Birmingham is famous for having delicious food, and the tastiest cuisine in Birmingham includes regional specialities that have been enjoyed for years.

These dishes have a history dating back to the 18th century and are still being served to customers because of their delicate and unique taste. The reason is that Birmingham is renowned for having a wide variety of eateries, which is why the residents and tourists are always looking for Birmingham's most famous delicacy to try.

In case you are also looking to find the best delicacies around Birmingham, there are some great suggestions upon which you can give your thought to have a meal. Here are your options.

Miss Myra's Smoked Chicken with White Sauce

One of the most famous delicacies in Birmingham is Miss Myra's pit-smoked food. This is a dreamland for foodies who love grilled and cooked chicken. The chicken cooked here cannot be compared to the taste of any other restauarant in Birmingham. The food from here can be smelled a mile away.

The chicken is surrounded by crisp, golden skin, and you can add its unique Alabama white barbecue sauce to enhance its taste. The sauce is acidic, creamy, and peppery, which are the hallmarks of a great white sauce.

Balti (Balti Triangle)

Another notable dish that you can try as the most famous delicacy in Birmingham is Balti. It is a unique and delicious curry with a twist from Pakistan. A flat steel Balti dish is used to serve the Birmingham Balti, frequently prepared with meats like lamb or goat. A dish must contain spices like garlic puree, turmeric, garam masala, fenugreek, and fresh ginger.

Around The Balti Triangle, many restaurants provide excellent Birmingham Balti. Although balti is a typical Pakistani curry dish, it was created in Birmingham in the 1970s, making it one of the top dishes everyone should taste. It is prepared with traditional Kashmiri characteristics but has been given a flavour twist to appeal to western palates.

Some of the best Balti eateries in the city can be found in the neighbourhood, which includes Ladypool Road, Stoney Lane, and Stratford Road.

Faggot (The Bull Restaurant)

Traditional meatball meal known as faggot is frequently served with mashed potatoes and peas all around Birmingham. You might have tried faggots, most often near Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire. Faggots are also known as savoury ducks, and it is a dish with meatballs made from pork. However, the meal only contains little pieces of pig or cow and no chicken.

It is traditionally made from pig offal, liver, and fatty flesh from the belly. Before being wrapped in bacon, onions, and breadcrumbs, it can also be mixed or muddled with minced cut-offs. We advise visiting The Bull, a venerable tavern and eatery on Price Street, for a taste of authentic faggots in Birmingham.

Birmingham Soup (Purnells at Cornwall Street)

The Birmingham soup continues to be a favourite among patrons, especially on rainy days, since it frequently makes residents think of a memorable event. At Purnell's, a fine-dining establishment on Cornwall Street, you can get one of the best portions of the redesigned Birmingham soup.

It consists of stewed beef and vegetables and is frequently eaten with bread. If you're on a low budget, just stop by any of the neighbourhood cafés to get contemporary takes on this time-honoured dish.

Beef Carpaccio from Bottega (Harry's Bar)

This dish is named after Renaissance painter Vittore Carpaccio, due to which is known as beef Carpaccio. At Bottega, the carpaccio is also a piece of art. The restaurant offers a version with the meat wrapped in north African spices and an unseasoned version. It includes horseradish cream on top of thinly sliced, grass-fed Eye of Round, sprinkled with salt, pepper, curly Parmigiano Reggiano, and local arugula.

Big Spoon Creamery Sammie

Birmingham's most famous delicacy also includes the Big Spoon Creamery Sammie. It goes without saying that Big Spoon has excellent ice cream. The cookies are baked on-site and sliced into thin circles to get the ideal cookie-to-ice cream ratio. Each flavour is freshly prepared on-site using ingredients acquired locally, and it tastes even better when combined with a classic ice cream sandwich.

Doner Kebab (German Doner Kebab on Bull Street)

The name "doner kebab" comes from the Turkish word "dondurmek," which means "rotating roast." Donor kebabs are frequently a post-pub favourite and are described as one of the unhealthiest foods you can eat, so they don't immediately conjure images of a full lunch. Even though doner kebabs are frequently regarded as one of Britain's best foods, you should definitely try out this dish at German Doner Kebab.

