Best curry house in Birmingham

[Theyreeatingthedogs]

We've never been to Birmingham but we are going there in a few weeks. Where would you recommend?

Do you mean in the City Centre? The best curries in general are in Sparkhill/Sparkbrook.

Lasan in St Paul's Square regularly gets voted as one of the best Indian restaurants in the UK.

Hen and chickens is very good, it’s not a traditional Indian tho, it’s a desi pub.

I love Dishoom but I've not tried others in Birmingham so gonna watch this thread carefully for tips from those in the know!

Birmingham is a big place...

For central my favourite is Indian cafe racer.

Anywhere we can reach easily on public transport. We don't know the area at all.

ithias, dishoom, lasan, opheem

Another vote for Dishoom here.

The food is excellent and authentic (take it from me, I'm a huge Indiaphile and I've been to India millions of times).

And according to their blurb, they treat their staff really well and donate some of their profits to charity in India. I can't vouch for this other than reading the blurb on their website so don't just take my word for it... but they seem decent.

Taxi is probably best way to travel if you are going to Balti triangle.

Youre spoilt for choice!! My personal favourite is The Covered Wagon. It’s about 3 miles-ish from the City Centre but well worth the trip. Bus from centre drops you right outside

Dishoom.

Dishoom is good, but it's a London chain with a branch in Birmingham, rather than unique to Birmingham. Personally, I wouldn't go out to the Balti triangle. It's heyday was the 80s to 00s. You'll still get food there, but it's not Balti specific.

But it depends what you want. There's plenty of local curry houses. Most areas will have one. There's also lots of good Indian restaurants. It's a different vibe.

For a proper Birmingham Balti go to Shababs, Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook. Get a cab, it would be a shame to visit Brum eat curry and not go to the Balti triangle.

For an incredible dining experience then Opheem is nothing short of wonderful.

Dishoom is lovely, but it’s a chain restaurant. Go, but don’t come to Birmingham to go.

We like Kababish in Moseley, Akrams in Stirchley and Indian Streatery in town.

Lots seem to like Asha’s but I think it’s more about star spotting. Opheem is incredible but its Michelin stars push the bill up.

There is also a new street food place opening in the Jewellery Quarter next week and one of their food stalls will be Zindiya which we also enjoy.

Take a trip to nearby Sutton Coldfield and go to Kababish- reportedly a favourite of Robbie Williams.
(They do have another restaurant in Moseley too)

The Balti Triangle is not what it was.

If the OP is looking for a curry house, it’s highly unlikely that she means Opheem. It’s incredible there, but now it’s got its second star, its pricing is terrifying.

In town, Tamatanga is nice for Indian street food.

In Stirchley, Kolkata is far and away the best imo. Abram’s used to be decent but I was very disappointed last time we went.

In Harborne, Barsana is lovely but it’s all vegetarian so might not be what you’re after.

The Diwan on the Moseley Road, Balsall Heath is an authentic curry restaurant. About 2 miles from the city centre.

If you’re right in the centre then Tamatanga.

There’s a really good Indian street food place right next to Snow Hill Station in Birmingham. It’s not a traditional curry house, more of a trendy bar selling food, but the food is absolutely fab!

I loved Hen and Chickens. A friend took me there and food was fab, loved the unique setting. I’m South Asian and haven’t been to others in Birmingham but enjoyed this more than most places in London. Dishoom is fab too but it is a chain, so Hen and Chickens for something a bit different.

None of those are "curry houses"!

You want a desi pub really I think though I wouldn't recommend the hen and chickens, eaten there twice and it was terrible both times.

The Sportsman in West Brom (avoid WBA home matches), the Grove in Handsworth, the New Soho Tavern in Winson Green.

The Keg and Grill near the mailbox used to be great but they've moved into town and I don't think it's worked well so perhaps avoid that one.

Followed by a pint at The Old Mo. Diwan has always been decent.

Seconding the Grove. Am a South Asian from London (not Indian) and I literally think every now and then about going to Birmingham just so I can eat there again 😂 the food was sensational and so reasonable. It is a desi pub tho, rather than a 'curry house'.

I can thoroughly recommend Raja Monkey, it’s kind of posh curry, but honestly the best I’ve ever had. It knocked my socks off and not because it was too spicy, it was just brilliant.