Lunch in Birmingham: six top picks

Whether you’ve been stuck at an over airconditioned desk all morning, you need to kill a hangover, or you’re just meeting some pals for a bite to eat, it can be super hard to make a decision on where to go for lunch. Do you want stodge? Something fancy? Or something a bit more liquid? Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve put together a list of places for lunch in Birmingham that’ll cover all bases.

Perfect if you’re feeling a bit delicate, this is comfort food at its best. Pieminister dishes up a variety of pies (obviously) that will make your belly super happy. They’ve got traditional meat pies, veggie treats, and even gluten free crusts certified by Coeliac UK! They’ve got such a big following that you can even buy pie merch like tea towels, or a pie making kit if you love it that much.

Whether you’re doing #meatfreemonday, or you just fancy being a bit healthier, 1847 is a veggie restaurant in the heart of the city ticking all the boxes. While plenty of veggie places feel like they’re trying hard to make non-meat into meat, these guys focus on amazing ingredients that speak for themselves. One of our favourite places for a feel-good lunch.Whether you’re doing #meatfreemonday, or you just fancy being a bit healthier, 1847 is a veggie restaurant in the heart of the city ticking all the boxes. While plenty of veggie places feel like they’re trying hard to make non-meat into meat, these guys focus on amazing ingredients that speak for themselves. One of our favourite places for a feel-good lunch.

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a Fridays. If meats and carbs are what you’re looking for, then this is the place for you. (They do serve salads but we’ve never met anyone who has ordered one, let’s be straight.) Choose a classic burger, get some ribs, and coat it all in their amazing Jack Daniels sauce

Fancy going for a Michelin star lunch in Birmingham, without the Michelin star price tag? Head to Purnell’s Bistro, sister venue to starred Purnell’s restaurant. Chef and proprietor Glynn cooks up delicious, laid-back food at the bistro, with brilliant prices like three courses for just £20 on their lunch and prixe menu. Expect dishes like smoked haddock fish cakes, braised pork shoulder, and coconut cheesecake. Yum.

If you’re looking for an exotic lunch in the city, then we’d definitely recommend making your way to Sabai Sabai. This tasty Thai spot has won loads of awards including the best Oriental restaurant at the EnglandFood Awards, and the the West Midland Food Awards. You know you’ll be in good hands. There’s a huge choice of food on offer but we recommend going for seafood. It’s some of the freshest around and these guys really know how to use seasoning to extract beautiful flavours.

Another one that’s perfect if you’re starving or you need to kill yesterday’s hangover, this is dirty food at its finest. They describe themselves as a Southern US barbecue experience, serving up ribs, brisket, pork, and chicken in a secret recipe blend. Oh, and they have an ice cream bar. Choose from 22 different types of ice cream, brownies, and toppings…. Make sure you bring a friend to roll you home afterwards.