The German Doner Kebab on Bull Street in Birmingham offers a unique and healthy take on one of Britain's favourite foods. The lean meat is to be served with tomato, lettuce, onion, and garlic sauce and was supposed to be placed inside a pitta pocket.

Malvern Cheese (Malvern Hills)

The Malvern Hills have lovely sights, and they also have lovely cheese! The cheese has a good taste and an exceptional flavour. You have to try this cheese for once in your life. The cheese, sold in various stores and supermarkets throughout the county, is made from milk from nearby farms.

Shrewsbury Cakes (Shrewsbury)

There are many local bakeries and cafes where you may purchase Shrewsbury Cakes. These Cakes are tiny, sweet pastries that are suitable for dessert or as a snack. They got their name since Shropshire is known for its cakes, and Shrewsbury is said to be where this kind of cake was first invented. The good thing is that these cakes are made of sugar, eggs, flour, butter, and lemon zest, making it for most people to consume.

Sunday Roast (The Old Joint Stock Pub)

A Sunday roast is famous for most people living in the UK with their family and friends. The reason behind its popularity is that it is a traditional British dish that is honoured in pubs. Many pubs provide a nut or mushroom version of the roasts to accommodate vegetarians and vegans.

There are several fantastic Sunday roasts to choose from in Birmingham, but for something more traditional, The Old Joint Stock Pub in the city centre is the best place to have the most famous delicacy in Birmingham.

Cafe Dupont's Fried Chicken

If you are a fan of fried chicken, you can try something tasty at Café Dupont. They serve the best Buttermilk fried chicken. It is served with grilled crookneck squash and creamy truffle mashed potatoes. You will get a fried juicy chicken with tender, and it is covered in a crispy golden-brown breading. This is the greatest fried chicken you'll ever taste, thanks to the addition of a luscious lemon beurre blanc towards the end of the dish.

Pork Scratchings

Pork scratching is another option as Birmingham's most famous delicacy. They are created by deep-frying pork skin, mildly salting it, and then offering it at bars with peanuts and crackers. Pork scratchings are typically only cooked once. Thus, there may occasionally be textural irregularities. For instance, it's possible to obtain pork scratchings that are all in one piece, very firm, very soft, and possibly covered in pig fur.

Although it is believed that Birmingham is where pork scratching first appeared, it is now a well-liked bar snack throughout most of the UK.

Finn Cheese (Stourbridge)

A dairy product called Finn cheese is produced in Stourbridge, which is close to Birmingham. Because of the holes within, it has a peculiar little appearance. The cheese is made employing a unique method that enables the rind to form these tiny holes. You will find it very good and pleasing in taste.

When milk accidentally leaked through a tiny hole in an old metal container, it accidentally formed bubbles inside the cheese. The taste is unimaginable, and you will find this Finn cheese to be the best thing you've had.

Savoury Duck and Peas (The Bull)

An old-fashioned English dish, particularly in the Birmingham area, is a flavorful duck with peas. They are typically cooked with pork; however, some chefs have developed more standard versions of the classic dish. Using breadcrumbs, ground pork, offal, and onions, savoury duck is a meatball encased in bacon. They typically come with mashed potatoes, peas, and a generous helping of gravy. The meal is served at restaurants throughout Birmingham, including The Bull.

Conclusion

This was a discussion about Birmingham's most famous delicacies. We have discussed several dishes and places where you can find good food and satisfy your appetite. For more details, see our town & city guide to Going Out in Birmingham page or leave us a comment below.

Have you ever been to Birmingham or the West Midlands part of the UK? Then you should probably have heard about Birmingham cuisine. Birmingham's culinary reputation is well-known worldwide, with restaurants representing 27 cultures and no less than five Michelin-starred establishments.

It was also the birthplace of Typhoo Tea, Cadbury's chocolate, HP Sauce, and Bird's Custard. With such a rich culinary history, it's no surprise that the city and its neighboring Black Country have produced numerous traditional recipes over the years, some of which are unique to the area and cannot be found elsewhere.

If you plan to visit this magnificent region, we've compiled a list of popular dishes among residents and visitors so that you can enjoy your dining experience in the UK's second-largest city.

