Honest Bao

Tucked away in the heart of Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter,  Liu Ji Hand Made Noodles is a masterclass in the art of the "stretch." Originally gaining fame as a humble spot for authentic, northern-style hand-pulled noodles, it has become a local legend for those seeking that elusive QQ (bouncy) texture. Full of wok hei stir fry noodle Walking in on a random weekday, I expected a quiet seat, but the place was buzzing—a testament to its reputation. You can actually watch the chef mid-workout, hand-pulling dough with a level of theatricality that gives Haidilao a run for its money. The service was a bit of a "slow boat to China" situation; they seemed caught off guard by the weekday rush and were noticeably understaffed. However, the food mostly made up for the wait. These noodles have a chewiness you simply can’t get from a packet of factory made noodle. I tried the Braised Chicken Noodles—the chicken is flash-fried before being braised. While the seasoning was spot on,...

Back in England for a cold "Christmas" and New Year. It is so cold that requires more than just a puffer jacket; it requires a culinary hug. Naturally, I headed straight to Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter to find some liquid gold. So, what on earth is a "Trolley Noodle"? My all time favourite sides Before we dive in, let’s talk history. Trolley Noodles (or Che Tsai Meen) are the ultimate Hong Kong DIY comfort food. Originating in the 1950s from street vendors pushing wooden carts, it’s a "choose your own adventure" style of dining. You pick your noodle type, your soup base, and then go wild with toppings. It’s messy, it’s customisable, and it’s legendary. The Review: Hong Kong Dining (港味茶餐廳/香港車仔麵) I popped into Hong Kong Dining, a classic Cha Chaan Teng (HK-style café) that’s currently serving up these nostalgic bowls. The setup is simple: the more toppings you hoard, the more you pay. It’s a dangerous game for a glutton like me. Lots of classic sides availab...

As you know from my last update, I’ve been staying in Taipei for a few days. Now, normally I’m all about that succulent pork belly life, but I couldn't help but notice that Taipei is absolutely crawling with vegetarian options. Scrambled egg with mushroom Honestly, I used to have this stereotype that Chinese veggie food was strictly for the "grandparent" demographic or the local temple crowd. Boring, bland, and a bit grey, right? Well, Taiwan has clearly had a word with itself and completely rebranded the whole "leaf-eater" vibe. The new spots are chic, modern, and honestly quite cool. The dishes are anything but traditional. I popped into two of them to see if they could win over a meat-lover like me. Fried rice with a unique seasoning First up was Veggienius(不葷主義). Word of warning: you absolutely have to book ahead because this place was buzzing like a London pub on a Friday night. The food was genuinely decent, featuring some proper funky seasonings that you ...

The temperature is dropping, the daylight is shrinking, and let's face it, turning on the heating now feels like setting fire to a wad of £50 notes. But fear not, there is one glorious solution to our cold and budget woes: a steaming, bubbling hot pot. It’s a warm, communal hug in a bowl, and the perfect excuse for a hearty, hot meal. Honest Bao zipped around Birmingham to pit two major Chinese hot pot players against each other. Who's bringing the true heat? Haidilao Hot Pot: The Luxury Liner 1 free broth per person Haidilao isn't just a restaurant; it's a global Chinese franchise that treats dining like a five-star event. It's famous (or perhaps infamous) for its over-the-top customer service—we’re talking free board games for the waiting crowd and even complimentary manicures (probably not in the UK though)! While a full pampering session isn't exactly a prerequisite for my mid-week dinner, the staff's dedication to service here is truly superior. Decent ...

