Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Birmingham
As the UK's second-largest city after London, Birmingham isn't short of delicious food. You'll find some of the best restaurants in the country here. As this formerly industrial town reinvents itself as a vacation destination, more and more restaurants in Birmingham are opening up to provide for locals and visitors alike.
Thanks to its industrial legacy, Birmingham has always been a multicultural city welcoming immigration from different parts of the world. This has left it with an extraordinary legacy of different cuisines, including some truly excellent vegetarian restaurants and vegan restaurants. And as more and more people discover the health and ecological benefits of plant-based food, vegan options in the West Midlands' biggest city seem to grow almost by the day.
If you're looking for great vegetarian or vegan food in Birmingham, you won't have to look too far. Birmingham city centre is packed with vegetarian-friendly restaurants and even some of the best vegan restaurants you're ever likely to encounter. It's not difficult at all to maintain a plant-based diet in Birmingham. So drop off your bags at a Birmingham luggage locker and get ready to encounter some of the best vegetarian and vegan dishes this huge UK city has to offer.
Cafe Soya
What's it like:
As is so often the case, the Chinese Quarter of Birmingham offers a great selection of vegetarian and even vegan restaurants. Asian cuisine has accommodated vegetarians for centuries, and every herbivore knows that Chinatown is usually a reliable place to get a good vegetarian meal and possibly even find a vegan restaurant or two.
Birmingham's Cafe Soya offers both Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine, and while this isn't a fully vegetarian place - they also serve meat and seafood - this Chinese restaurant offers a vegetarian menu that is both extensive and delicious. Along with classically vegetarian Chinese fare like tofu and vegetables in garlic black bean sauce, they also have a range of mock meat dishes like crispy duck and spicy satay. It's a great place to bring mixed groups since Cafe Soya can accommodate both meat-eaters and vegetarians.
Our Recommendation:
Since the menu is so extensive here, you can try a little bit of everything by treating yourself to the veggie platter for two. With dumplings, veggie prawns on toast, veggie steam rolls, and spring rolls, you get to try a selection of what this restaurant has to offer.
Location:
Unit B106, Arcadian Centre, Pershore Street, Birmingham
Mowgli
What's it like:
Birmingham is famous for its Indian restaurants. Mass immigration from India and Pakistan in the latter half of the 20th century has made Birmingham a center for British Asian food, and you'll find no shortage of both traditional and contemporary Indian restaurants in Birmingham's famous Balti Quarter, a neighborhood named for an iconic dish created in Birmingham itself.
Indian and Pakistani food are always good choices for vegetarians. And with so much competition in this city, it takes something special to stand out. What sets Mowgli apart, besides its Jungle Book-themed interior, is its focus on Indian-style street food. Dishes here are served in tiffins the way they are on the streets of Mumbai, and the menu combines the traditional and the contemporary to create something entirely new. The Hindu Kitchen portion of the menu offers exceptional vegetarian and vegan food, including the Picnic Potato Curry and Tea Steeped Chickpeas. This restaurant also serves meat dishes, and you can live dangerously by ordering an Office Worker's Tiffin, where what's inside will be chosen according to the whims of the chef.
Our Recommendation:
If you've been on the hunt for vegan restaurants in Birmingham, pop in here and try the Holy Chow, a vegan mix of chickpeas, potato, spinach, and mango served inside a loaf of bread.
Location:
Unit 30, Stephenson Place, Birmingham
The Stable
What's it like:
Who doesn't like pizza? The Stable is one of Birmingham's premier pizza joints, and an unpretentious place to grab a few slices in a couple of brews with friends. But this isn't just any old pizza place. The Stable specializes in gourmet pizzas with unique toppings like butternut squash, stilton, and even venison.
Of course, the vegetarian options are just as good as the meaty ones here. In fact, some of our favorite pies at The Stable are from the vegetarian menu. The Aubergine Kenobi is a must-try, with roasted aubergine, tomatoes, spinach, and pumpkin seeds. Mushroom Magic is another favorite, with four different kinds of mushrooms, garlic, and Taleggio cheese.
Plus, there's more than just pizza on the menu here. You could go for a classic mac & cheese, some tater tots, or even a vegan chocolate brownie.
Our Recommendation:
Check out the Bottomless Brunch, where you will be served pizza, a dessert, and as much beer, cider, or mimosas as you can drink. Just try not to overindulge, or your time in the city may become a blur.
Location:
115 John Bright Street, Birmingham
Hookway's
What's it like:
Located right in the heart of Birmingham city center, Hookway's is the place to go for delicious Middle Eastern food that includes a great choice of meat-free options. This restaurant serves meat, including kebabs, but you'll also find delicious vegetarian mezze like hummus and falafel wraps.
There's also Batata Harra, a spicy Lebanese potato dish, and even vegan cheese sticks as a concession to vegans. There's nothing especially mind-blowing here; just good food done well, making it a great place to visit in the center of the city.