Birmingham is famous for Balti

Balti is a traditional Pakistani curry meal, but it is one of the best foods to try whilst out visiting Restaurants in Birmingham because it was invented here during the 1970s. It is made with native Kashmiri influences but with a flavor twist to appeal to western palates. Birmingham Balti is frequently prepared with meats such as lamb or goat and served in a steel Balti dish.

To be considered a Birmingham Balti, the dish must contain spices such as turmeric, garlic puree, garam masala, and fresh ginger. There are a number of restaurants serving excellent Birmingham Balti across The Balti Triangle. The area, which includes Stratford Road, Ladypool Road, and Stoney Lane, has some of the finest Balti eateries in the city, with Shabab topping the list.

Birmingham is famous for Sushi

While sushi emerged as a simple, fast food alternative in Japan, it is now one of the most renowned cuisines in the world, so much so that you may be spoiled for choice. Sushi and other Pan Asian recipes are becoming even more popular in the United Kingdom. With more than 277 Japanese restaurants in London alone, it's safe to speculate that sushi is taking over the country.

Brits are learning to master proper sushi etiquette and chopsticks when tucking into delightful fish dishes. There are many healthy alternatives, from Maki to Sashimi and Nigiri. Always go to a restaurant that sells fresh fish to get the best flavors!

Birmingham is famous for Faggots

This type of meatball is thought to have originated in Coventry. It got its name because it was initially made with offal and fatty bits of meat that had to be used before they spoiled.

The meatball was discovered by accident when a woman attempted to prepare an Italian meal with minced beef. The result was a tasty dish that has remained popular in the West Midlands ever since! Faggots are traditionally made with pig offal and liver. It can also be combined with minced cut-offs and rolled up in onions, bacon, and breadcrumbs.

Shrewsbury Cakes

These traditional desserts, which originated in nearby Shrewsbury and were quickly adopted by Birmingham residents, are a cross between a biscuit and a cake and bear some resemblance to shortbread.

Many ingredients include dried fruits and a dash of lemon zest for extra flavor, and you can also add a dash of rosewater or a couple of caraway seeds. Several recipes for Shrewsbury cakes from the 18th and 19th centuries have been discovered, though references to the cakes were featured in literature and manuscripts much earlier.

Birmingham is famous for Pork Scratchings

Pork scratchings have always been a popular meal all over the world for centuries. Nevertheless, the British version is believed to have originated in the Black Country.

Families used to rear pigs in their backyards and feed them scraps and cereals to build them up for later meals. No part of the rind was discarded, and everyone had their recipe for it, but it evolved into the crunchy, salty munch we know today.

They have become part of the bar experience since they were first introduced. Due to their energy content, they have even been used on excursions to the North and South Poles, so they can easily sort you out for a night at the neighborhood pub.

Birmingham is famous for Pikelets

Pikelets are thin pancakes popular in many restaurants in Birmingham as well as the entire West Midlands. Non-locals frequently mistake this meal for a crumpet because it is cooked over a slim pan and left to bubble before being spun and flipped to cook on the other side.

Because pikelets lack yeast, they are much flatter than traditional pancakes. Many Birmingham residents enjoy it as a piping hot snack straight from the grill. You may spread butter on your pikelets for extra flavor!

Birmingham is famous for Doner Kebab

Doner kebab, also known as kebabs, is a meat dish derived from a vertical rotisserie. It's generally served as a wrap or stuffed in pita bread to make a sandwich. It goes well with a variety of vegetables, including sliced tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and pickles. It comes with a drizzle of homemade sauces for added flavor.

Doner kebab, originally a Turkish dish, has recently grown in popularity with people Going Out in Birmingham thanks to its easy availability in the city center. It's reasonably priced, especially when you're traveling on a tight budget. It's also convenient to eat on the go because it comes in a wrap.

Malvern Cheese

The Malvern Hills are well known for their stunning surroundings, but they also have another accomplishment to their name. This is due to the west midlands producing some of England's best cheese! The cheese, sold in various stores and supermarkets throughout the county, is made with milk from nearby farmers. The cheese is popular throughout England and has even received recognition for its exceptional flavor!

Finn Cheese

Finn is a double cream cheese produced by Neal's Yard Creamery. Finn is a soft British cheese with a firm texture and a fresh creamy acidity when new. As it ages, Finn softens and develops a more mushroomy flavor from the rind. This rich and tasty white cheese is one of Birmingham's favorites.

