National Curry Week : Our guide to the top Indian restaurants in town
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Was curry invented in Birmingham?
Birmingham has had a lot to do with the development of curry and British Indian cuisine as we know it. Many types of Indian curry that we are familiar with, such as the chicken tikka masala, were actually invented in the UK during the 20th century. At least one variety, butter chicken, is believed to have originated here in Birmingham.
What we know for definite is that via the Balti Triangle, Birmingham gave us a new type of curry dish, with meat, vegetables or fish cooked in sauce at high temperature in a steel bowl (see photo above), and served in the same dish with a side of naan bread - the balti.
Coming for a Birmingham curry from out of town?
If you don't fancy the long drive or train ride home with a bellyful of curry, why not spend the night in Birmingham? As you'd expect from a city of over 1 million people, there's a place to stay to suit every taste and budget - from good-value options like ibis Hotels to independent stays.
Making a night of it also means you can go for a tipple at one of the city's many fine watering holes - from cocktail spots like Fumo to wine houses like Loki. Check out our bars section, where we feature some great bars in Birmingham.
Best curry houses in Birmingham
Everyone in the city has their favourite Indian restaurant, so feel free to tell us off if we haven't included yours! Or if you fancy staying in, check out how to make curry sauce with these recipes.
Without further ado, here are our top 10 Indian restaurants, in no particular order…
Itihaas - Fine dining in antique luxury
18 Fleet Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1JL
With no mention of the word ‘curry' throughout its menus, Itihaas takes a new step in the evolution of British Indian cuisine with a return to traditional dishes and authentic techniques.
The generic term ‘curry' has no place here - expect better descriptors such as Mirchi Murgh - tender chicken, tossed in fresh crushed ginger and garlic, pan-fried with fresh green chillies.
The interior is also well worth a mention; a collection of antiques, fine furniture and traditional art all recreate the bygone luxury of colonial India.
Lasan - A Birmingham treasure
3-4 Dakota Buildings, James Street, St Paul's Square, Birmingham, B3 1SD
Famously appearing on Gordon Ramsay's ‘ The F Word' in 2010, Lasan has established itself since then as a refined and superior Indian restaurant.
It enjoys a great location by the genteel St Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter, and serves Indian creations using locally-sourced high quality ingredients.
Pushkar - Good food with a side of glamour
245 Broad St, City Centre, Birmingham B1 2HQ
Pushkar has wow factor from the moment you walk in: perhaps it's the pristine white interiors or the high-profile bar that stares you right in the face.
The mixology is something this restaurant is especially proud of, with a wide range of original cocktails available.
The food - Punjabi and North Indian - is perfectly presented and delicious.
Jyoti - Vegetarian curry paradise
1045 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 8AS
Vegetarian curry? Absolutely. While the British palate is used to meaty options like chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh, 20-40% of people in India are vegetarian, and many authentically Indian dishes don't contain meat.
Jyoti takes its inspiration from South India, and is especially known for its dhosas. These are traditional rice pancakes filled with anything from coconut chutney, to potato, onions and pineapple.
Asha's Indian Bar & Restaurant
Touchwood Shopping Centre, B91 3GJ Solihull, UK
Asha's is a multi-award-winning contemporary Indian restaurant and bar in Touchwood Solihull.
It woos them with high quality showmanship - extending from the elegant interior to the daintily plated food, which includes Lobster panchphoran simmered with five spices, mustard paste and prawns.
More about Asha's Indian Bar & Restaurant
Raja Monkey - Indian street food
1355 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 9HW
Created by the people behind Lasan (above), this is an altogether different kettle of fish. Swapping fine dining for casual street-food-style fare, Raja Monkey is carving out its own little niche.
The decor is funky, the pricing is reasonable and the food is exciting. It aims to bring you ‘closer to the real India' by serving up typical roadside grab-and-go meals like Fish Amritsari and the wonderfully fine and crumbly Galouti Kebab.
Kababish - A tasty atmosphere
29 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8EH
Priding itself on a ‘blend of tradition and modernity', Kababish certainly delivers on atmosphere, with a warm and striking vibe as you walk into the Moseley restaurant.
The cuisine goes beyond India to include Pakistani dishes as well, and vegetarian curry options are numerous. For a bit of drama and - they claim - a healthier choice, try out a sizzling tandoori dish such as Shahi ka Sizzler: salmon, hake, scallop and king prawn.
The Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant - Something for everyone
1214 Stratford Road Birmingham, West Midlands B28 9BH
Not limiting themselves to the numerous types of Indian curry, The Horseshoe includes a Great British Menu alongside its Chilli and Spice offering. This reflects its origins as a gastropub.
For those who want to explore the cuisine of the Subcontinent, there are some interesting and less well-known dishes available here, like Pasand Apni Apni - fresh spinach and mustard leaves with cottage cheese and potatoes.
Mughal-e-Azam - Dazzlingly different
Stratford Road, Birmingham B11 4DA
The Mughals were a royal dynasty, and this namesake restaurant certainly makes you feel in the presence of kings. Once a church, the building has been transformed on the inside into a vaulted, lavish dining space with oodles of pomp.
Food is mainly Pakistani, ranging from familiar karahis and dals, to more interesting options including Maghaz Masala: lamb brains simmered in garlic and turmeric.
More Indian restaurants in Birmingham…
It goes without saying that this list is just the beginning! Find more Indian restaurants in our restaurant finder.
Author: ahmed
