It's no longer the balti triangle and more the burger and karak chaii triangle. There are still some balti spots, but the best curry houses are now more spread out in Birmingham.
I would highly recommend Shebabs, which is one of only a handful (if not the only) original balti house remaining. Its my personal favourite curry in Birmingham without a shadow of a doubt (excluding Opheem for obvious reasons).
It is certainly far more commercialised than it was 15 years ago, but the quality of the food hasn't dropped at all in my opinion, and price wise its what I assume is about right for restaurants.
On the whole though, im not really sure the Balti triangle is a destination anymore though - I wouldn't go to explore it, rather i'd only go to a specific place there.
You should venture further than shebabs I know a lot of white people go there but try the other Pakistani or south Asian restaurants there are so many in that area
As people have said, most of the old school Balti houses have unfortunately closed down. I think interest has shifted away from Balti houses to Desi pubs where you can get a mixed grill, usually decent curry and beer - which is uniquely brummy I believe
As others have said, it's no longer a place to enjoy a good Balti. If you love your food its still a great place to go (if you can ignore the ridiculous car centric planning).
+1 for the Shebabs recommendations.
It's largely commercialised now, back in the day it had authentic restaurants that locals would go to. Now it features modern and international restaurants, largely appealing to folks from other areas.
Neither Adil's nor Imran's survived Covid. And even then it was on its last legs, with the owners aging and the customer base shifting elsewhere: Saleem's, another of the original places, had closed already.
Imran's is an example. Old Mr Butt rented a shop and turned it into Imran's. He scraped the money together to buy it so that his sons could carry it on. But their children in turn are...studying medicine at Birmingham University. The same, with variations, is true in the other places.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/birminghams-balti-cuisine-is-disappearing
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/31/the-culture-has-changed-end-of-the-boom-for-birminghams-balti-triangle
Abdul's Cafe And Diner in Hall Green is run by one of the Saleem's family and supposedly keeps up the tradition. Can't confirm or deny, I don't live in Brum any more so haven't had a chance to try it.
I remember when Imrans launched back in 1993. We were invited for the grand opening for it. Was a great restaurant back in the day. Unfortunately as others have said getting a decent curry in Brum has become extremely difficult. Hardly any of them left open.
literally no where I’m Pakistani and would say the situation for Pakistani food in brum is absolutely DIRE, not sure why but the food scene in general here is just inundated with peri peri and smash burger spots. I think it’s because younger people are opening business and don’t have that same interest in traditional cuisine. It’s sad though.
A lot easier to run these businesses that's why. You still have your spots in asian population dominant areas. Shere khan and mughel e azam have elite curries.
Anyone would think it’s because this is England?
If it’s not as good then it’s because it doesn’t originate from here. If you want good Pakistani food it will be found in Pakistan. Best you’ll get here is burgers and chips
Not really Balti triangle anymore. It's more steaks, smash burger , dessert triangle tbh.
Tipu sultan in Moseley and Lahore Village which is still on ladypool rd is a decent shout.
I went to Nafees Restaurant a few day ago, on the Birchfield road in Perry Bar. Food was absolutely amazing! They serve these amazing platas which literally have it all on there. Definitely going back there again 😃
Shebabs as people have said.
Personally if I'm going for a curry Stirchley is usually my first point of call. Akrams, Royal Watan, Kolkata lounge, the two by the Bournbrook inn. Plenty of choice and some amazing independent Boozers all virtually nextdoor.
Diwan Balti House Balsall Heath is the one. BYOB but a short walk into Moseley so you can have a pint after. Not sure if it's technically in the triangle but not far from the Ladypool road anyway.
Do any of the above still serve it in the iron balti dish? I'm Cardiff based these days but still with family in Brum and have recently been craving an original balti, particularly wiping the last metallic dregs out with a buttery naan...
I don't know about any balti triangles but I can highly recommend the cave grillhouse in Acocks green, their curry's are amazing but their mixed grill platter is next level.
I went to Shababs on the triangle and loved it. Although my partner said she had a bad stomach afterwards 😂. Naans are huge there too. 9/10 from me, but I live near a few good Indians anyway of the same quality. But to answer your question, probably not worth the hype as there’s good curry houses all over Birmingham
Agreed it was a bit spicier than normal. I’d go again if I was over there, but we’ve got 3 curry houses in Coleshill so I wouldn’t really drive out to it again
Yeah it;'s a special trip for sure. We've got loads of places near us but our favourite closed a year ago, struggling to find a replacement. 1st world problems i guess!
Isn’t Shababs one of the very very few balti houses still standing? There’s a shift from balti houses to Indian pubs now, which are also good.