Finn cheese is very popular in Stourbridge, an area near Birmingham. It has an unusual appearance due to the holes inside it! It was accidentally created when milk seeped through a tiny opening in an old metal container, causing bubbles to form inside the cheese! The cheese is now made with a unique method that allows the rind to form these tiny holes.

Now that you know all about Birmingham and the West Midlands' most famous dishes, why not plan an excursion to the area to experience them for yourself? This neighborhood has numerous bakeries, cafes, and restaurants where you can sample these delectable treats. They might even motivate you to recreate these regional delicacies at home!

Chinatown is found in the City of Westminister, London, and houses the best bakeries, supermarkets, souvenir shops, and Chinese Restaurants in London. This is not the first Chinatown since the first once was located in the East End’s Limehouse.

Chinatown was first formed in the 1950s, once serving as a home to Maltese and Huguenot immigrants. This area, before being formally called Chinatown, has become a Chinese culture hub during the 1960s and 1970s when a lot of businesses and restaurants opened and moved into it.

The first Chinatown was located in London’s East End’s Limehouse. However, during the mid-20th century, after a decline in shipping and the destruction brought by World War II, the Chinese community shrunk.

Top 3 Worth-trying Noodle Dishes in Chinatown

East Asian cuisine will definitely not be complete without noodles. Any type of noodles – chewy crunchy, spicy – can be found in Chinatown. If you plan to try these noodles on your visit, be sure to make a huge room for all the noodles you are going to consume. Here are some restaurants in Chinatown that serve noodle dishes and other remarkable cuisine you can try:

1. Shanghai moder

Shanghai cuisine and famous Chinese dishes are what Shanghai Modern is known for among all Chinese restaurants in Westminster. Many tourists, or even locals, go back to this restaurant for their Piggy Buns and crispy fried noodles. The latter is mixed with shredded pork, so this might be the ingredient which serves as magic for this dish.

Take note of their address if you plan to visit: Shanghai Modern, 12 Newport Pl, WC2H 7PR.

2. Viet food

Viet Food, found in Wardour Street, will surely let you have a taste of authentic Vietnamese street food and cuisine. The menu in this restaurant is designed by Jeff Tan, who also experiments with traditional ingredients to come up with wonderful food people always love to come back for in his restaurant. One of his famous works is his own version of Crispy Coconut Calamari. Make sure you try this award-winning dish when you go to Chinatown!

Aside from the Calamari, other dishes you can try in Viet Food are Tan’s Soy Sauce Fried Rice with Vietnamese Sausage and King Prawns, which is a tribute to Tan’s father, Five Spice Soft Shell Crab, and Chili Grilled Sirloin Salad.

Here is the address of this incredible restaurant: Viet food , 34-36 Wardour St, W1D 6QT

3. Old Tree Daiwan Bee

From Chinese to Vietnamese, let’s now go to Taiwanese delicacies. One restaurant in Chinatown which offers exquisite Taiwanese dishes is Old Tree Daiwan Bee. The restaurant’s Taiwanese beef noodles is definitely a must-try! Even though the ingredients are quite simple, it is cooked in the traditional way and is also affordable. The chewy noodles perfectly go together with the broth which gives the person eating it a feeling of warmth and comfort.

If you wanna feel that warmth and comfort during your visit, do not forget to check out this address: 26 Rupert St, W1D 6DH.

Top 3 Events to See in Chinatown

Aside from eating out in Chinatown, there are a lot of events and activities you can also enjoy during your stay in the city. Since Chinatown is mostly run by Chinese businesses, Chinese culture is dominant in the area. While enjoying the food from the restaurants in Chinatown, here are some additional events you can enjoy in this place:

1. Chinese New Year

Although the dates when Chinese New Year differs yearly, Chinatown does not fail to celebrate this colourful event. Of course, the event will not be complete without lion dances and floats, and there are also live performances held in Trafalgar Square. A lot of craft stalls and pop-up food stalls can be found around Chinatown, and there are a lot of entertainment sources around Chinatown and across the West End. A picture-perfect moment always happens with the red lanterns floating around, too!