Our Recommendation:
Try the award-winning Halloumi Fries that have made this restaurant famous - unless you're vegan, of course.
Location:
7 The Minories, Birmingham
Plant and Pulse
What's it like:
Falafel and curry are just about everywhere in Birmingham and are great options for those trying to stick to a plant-based diet. But sometimes, you want something a little healthier. That's where Plant and Pulse comes in. Located right next to Hookway's in the center of the city not far from New Street Station, Plant and Pulse is an excellent place to get great food that's also good for you. No wonder it's one of the most popular vegan restaurants in Birmingham.
This eatery offers all good vibes, focusing on sustainable, local, and seasonal cuisine designed to provide you with the optimum balance of nutrients while tasting great. Everything on the menu is vegan, so you can indulge yourself without having to scrutinize the menu. Try the Pakora Burger, the Roast Veg Wrap, or a Buddha Bowl. Whatever you order, you can count on it being both healthy and ethical, making this a fantastic place for lunch or dinner for vegans.
Our Recommendation:
The Buddha Bowls are one of the most popular menu items here, and for good reason. With constantly changing seasonal ingredients, they're the perfect way to stay healthy in the city.
Location:
9 The Minories, Birmingham
Yakinori
What's it like:
If you're hungry for Japanese food, this restaurant located in the Grand Central area is a great place to try. The theme here is casual and fun, with anime characters on the walls and a lively color scheme that's sure to brighten up your day. The same goes for the menu, which combines both meat and meat-free options to keep everyone happy. Sushi is often a great choice for vegetarians, but you may be pleased to know this restaurant has an entire vegan section on its menu. That includes staters like Kabocha Pumpkin and Mushroom and Aubergine Bao, mains like Firecracker Cauliflower and Yasai Ramen, and an 18-piece sushi platter.
The food here may come in small portions in true Japanese-style, but you won't leave feeling hungry. With so many options, the hard part will be narrowing down your choices.
Our Recommendation:
The Pumpkin Katsu is a unique and flavorful dish suitable for vegans and vegetarians and is well worth trying at this iconic location.
Location:
520 Bristol Road, Birmingham
The Rainbow
What's it like:
Based on Birmingham's High Street, The Rainbow Cantonese Restaurant is one of the best-regarded of the plentiful Chinese restaurants in the city. The shop front exterior may not inspire confidence, but every foodie knows that sometimes the best restaurants are the ones that look the worst from the outside. The Rainbow offers both meat-based and vegetarian dishes, and the menu includes a great selection of vegetarian starters as well as a selection of more than 20 vegetarian mains. Stirfried Iceberg Lettuce, Sizzling Bean Curd, and Sweet and Sour Mixed Vegetables are just some of the items on offer here.
Our Recommendation:
Everyone has their own favorite dish on this exhaustive menu, but the Stirfried Iceberg Lettuce with Garlic Sauce is something you may not find somewhere else and is definitely worth trying while you're here.
Location:
59 High Street, King's Heath, Birmingham
Land
What's it like:
In a fast-paced city like Birmingham, you'll definitely find your share of fast food and take-out joints that will keep you fueled up while you explore. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, you want something a little more upscale. And that's where Land comes in.
This small and understated restaurant lets the cooking speak for itself. Operating with a fixed menu, you can choose to indulge in either four or six courses. The dishes served here are constantly changing according to what's in season and what the chefs have prepared, but you can rest assured knowing everything on the menu is completely vegan, so relax and let this restaurant take your taste buds on a journey.
Our Recommendation:
This is the kind of place where you show up and eat what you're given. Just let the talented chefs expose you to new flavors you may never have encountered before.
Location:
30 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham
The Vegan Kitchen
What's it like:
No prizes for guessing what's on the menu here. The Vegan Kitchen serves vegan food with an emphasis on street food and junk food. With so many vegan restaurants focusing on healthy eating, it's nice to have the choice to indulge in some classic snacks when you get the chance. Tuck into menu items like burgers, hot dogs, cauliflower wings, and nachos, knowing that all of it is free of any animal products and suitable for vegans.
Our Recommendation:
The Philly Cheese Steak is a vegan take on a classic, and this sandwich does not disappoint. Piled high with mushrooms, onions, and peppers, and smothered in a dairy-free cheese sauce, this is one meal that will definitely stick to your ribs.
Location:
26 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham
Conclusion
Part of Birmingham's 20th and 21st-century revitalization has been a huge increase in the number and quality of restaurants in the city. Birmingham has always been a place where cultures meet and fuse to create something unique, but in recent years, the city's food scene has gone from strength to strength. And that includes the vegetarian restaurants on offer. Whether you're looking for an incredible curry, macrobiotic vegan food, or some good old-fashioned junk food without the meat, chances are good you'll find it in Birmingham. So drop off your bags at a Birmingham luggage storage and get ready to dive into all the culinary treasures this legendary city has to offer.