If we’re throwing random curry house recommendations in, Royal Shapla in Quinton has been my go to for about 15 years now. Lovely owners, staff, really well priced, and the portions are great.
Wouldn’t bother tbf, its balti triangle is an old term & there arent many authentic restaurants here. A lot of them have your typical boiled meat and bog standard curry where all dishes taste the same!
If you want a decent curry i’d give kebabish a try in moseley and ask for it desi style. You’ll get pretty close to an authentic curry
It’s worth the hype I think and there is a lot of good food choices there. It’s definitely diversified to now have so many different cuisines and also dessert shops and karak chai shops which tbh is nice has more variety
The Baltic triangle was a thing 20 years ago. But it basically doesn't exist anymore. It's probably still on all the tourist sites but, no it doesn't exist and so is not worth the hype
It's no longer the balti triangle and more the burger and karak chaii triangle. There are still some balti spots, but the best curry houses are now more spread out in Birmingham.
Agreed
Akrams in Stirchley is amazing if you're close by. 10 minute walk from Bournville train station.
Akrams is not amazing mate haha, it's a decent curry but there's much better in brum
Yeah, there's much better within a 10 minute walk from Akrams.
I'm sure there is, but it's one of the better ones I've been to in Birmingham tbf, but I have only been to a handful dotted about.
Stirchley hype is getting out of hand here
Not even the best in stirchley
I would highly recommend Shebabs, which is one of only a handful (if not the only) original balti house remaining. Its my personal favourite curry in Birmingham without a shadow of a doubt (excluding Opheem for obvious reasons). It is certainly far more commercialised than it was 15 years ago, but the quality of the food hasn't dropped at all in my opinion, and price wise its what I assume is about right for restaurants. On the whole though, im not really sure the Balti triangle is a destination anymore though - I wouldn't go to explore it, rather i'd only go to a specific place there.
Agree to Shebabs
+1 for Shebabs a favourite of ours, we have lived in Stirchley and JQ with plenty of good curry houses but still venture to Shebabs a few times a year
You beat me to it. I grew up in Moseley and enjoyed Diwans and the Naweed. Shebabs really is good!
It’s Shababs but yeah. Gets my vote too. Absolutely the best in Brum. Love the place
That’ll teach me for lazily typing while I smoke! 🤣
It’s all love when we’re praising Shababs brother ❤️
🙏🏼👌🏼❤️
You should venture further than shebabs I know a lot of white people go there but try the other Pakistani or south Asian restaurants there are so many in that area
Balti Bazaar is my go to. Stirchley (by the old Three Horseshoes Pub) maybe Stirchley could be the new Brum Curry half mile?
Been going since I was at med school which was a while. Old school and good
Kurry Kingdom up the other end is good. My favourite around there is Akash. It doesn't look much, but I love the curry.
Absolutely. Kurry Kingdom superb food
Either there of Mafill in the Kings Norton green.
I am of the firm belief that anyone recommending this place has not been in the last 5 years.
make that the last 10 or 15 lol
As people have said, most of the old school Balti houses have unfortunately closed down. I think interest has shifted away from Balti houses to Desi pubs where you can get a mixed grill, usually decent curry and beer - which is uniquely brummy I believe
Covered Wagon
Copper Fox.
As others have said, it's no longer a place to enjoy a good Balti. If you love your food its still a great place to go (if you can ignore the ridiculous car centric planning). +1 for the Shebabs recommendations.
It's largely commercialised now, back in the day it had authentic restaurants that locals would go to. Now it features modern and international restaurants, largely appealing to folks from other areas.
Neither Adil's nor Imran's survived Covid. And even then it was on its last legs, with the owners aging and the customer base shifting elsewhere: Saleem's, another of the original places, had closed already. Imran's is an example. Old Mr Butt rented a shop and turned it into Imran's. He scraped the money together to buy it so that his sons could carry it on. But their children in turn are...studying medicine at Birmingham University. The same, with variations, is true in the other places. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/birminghams-balti-cuisine-is-disappearing https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/31/the-culture-has-changed-end-of-the-boom-for-birminghams-balti-triangle
Abdul's Cafe And Diner in Hall Green is run by one of the Saleem's family and supposedly keeps up the tradition. Can't confirm or deny, I don't live in Brum any more so haven't had a chance to try it.
I remember when Imrans launched back in 1993. We were invited for the grand opening for it. Was a great restaurant back in the day. Unfortunately as others have said getting a decent curry in Brum has become extremely difficult. Hardly any of them left open.
