Today’s mission: a nostalgic trip to the land of Cantonese roast meats, or Siu Mei, right here in the heart of Birmingham.
Now, let's get one thing straight. Siu Mei—the trinity of glorious, glistening roast duck, caramelised char siu, and crispy-skinned roast belly pork —is my ultimate Cantonese soul food. It's the flavour of home, the taste of a thousand happy memories. But here’s the unvarnished truth, finding truly great Siu Mei outside of a bustling Hong Kong eatery is tough.
The enemy? Logistics! These meats take time to prepare and must be served fresh, but keeping that perfect, juicy tenderness and crisp skin at a high volume is a culinary war zone. Too often, you get served something that’s merely lukewarm, which, frankly, is a crime against pork.
I've sniffed out two spots in Brum that, despite the inherent challenges, deliver authentic flavour and frankly unbeatable value. They are definitely by no means perfect, but they are a fantastic, generous fix of Cantonese BBQ goodness.
My next stop is right in the thick of it, in the heart of Chinatown. While Look In serves up a whole array of Chinese dishes, I'm a purist on a mission, so I stuck to the BBQ goods.
What they excel at is consistency and variety. Their Crispy Roast Pork Belly (Siu Yuk) is decent, and they also offer the meats on noodles as well as rice, which is a big win for me. My personal default order here is the classic Roast Duck Rice Noodle Soup—the perfect combination.
The broth is authentic, the noodles are springy, and the duck, while not always pipping-hot (see my earlier rant), carries that authentic, meaty, star-anise flavour. The portions, like at Sum Yue, are again generous. If you’re hungry and need that home-style flavour hit, this is your place.
I can honestly say that while both of these places nail the authentic flavour profile and offer excellent value, the mythical, steaming-hot, fresh-out-of-the-roaster Siu Mei remains an elusive dream in Brum. The one that serves it piping hot and manages to maintain the perfect crisp and juiciness will be an winner 5/5. Until then, these two are the champions of value and authenticity.
Rating
Look In Takeaway
Address: 6 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B5 4ST
Now, let's get one thing straight. Siu Mei—the trinity of glorious, glistening roast duck, caramelised char siu, and crispy-skinned roast belly pork —is my ultimate Cantonese soul food. It's the flavour of home, the taste of a thousand happy memories. But here’s the unvarnished truth, finding truly great Siu Mei outside of a bustling Hong Kong eatery is tough.
The enemy? Logistics! These meats take time to prepare and must be served fresh, but keeping that perfect, juicy tenderness and crisp skin at a high volume is a culinary war zone. Too often, you get served something that’s merely lukewarm, which, frankly, is a crime against pork.
I've sniffed out two spots in Brum that, despite the inherent challenges, deliver authentic flavour and frankly unbeatable value. They are definitely by no means perfect, but they are a fantastic, generous fix of Cantonese BBQ goodness.
1. Sum Yue Siu Mei - The Food Hall Specialist
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| Generous portion and good Char Siu |
This little gem is slightly off the beaten track, tucked away in the fantastic Tin Tin Food Hall (more on the whole hall in a future post, don't worry). The fact that they only specialise in Siu Mei gave my little heart a flicker of hope. A specialist stall? That has to mean better quality control, right?
The Char Siu here is the star of the show. It had a gorgeous flavour and seasoning, with that essential, slightly charcoal-burnt, caramelised crust that gives it a beautiful crispness. I could happily demolish a plate of this alone.
The Roast Duck, however, was a slight let-down. It was a little under-tender, and the marinade seemed to have held back, resulting in a less-than-vibrant flavour profile. It needed to be brasher, bolder, and frankly, juicier. I also tried the Salted Egg, which is a less common find and a real nostalgia trip, but it was just... salty. It lacked the rich, oily aroma that makes a perfect salted duck egg.
Despite the duck and egg hiccups, the portions are generous. You get a serious bang for your buck, making the short walk from Moor Street Station totally justifiable.
Rating
The Char Siu here is the star of the show. It had a gorgeous flavour and seasoning, with that essential, slightly charcoal-burnt, caramelised crust that gives it a beautiful crispness. I could happily demolish a plate of this alone.
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| Snack: Thai style chicken feet |
Despite the duck and egg hiccups, the portions are generous. You get a serious bang for your buck, making the short walk from Moor Street Station totally justifiable.
Rating
Food: 4/5 - The char siu is genuinely great, though the duck and egg need a little more love.
Service: 3.5/5 - Efficient food hall service, but don't expect a chat about your life choices.
Decor: 3/5 - Functional food hall aesthetic—it’s clean, bright, and strictly for fueling up.
Value: 4.5/5 - The generous portions make this an absolute winner for your wallet.
Overall: 4/5 - A very solid, high-value option, carried by the excellent Char Siu.
Service: 3.5/5 - Efficient food hall service, but don't expect a chat about your life choices.
Decor: 3/5 - Functional food hall aesthetic—it’s clean, bright, and strictly for fueling up.
Value: 4.5/5 - The generous portions make this an absolute winner for your wallet.
Overall: 4/5 - A very solid, high-value option, carried by the excellent Char Siu.
Estimated Cost Per Person:£11 - £15
2. Look In - The Chinatown Classic
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| My go-to roast duck rice noodle |
What they excel at is consistency and variety. Their Crispy Roast Pork Belly (Siu Yuk) is decent, and they also offer the meats on noodles as well as rice, which is a big win for me. My personal default order here is the classic Roast Duck Rice Noodle Soup—the perfect combination.
The broth is authentic, the noodles are springy, and the duck, while not always pipping-hot (see my earlier rant), carries that authentic, meaty, star-anise flavour. The portions, like at Sum Yue, are again generous. If you’re hungry and need that home-style flavour hit, this is your place.
I can honestly say that while both of these places nail the authentic flavour profile and offer excellent value, the mythical, steaming-hot, fresh-out-of-the-roaster Siu Mei remains an elusive dream in Brum. The one that serves it piping hot and manages to maintain the perfect crisp and juiciness will be an winner 5/5. Until then, these two are the champions of value and authenticity.
Rating
Food: 4/5 - Authentic Cantonese flavour across all the main roast meats and the noodle dishes.
Service: 4/5 - Quick and efficient service, typical of a busy Chinatown eatery.
Decor: 3/5 - Standard, no-frills, practical Chinese restaurant decor focused on quick turnover.
Value: 4.5/5 - Generous portions of great quality for the price.
Overall: 4/5 - A dependable Chinatown favourite for quantity and consistent flavour.
Estimated Cost Per Person: £12 - £16
Restaurant Information
Sum Yue Siu Mei
Address: Tin Tin Food Hall, Masshouse, The Hive, Masshouse Ln, Birmingham B5 5JN, United Kingdom
Service: 4/5 - Quick and efficient service, typical of a busy Chinatown eatery.
Decor: 3/5 - Standard, no-frills, practical Chinese restaurant decor focused on quick turnover.
Value: 4.5/5 - Generous portions of great quality for the price.
Overall: 4/5 - A dependable Chinatown favourite for quantity and consistent flavour.
Estimated Cost Per Person: £12 - £16
Restaurant Information
Sum Yue Siu Mei
Address: Tin Tin Food Hall, Masshouse, The Hive, Masshouse Ln, Birmingham B5 5JN, United Kingdom
Look In Takeaway
Address: 6 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B5 4ST
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