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!

Curry is one of the most popular foods found in Birmingham and all other major cities in the UK.

The term "curry" originates in the old Tamil word "Kari," which means sauce or gravy.

The name "curry" does not relate to a single dish in particular; instead, it is a generic term that can be applied to a dish consisting of stewed meat, tofu, or vegetables cooked in a spiced gravy or aromatic sauce. It is served with steamed rice or naan.

Though a South- Asian cuisine, there are several popular Restaurants in Birmingham offering Curry which have helped to cement the city's reputation as a hub for Indian cuisine. But why exactly? We're here to find out.

How Curry became British cuisine

The story of how Curry became British cuisine is full of exciting details and fascinating historical figures. Many British personnel in India initially tried to steer clear of Indian cuisine.

The British made every effort to maintain a "pure" British identity in India, including maintaining their culinary practices and preferences. But it wasn't successful.

In India, it wasn't always easy to find the ingredients for British food. Also, most lower-class planters, soldiers, and British administrators who could not afford cooks – mainly cooks trained in British culinary styles – and who couldn't prepare food themselves frequently resorted to consuming what was easily accessible in the area.

In the 19th century, the Indian Curry expanded to all classes of British residents in India, and it eventually made its way into the routine consumption habits and food choices of British residents. It was widely accepted that Joseph Edmunds, a British author, wrote a book on it titled "Curries and how to prepare them."

Once established, the taste for Indian curries was not limited to the British in India. In 1810, Sake Mahommed opened the first Curry house called Hindoostane Coffee House, targeting British imperial officials who had recently returned from India and had a craving for Indian curries.

In 1823, The Brighton Pavilion was opened. It was initially constructed as a resort for king George IV. The Royal Pavilion sparked a craze for all things Indian, which led to the mass adoption of Indian culture and cuisine, especially by the Royals.

Curry became more appealing to the British when William White told the people that curry powder had health benefits. In his book" Curries: their Healthful and Medicinal Qualities, he argued that it is the secret behind the Oriental's healthy living.

Queen Victoria's love for Indian culture and the mass immigration of commonwealth countries into the United Kingdom during World War II boosted the Curry industry.
These immigrants sold Curry and rice alongside fish and chips and meat pies. They catered to a new generation of college students who benefited from the country's rapid growth in the number of Universities in the 1960s, providing them with standard, low-cost cuisine. By staying late, they could get crowds returning from pubs. So, the taste for curries spread beyond the affluent to all classes.

Why Curry became popular in Birmingham

There are many reasons why Curry became popular in Birmingham, but the most striking was because the Balti dish was invented in this city. The balti dish has become a staple of British cuisine, and the Restaurants in Birmingham are one of the main things that has helped it become so popular.

The Balti dish was created in the 1970s by a Birmingham restaurant owner who wanted to attract customers other than those from the local Pakistani community. He made an excellent dish that Westerners enjoy by mixing different herbs and spices.

The balti dish became a popular curry dish. As a result, balti houses started sprouting up to meet the growing demand, which led to the formation of the Birmingham Balti triangle. This area has some of the best food in the UK. It's so popular that people from outside this city come to taste the fantastic food served here; it is a hot spot for tourists and locals.

The Balti Triangle is a community of Balti houses along Ladypool Road, Stoney Lane, and Stratford Road, located south of Birmingham.

However, Birmingham is also home to an array of award-winning restaurants that aim to create the perfect dining experience for residents and visitors. With a wide range of cuisines, ranging from traditional Indian cuisine to Mediterranean fare; there is something for everyone.

Best Curry Restaurants in Birmingham

You can find many Indian Restaurants Birmingham that serve a variety of Curries. But to me, the best curry restaurant is a place to have lunch or dinner while enjoying some company. So, here's my pick;

OPheem

Location:65 Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JJ, United Kingdom
Opheem is a legendary restaurant that serves delicious and authentic Indian cuisine. Opheem offers an extensive menu filled with food that is both mouthwatering and memorable. The quality of the food served by Opheem is genuinely exceptional, as it is prepared using fresh, high-quality ingredients to cater to its ever-growing customer base.

The owner, Aktar Islam, is a Michelle Star Chef and has been cooking since childhood. So, feel free to visit; you're assured of a great time.

Viceroy Tandoori

Location:109 Icknield St, Birmingham B18 6RZ, United Kingdom

Viceroy is another excellent Indian restaurant Birmingham that serves various curries, including veg and non-veg. They also have an impressive selection of drinks, including a great selection of beer and wine. The food is delicious, but the atmosphere makes this place stand out. It has a warm, cosy feel that makes you want to return.

If you are looking for a restaurant that offers Indian takeaway Birmingham at an affordable price, then visit Viceroy.

Asha

Location:12-22 Newhall St, Birmingham B3 3LX, United Kingdom

The staff in Asha are friendly; the atmosphere is welcoming. The menu offers an excellent variety of authentic Indian dishes, including lamb curry, chicken curry, and vegetarian dishes.

The restaurant has a casual atmosphere. It also has room for larger groups or parties that need extra seating.

The food at Asha is delicious and tastes authentic, which makes it an excellent choice for visitors looking for tasty Indian cuisine.

Dishoom Birmingham

Location: One Chamberlain Sq, Birmingham B3 3AX, United Kingdom

Dishoom Birmingham is a restaurant that offers fantastic food, a fabulous ambiance, excellent value, and quality with delicious food and curries.

They have been serving tasty meals since 2020. The menu is designed to meet the needs of all diners, whether you are vegan or gluten-free. They even have a children's menu available for those who want something different for their little ones!

The Indian Streatery

Location:21a Bennetts Hill, Birmingham B2 5QP, United Kingdom

Indian Streatary has been serving delicious, authentic Indian cuisine in Birmingham. They've got a great selection of curries and sides, with options for vegetarians and vegans. Their food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented—it's no wonder they have a loyal following.

Their staff is friendly and welcoming, so you can relax and enjoy your meal while chatting with them. If you're looking for a great meal that won't leave you feeling stuffed or bloated after eating it, this is the place for you!

Final thought

Regarding Curry, Birmingham sits in a class of its own. It's known as the curry capital of Britain and has one of the largest Indian populations in the country.

The origins of Curry in Birmingham can be traced to Abdul Aziz, an Indian who worked as a labourer in a British Navy ship. It is believed that he started it with an Irish waitress called Violet. They opened a restaurant called Darjeeling, where they sold Curry and rice. This restaurant formed the bedrock of the curry trade in Birmingham.