Eid ul-Fitr is less than two weeks away and it’s a time of celebration for the Muslim community. In Birmingham, families will gather together to have feasts, exchange gifts and wear their traditional best.
For the big celebration, many people will cook large meals at home while others might order in or go out to the many restaurants in the city that offer Halal options. Halal food is the food that adheres to Islamic Law and permitted by it. That can include anything from fruits, vegetables, chicken, beef, lamb, fish and more.
Birmingham has a multicultural population and the restaurants in the city reflect that as well. For instance, the Balti Triangle has all kinds of restaurants offering South Asian food to Middle Eastern food - and most of them are Halal-friendly.
As a Birmingham resident - we are usually spoilt for choice. However, here are nine of the top-rated Halal restaurants in Birmingham, according to TripAdvisor:
1. Royal Watan, Selly Park
Located in Selly Park, this restaurant serves authentic Kashmiri cuisine. They offer a range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian Halal dishes, including a variety of biryani. Started in 1984, this 39-year-old restaurant serves good home-style food and is popular among the community. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 12am. Location - 602-604 Pershore Road.
2. Colbeh, Hagley Road, Edgbaston
Located on Hagley Road, Colbeh serves Persian cuisine at its finest. It serves traditional Iranian comfort food in a rustic setting and is a family-run business. Colbeh meaning cottage in Farsi, serves fragrant rice, slow-cooked stew, perfectly seasoned meats, fresh herbs and vegetables to feast on and is perfect for an Iftar meal. Location - 207 Hagley Road, Birmingham
3. Shere Khan, Star City Centre
This is a family run restaurant offering tasty and traditional food made from techniques of traditional Pakistani cooking. From biryani to faluda - you will find it all here. It’s located in Nechells’s Star City Centre. (Photo - Google Screengrab)
4. My Lahore, Bordesley
This 21-year-old British Asian restaurant serves a diverse menu. You will find pakoras, samosas, and also crispy chicken here as well as cheese naans and nuggets. They have left no stones unturned in ensuring that everyone finds something they like here. It’s not just a curry house as you can find noodles, burgers, paninis and sandwiches too. It started in Yorkshire but has multiple locations around the country now. Location - 191-194 Bradford St, Birmingham