Centred around Ladywell Walk, the Chinese Quarter, or Chinatown as it’s sometimes known, in Birmingham is hard to miss. You are met with pagoda-shaped archways as you enter, plus rows of red lanterns down Cathay Street. It might not be the largest of the UK’s Chinatowns, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in excitement. The city has many reputable Chinese restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets.
What makes Birmingham’s bustling and colourful Chinatown so unique is that it grew from a synagogue. The Chinese Quarter initially began with the oldest Chinese restaurant in the city, Chung Ying Cantonese, which was a former Jewish place of worship. As more Chinese Cantonese restaurants and businesses opened during the 1980s, the area around Ladywell Walk became officially recognised as Birmingham’s Chinatown. Check out our guide to the best places in the Chinese Quarter to discover.
1. Chung Ying Cantonese
If you’re going to visit Chinatown in Birmingham, a beautiful banquet is pretty much a right of passage, and you can enjoy one at Chung Ying. Started up back in 1981, Chung Ying has proved to be one of the oldest and most loved Cantonese restaurants in Birmingham; winning several awards, including ‘Restaurant of the Year’ 2019 at the Birmingham Awards.
It even boasts the largest selection of dim sum in the UK – including, dim sum hors d’oeuves, crispy aromatic duck with pancakes and fried lobster tail with ginger and spring onion. There’s a wide selection of dishes for vegetarians and vegans too. Better still, Chung Ying even boasts its very own outdoor heated terrace.
Chung Ying Cantonese, 16 – 18 Wrottesley Street, B5 4RT
2. Ming Moon
Not got your heart set on a specific dish? Or perhaps you want to try and bit of everything. Well, Ming Moon on Hurst Street offers a buffet service which allows you to pick all your favourite Chinese dishes and enjoy them on one plate, and go back for more. At this restaurant, you not only get to choose from traditional Chinese dishes but also enjoy ones from Japan such as sushi.
Ming Moon Restaurant, 16 Hurst Street, B5 4BN
3. Peach Garden
Hidden down a quiet alley known as Bath Passage, you’ll find Birmingham restaurant Peach Garden with its window boasting a selection of cooked meat hung up. Inside, the place is buzzing as people flock to this small restaurant for their popular triple roast dish featuring pork belly, char sui pork and duck, served on a mountain of white rice with some greens, which can then be doused in chilli oil. Not only is the food top notch but the atmosphere of Peach Garden transports you to the likes of Hong Kong and proves that sometimes the small, off-the-beaten-track spots have some of the best food out there.
Peach Garden, 34 Ladywell Walk, B5 4RX
4. China Court Bakery
Birmingham’s full of beautiful bakeries. None are quite like China Court Bakery, however. Pop in for a colourful array of Chinese-inspired sweet and savoury treats. You can tuck into everything from an Oreo galaxy bun to a BBQ pork puff pastry. Or why not order you’re own uniquely designed cake for a special occasion?
China Court Bakery, 24 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham B5 4ST
5. Xiong Qi Hot Pot
Hot pot is a traditional dish from the Sichuan province of China and it’s a great way to socialise with friends over food. At Xiong Qi, you get involved in the cooking by dipping an assortment of ingredients into a hot bubbling pot of spicy soup, which will both cook and take on the flavour of the liquid.
Choose from the likes of a seafood, traditional spicy, vegetarian or vegan broth soup base, but if you can’t decide the pot can be split in half so you can enjoy two soups of choice. As part of the hot pot experience, guests can select something from the freshly prepped meat and vegetable platters along with other side dishes such as hand prepped egg noodles and prawn paste to add to the pot.
Xiong Qi, Unit 3B, 44 Essex Street, B5 4TR
6. Look In
If you’re looking for simple, yet mouthwatering Cantonese BBQ, have a Look In here. Not that you should need us to convince you! You’ll likely spot the roast duck and char siu pork hanging in the window and won’t be able to resist. Simply served with white rice and bak choi, what more could you want?
Look In, 6 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham B5 4ST
7. Asia Asia Food Hall
As the name suggests, Asia Asia Food Hall specialises in Asian fusion food with delicacies from all over Asia including cuisines from Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, China and Japan all under one roof. On the first floor, you’ll not only find a drinks bar serving a range of beers, bubble teas, juices and other soft drinks, but also find three restaurants- Korean Food, Pho Viet serving Vietnamese street food and Sakura serving Japanese food.
Head to the next floor up to discover Malatang (Chinese street food), Bangkok Cafe serving Thai food and BBQ and Dumplings serving barbecued meat on skewers, spicy chicken wings and, well of course, dumplings. With so many options, the best advice we can give you is to arrive hungry in order to try as much as you can. You can learn more about Asia Asia Food Hall here.
Asia Asia Food Hall, 10 Pershore Street, B5 4RX
8. Cafe Soya
Although Cafe Soya’s meat-based dishes are great, it’s their vegetarian and vegan options that really stand out. Cafe Soya manages to recreate meaty favourites like crispy aromatic duck with their delicious, texture soy-based mock meats without any compromise, and their dishes pack as much flavour as their meat version. Other highlights include sweet and sour hot pots with fresh pineapples, onion & peppers and stir-fried mixed vegetables with garlic served in crispy lettuce wraps.
Cafe Soya, Unit B106 Arcadian Centre, B5 4TD
9. Miyako Teppanyaki
It’s not all about the Chinese food in the Chinese Quarter in Birmingham as it’s also the place to sample a multitude of Asian cuisines including Korean and Japanese. Watch your food being cooked before your very eyes on a heated steel plate at Miyako Teppanyaki varying from fried rice, steak, chicken, seafood, fish, tofu, stir fried vegetables and more cooked with the likes of onions, garlic, soy or teriyaki sauce. Better still, guests can tuck into a range of appetisers including a selection of sashimi, plus nigiri and maki sushi.
Miyako Teppanyaki, Arcadian Centre, Ladywell Walk, Hurst Street, B5 4ST
10. Day In
If you’re looking for a new marinade or just some general inspiration on how to jazz up your homemade Asian cuisine, this massive Chinese supermarket will do the trick. Day In has everything from seasonings and noodles to fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh Chinese specialities such as spring rolls and wanton, and lots of impressive snacks that’ll guarantee you’re the most popular person in the office.
Day In, Pershore Street, B5 6ND
11. Topokki
Bringing a taste of Korea to Birmingham, Topokki serves classics such as bibimbap, bulgogi and kimchi fried rice. It’s a great spot for some fuel before or after a show (the Hippodrome is slap bang in the centre of Chinese Quarter) and offers a range of Korean dishes suitable for all hunger levels with lighter bites such as miso soup, king prawn salad and edamame beans, or larger staples like yakisoba, ramen and dupbap (rice bowl dishes). Their desserts are both tasty and intriguing with options such as green tea or red bean ice cream, plus mango, chocolate or green tea mochi.
Topokki, Unit 1C Hurst Street, B5 4TD
12. Ken Ho
If there’s anywhere that can rival Chung Ying for Chinese food in Birmingham, it’s Ken Ho. Known for authentic dim sum and traditional Cantonese roasts, it’s ideal for those who can be indecisive when ordering. Its menu is much smaller than similar spots, but no less tasty and, sitting next to the Hippodrome, is a handy pre-show eatery.
Ken Ho, 41-43 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4BJ