Cheap eats in Birmingham: 13 restaurants to dine out on a budget

Birmingham was once known as the food capital of the country, and for good reason too. It’s home to the most Michelin starred restaurants outside of London, and is jam packed with creative, critically acclaimed chefs ready to bring their own style to the city’s food scene. However, more than just expensive eateries, there is also an extensive list of cheap eats in Birmingham where flavours are paramount, but the price is not. Plus, there’s both quality and quantity included in these options, meaning you really are getting the best bang for your buck.

Birmingham has an impressive history of food, and what has always been known as the home of the balti, is actually also host to a range of delicious cuisines, including asian small plates, greek gyros, and some of the filthiest burgers in the UK. This isn’t just limited to dinner either, as this ranges to places where you can enjoy pizza by the slice for lunch, or Japanese sandos for breakfast.

It’s these sorts of places that are the backbone of the Birmingham food scene, and deserve as much praise as the more expensive, elegant options nearby - because it’s always nice to go for dinner without worrying about checking your bank balance at the end of the meal. Whilst one can always appreciate a trip to a Michelin starred restaurant, the truth is it’s hard to beat a place where you can eat unfussy, delicious food at a bargain price. So we’ve pulled together all of the best cheap eats in Birmingham, so you can dine out on some of the best food in the city, and do it all for less than a tenner.

The Coconut Tree

What: The Coconut Tree serves up Sri Lankan small plates and cocktails in its characteristic island vibes. Expect Hoppers, a variety of curries including meat and vegan options, as well as sides like parotta rotti with is a traditional Sri Lankan flatbread. This is somewhere to visit for the electric energy as much as it is the delicious food, and we’d recommend going for the express lunch with a hopper, curry, sambol or condiment, rotti or rice, and a drink for just £15 during the week.
Where: 35 Gas Street, B1 2JT
How much: From £4
Book now: The Coconut Tree

Habanero’s

What: If you’re looking for a restaurant to enjoy Tex Mex for under a tenner, then Habenero’s is the place for you. What originally started as a food truck on the streets of Birmingham, has now also taken up a more permanent residency at Great Western Arcade to serve the city with some sizable portions of tacos, burritos and nachos. All you need to do is choose your dish, then pick a filling, the toppings and finally finish off with a sauce
Where: 3 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham
How much: £7 for carnitas pulled pork burrito
Book now: Habanero’s

Zindiya

What: Pitching themselves as an Indian tapas restaurant, this is a restaurant that comes with minimum price and maximum flavour. Started by a husband and wife team, this was a dream since their teenage years, and has only gone from strength to strength since opening. Expect dishes like pav bhaji, masala chips and tingara chicken. You can spend as little or as much as you’d like here - but be warned, the menu may be too tempting to limit your order.
Where: 21 Woodbridge Road, B13 8EH
How much: From £2.50
Book now: Zindiya

Hen & Chickens 

What: Located in the heart of Birmingham’s renowned Jewellery Quarter, the passion project of brothers Sunny and Sonu has gone from strength to strength. Whether you’ve got a craving for creamy butter chicken or tasty tharka dhal, the desi-inspired menu will certainly whet your appetite. 
How much: From £8
Where: 27 Constitution Hill, B19 3LE
Book now: Hen & Chickens

The Indian Streatery

What: Another Birmingham favourite serving up some amazing Indian food to the city, The Indian Streatery specialises in street food, but also offers tapas and larger style dishes too. It was the chaats that set the restaurant off on its street food journey, but you can also expect dishes like a minted lamb pakora burger, homestyle chicken curry, and plenty of flavoured roti.
Where: 21A Bennetts Hill, B2 5QP
How much: From £4.90
Book now: The Indian Streatery

Shokupan

What: If you’re a sandwich fanatic, then you need to try out these Japanese style sandos. Served on soft and fluffy Japanese milk bread, these are filled with anything from truffled mushroom and cheese, to smashed samosa. You can also get your hands on 'damn fine' coffee.
Where: Ellis Mews, B2 4BF
How much: From £5.95
Book now: Shokupan

Tiger Bites Pig

What: Bringing East Asian street food to Birmingham, you can expect a variety of Bao buns and rice bowls at Tiger Bites Pig. Bao fillings include braised pork belly with mustard greens, crushed peanuts and coriander, and salt and pepper crispy fried tofu topped with fragrant aubergine, ginger and spring onion. There’s even the chance to buy Bao kits to take home and make yourself.
Where: 34 Stephenson Street, B2 4BH
How much: From £6.50
Book now: Tiger Bites Pig

All Greek Street Food

What: As the name might suggest, this is a restaurant that’s all about serving up the best Greek food to Birmingham, and we can confidently say that it’s doing a pretty good job. With a choice of gyros, souvlaki and dips to choose from, the food here is great if you need something filling, cheap and fast. Want our vote? Go for the chicken gyros with warm pita bread, tomato, onion, lettuce, fries and tzatziki.
Where: 33 Stephenson Street, B2 4BH
How much: From £7
Book now: All Greek Street Food

The Meat Shack

What: What started out as a street food stall, has now got its own bricks and mortar site in Thorp Street, serving up some of the dirtiest burgers the city has to offer. For beef burgers, think along the lines of a 5oz grass fed dry aged beef patty, with red leicester cheese, dutch gouda cheese, candy bacon crumb, black pudding, gochujang mayo, ketchup, lettuce and red onion. Sounds a little crazy, but don’t let that put you off.
Where: 17 Thorp Street, B5 4AT
How much: Burgers from £9
Book now: The Meat Shack

Anderson & Hill

What: These deli style sandwiches have gained quite the reputation in Birmingham for their generous and delicious fillings. Think Bavarian with German salami, smoked cheese, gherkins and mayo, or Parisian with garlic sausage and Normandy camembert. Even better, you can stock up your pantry whilst you’re there as Anderson & Hill sells everything from chutneys and oils to caviar and patés.
Where: 7 Great Western Arcade, Colmore
How much: From £3.25 for a half sandwich
Book now: Anderson & Hill

Peacer

What: Whilst just one or two slices of pizza would barely count as an appetiser usually, they become considerably more substantial when taken from a 20” pizza. Keeping things simple, Pacer sells all pizzas by the slice, with a few options for sides like buffalo fries, slaw and mac n cheese. Expect flavours like confit garlic cream, house pesto, mushrooms, rocket and Italian hard cheese.
Where: 4 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, B13 8EJ.
How much: £4.50 a slice
Book now: Peacer

Grand Central Kitchen 

What: In the mood for a good old fashioned fry up? Look no further than Grand Central Kitchen, a short walk from Birmingham New Street station. If you fancy a sausage sandwich, a house omelette, a gluten free English breakfast or the humble cheese of two toast, you’ll be full up all day.
How much: From £3.95
Where: 7 Stephenson Street, B2 4BL 
Book now: Grand Central Kitchen

Damascena

What: Feeling peckish? You better head to Damascena then, a popular Middle Eastern restaurant serving delicious meals, snacks and sweet treats. There’s something for everyone on the menu, whether you’re vegan or gluten free. Better yet, you can wash it all down with Turkish coffee or fresh mint tea.
How much: Wraps from £5.65
Where: Various locations across Birmingham
Book now: Damascena

Want to see what else the city has to offer? Check out our list of all the best restaurants in Birmingham.