MasterChef winner Dan Lee recommends 15 Birmingham restaurants & bars to visit

Birmingham is a hothouse of culinary talent. From Michelin starred chefs to MasterChef winners, the city has produced many creative and successful chefs.

And, it is only right that so many brilliant chefs were forged from Birmingham’s kitchens. The diverse city, which is the home for people from various ethnic backgrounds, has become a melting pot of cultures.

And, MasterChef Professionals winner Chef Dan Lee, who grew up in south Birmingham and went to University College Birmingham, is one of the latest talents to join the pool. Lee was the winner of series 14 of the BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals.

Lee said: “Birmingham is a cultural melting pot and a hub for diversity. Growing up around Hall Green and Balsall Heath meant I was always surrounded by many different cultures. The reason why I’m always intrigued and interested in discovering different cultures by travelling the world to taste new cuisines is because of my childhood growing up in Birmingham. You can learn so much about a person through their food stories, and I hope this is represented in the dishes I cook.

BirminghamWorld asked Lee what Birmingham means to him. He said: “Birmingham means everything to me. This city is always growing, ever changing and constantly on the move. It’s a city that provides inspiration in daily life and in my cooking! Most of all, it’s family and I feel fortunate to call Birmingham my home.”

When we asked him about the first time he ever cooked for anyone, he said: “I had a girlfriend in Year 7 called Alice, and I cooked her some stir fry noodles, beansprouts and tofu. I even remember having to stand on a chair to reach the wok!”

However, when he cooks now his goal is to “introduce new flavours to all and cook for anyone who is willing to try new food. Good food should be accessible to everyone.”

The chef also shared his top tip for everone: buy a rice cooker and don’t put oil in water while cooking pasta - drizzle over after draining.

Following his MasterChef win in 2021, Lee returned home and spent the last year exploring Birmingham’s culinary scene and collaborating with some of the city’s culinary stars, from fellow MasterChef winner, Stuart Deeley, to Vietnamese street food concept, Eat Vietnam.

He is laying down some roots at Hockley Social Club from June 1. Lee said: “Making my food as accessible as possible is important to me, so there will be a range of dishes from as little as £6 on the menu. The origins of my food lie in simple dishes made on the streets of Asia so to cook them at the home of street food in Birmingham, Hockley Social Club, is going to be a real buzz.”

The MasterChef: Professionals winner also shared 15 of his favourite restaurants, takeaways and bars in Birmingham: