Dole Leeds review: I visited the Trinity Kitchen food van serving Irish spice bags
Our reviewer visited Dole, a food van serving Irish spice bags in Leeds city centre’s Trinity Kitchen
The ‘spice bag’ phenomenon has taken over the Republic of Ireland - and is now becoming increasingly prominent in England.
Chinese takewaway-style food tossed together and thrown in a bag does not sound particularly stylish, nor does it sound like the type of cuisine you would find in a swanky street food court. However, Dole’s van was one I was drawn to upon entering Trinity Kitchen in the centre of Leeds.
Cards on the table, it was not my first rodeo. I had tried a spice bag during a visit to Dublin in 2025 and had been bowled over, so I was naturally keen to see if the quality could be matched away from the Emerald Isle.
Dole serve up an array of options, ranging from the traditional Irish spice bags to duck bags and garlic bags. Me and my partner plumped for the classic option - crispy fried chicken.
Alongside the chicken were chips, stir-fried peppers, onions in salt and pepper seasoning with a pot of curry sauce.
Firstly, the chicken was absolutely sensational. There is so much lacklustre fried chicken about but this was spiced to perfection and coated in deliciously crispy skin.
Seasoning on the chips was heavy - just the way I like it. All of the spicing and seasoning had soaked into every aspect of the bag, ensuring no bite was a let-down.
Just as a matter of personal preference, I would have preferred the curry sauce to have been a little bit thicker, but I still dipped before every single mouthful.
I am often somewhat pessimistic about exploding food trends. For example, I am sick to the back teeth of hot honey being lathered over everything and I don’t think everything is improved by halloumi.
However, I think spice bags are worthy of the hype they have generated in the Republic of Ireland and are starting to generate on British shores.
There is nothing particularly fancy about Dole do, yet it is unbelievably effective. They take beloved Chinese takeaway foods and ensure they are completely and utterly coated in enticing spices, ensuring no part of the meal is a weak point. What’s not to love?
Dole also serve beer and I was able to wash down my indulgent Friday night feast with an ice-cold can of Red Stripe. I felt a strong desire to lay down in a dark room after wolfing it all down at an alarming pace, but I do not regret a single thing.
It was good value for money too. The crispy fried chicken bags came at a cost of £12 and I would have expected to pay more, not only for the quality of the food but for the generosity of the portion size.
Trinity Kitchen boasts an array of attractive food options and I must confess it had been a while since I had ventured up there. I therefore cannot directly compare Dole to its neighbours in the food court but if everywhere else is even half as good, then I may have to move in.
Factfile
Address: 27 Albion St, Leeds LS1 5ER
Telephone: 0113 394 2415
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 11-9pm, Sunday: 11am-5pm
Scores
Food: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Total: 8/10