Birmingham is full of brilliant restaurants, but someone always thinks they know which is the very best. We’ve gone on about our favourite dining spots so many times before, that we’re sure you’re bored of us talking. So we had to ask YOU what your favourites were! We asked Brummies: “If you could only eat at one Birmingham restaurant for the rest of your life, which one would it be?” And you did not disappoint. From street food to fine dining to takeaways, these are the restaurants that real Brummies love.
1. Chung Ying Cantonese
There’s “no contest” which restaurant most Brummies would choose over any other.
“It has been part of our family life for more than 30 years!” said Richard Beckett, while Chris Routledge loves the “great food, great staff and great setting”. Chung Ying Cantonese is a Birmingham institution and home to the largest selection of dim sum in the UK.
16-18 Wrottesley St, Chinese Quarter, Birmingham B5 4RT
2. Tattu
Another popular choice was another Chinese restaurant – although Tattu is very different from Chung Ying. Known for its beautiful aesthetics and indoor cherry blossom trees, Tattu is one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in Birmingham.
18 Barwick St, Birmingham B3 2NT
3. Damascena
5-7 Temple Row West, Birmingham B2 5NY
103 High Street, Birmingham B17 9NR
Heritage Court, 17-21 Warstone Lane, Birmingham B18 6HP
133 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP
Lyndon House, 62 Hagley Road, Birmingham B16 8PE
4. Vietnamese Street Kitchen
St Martins Square, Bullring, Birmingham B5 4BW
5. Opheem
Birmingham has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK outside of London. But Brummies love Opheem the most – the city’s only Michelin-star restaurant serving Indian cuisine.
65 Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JJ
6. Bar Estilo
110-114 Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RF
7. Wu Shuang Cafe
2 Bath Psge, Birmingham B5 4SZ
8. Shababs
As Peter Humble says: “Shababs every day!” Who doesn’t love a balti from Shababs? It might not be the originator of Birmingham’s iconic balti curry, but it is the best still serving it in Brum and beyond.
163-165 Ladypool Rd., Sparkbrook, Birmingham B12 8LQ
9. Noel’s Bar and Restaurant
22 Waterfront Walk, Birmingham B1 1SN
10. Chakana
Birmingham’s first Peruvian restaurant packs punchy, vibrant and colourful dishes like ceviches, tiraditos and causas. It’s also home to one of the largest ranges of pisco (a Peruvian spirit) in the country.
140 Alcester Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8HT
11. Chapter
5 Greenfield Cres, Birmingham B15 3BE
12. Carters
The formerly Moseley-based Michelin-star restaurant currently has a pop-up in the private member’s bar Eighteen on Colmore Row. But will be moving into a permanent restaurant in the city centre this summer of 2024.
Floor 18, 103 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 3AG
13. Adam’s
Another of Birmingham’s Michelin-starred restaurants, Adam’s is sleek, sophisticated and comfortable – featuring classically cooked quality dishes served in an approachable environment.
New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo St, Birmingham B2 5UG
14. Chaophraya
Saint Martins Square, 6 Spiceal St, Birmingham B5 4BW
15. Purnell’s
Having won the Great British Menu twice, and had regular appearances on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, we all love the Yummy Brummie and his Michelin-starred restaurant. Purnell’s focuses on innovative British fare but takes influences from France and the Far East.
55 Cornwall St, Birmingham B3 2DH
16. Bank RBG
4 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JB
17. Kyoto Sushi & Grill
One of the very best sushi restaurants in Birmingham.
72 Hurst Street The Arcadian, Birmingham B5 4TD
18. Gustami
“A hidden gem, well worth checking out for real homecooked Italian food,” says Joe Frankham.
4 King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2PZ
19. The Wilderness
This Jewellery Quarter restaurant brings rock ‘n’ roll to fine dining, with innovative and surprising tasting menus set to the soundtrack of punk and heavy metal.
27 Warstone Ln, Birmingham B18 6JQ
20. The Mayan
The Mailbox, 170 Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RL
21. Punjabi Sweets and Curry House
285-287 High St, Smethwick B66 3NJ
22. Cafe Soya
The vegetarian Chinese restaurant is great for noodles.
Unit B106 Arcadian Centre, Birmingham B5 4TD
23. Original Patty Men
Birmingham’s street food legends and self-titled “purveyors of filth” have some of the best burgers in Birmingham, no doubt.
9 Shaw’s Passage, Birmingham B5 5JG
24. Pasta di Piazza
One of the best Italian restaurants in Birmingham.
11 Brook St, Birmingham B3 1SA
25. Land
The meat-free fine dining restaurant should be the number one choice for all vegetarians and vegans.
30 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham B2 5HU
26. Six by Nico
With a new menu every six weeks, you’ll never get bored of the food at Six by Nico.
81 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2BA
27. Asha’s
Dine like a celebrity at Asha’s – famous fans include Tom Cruise, P!NK, Steven Gerrard, Ed Sheeran, Cliff Richard and The Rolling Stones.
Asha’s, 12-22 Newhall St, Birmingham B3 3AS.
28. 1000 Trades
16 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HE
29. Eat Vietnam
1422 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2PH
30. The Oyster Club
43 Temple St, Birmingham B2 5DP
31. Lasan
Winner of Best Local Restaurant in the UK on Gordon Ramsey’s The F Word in 2010, Lasan is also a record six-time winner at the British Curry Awards.
3 – 4 Dakota Buildings, James Street, St Paul’s Square, B3 1SD
32. Hockley Social Club
Why choose one place when you could have many? Home to multiple rotating kitchens, serving the city’s best street food, Hockley Social Club is always new and exciting.
60 Hampton St, Birmingham B19 3LU
33. Bonehead
8 Lower Severn Street, Birmingham B1 1PU
34. The Meat Shack Burgers
17 Thorp St, Birmingham B5 4AT
35. Simpsons
20 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DU
36. Porto Douro
1160 Warwick Rd, Birmingham B27 6BP
37. The Coconut Tree
35 Gas St, Birmingham B1 2JT
38. Tropea
Sharing small-plate dishes heavily influenced by Italian street food. Tropea uses only the finest, seasonal ingredients from Milanese markets and local suppliers
27 Lordswood Rd, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9RP
39. Syriana
1 Constitution Hill, Birmingham B19 3LG
40. Bank RBG
4 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JB
41. The King’s Head
382 Hagley Rd, Harborne, Birmingham, Smethwick B17 8BJ
42. Hickory’s
The Green, Castle Bromwich, Solihull, Birmingham. B36 9AR
43. Kopitiam
21 Augusta St, Birmingham B18 6JA
44. Jamaya
126 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 3AP
45. Istanbul
2220 Coventry Rd, Sheldon, Birmingham B26 3JH