Birmingham and the Black Country invented the desi pub, and arguing about the best one is a local sport in itself. This is our list. Yes, we have put ourselves on it, this is our website. But the other five are places we genuinely rate, and if you work through all six you will eat very well indeed.
1. Smokey Barrels, Coventry Road
We will make our case plainly. A clay tandoor turning out mixed grills from a solo sizzler up to a mega grill for three, proper curries and baltis alongside, and more than a dozen screens showing every big match and fight night. There is parking on site, families are welcome, and you can book a table online in under a minute. Ten minutes from Birmingham Airport, right on the A45.
2. The Vine, West Bromwich
The one that started the revolution, and still the name most people mention first. From the outside it looks like an ordinary corner pub near The Hawthorns; inside, the open grill perfumes the whole room. Match days here are an institution. Find The Vine.
3. Hen & Chickens, Jewellery Quarter
The most central pick on this list and a favourite for first-timers, since you can walk there from town. The mixed grill comes in two sizes and the larger one is a serious undertaking. Find Hen & Chickens.
4. Soho Tavern, Handsworth
Calls itself an Indian gastropub, and the polish shows. The grills are generous, the curry list is long, and it has grown a following well beyond its own postcode. Find Soho Tavern.
5. The New Bell, Great Barr
A friendly neighbourhood local with a menu that roams wider than most, taking in dishes from both north and south India alongside the grills. The sort of place you go once and start planning the second visit. Find The New Bell.
6. The Merrymaid, Moseley Road
Closer to our side of the city, and reliable for a well-priced grill any day of the week. Less famous than the others on this list, which locals consider a feature rather than a flaw. Find The Merrymaid.
How to do a desi pub properly
- Order the mixed grill first. Judge everything else after.
- Go hungry. Portions across all six of these are honest.
- Check what sport is on before you pick your night. Match days have the best atmosphere and the fewest free tables.
- New to the food? Start with our guide to what a desi pub actually is, or read up on Birmingham's own balti before you go.