2. Water Cube Cup Singing Contest

Every August in China, singers compete for the finals in the Water Cube Cup Singing Contest. To be able to enter the finals, aspiring singers battle for the slots in their respective countries before finally being able to compete in China. This competition aims to strengthen the relationship between China and the other countries in the world.

3. Moon Fest

Moon Fest happens for a whole week to give thanks for mid-autumn’s harvest. Happening on Gerrard Street’s Chinese Gates’ main stage, Moon Fest’s main action will consist of colorful and loud Chinese music and games, together with martial arts display. This is the perfect occasion for family bonding and entertainment. Specifically, most activities are for kids like lantern-making, face-painting, storytelling sessions, and drawing. Great food, of course, will be around everywhere, so make sure you enjoy the lively streets while eating your mooncakes and dumplings!

Top 3 Places to Stay in Chinatown

As you enjoy all the food and events in Chinatown, you also need to consider the place where you can stay and relax after exploring this lively and colorful part of London. After a whole day of Going Out in London, here are some places you can consider checking out for your stay in Chinatown:

1. Radisson Blu Edwardian, Hampshire

For the best view of Leicester Square Gardens, the London Eye, and Nelson’s Column, a stay in Radisson Blu Edwardian, Hampshire will surely complete your trip to Chinatown, London. The hotel’s terrific facilities, which can accommodate up to a group of 120 people, can provide you with everything you need in a very luxurious way. A recommended room you can book is the hotel's spectacular square-facing rooms or suites which will give you a feeling of royalty feeling like you are floating above Leicester Square. Of course, the food in this hotel is commendable as well as you devour your fabulous meals with a spectacular view of the city.

2. W London Leicester Square

If you are the kind of person who wants to stray away from anything conventional and traditional, the W London Leicester Square is the perfect place for you. With a daring contrast of colours, themes, and characters, this place will surely make you feel alive. There is nothing impossible with the hotel with their signature Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy. People who have stayed in this hotel said that the place has a funky ambiance, something that will make every visitor feel young and groovy. The relaxing atmosphere, coupled with the hotel’s friendly staff, makes visitors come back to this beautiful hotel during their visits.

3. St. Martin’s Lane

The design of the hotel is influenced by a number of things, and the final design surely contributes to the magnificence of the place along with its perfect location – at the Covent Garden’s hub, Trafalgar Square, and West end theatres. Giving guests a light atmosphere, a magnificent view of central London can be appreciated from this hotel. There are private garden rooms and suites which guests can choose from, and some special garden rooms even have private patios where guests can really relax and meditate during their stay before or after exploring the lively and loud streets of Chinatown.

There are a lot to do and explore in Chinatown, so this is really a must-see place if you plan to visit London. Checking this place out will not only give you more than a hundred Instagram-worthy pictures, but this will also give you knowledge on the rich Asian culture.

Whether you are planning on Going Out in Birmingham or having a quite drink in Durham, one thing you will always see is a traditional Bristish Pub! According to a study conducted by Nomen United Kingdom, there are more than 57,000 local English pubs today. Pub names are gateways to the past, telling people the rich history of the UK. These quirky names date back to the old times, specifically during the Roman times, when specific materials are hung outside establishments to tell people that there is alcohol available in the specific area. As years went by, these materials were replaced by painted signs then written names as improvement in literacy rates were seen. Although there are numerous names among pubs in England, there are specific ones that are dominant and are seen more prominent than others. Here are some of these pub names that you’ll frequently see as you travel through England:

11. The Queens Head

To start this list, we have 'The Queens Head'. This name has nothing to do with Anne Boleyn and Catherin Howard’s beheading. This name, according to some, might just be derived from when pubs had pictures of Queen Victoria or Elizabeth I on their signs. Some people also wonder why there are no pubs with The Queens Head as a name which featured Elizabeth II. Well, the answer is that modern rules state that reigning monarchs should not be placed on pub signs as long as they are alive.

10. The Kings Head

For a safer announcement of loyalty, many pubs use the name “King’s Head” instead of “Pope’s Head” when King Henry VIII removed himself from the Catholic Church. There has been a lot of anti-Catholicism during this time for so long, too, so this name was safer, and pub owners would not have to change their names frequently.

