The city has everything from top-notch fine dining restaurants, hailed by Michelin Guide inspectors, to more budget friendly venues serving up some mouth-watering comfort food.
But while some restaurants rightly generate a lot of buzz, there are many hidden gems which tend to unjustly fly under the radar.
We’ve put together a list of some of our favourite Sheffield restaurants, those recommended by readers and those which boast amazing reviews from diners.
We’ve deliberately left out some of Sheffield’s best-known restaurants, including those which have won praise from food critics or those which are so well-established they have become Sheffield institutions, to focus on other excellent but lesser-known independent restaurants.
The Good Food Guide has appealed for nominations for its 2025 list of the 100 Best Local Restaurants in the UK, with entries now open.
We think these restaurants deserve recognition for their excellent food, brilliant service and welcoming atmosphere.
Is your favourite restaurant on the list or is there another Sheffield restaurant which you feel ought to be better known?
9. Yutu
Yutu, on Eyre Street, in Sheffield city centre, has an almost perfect 4.9/5 star rating from more than 80 Google reviews. Those in the know rave about the quality of the food at the Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant, including the sushi, the gyoza and the katsu curry, as well as the reasonable prices. One person wrote: "The reviews don’t lie - the food is INCREDIBLE." | Google Photo: Google
10. Pocha
Pocha, on Devonshire Street, in Sheffield city centre, is a popular Korean restaurant and bar, with dishes including kim bap, bibimbap and crispy Korean fried chicken. It has an average rating of 4.6/5 stars, based on nearly 200 Google reviews. One diner praised the 'simple, tasty, big flavours', saying it served 'food that makes you smile and satisfies the soul'. | Google Photo: Google
11. Native
Native, on Gibraltar Street, Sheffield, was opened in May 2021 by the team behind the popular J H Mann Fishmongers on Sharrow Vale Road. It is probably the best seafood restaurant in Sheffield and one of the best in the UK, with the inventive dishes on the daily specials board making the most of the beautifully fresh fish. Native has a 4.7/5 star rating based on more than 200 Google reviews. One diner wrote: "Our favourite restaurant in Sheffield! Amazing, tasty food made with great flavours and great ideas." | Google Photo: Google
12. Lemongrass Thai Street Food
For all the attention garnered by Sheffield's clutch of new food halls, some of the best food in the city can be found at its original food hall, within the Moor Market. Lemongrass Thai Street Food is the definition of a hidden gem, rustling up huge flavours from its tiny kitchen within the bustling market. Its signature crab meat curry is to die for, with an intensely rich flavour, beautifully fresh ingredients and the perfect balance of spices and heat. Lemongrass Thai Street Food has a 4.7/5 rating from more than 360 Google reviews, with one diner calling the food there 'absolutely gorgeous'. | National World Photo: National World