We live in a fast-paced world these days. You go online, and everything you knew to be true is different. Back in 1981, before the internet was even invented, life was simpler, slower, and maybe even a little bit better? You can still get a glimpse of this time with a trip to Birmingham’s beloved Cantonese restaurant, Chung Ying.
Having opened just off Ladywell Walk 45 years ago, Chung Ying became the first, and now the oldest, Chinese restaurant in Birmingham. Taking over the site of a former synagogue, it arguably kickstarted the Second City’s now iconic Chinatown in the city centre (Day In Oriental Supermarket was also established in 1981).
It’s now surrounded by countless busy Asian businesses—with just some of my nearby favourites including Ming Moon, China Court Bakery, Asia Asia Food Hall and Cafe Soya. Yet, Chung Ying remains the heartbeat of the Chinese community. Often leading many annual events in the Chinese calendar, including Chinese New Year.
Chung Ying’s owner, James Wong, who took over running the restaurant from his parents, is well known for his dedication to the local area—from inviting the elderly Chinese community to dine free each month to chairing Birmingham’s Chinese Festival Committee—but he never lets the quality in the restaurant drop.
Chung Ying Cantonese
Chung Ying is an institution for a reason. Not happy to rest on its laurels, it’s served up great-tasting, authentic Chinese flavours consistently for almost half a century. Particularly, it specialises in authentic Cantonese cuisine found in areas like Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou (which Birmingham is twinned with).
It’s especially proud of its huge fresh dim sum selection, sometimes called the biggest UK selection, with everything from king prawn dumplings and char siu buns to ox tripe and century egg congee. But there’s a huge menu, covering everything from British-Chinese classics to frog’s legs with bitter melon in black bean sauce.
Claudia Jesse even named Chung Ying’s vegan ‘duck pancakes’ her dream starter on the ‘Off Menu’ podcast, while the restaurant also won the ‘Best Dumplings in the UK’ at the Golden Chopsticks in 2022. There are good reasons why Chung Ying has stayed open for over four decades and counting.
