Indian street food pioneer set to open new Birmingham restaurant

An Indian street food restaurant is to open in Birmingham after agreeing a new 15-year lease deal.

The Indian Streatery has agreed the lease with landlord Hortons’ Estate for a 1,561 sq ft unit at 21a Bennetts Hill.

The unit is no stranger to the food and dining sector having been the previous home of Adam’s restaurant prior to the Michelin-starred chef’s relocation the short distance to larger premises in Waterloo Street.

The new eatery, which will be serving up a selection of authentic street food dishes, will be a dual-concept restaurant, providing grab-and-go lunches during the day and casual dining by night.

The new venture is from the family team behind The Indian Rasoi, Birmingham’s original chaat specialists, which has been serving chaat on the city’s street food scene, including Digbeth Dining Club, for a number of years.

Rajan Sharma, who along with brother Dhiraj came up with the concept, said: “After many requests at our street food events and pop-ups, we’re excited to be opening a restaurant in our home city of Birmingham.

“We’re delighted to have found a partner in Hortons’, which has a strong track record of working with local independents.”

Mother Meena Sharma, the first Asian female chef to front a Birmingham Indian restaurant, said: “As a self-taught chef, with many years of experience gained in our family kitchens and a passion for home cooking, my aim is to create traditional dishes that are reminiscent of our childhood memories growing up in Birmingham. Dishes such as Cannon Hill Picnic, which is a nod to the long summers spent in Cannon Hill Park.

“In addition to the classic chaat dishes, we will be delivering new dishes with a modern twist, bridging the changing generations.”

Steve Tommy, commercial surveyor at Hortons’, said: “We’re really excited about the opening of The Indian Streatery. Bennetts Hill has a great mix of bars and restaurants, so when we were approached by them we knew it would be a good fit.

“As a landlord, wherever possible, we like to support independent traders and we wish The Indian Streatery every success with its new venture.”