Best cheap places to eat in Birmingham – by the city’s top chef Aktar Islam
As part of the Cheap Eats series in our Money blog, we ask Michelin chefs to pick their favourite affordable places to eat out where they live and the best cheap dish they cook at home. This week we speak to Aktar Islam, chef patron of Opheem – the first Birmingham restaurant to be awarded two Michelin stars.
Hi Aktar, can you tell us your favourite places in Birmingham where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?
I’m a big fan of Tiger Bites Pig. Grab a counter seat and watch them smash out some of the best Taiwanese bao buns in the UK. My favourite is the chicken – it’s seasoned with Sichuan chilli oil and topped with chicken crackle. I could eat one every day.
Bonehead is the best fried chicken spot in Birmingham. Their Bonehead and Hothead seasonings are corkers. I usually get the burgers or the strips with a side of Nashville fries. If I’m feeling brave I’ll get a pickleback too, but they are punchy!
Qavali is an Indo-Persian restaurant which takes its inspiration from the Indian subcontinent and uses spices and techniques rooted everywhere from Turkey to India. Marinated meat is grilled over charcoal, and often served in richly spiced sauces and broths. I’m a meat eater, so nothing makes me happier than a big plate of grilled meat and this is my go-to.
What’s your go-to cheap meal at home?
I tend to cook with a lot of pulses when I’m at home. I usually opt for a roast vegetable and lentil dish. I just grab a tin from the cupboard and use any vegetables that I have knocking around. I add garlic, cumin, and chilli. It’s so simple and flavourful. Serve with a roast chicken – perfect.
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