in Leeds the chance to try it for themselves.”