Ember & Bite

Hot off the coals

Smash burgers, lamb skewers and charred chicken, cooked over real charcoal on Kiln Lane. Come hungry, leave smelling faintly of smoke.

See the menu Call to order

Opening hourssee Visit

27 Kiln Lane, Leeds

Ember Smash burger with melted cheese on a dark board

Golden fries spilling out of a paper bag

A grill cook finishing a dish with a spoonful of sauce

About

One grill, one counter and a stubborn idea: everything tastes better over fire.

Ember & Bite started with a borrowed charcoal grill and a corner unit on Kiln Lane that used to sell carpets. The grill got bigger, the carpets left, and the idea never budged. If it’s on the menu, it’s been over real coals.

The kitchen’s open, so you get the whole show. Patties get smashed, skewers get turned, halloumi gets its crust. Pull up a stool and ask the grill cooks what’s good tonight. They’ll tell you, and then they’ll tell you why.

Charcoal onlyNo gas, no shortcuts, no regrets.
Made todayThe slaw, the sauces, the lemonade. All of it.
Ask us anythingThe grill cooks love questions. And compliments.

4pm
Coals lit
A full chimney of lumpwood charcoal. Never gas, never briquettes.
5pm
First smash
The first burger always goes to the grill cook. Quality control.
7pm
Counter’s full
Grab a stool and watch the flames, or grab a bag and run.
10pm
Last orders
11 on Fridays and Saturdays. Then we scrub the grate and do it again.

From the grill

Ember Smash , 12 pounds
Two smashed beef patties, melted cheese, pickles and burnt onion mayo.
Double Trouble , 15 pounds
The Ember Smash, stacked on another Ember Smash, with coal fries. Bring a friend or don’t.
Lamb Skewers , 14 pounds
Cumin and chilli lamb off the coals, flatbread, garlic yoghurt, pink onions.
Charred Chicken , 15.50 pounds
Half a chicken, flattened, blackened and glazed with green chilli sauce.

Also on the grill

Halloumi Stack
11 pounds
Grilled halloumi, roast peppers and hot honey in a toasted bun.
Skewer Plate for Two
26 pounds
Lamb and chicken skewers, two flatbreads, all the dips.

Sides

Coal Fries , 4.50 pounds
Skin on, salted while they’re still angry.
Sweet Potato Fries , 5 pounds
Crunchy, a little sweet, served with smoky chipotle dip.

Also on the grill

Ember Corn
5 pounds
Blistered on the grill, chilli butter, squeeze of lime.
Smoky Slaw
4 pounds
Red cabbage, charred spring onion, a bit of a kick.
Halloumi Fries
6 pounds
Crunchy outside, squeaky inside, hot honey to dip.
Grate Flatbread
3.50 pounds
Straight off the grill, brushed with garlic butter.

Drinks

House Lemonade , 3.50 pounds
Squeezed every morning, finished with a charred lemon.
Fresh Mint Tea , 2.50 pounds
A proper fistful of mint. Sweet if you ask nicely.
Sodas , 2.50 pounds
Cola, orange or cream soda, poured over a lot of ice.
Milkshakes , 5 pounds
Vanilla, chocolate or salted caramel. Thick enough to need a spoon.

Coals lit at four. First smash at five.

This week

Tuesday
Smash Tuesday
Two Ember Smash burgers and two milkshakes.
30 pounds
Wednesday
Skewer Night
Any skewer plate with a side and a lemonade.
16 pounds
Thursday
Little Biters
Kids eat free with every grown-up main before 7pm.
Free
Sunday
Shake Hour
Every milkshake is 3.50 from 5pm till 7pm.
3.50 pounds

Overheard at the counter

Things people told our grill cooks, mostly with their mouths full.

I came for one smash burger. I had two and a milkshake. No regrets, some regrets.
PriyaHeadingley
The lamb skewers are the reason I moved my gym session to Thursday. Worth it.
DanHyde Park
You can smell the charcoal from the bus stop. My kids call it the fire place.
AmiraKiln Lane