Kings Heath Birmingham: 7 Of The Best Restaurants To Visit Now!
Kings Heath Restaurants From a Native Perspective
As a local, Kings Heath in Birmingham has been a popular place to eat and drink for as long as I can remember, and there is a great mix of Kings Heath restaurants to try. Popularity has grown and fallen over the years, but it is currently experiencing a huge upsurge. You can go to Kings Heath just for a drink, just for a meal, or have a whole day out there! And it isn’t all about York Road either (although it does help!).
In this latest blog post, I am going to delve into my current favourite places to eat in Kings Heath that are all killer and no filler! So buckle up and let’s get our teeth into the best restaurants in Kings Heath to visit when in town!
7 of My Current Fave Restaurants in Kings Heath Birmingham
Koba Ko, at Upstairs – Grace and James
Japanese Ramen and small plates restaurant serving natural wine, sake, beer and cocktails, in the setting of Upstairs, above Grace and James.
Having had a number of residencies, pop-ups, and the like, Sam, Lauren and the team have been settled here for this next part of their journey since the end of last year. Tremendous talent leaves the kitchen in wave after wave of food in bowls inspired by Sam’s time in Japan.
The noodles are fresh, the broth tasty, and the Nitamago is Nitamagoey! If you ever see Sam’s shichimi wings on the menu again, order them! They are one of the nicest but spiciest things I’ve ever eaten.
Top tip: When you enter Grace and James, immediately head right and through the opening in the right-hand rear corner. That’s where the stairs are. You don’t want to not find this Kings Heath treat!
Blowwater Cafe
Another previous pop-up sensation, Blowwater have been in their perma-home for a while now, knocking out trademark dumplings and other Hong Kong inspired dishes here since August 2022. Sabrina is a thoughtful human, with an eye for detail, and is incredibly well thought of in the Kings Heath community, having moved from Hong Kong. I now consider Sabrina a friend.
Think of a small but well-presented menu of things like Shanghai sticky rice rolls and spring onion Chinese pancakes, as well as Oolong tea, east Asian soft drinks or natural wines. The words ‘Food, Music, Art’ adorn the frontage, and these three things come together regularly as Sabrina organises creative events, supper clubs, workshops, or even the odd party to readdress the balance of the local creative circle.
Somewhere I go to regularly, but still feel like I don’t go enough!
Old Damascus
This is a first-floor Arabic Restaurant, almost out of view at the heart of Kings Heath, specialising in Syrian cuisine. I think I first found out about this on one of the delivery apps during lockdown 1.7. Beyond that, it was a logical progression.
Turns out, most people use the delivery apps, and the restaurant was ours for the choosing, but it felt great, it was fantastic value for money and we got the waiter completely to ourselves.
A couple of Baba Ghanouj’s and a massive Arabic mixed grill later, and I had to be rolled out as I was that full of delicious, moreish food. If you have a large party, and are that way inclined, you can currently get a family feast for 10 people for just shy of £120.
Don’t let the 1980s Pearl and Dean style ‘available in the lobby’ website fool you. This place is brilliant!
Soul Chicken
Think grilled Caribbean burgers and chicken box meals, with triple cooked chips. They use potatoes from the farm that they write on the wall in chalk, so you know how far they have traveled. The chicken is marinated for 24 hours too, for that extra flavour. All sauces are made in-house, which I really like.
More a fast-food restaurant really, but I ALWAYS enjoy it when eating in Kings Heath. Order by choosing your box type, then your sauce type, and away you go. It comes in a metal tray, and strangely but comfortingly…a brioche bun!
Poli
Woodfired Pizza, small plates, natural wine and craft beer. Poli has grown and grown In my estimation over the years. When I first started going, all those years ago, it was part of a drunken night out. A bit of nosebag on the way round the pubs. Then things shifted.
Now I’m in a situation where I arrange to meet friends there. It’s the reason I’m in the area! IDK, is this more about Poli, or more about me? Either way, I don’t remember a single bad experience.
They are also getting more forward thinking with time, and their recent Sunday roasts are the talk of the town. As are some of their collab nights with other high profile restaurants and chefs, keeping it fresh and exciting. Do not miss out on these!
But when all is said and done, they make some of the best flipping pizza in Birmingham.
Mon Korea
Independent Korean restaurant diner and takeaway serving a wide range of Korean dishes and soft drinks, slap bang in the middle of Kings Heath.
I’ve found myself eating Korean food quite a bit in the past couple of years, and it’s always an enjoyable fact finding mission. Some of the things on the menu are a bit of a gamble because Korean is a cuisine I still know little about, but it always pays off.
I absolutely love places like this, that have a plastic tablecloth cafe feel, as you know you will get something honest and affordable. Mon Korea seems to have a very active kitchen and the food is made fresh for diners and deliveries alike, as the orders keep coming in. The smiley, helpful service only adds to the experience.
Byzantium
Independent and intimate Mediterranean inspired tapas restaurant in the middle of York Rd, Kings Heath. Serving a range of meat, fish and vegetable tapas dishes, along with wines, sherries and soft drinks.
I go here from time to time for a bite to eat, and it’s always lovely to be back there. The ambiance is always simmering, and the service is always friendly. Of course, most people have heard of Istanbul or even Constantinople, but before that it was called Byzantium.
Antonello is originally from Puglia, and with his wife Efua, they run a fine establishment.
The menu is mainly Mediterranean inspired, with some Italian, Greek Turkish and North African in the mix too, and it all leads to a very relaxing, conversational meal, with lots of tasty things to try. For just a moment, whenever I am there, I forget I’m in Kings Heath Birmingham.
Final thoughts on my favourite Kings Heath Restaurants
Kings Heath is way bigger than the food alone, and is served by a very cool and creative community. Whenever I’m there, I always have such great conversations with people I meet. With a never-ending list of pop-ups, collabs and new ventures, the Kings Heath Restaurant scene is one of the most exciting parts of the overall Birmingham food scene right now.
I hope you enjoyed this post as much as you will enjoy these restaurant recommendations!! If you want to read more, explore my website by clicking here. I hope you visit these amazing independent places in Birmingham, help support them, and make our little community grow for all!
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