Chinese cuisine is woven into the very fabric of Birmingham. 'The Magic City' is peppered with quality Chinese restaurants serving varied bites from tongue-tingling Szechuan spices to Dezhou braised chicken - i.e. ‘the miracle of all dishes’ - it’s a cosmopolitan hub that's going from strength to strength. The problem, then, is finding one that suits you. Whatever you’re craving, we’ve rounded up the best Chinese restaurants in Birmingham, from modern and Instagrammable to classic and authentic.
Without doubt, Chinese food is one of the nation’s favourite cuisines. It’s not hard to figure out why. The five pillars of Chinese gastronomy - salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and bitter - are a culinary sensation that has influenced modern cookery more than any other. Balance is the keyword here. It’s the balance that makes chow mein, sweet and sour, and kung pao chicken so very irresistible. Mercifully, there is no great wall impeding our access to great Chinese food.
Sure, you could just order a takeaway and eat it in the comfort of your own home, but sometimes it’s nice to go and experience a slice of Chinese culture in the UK. There are plenty of options well worth leaving your sofa for. Its popularity in Birmingham began in the historic Chinese quarter, a district populated by Hong Kong workers bringing with them the dishes that eventually merged into canonical British-Chinese favourites, and inspired the diversity we see today.
What makes a Birmingham Chinese restaurant truly great differs from place to place. Some are top-tier because of unusual twists on traditional plates, others for their standing in the neighbourhood, and the rest for their commitment to authenticity and precision. Whether it's a place suitable for a photo-worthy celebration, a karaoke buffet free-for-all, or a quiet cafe lunch while your boss is out of the office, we have all the bases covered.
Tattu
![cubes of pork with crackling and blue flower garnish]()
What: The ultimate modern Chinese dining experience, Tattu has paired lush cherry blossom interiors with a menu that reinvents the classic favourites; think braised red belly pork with baby leeks and smoked crackling. The cocktail menu is similarly inventive. The Tiger Lily - a joyful sloe gin, blueberry, and coconut blend is just as sumptuous as the setting in which it should be enjoyed. Located inside the former Birmingham Grand Hotel, every room is unbelievably Instagrammable. Great food and great pics, it's a win-win.
Where: 17 Barwick Street, B3 2NT
Book now: Tattu Birmingham
Lulu Wild
![Steamed dumplings]()
What: Blending traditional Chinese cuisine and the excitement of experiential dining, Lulu Wild prepares the freshest produce in magical interiors. Dim sum is Lulu Wild’s specialty, whether you prefer steamed or pan-fried dumplings you can expect a range of fillings like scallop shui mai, Shanghai pork, and seared prawn. But it doesn’t end there, choose from Mongolian lamb or stir-fry tofu to take your meal to the next level. The cocktails are just as inventive with options inspired by the Silk Road and the wealth of Chinese history.
Where: Unit 7 & 8, The Waters Edge, B1 2HP
Book Now: Lulu Wild
Haidilao Hot Pot
![Aerial view of vegetables and meat with central hotpot]()
What: Chinese dining is best when you can pass steaming plates around the table to your nearest and dearest, and there is no style better suited than hot pot. After all, the ritual dunking of marbled beef into a broth filled with your choice of seasonings and vegetables until they come out just right is an experience that deserves to be shared. Haidilao offers both the traditional and the unusual from premium wagyu beef and seafood to strips of tripe to top a bowl of your favourite noodle type.
Where: Unit SU333, Bullring Shopping Centre, B5 4BU
Book Now: Haidilao Hot Pot
Henry Wong Harborne
![crispy chilli beef dish]()
What: From the outside, this restaurant may seem like any other mid-range modern European restaurant, but Henry Wong is a bastion of Cantonese cuisine. Making use of the freshest ingredients, it’s a restaurant that provides more than just a meal. Henry Wong offers a broad range of dishes from spicy Szechuan lamb to won ton and crispy chicken wings all delivered with exceptional service and warm hospitality. Simply load up your lazy Susan with chicken truffle dim sum, char siu pork, and soft-shell crab and you’ll be in for a treat.
Where: 283 High Street, B17 9QH
Book now: Henry Wong Harborne
Ming Moon
![behind a piano a neon sign reads ming moon buffet]()
What: There is something about buffet restaurants that sends people into a frenzy - all-you-can-eat food brings out a different side of people (and not always a good one). However, if you can restrain yourself around endless amounts of Chinese and Pan Asian food mixed in with the occasional push or shove from a 12-year-old child, Ming Moon’s buffet is the place to go. No one will judge you for eating ten plates of sweet and sour chicken or crispy duck here, and that in itself may be the main reason it is worth giving it a visit. They have a karaoke bar too, so if you haven’t lulled yourself into a food coma, head downstairs to sing your heart out.
Where: 16 Hurst Street, B5 4BN
Book now: Ming Moon
Wok Chi
![chopsticks and bowl of noodles with chicken]()
What: Focusing on high-quality ingredients, this family-owned Chinese restaurant serves up food like you might make it at home - if you were a really good cook with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine. With an all-star lineup of veggie spring rolls, king prawns and scallops in XO sauce, plus a classic chow mein this is the ideal spot for a quick and tasty food sourced and prepared with integrity and authenticity.
Where: 135 High Street, B17 9NP
Book now: Wok Chi
Café Soya
![Bowl of curry with crispy tofu and chilli]()
What: Located in the Arcadian Centre within the Chinese Quarter of Birmingham, Cafe Soya offers Chinese and Vietnamese fusion dishes that cater to a variety of dietary requirements. As the name suggests, there is a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu alongside traditional Cantonese meat dishes like sizzling duck and beef with Cantonese sauce. The fresh steaming bowls of soup are always a hit. But don’t just take it from us, at peak times expect queues of hungry hopefuls at the traditional shop front - that's the true sign of a great eatery.
Where: Unit B106, Arcadian Centre, B5 4TD
Book now: Cafe Soya
Dezhou Style Braised Chicken
![plate of Denzhou style braised chicken with coriander]()
What: Featured on the BBC for its ancient noodle-making technique, Dezhou Style Braised Chicken specialises in, you guessed it: braised chicken. Although this is the restaurant's signature dish, make sure you give the homemade noodles a try too. All created from scratch in-house, you can watch them be cut and stretched to size through a small window that looks into the kitchen, which makes kilometres of noodly goodness in a day. You can then enjoy them in one of the signature braised chicken noodle soups.
Where: Unit B109, Arcadian Centre, B5 4TD
Book now: Dezhou Style Braised Chicken
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