Indian food is part of what makes Birmingham such an amazing city. Everyone has heard of the Balti Triangle – the optimum place to find a perfect Brummie curry – but you can find restaurants serving delicious curries in every part of the city. From very best restaurants to cheap ‘n’ cheerful takeaways, you’ll find it tough to find somewhere in Brum that doesn’t do a fantastic curry in Brum. But these Indian restaurants in Birmingham all have something special to stand above the rest.
1. Lasan
This Indian restaurant is very much haute cuisine, serving guinea fowl korma and rock oyster tempura. It is no wonder that in 2010 Lasan were praised by Gordon Ramsay and won his ‘F Word’ Contest. They were crowned Best Local Restaurant and their reputation has not diminished in the decade. Only last year was Lasan named the Best Restaurant in the West Midlands for a record sixth time at the British Curry Awards!
Tuck into anything from a vegan biryani to king prawns in a fenugreek leaf bhuna. Some of our favourites include courgette flower tempura, monkfish johl and the lamb Kashmiri rogan. You’re guaranteed to find some of the best curry in Birmingham here at Lasan.
Lasan, 3 – 4 Dakota Buildings, James Street, St Paul’s Square, B3 1SD
2. Opheem
Aston-born Aktar Islam’s Opheem isn’t your everyday spot. But for something extra special, there is no finer Indian restaurant in Birmingham. With a fine dining experience, Opheem is the second city’s first-ever two Michelin star restaurant and the first-ever two star Indian restaurant in the UK (along with Gymkhana in London).
Many Indian regions are represented on the modern menu, but the occasional Persian and Arabian influence appears too. A 10-course tasting menu will journey from Mumbai to Malabar via Delhi and West Bengal. Keep an eye out for Islam’s signature dish of achaari pink fir potatoes with tamarind. Undoubtedly the best Indian restaurant in Birmingham
Opheem, 65 Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JJ
3. Shabab’s
Shabab’s aren’t the originators of Birmingham’s iconic balti curry. That title falls to Adil’s, which is sadly now closed. But Shabab’s is probably the best Indian restaurant still serving in the Balti Triangle and beyond.
There is a huge menu to choose from, but every main is cooked balti-style – which means cooked quickly over high heat, like a stir-fry – all somewhere between £10 to £15. No balti is complete without a large, family-sized naan bread though. Head here for a uniquely Brummie curry.
163-165 Ladypool Rd., Sparkbrook, Birmingham B12 8LQ
4. Dishoom
The London-born, Bombay-inspired Dishoom has settled in easily in Birmingham. With a focus on Indian street food – it pays homage to the Irani cafés which were popular in the 1960s – it serves a delicious array of Bombay-inspired dishes. Stop by at breakfast for a bacon naan roll or Parsi omelette; or enjoy a romantic evening meal with anything from a daal to a biriyani, samosa or a roti. Whatever the time, whatever the mood, Dishoom has you sorted.
Dishoom, One Chamberlain Sq, Birmingham B3 3AX
5. Itihaas
At Itihaas, there are some pretty ground-breaking options to choose from. Not only do they have a whole section of the menu dedicated to Indo-Chinese cuisine, but they also have dessert samosas on offer, filled with chocolate, almond and pistachios, and served with coconut kulfi. Curry-lovers with a sweet tooth will love this place, as there are six dessert options. They have also clearly considered their vegan customers, with plenty of options available to choose from.
Itihaas, 18 Fleet Street, B3 1JL
6. Zindiya
Moseley’s Indian streatery and bar is a great place to grab some street food in this villagey neighbourhood. Trying to recreate the experience of the street markets of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, Zindiya offers an immersive experience that feels a million miles from Birmingham. A lively menu, almost as colourful as the decor, consists of savoury foods like tikka burgers, masala chips and chole bhature (spicy chickpeas with India flatbread). Zindiya also adds an Indian twist to a bottomless brunch and afternoon tea.
Zindiya, 21 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, B13 8EJ
7. Jyoti’s
Jyoti’s is the only vegetarian Indian restaurant in Birmingham and it has an extensive menu, boasting a massive choice of 15 starters and 72 main courses. The restaurant also contains an Indian sweet shop, with 30 different options to choose from, some of which are vegan. Plus, there is so much paneer on the menu that cheese-loving vegetarians might want to move in and live there forever.
Jyoti’s, 1045 Stratford Road, Hall Green, B28 8AS
8. Asha’s
The food here is more interesting than your average tikka masala. Asha’s is part of a chain of Indian restaurants, with locations in 7 different countries. From soulful and simple street food to the menus of maharajas, Asha’s menu travels across the length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent. There are five set menus to choose from. This will cost at minimum £47.75 if you’re a meat-eater, or £42.75 if vegetarian.
But there is also an a la cart