Dishoom Birmingham

Birmingham is having a serious glow-up, and part of that is the arrival of lots of fabulous new places to eat, including Dishoom. Located in Chamberlain Square, it boasts views of the more historic and scenic parts of the city, and provides a perfect spot for brunch, lunch or dinner.

We went for brunch - lured in by the promise of the famous bacon naan. We know Dishoom for its sharing plates and leisurely brunch options, but we were pleasantly surprised to discover how child-friendly it is too - there’s a kid’s menu which has both accessible and more adventurous options, and our little reviewer was delighted to have crayons and colouring paper provided.

We ordered the iconic bacon naan roll to see if it lived up to the hype, and it definitely did. Subtly smoky bacon, paired with just the right amount of chilli tomato jam and a smearing of cream cheese, wrapped in a soft, freshly-made naan was the perfect way to begin a Sunday morning in the city. We also tried the bacon and egg naan roll, and the addition of runny, golden eggs only enhanced things.

The more adventurous in the group opted for the Keema Per Eedu, a spicy chicken keema with chicken liver, runny fried eggs and tiny, crispy chips. If you’ve had a rather heavy night the night before, this dish is a kill-or-cure option - the delicious homemade buns it’s served with and the eggs and chips will restore you, if you can face eating curry for breakfast. If that’s not for you, maybe explore the Big Bombay, which is the Dishoom take on a full English.

The Uttapam Pancake Stack was a winner when it came to the children’s menu - the fluffy pancakes and creamy shrikhand felt like a real treat, whilst the fresh berries and not-too-sweet syrup added a welcome balance to breakfast.

If it’s the kind of brunch that requires a cocktail, we recommend the Dhoble, made with fresh orange and lemon juice - it offers a really refreshing, zesty kick without making you feel like you’re drinking alcohol before midday. Additionally, we were advised that the House Chai was bottomless, which is a nice extra touch on a lazy Sunday morning.

It’s great to see Birmingham holding its own when it comes to vibrant and exciting places to eat out, and Dishoom definitely adds to this. It filled up rapidly during our visit, highlighting it as a popular spot for morning catch ups, and we were only too happy to be a part of that.

Wildly popular Indian restaurant Dishoom has brought its brand of Indian sharing plates to Birmingham city centre, its third restaurant outside London. Dishoom Birmingham finds its home within the city’s Paradise development, a combination of offices, shops, restaurants and a hotel which has cost £700 million.

The development is located between Chamberlain Square and Centenary Square, where Dishoom is joined by the likes of wine bar Vinoteca. The restaurant, which is inspired by the old Irani cafes in Bombay (now known as Mumbai) will be open all day and serve a casual menu of Indian sharing plates alongside some more substantial dishes.

Stop by in the morning to enjoy Dishoom’s signature bacon naan, which is freshly baked in the tandoor oven and slicked with a little cream cheese and chilli tomato jam, or choose from its other breakfast options, which include two fried eggs served on chilli cheese toast and spiced chicken livers on toast.

Later in the day, the menu moves towards sharing small plates such as lamb samosas and okra fries, alongside dishes from a grill including chicken tikka, masala prawns and a lamb biryani. Finish up with traditional Indian puddings, including mango or pistachio flavoured kulfi, and gulab juman (Indian-style doughnuts) served with citrus fruit ice cream.

Dishoom first opened its doors in London’s Covent Garden back in 2010, but has since gone on to open five locations in the capital, spanning Kensington, Shoreditch and King’s Cross. The group opened its first site outside London in Edinburgh in 2016, which was followed by a Manchester outpost in 2018.

Dishoom has also made it into book form with Dishoom: From Bombay with Love, featuring recipes for some of the restaurant’s most well-known dishes, including its famous black daal, as well as recipes from Dishoom’s list of cocktails, coolers and Masala Chai.