West Midlands
Brum on a budget
Good food, small bill
Updated
Birmingham does cheap food with real character. The Balti Triangle around Ladypool Road is where the balti was born, and in Digbeth, Original Patty Men turned street-food burgers into a restaurant. In the city centre, Tiger Bites Pig serves bao by St Philip’s Cathedral, the Indian Brewery pours its own beer in the arches by Snow Hill, and Yakinori is handy on New Street. Out in the suburbs, there’s Vietnamese food at Eat Vietnam in Stirchley, Indian street food at Zindiya in Moseley and Korean barbecue at your table at Kimchi in Selly Oak.
Our picks
A balti on Ladypool Road
Ladypool Road, Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook
Address: Shababs, 163-165 Ladypool Road, Birmingham B12 8LQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Head to the Balti Triangle, where Birmingham's balti was born, and share a curry served sizzling in the steel bowl it's cooked in, with a naan big enough for two.
Why it's a good date: Cheap, filling and a real taste of the city. Many places don't serve alcohol but let you bring your own, so check first and take a bottle.
Original Patty Men
Shaw's Passage, Digbeth
Address: Original Patty Men, 9 Shaw's Passage, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5JG- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share burgers and fries at OPM, the Digbeth burger joint that grew out of street food.
Why it's a good date: Loud music, big flavours and a bar next door if there's a wait for a table. It's a good start to a night in Digbeth, and booking helps at weekends.
Tiger Bites Pig
Church Street, city centre
Address: Tiger Bites Pig, 30 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2NP- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Taiwanese-style bao and rice bowls at the small independent on Church Street, near St Philip's Cathedral.
Why it's a good date: A lot of the menu is made in-house, and it's easy to order a few things and swap. Handy for a lunch date in the business district or before a show.
Eat Vietnam
Pershore Road, Stirchley
Address: Eat Vietnam, 1422 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2PH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Head to Stirchley for Vietnamese noodles and curries at the small, friendly restaurant on Pershore Road.
Why it's a good date: A short menu, cooked well, with specials that change. It's small, so book ahead, then make an evening of Stirchley's run of craft beer bars.
Zindiya
Woodbridge Road, Moseley
Address: Zindiya, 21 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8EH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Indian street food and cocktails at Zindiya, a fun, casual spot in Moseley.
Why it's a good date: Lots of small plates to pick through together, in a lively, casual room. Moseley village is lovely for a wander before or after.
The Indian Brewery, Snowhill
Livery Street, by Snow Hill station
Address: The Indian Brewery, Arch 15 & 16 Livery Street, Birmingham B3 1EU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Pair modern Indian food with beer brewed in Birmingham, in the railway arches by Snow Hill station.
Why it's a good date: A relaxed, good-value dinner with a pint, a few minutes' walk from the Jewellery Quarter. Book at weekends, when the arches fill up.
Yakinori
New Street, city centre
Address: Yakinori, 67 New Street, Birmingham B2 4DU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Grab ramen, katsu or sushi at Yakinori, the family-run Japanese restaurant on New Street.
Why it's a good date: Quick, filling and right in the middle of town, so it's an easy dinner before the cinema or a show. Good for a rainy day between the shops.
Kimchi Korean Restaurant
Dawlish Road, Selly Oak
Address: Kimchi Korean Restaurant, 2-4 Dawlish Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 7AE- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Cook Korean barbecue together at your table at Kimchi in Selly Oak.
Why it's a good date: Grilling at the table gives you something to do as well as eat, which takes the pressure off a first date. It's near the university, so it's busy and good value.
Quick answers
Where's the Balti Triangle?
Around Ladypool Road in Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook, south of the city centre, where Birmingham's balti was born. Share a curry served in the steel bowl it's cooked in.
Is there a cheap dinner near Snow Hill station?
The Indian Brewery is in the railway arches by Snow Hill, with modern Indian food and beer brewed in Birmingham. Book at weekends, when the arches fill up.
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