When I Googled Indian grocery stores after moving to Birmingham in 2021, a couple in Soho Road were the first to pop up and now, every couple of months I head over there for a big shop.
The Desi stores in Soho Road are stacked with great products that can’t always be found in the big supermarkets. For instance, several brands of Indian ghee or clarified butter, vegetables like raw mangoes and bananas, varities of lentils and even some spices like asafoetida and more.
During my trip there last week, I grabbed a cup of hot tea from Chaiiwala and groceries from Wah Wah Mirchi. I was ecstatic to find a spicy corn crisp called Kurkure sold by PepsiCo (via Frito-Lay) in India.
Every time I visit I can’t help but hop into one of the chai shops that sell amazing Indian spiced tea and street food items that can be hard to find elsewhere in the city.
Over the last two years, I have explored bits of Soho Road and found some interesting things, including affordable South Asian clothes.
While the area isn’t without issues, it’s great for those looking for South Asian grocery or other things like clothes, food and even specific kinds of utensils like a pressure cooker - a staple in Indian kitchens.
With so many bank holidays this month, if you are looking to explore South Asian culture without leaving the city, here are 10 budget-friendly things to do in Soho Road:
9. Grab a drink at The Cross Guns
This is a simple but proper pub selling affordable beer in a friendly environment. It has a Google rating of 4.1 and some of the reviewers have said that they sponsor their local football team. The management have been praised by the reviewers for making customers feel welcome. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps
10. Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha
Whether you are religious or want to understand more about Sikhism, this Gurudwara might be a good place to start. It’s an iconic one having been established in the late 1970s. It’s a massive building of 25,000 sm m for followers of Sikhism and has five main Halls and three Langar Halls. Langars are the community kitchens of a gurdwara, which serves meals to all free of charge. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps