We visited the Birmingham restaurant loved by Pink & other A-listers & were treated like stars

Asha’s in Birmingham is used to world famous stars and Hollywood A-listers eating in their city centre restaurant.

The Indian eatery, located on Newhall Street, has hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, Steven Gerrard and Tom Cruise in the past. It’s the place to be for the rich and famous when they come to visit Brum.

Pink was the latest world-renowned star to eat at the restaurant before her huge gig at Villa Park on Tuesday (June 14). The So What singer even said her food at Asha’s was the ‘best Indian food I’ve had in my life.’

In recent years, a number of big names have passed through the doors of the Newhall Street curry house to enjoy some of the best Indian food the city has to offer. The restaurant, which also has chains in Solihull and Manchester, has also hosted the likes of cricketer Mike Gatting, Harry Redknapp, radio presenter Roman Kemp, presenter Jon Snow, and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

Perhaps Asha’s most famous guest was Tom Cruise, who stayed in Birmingham in August 2021, while he was filming the seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible film series.

The Hollywood star enjoyed the delicious Chicken Tikka Masala during his visit to Asha’s, and also stayed at The Grand Hotel during his time in the city, while Ed Sheeran also paid a visit to the restaurant last year.

Asha’s has also won a slew of awards, having previously been named the best Indian restaurant and curry house in the British curry awards, and it’s also been recommended in the Michellin guide numerous times.

So a little while ago, I went to eat at Asha’s with some friends to find out what makes the place so appealing to the stars.

I arrived for lunch on an early Wednesday afternoon. Straight away I was struck by the classy and cultural decor. The Indian restuarant is also known for its brilliant service, so it’s no surprise it’s proven a hit with the celebrities. While waiting for a couple of friends to arrive, I was seated at the bar for a quick drink, before moving to a nice and quiet back table with the rest of the party to mull over the menu.

Me and my friends went for the lamb kebab starter to get the ball rolling, as well as a pint of Cobra to wash it down with. Asha’s also has an extensive wine list with some of the best red and whites to chose from - as well as cocktail and non-alcoholic options.

The kebab was lovely, and I followed it up with the classic Chicken Tikka Masala, also the same dish Tom Cruise went with.

Pink was certainly right, the curry at Asha’s was one of the best I’ve had, and the portions are just right, leaving you full up, but not uncomfortably so. Asha’s even have a ‘curry in a hurry’ menu, so you can even stop by on your lunch break. My friend also tried the sweet dessert platter, which as you can see from the photo, looked and tasted delicious.

Despite the array of world famous stars who regularly eat at Asha’s, the restaurant’s general manager Nouman Farooqui told me a while ago that the restaurant aim to ‘treat every guest like a celebrity’ - which might just be the key to their success.

After another round of drinks, we left the restaurant knowing full well we would back soon for an evening meal.