9. The Bell

As said earlier, pub names originate from different things, form simple objects to highly-regarded monarchies. In this case, The Bell is often a religious object where pub names originated. For instance, there is a pub called The Six Bells because some people say that the church near the pub rings six times every time. In addition to this explanation, there is also a belief that bells possess magical powers, so people are being protected against evil spirits by this object. Names like Eight Bells, Old Bell, and other ones are said to have religious connections, so many pub owners also use this name for their pubs.

8. The Swan

Reigning monarchs have always owned swans, so this is another symbol with a heraldic meaning. One pub is now famously known as Swan with Two Necks because in the 16th century, the Vintners were given a swan by Queen Elizabeth I. To distinguish the Vintners’ swans from those of the monarchy, the former’s swans have two notches in their beaks, so there was a swan with two necks. On the other hand, some say that Henry VIII’s fourth wife Anne of Cleves also possessed a white swan as a family crest, so pubs used this as their sign. In addition to this, The Swan is frequently related by the people to ownership rights or traders’ meeting place, so there is no clear original explanation of where this name originated.

7. The Ship

Another famous name of pubs in England is The Ship. There are different stories behind this, but some pubs are named like this because the owners are retired seamen, or the inn and pubs were frequented by seamen. Whatever the reason is, there will always be an interesting story behind The Ship as a name for pubs. Some pub owners today even use specific names of ships. Right now, there are 243 pubs named The Ship, according to Google.

6. The New Inn

Terms like Old and New are often placed before the main name of pubs to make it more distinct or to differentiate itself from nearby pubs. Sometimes, pubs with the word “New” in it are also located on main roads so that people can easily access them.

5. The Plough

Fifth on the list is The Plough, which is a generic name related to the agricultural past of the UK. As many people know, Europe was dominated by feudalism for a long time. In feudalism, there are considered two types of laborers – peasants and serfs. They are both protected by nobles in exchange for their labor on the land. With this setting, pub owners named their pubs “The Plough” to honour the peasants and the products, specifically the cereals, which pub owners also use for their ales and whiskeys. Currently, there are 225 British pubs named The Plough.

4. The White Hart

Another name related to heraldry, pub names often make use of The White Hart as a pub name. Ruling during the 14th century, a white stag was on King Richard II’s official badge, and during his time, he commanded all inns and pubs to hang signs in their areas to let people know that these are drinking establishments. Because of this, a lot of inn and pub owners used the white hard on this badge as a sign and as a name on many pub signs. Today, 225 pubs are named The White Hart.

3. The Crown

Third on the list of popular British pub names is The Crown. Without a funny or super eventful history, The Crown being a pub name is more serious in nature. During the old time, many kings and queens were beheaded or dethroned, so by having a generic name, the pub owners do not need to repeatedly change their name in accordance to the person or family reigning. Having the name “The Crown'' makes it seem like pub owners are supporting whoever is in the highest position at the time and is honestly safer. Some pub owners also used the name “The Crown Inn.” Today, there are said to be 328 pubs with the name The Crown

2. The Royal Oak

The second most well-known pub name in England is The Royal Oak. This name is said to be from a story studied in English history. In 1651, Prince Charles Stuart and Cromwell fought in what was known as the Battle of Worcester, but the former was defeated. Because of this, the prince was considered an outlaw when he escaped the battle. In order for him to escape and not be known, he dressed up as different people, most commonly as a woman, hid in several houses, and climbed an English oak tree where he hid for a day. This tree was said to be located in Shropshire’s Boscobel House. After hiding in this tree, he went to France. When he came back to England, he became known across the land as Charles the II, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The oak tree where he hid then became the Royal Oak, and the history this tree holds was honored and celebrated by using it as a pub name. Right now, there are around 344 Royal Oak pubs.

1. The Red Lion

The Red Lion is the UK’s most famous pub name. Heraldry was famous during this time, so animals and armorial bearings are often incorporated in British pubs’ signs and names. The red lion is said to be from the coat of arms of the renowned Duke of Lancaster John of Gaunt. John of Gaunt lived during the 1300s, but the red lion is said to be made popular when James VI and I imposed the red lion to be displayed on pubs and essential buildings. As of today, there are around 600 Red Lion pubs. 

So if there is one thing to take from this article is that if you are planning a night out with a few mates down The Red Lion, get an address! There are 16 of these Pubs in Birmingham.