Chinatown in Birmingham: Everything You Need to Know

Birmingham is known for its vibrant diversity, and Chinatown is the perfect place to experience the best of it. If you’re planning a trip to the city, be sure to check out the Chinese Quarter, which is popping with colour and heritage. Birmingham Chinatown is just a five-minute walk from the main New Street Station, which means it’s easy to get to for lunch, dinner, shopping, or even a fascinating festival.

Chinatowns are often the best places to go for traditional Asian food made with fresh ingredients, and Birmingham’s offering is no exception. Here are some of the must-visit restaurants in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter for an authentic culinary experience.

Serving some of the most famous dim sums in Chinatown, Chung Ying (16-18 Wrottesley St, Birmingham B5 4RT) is a traditional Cantonese restaurant that has been at the heart of the area since 1981. There’s something for everyone to enjoy at this family-run stalwart, from long-standing favourites to exciting new dishes that are unique to Chung Ying. Sit down amid the buzzing atmosphere and enticing aromas, and open a menu filled with wonderfully varied offerings, including gluten-free options and vegan set courses. Be sure to try the delicate dumplings wrapped up like a gift with a flavour-packed filling inside. You'll discover why this place has always been a favourite among locals and is now picking up prestigious awards.

Step into this snug, simple spot for some of the best Chinese and Vietnamese food in Birmingham. Cafe Soya (Unit B106, Arcadian Centre, Pershore Street, Birmingham, B5 4TD) is a family-run locale preparing homemade noodles and soya desserts every day. Try steamed pancake rolls, traditional pho, papaya salad, or even Thai red curry hot pot. If you’re in the mood for Chinese food, sample the sizzling beef dishes or the duck with luxurious hoisin sauce. Vegan and vegetarian diners also praise this time-tested establishment for its plant-focussed options.

For a truly authentic taste of Cantonese cuisine, seek out Peach Garden (Unit 4-6 Bath Psge, Ladywell Walk, Birmingham B5 4SZ). This hidden gem is located in an unassuming alleyway in Birmingham’s Chinatown, and the restaurant champions flavour above all else. Fuss-free Cantonese roast meat and fluffy white rice are the stars of the show here, promising a hearty meal with large portions that could be a highlight of your visit to Birmingham's Chinese Quarter. The establishment in Theatreland, just two minutes' walk from Birmingham Hippodrome theatre, makes for unforgettable dining before a show.

A hot pot meal is a lively communal event, with the hot pot bubbling at the centre of the table and abundant meat and veggies spread out temptingly around it. Everyone around the table uses the central pot to dig in and cook their chosen bites. XiongQi Hotpot (Unit 3B, 44 Essex St, Birmingham B5 4TR) aims to help diners feel like they have been transported to Chengdu, China, for this fun, hands-on meal that is a truly memorable experience.

Traditional restaurants aside, the UK’s Chinese quarters offer a sweet alternative in the form of bright and delightful Chinese bakeries. Birmingham is no exception, with a couple of great spots serving the fluffiest cakes and fruitiest desserts around. Very close to Peach Garden, bakeries can be found around Ladywell Walk and the adjacent The Arcadian, a leisure and entertainment complex with a central courtyard and fountain. China Court Bakery and Wah Kee are a minute on foot from ibis Birmingham New Street Station along Ladywell Walk, while Uncle Cake – with its eye-catching displays – is just around the corner in The Arcadian. Some delights you might find at these bakeries include:

• Hong Kong-style egg tarts
• Custard milk buns
• Red bean paste puffs

Looking for something a little different? If you're in the mood for something refreshing, you could sip bubble tea at Xing Fu Tang (Unit 7 Inge St, Birmingham B5 4AR), where the brown sugar is stir-fried by hand every day. Good to know: Visitors easily access Birmingham's Chinese Quarter from key locations in the city. Whether you're looking for a cakeshop in Chinatown or seeking out any of the other attractions, the area is a five-minute walk from New Street Station, less than 30 minutes' drive from the airport, and a ten-minute walk from Birmingham Coach Station.

There are intriguing shopping opportunities to be found in Birmingham's Chinatown, especially if you're looking for an Asian supermarket with ingredients and products you won't find anywhere else. Day In Supermarket has two outlets in the Chinese Quarter, and this long-established supplier of East Asian food is an excellent place to pick up ingredients for hot pot dishes that could be the central event of a family gathering. At both Day In and Let's Go supermarkets, you can also pick up specialty teas from across Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

Good to know: Both supermarkets are located in The Arcadian, which offers some of the most convenient parking in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter.

• 70 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD
• Opening times vary by venue
• Parking available via Bromsgrove Street
• Closest bus stops: Pershore St/Bromsgrove St (Stop PS2) & Bromsgrove St (Stop PS3)

Immerse yourself in the captivating culture of Birmingham's Chinatown by visiting some of the district's landmarks and cultural events. When you're in town, don't miss the impressive Chinese Pagoda at the centre of the Holloway Circus roundabout.
 

Interesting fact: This 40-foot (12-metre) pagoda was crafted in Fujian, China, and later donated to the city of Birmingham as a thank you for providing a home for Chinese people who settled there.

Guardian dog statues are also found in Holloway Circus, and these Chinese architectural ornaments are interestingly known as guardian dogs, guardian lions, or even guardian lion dogs.

Autumn is often the best time of year to visit Birmingham's Chinatown for cultural festivals and events, including the Birmingham Mid Autumn Festival at The Birmingham Conference & Events Centre, just five minutes away on foot from The Arcadian. Performances and activities during this period of festivities include a dragon dance, lantern-making, and calligraphy.

When night falls and the Chinese Quarter becomes illuminated in neon, there's plenty going on along Hurst Street, which leads from Chinatown to the bustling Gay Village district.

After indulging in the pan-Asian buffet at Ming Moon (16 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4BN), you won't only be singing the praises of the chef. There are themed karaoke rooms where you can put in a performance after choosing from more than 20,000 songs. If you prefer to sit back and be entertained, take in an intimate comedy show at The Glee Club in The Arcadian.

Birmingham Royal Ballet is also in the area, just off Hurst Street, offering the chance to see classic ballets like The Nutcracker along with performances for the whole family, such as an interpretation of Cinderella. Between the Chinese Quarter and New Street Station, four minutes' walk from the heart of Chinatown, The Old Rep Theatre presents dance, musicals, comedy, and workshops, with a focus on younger performers.

If dancing is your thing, follow your dancing feet to The Arcadian bars with DJs, like Sobar, playing soul and funky house, or Portrait, pumping out house and R&B. Levana, meanwhile, is renowned for cocktails that can be savoured between dances, or pre and post theatre. Make sure you enjoy your visit responsibly, and plan the way back to your hotel ahead of time. If you stay at ibis budget Birmingham Centre, you'll only need to factor in a 10-minute walk from The Arcadian to your room.

If you like to base your night around a great meal, there are plenty of diverse options around the Chinese Quarter beyond the excellent Chinese restaurants. Kyoto Sushi and Grill in The Arcardian dishes up all-you-can-eat Japanese and Korean fare that could keep you busy (and happy) for an entire evening. Across the street, Toppoki (1C Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD) prepares homestyle Korean fare in a laid-back setting that allows you to focus entirely on the colourful, irresistible dishes. Thai and Malaysian restaurants on the same block mean there's something to choose from, no matter which part of East Asia you want to go on a culinary journey to.

Don't miss the chance to spend a day in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter for cultural insights, authentic eats, and evening entertainment to polish off your visit!