As the second biggest city in the UK, Birmingham is home to a wide variety of restaurants, with a home for almost every cuisine imaginable.
However, not all of these eateries are necessarily student-friendly, whether that be due to price or just the general atmosphere. Therefore, I have compiled a list below of my top recommendations for the best restaurants for students in Birmingham.
If you love brunch…
The Medicine Bakery is the place for you. Not only is there a tasty menu of classic dishes such as smashed avocado on toast or a full English breakfast, but there is also a fabulous selection of delicious cakes and pastries that are freshly baked every day that can either be collected for takeaway or eaten in.
Perhaps the best part about this cafe is it’s aesthetic with minimalist white walls, plenty of verdant plants dotted around and some beautiful coffee art.
If you don’t want to trek into town…
head down Dawlish Road to Kimchi. There are not many sit-down eateries to enjoy during the day in Selly Oak, but this one has become a particular favourite amongst students because of the reasonably priced menu and added student discount, too.
Although I cannot claim to have an expert palate when it comes to Korean cuisine, the food at Kimchi truly tastes authentic and there are plenty of dishes to try from ramen to katsu.
Another added bonus would have to be the really friendly staff who do their best to accommodate larger groups of people, which can be useful for any society socials you may want to put on.
If you love pizza…
Why not try Rudy’s? Even though this is a chain restaurant, with venues in Manchester and Soho as well as Birmingham, this does not detract from the high quality of the food. Described as ‘authentic Neapolitan pizza’, the dough is made fresh every day and each pizza goes into the oven for only a single minute with a blast of heat.
I have never had a pizza with a base that is so airy that it melts in your mouth. However, this does not mean that it is not extremely filling, as the portions are very healthily sized and are an absolute steal for only around £10. Whilst this is quite controversial to admit, my personal favourites are the white sauce pizzas, which are both cheesy and creamy.
If you are a vegan…
tThen you have to try out the food in the Rainbow Pub. Located at the end of Digbeth’s high street, this one is a bit of a trek and it is also a little pricier than my previous recommendations, but it is completely worth it.
‘Run by engaged partners and former pop-up specialists Frankie Heekin and Becky Powell’, BA-HA vegan serves an extensive range of dishes from fried balls of shredded jackfruit to tofu vegetable bowls.
As a meat-eater, I was shocked at how similar the fake chicken and protein patties in the burgers tasted to real meat. Something I have yet to try that looks absolutely divine is their Sunday Roast!