Birmingham more or less invented the Balti, and Sparkbrook’s Balti Triangle is where it happened. Adil’s is one of the longest-running names in the area and still one of the most recommended by locals — a proper no-frills curry house rather than a polished restaurant, which is exactly the point.
Expect a genuinely huge Balti served in the metal karahi it’s cooked in, made to share, with naan bread the size of a plate to scoop it up. Many places on Stoney Lane, Adil’s included, are BYOB — worth checking before you go and picking up a few beers or wine on the way.
It’s not fine dining and it doesn’t try to be. Portions are large, prices are fair, and the food is the reason people travel across the city for it rather than settling for something closer to the centre.
It’s about a 15-minute drive or taxi from most of our city centre properties, and worth the trip if you want to eat where Birmingham’s food reputation actually comes from rather than a curry house aimed at tourists. Go hungry, and go in a group if you can — the dishes are built for sharing.