As you know, the Birmingham Chinese Quarter is seeing a mini food court explosion, and The Arcadian Food Court is the newest kid on the block trying to muscle in on the action. I went in with high hopes, ready for a feast, but left feeling... well, let's just say my bao bun was frowning. This place is packed with Chinese cuisine – think Dim Sum, Siu Mei (roast meats), rice noodles and a Korean spot as well. The physical space is actually decent. It’s not overly cramped, and the staff are zippy fast at clearing tables, which is always a plus. However, in this day and age, their most unforgivable sin is the mobile signal blackout and the complete lack of Wi-Fi. Are we dining or entering a digital detox prison? Sort it out, people! The Half-Assed Claypot Rice Caper 🍚 Disappointing rice I ordered the Clay Pot Rice, a classic Hong Kong dish where rice is slow-cooked in a clay pot, resulting in a glorious, golden, crispy crust . My version was, to put it politely, half-assed. The rice m...

When you're craving proper Chinese food in London, your brain immediately screams 'Chinatown!' and you're mentally bracing for the jam-packed street. But London's culinary map is expanding faster than my waistline after a day out. I was loitering around the Temple station area, pretending to be a fancy lawyer (didn't work, my shoes were too muddy), when my stomach issued an urgent demand for noodles. A quick search later, and I found myself staring at Noodle Nova, a new kid on the block that's doing Lanzhou beef noodles. The Vibe and the Broth Giant vase in the centre First impression: Nice décor. And true to its Chinese name, Qing Hua Yu (青花鈺), which means something like 'Porcelain Jade,' there was a rather large, fancy vase in the shop. Clearly, they've gone for aesthetic as well as noodle. Spicy broth taste good too but I prefer non-spicy one Now, onto the main event. As a specialist beef noodle joint, they offer a whole spectrum of noodle thi...

Emerging from a cloud of steam and wok hei to bring you the lowdown on Birmingham's sneaky-good Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng scene.  For the uninitiated, a Cha Chaan Teng (or "tea restaurant") is Hong Kong's glorious answer to a diner—a place where East meets West on a plate, delivering comfort, speed, and enough stir-fries to fuel a small army. While there's no single fixed menu, you can bet your last pork floss on finding dishes kissed by that smoky, magical wok hei essence. I've been rummaging through Brum's Chinese Quarter, and let me tell you, while you can't book a flight to Mong Kok, you can find some seriously authentic CCT vibes right here. Kei Hing Restaurant: From Stall to Star Tender and well marinated with wine Now, Kei Hing is a bit of a local legend in the making. It started life as one of those humble, unassuming food hall stalls and now they've got their own bona fide setup within the food hall. And thank goodness they did. '...

Right, let's talk about food halls. You know the drill, that buzzing concept that's everywhere now. Everyone's losing their collective mind over the fancy new spots like St Paul's Market. But I'm not here for the glitz. I'm here for the flavour. And in Birmingham, there are a few older, slightly rough-around-the-edges food halls that are hiding some serious Asian culinary gold. Forget the fancy decor and the 'vibes'—these places are about authentic, belly-stuffing goodness. Let's dive in, you bao-hunting maniacs! 1. Tin Tin Food Hall – The city edge bargain Stir fried beef rice noodles Nestled near BCU, or what will soon be the booming Curzon Street HS2 station (when it finally arrives), is Tin Tin Food Hall.  I've banged on about their Siu Mei (roast meats) before, but there are a couple of other Hong Kong-style spots in there that are genuinely decent. Nothing that will make you weep with joy, but they serve up those lesser-seen Hong Kong d...

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 Cantone...

Right, let’s talk Chinese beef noodles. It's a culinary world away from your average chow mein and a proper obsession of mine. In Birmingham, while we might not have the sprawling Chinatown of London, there’s a surprising amount of quality out there if you know where to look. Today, I'm wading into the soupy, flavourful debate of "red braised" vs. "clear broth." Both are masterpieces in their own right, and I've found a few spots in Brum that nail it. The OG Hand-Pulled: Kung Fu Noodle Great broth and noodle, I prefer the pig gut more than beef brisket I've been to Kung Fu Noodle before, and it seems a recent change in ownership has only made them better. The menu is a bit different, but the heart of the place is the same. The noodles here are the star of the show. They're handmade, and you can absolutely taste the difference—chewy, springy, and they hold onto the broth like a best friend. Garlic Wonton is good too We went for the beef brisket an...