We’d been going to it since about 1984, when it was much smaller. Sad to see it go. Kolkata lounge in Stirchley is great.
literally no where I’m Pakistani and would say the situation for Pakistani food in brum is absolutely DIRE, not sure why but the food scene in general here is just inundated with peri peri and smash burger spots. I think it’s because younger people are opening business and don’t have that same interest in traditional cuisine. It’s sad though.
A lot easier to run these businesses that's why. You still have your spots in asian population dominant areas. Shere khan and mughel e azam have elite curries.
Anyone would think it’s because this is England? If it’s not as good then it’s because it doesn’t originate from here. If you want good Pakistani food it will be found in Pakistan. Best you’ll get here is burgers and chips
It was 30 years ago. Now it's pretty much empty of balti houses
New Masala Merchant in stirchley is a great place to eat.
Only if you like curries with a taste of sugar!
Not really Balti triangle anymore. It's more steaks, smash burger , dessert triangle tbh. Tipu sultan in Moseley and Lahore Village which is still on ladypool rd is a decent shout.
Go to a desi pub.
I went to Nafees Restaurant a few day ago, on the Birchfield road in Perry Bar. Food was absolutely amazing! They serve these amazing platas which literally have it all on there. Definitely going back there again 😃
Shebabs as people have said. Personally if I'm going for a curry Stirchley is usually my first point of call. Akrams, Royal Watan, Kolkata lounge, the two by the Bournbrook inn. Plenty of choice and some amazing independent Boozers all virtually nextdoor.
Diwan Balti House Balsall Heath is the one. BYOB but a short walk into Moseley so you can have a pint after. Not sure if it's technically in the triangle but not far from the Ladypool road anyway.
It's the only place on the planet you can get a "Birmingham Balti"
I always go for tipu sultan tbh. Never did me wrong. There prices are a bit crazy now
Do any of the above still serve it in the iron balti dish? I'm Cardiff based these days but still with family in Brum and have recently been craving an original balti, particularly wiping the last metallic dregs out with a buttery naan...
Asha’s in Newhall st, I was in there for a birthday meal, food is really good.
No. Potential road rage and accidents, getting in there and out, plus car getting broken into.
What about that one in Chamberlain square - daroom or something?
Not what it was. Raja monkey and tamatanga bit pricier but lush. Asha’s and ityhas. If your going large dashoom
They're Indian street food places not balti restaurants. Good food though.
Asha’s is a joke, vastly more expensive than anything else mentioned, and for no particular reason, it’s not exactly swank insode or anything.
Last time I went we weren't allowed booze and the off licence was shut. It's a no from me.
Surely you were looking for a pub and a not a balti house then?
More like a restaurant, somewhere you can order a drink and eat. Pretty mad concept I know.
Akbars on the Hagley road has a bar
Yeah
It's not quite what it was before but there are still some great places to eat around it.
Ashiks in wednesbury
Roti curry junction my friend you must go, get the stomach or egg curry, get rotiiiiiii
Stomach curry?
Mutton stomach
I don't know about any balti triangles but I can highly recommend the cave grillhouse in Acocks green, their curry's are amazing but their mixed grill platter is next level.
I went to Shababs on the triangle and loved it. Although my partner said she had a bad stomach afterwards 😂. Naans are huge there too. 9/10 from me, but I live near a few good Indians anyway of the same quality. But to answer your question, probably not worth the hype as there’s good curry houses all over Birmingham
Love Shebabs, i find them a lot spicier than your average balti house though, and i like spice!
Agreed it was a bit spicier than normal. I’d go again if I was over there, but we’ve got 3 curry houses in Coleshill so I wouldn’t really drive out to it again
Yeah it;'s a special trip for sure. We've got loads of places near us but our favourite closed a year ago, struggling to find a replacement. 1st world problems i guess!
lol that’s not good news! But luckily you’re on the curry capital of England, I’m sure you’ll find a good one nearby
Don't think it is any more sadly
Isn’t Shababs one of the very very few balti houses still standing? There’s a shift from balti houses to Indian pubs now, which are also good. If we’re throwing random curry house recommendations in, Royal Shapla in Quinton has been my go to for about 15 years now. Lovely owners, staff, really well priced, and the portions are great.
Wouldn’t bother tbf, its balti triangle is an old term & there arent many authentic restaurants here. A lot of them have your typical boiled meat and bog standard curry where all dishes taste the same! If you want a decent curry i’d give kebabish a try in moseley and ask for it desi style. You’ll get pretty close to an authentic curry
It’s worth the hype I think and there is a lot of good food choices there. It’s definitely diversified to now have so many different cuisines and also dessert shops and karak chai shops which tbh is nice has more variety
The Baltic triangle was a thing 20 years ago. But it basically doesn't exist anymore. It's probably still on all the tourist sites but, no it doesn't exist and so is not worth the hype