Honest Bao

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...

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...

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...

The Matcha Misadventure: Caffè Nero's Pistachio Plunge As you might recall from my previous chain cafe matcha reviews (a truly harrowing journey), the track record of British high-street chains handling the delicate green powder is... unimpressive. Like, spectacularly bad. I did left a few gaps, either because the chains hadn't caught the matcha bug yet or the chain is not common enough.  Looks good on the advert Caffè Nero. I was strolling by and saw the sign of their new Pistachio Matcha drink. Pistachio and matcha! Two of the most ridiculously hyped-up ingredients of 2025, fused into one potentially glorious beverage. It sounded like a wellness guru's dream. My impulsive side (the one that pays for my blogging habit) screamed: "Records are meant to be broken! Maybe, just maybe, they got it right!" So, I paid £4.80 to get it. A small price for journalism, a huge price for a bad drink. The Taste Test: The Betrayal Disgusting green drink (I can't say it is mat...

Airport food is usually the culinary equivalent of a lukewarm, soggy handshake. It's overpriced, underwhelming, and you feel a bit foolish paying me £10 for a sad-looking sandwich you know a pigeon wouldn't touch or by trying to get yourself ready for holiday by drinking the 3rd pint at 6am in Weatherspoon. Thanks to a glorious, 2 hour-long flight delay at Birmingham Airport, I found myself with a mission: To see if a lounge could actually make airport dining not feel like a daylight robbery. Let's enter The Club Room. Nice decor with dark tone The decor is actually rather good. Think sophisticated, dark tones, moody lighting—the kind of place where you could almost forget you're about to be crammed next to a snoring stranger for 2 hours.   Service was friendly, if a tad slow on the food delivery front. Maybe they were hunting down the ingredients in the local farmer's market, who knows? Good crab toast, surprise me only serve 1 piece of toast Now for the main event...

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...

After reviewing the British ramen chain in the last blog . It is time for the proper one. Forget those soggy, soulless chain bowls; today, we're at Ramen Motto, a tiny but mighty spot in central London. Cosy spot and prepare to sit close with other guests Service and Atmosphere London restaurants are a masterclass in spatial efficiency, and Ramen Motto is no exception. It’s snug. You’ll be close to your neighbours, but that's part of the charm, isn't it? My advice? Arrive early or join the hungry queue. The service is quick, almost like a ramen-delivery ninja. It's efficient, and when it’s this busy, that’s all you can ask for. Great Shoyu ramen - best one so far I have tired in London But we're here for the main event: the ramen. First, the Shoyu ramen, it was a revelation. The broth was a symphony of flavours – rich, layered, and perfectly balanced of broth, tare and oil. It had that deep, soulful soy flavour without being overly salty. The noodles were decent, th...

Ramen is a serious business. Like, SERIOUS. It's not just a bowl of noodles in hot water, you know. It's an art form, a symphony of flavour, a warm hug on a cold day. My expectations for the UK ramen scene are, let's just say, "optimistic." But after a tour of London's most famous ramen chains, my optimism is currently in a cryogenic state. Let's dive into the broth, shall we? Ippudo A OK ramen, looks not very appealing Ah, Ippudo. The name brings back fond memories of a decent, no-frills bowl in Fukuoka. It was the dependable friend you knew wouldn't let you down. But somehow, on its journey across the sea, it seems to have lost its way. The broth in their London branches? A watery whisper of its former self. It's like they've taken the essence of a rich, creamy tonkotsu and stretched it thinner than my patience when a bus is late. The chashu is just... pork. The egg is sad. And the lack of minced garlic to pimp your bowl? A criminal offense. ...

The bubble tea scene in Birmingham is a battlefield. New spots pop up faster than I can decide what toppings to get, and then, just as quickly, they're gone. It's a true survival of the fittest, and honestly, if your boba is basically just a cup of sugary water with some squishy things at the bottom, you're not long for this world. So, for your drinking pleasure, I've compiled my hit list of the best places to get your fix.  Hey Tea Signature grape tea First up, a bit of an outlier. Hey Tea is not a typical bubble tea joint. It's a fruit tea sanctuary. Forget your usual milky concoctions; this is all about that fresh, fruity goodness. Their grape and grapefruit teas are an absolute revelation. Full of real fruit chunks and so ridiculously refreshing, they're basically a health drink... if you ignore the sugar. Their matcha is also surprisingly good, a proper earthy flavour that puts the usual UK chain stuff to shame. Top-notch Matcha Oricha My favourite fresh ta...

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...

Let's face it, Birmingham isn't Tokyo (or London). While our Second City has an undeniably cracking food scene, when it comes to sushi, the options can feel a little... limited. But fear not, my fellow raw-fish fanatics! As your trusty guide in the culinary jungle, I’ve been on a mission to find the best sushi in Brum, from the proper stuff to the "I'm-so-skint-I-could-cry" sushi. The Proper Stuff: Takumi Japanese Restaurant Sushi and sashimi platter Sashimi Donburi When I'm in the mood for a decent, no-nonsense sushi experience, I head to Takumi. Tucked away in the Chinese Quarter, it's a little slice of Japanese calm amidst the city's buzz. The decor is simple and clean, with a central sushi bar that makes you feel like you're getting the real deal. And the sushi itself? It's proper. The rice is spot on - perfectly seasoned and not a mushy mess like you find in some places. The fish is fresh, the cuts are generous, and the selection is solid....