Had a great meal, mixed meat platter. Great quality and reasonable price October 2021 read more

I was in Birmingham for a night last month (hurray for cheap flights). I was at my hostel and started wondering "is there a dish/food Birmingham is known for?" Well Google told me about balti, some kind of Indian curry dish. I love curry so I wanted to give balti a try. Hen and Chickens came up when I was looking for a restaurant serving Balti, and it was close to my hostel. Outside looks like a typical pub. Inside it's not a huge pub/restaurant, but the high ceiling and big windows let in lots of light (even in December) and makes it feel nice and open. I was there in mid-afternoon and it wasn't too busy. I ordered the lamb balti with garlic naan. I also got a pint of beer. The food was delicious. Apparently balti just refers to the type of dish the curry is cooked in, but I also read that it's a curry made with vegetable oil (rather than ghee). I'm a bit lactose intolerant and sometimes curries can give me issues. Maybe it's because balti is apparently made with veg oil, but I had no issues. The curry had a nice spice, but wasn't overwhelming. Staff was nice. Food was great. This looks like nothing special on the outside, but inside there's some really great Indian food. If I'm in Birmingham again I'd definitely come back here. read more

This place would not be for everyone but to me has to be one of Birmingham's best kept secrets. The outside of this place is a traditional boozer but as soon as you walk in you are hot with the smell of amazing Indian cooking! We were shown to our table and had our drink orders taken quickly....but don't be expecting restaurant table service this was a full on lean behind and order across the bar near where we were sat. Possibly one of the most relaxed services I have ever seen but the staff could not have done more for us. We ordered a large mixed grill to share and some masala seasoned fries....no I am not joking the food was insanely good. The platter was packed full of chicken, fish and lamb and everything was perfectly cooked and spiced. We had two cokes each while eating and the bill only came to 25! Amazing value and my friend said it was as good as the good she had while visiting India....I have not been but judging from the quality meal we had I want to go ASAP. Now I need to re-illiterate an earlier point this place is not a restaurant....it's a pub serving amazing food that is very much a traditional Brum Boozer. While we were in the place we watched the footy, chatted to some guys crowded round the bar and listened to some people singing football chants (it was some sort of football final) To me this adds to the charm but I know it wouldn't be for everyone. My advice....go here....eat all the meat.... read more

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Wish I could have eaten here one more time before I left Birmingham! I had a pleasant experience here, and my only real complaint is the location and the interior -- not a fan of the layout and tacky purple lights. That doesn't matter so much, though. I was surprised that a sports pub was known for it's Indian BBQ, so I had to give it a shot. Did. Not. Disappoint. The food is incredible and definitely filling, and for the price and portion of the mixed grill, it'll make your wallet happy. (Not sure if we got the large or med, but the bill was £14.) I would suggest splitting this particular dish at least with one other person. Boyfriend and I still couldn't finish everything. It's not in a beautiful part of town, but nonetheless, it's worth it to come out here to try the food. Personally I haven't tried anything like it before and was a nice break from the ordinary. This would be a great place to hang out with friends and grab a drink. read more

Hen and Chickens - That's how you do BBQ right! Straight from the grill. (Mixed platter) - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Our go-to Indian in the JQ for takeaway and occasionally eating in. The first time my boyfriend brought me here I did wonder where the hell he was taking me - from the outside (and inside) it looks like a very unassuming, slightly scruffy pub. But this place 100% makes up for it with the friendly staff and great Indian food. The mixed grills are piled high in with chicken tikka, chicken wings, shish kebab, chicken drumsticks and fish pakoras. Everything is good but the fish pakoras are especially delicious! All the curries we've tried have been really tasty and the portions are generous - I rarely manage to finish mine and we usually end up taking leftovers home. I'd also recommend the masala fries as a side - not the most traditional dish but they're so good! The prices are also really reasonable - tonight we had a "small" mixed grill, extra portion of fish pakora, masala fries and 2 drinks each for about £28. My advice? Don't be put off by first impressions and let the food do the talking. read more

Hen and Chickens - "Small" mixed grill, fish pakora and masala fries - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

From the outside this is a pub, you walk in, definitely pub!! Only about 5 tables, a pool table and a bar. But oh my goodness... the most amazing indian food! And silly low prices. My visit was with work colleagues and we each had 2 pints, a curry and 2 sides... and paid less than £16 each! I will definitely be taking the wife when we go to Birmingham next year. This is a must eat at place!! read more

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The real ale pub x Indian grub combo is a tried and tested one, and Birmingham is has got a great selection of pubs that bring the two under one roof. It isn't located in the greatest part of town, being primarily industrial buildings and take-away's, but parking after 6 is free which is a bonus. The pub itself looks like a classic tiled boozer from the outside, and saying its a little run down on the inside is being kind. That said, give me a characterful old building over an overly polished one any day! The only real complaint was the temperature, it was pretty chilly inside, I wasn't the only person in there keeping my winter coat on! Now we didn't exactly work our way through the menu, choosing instead to order a single large mixed grill between the two of us. I'd read a lot about the mixed grill and its gargantuan size, and I wasn't disappointed! A cast iron sizzling platter piled high with, chicken wings, chicken tikka, kebab and fish served with a couple of dipping sauces on the side. The meat was all well cooked and served hot by the friendly staff, who go out of their way to accommodate you, without it ever seeming like a chore. It would have been nice to be served a bit of salad with what was a gargantuan platter of meat, I feel this would have added to the experience at very little cost to the pub. As I wasn't drinking at the time, I can't comment on how the beer is kept, but they have a good selection of lagers and a couple of hand pumps on the bar (that were in use importantly!) so there is an excellent choice too. The bill came to £19 for the two of us, including 2 large soft drinks, brilliant value given the amount of food! I would recommend Hen and Chickens to anyone looking for a big tasty meal and a couple of pints, as long as you don't mind the rough and ready decor! read more

Hen and Chickens - Large mixed grill, the star of the show! - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

This is my first meal in Birmingham. So happy to choose this place. Food exceptional service was great and the folks there were very fun to speak to. We played some pool,had some beer and enjoyed the mixed grill. Top notch!!! read more

Hen and Chickens - Mixed Grill - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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This place is a prime example of the saying 'don't the judge a book by its cover'. For what looks like a intimidating and rough neck pub, there is a gem layered beneath and unexposed. The pub features a simple menu of different curries like your Madras or Korma. However! There is especially one dish that will treasure my mind forever about Hen and chickens which is simply the mixed grill. Meat heaven arrives to your table with a mountain consisting of chicken tikka, chicken wings, fried chicken wings, lamb kebab and fried fish. It's a joy to behold as it was so cheap and filling. This place certainly reaches my bargain eats and if you'd ever stuck for ideas anywhere in JQ, always have Hen and Chickens at the back of the list somewhere. read more

Hen and Chickens - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

This pub has recently undergone refurbishment and it's fair to say that I love this place. The management and staff at Hen and Chickens are very friendly and they do make you welcome here. Drinks are well priced and this is a pub that you can take your mates to. I guess the only criticism you would have is the fact that the pub does tend to close early particularly from Monday to Thursday and on Sunday. There are not many pubs situated on Constitution Hill so you could argue this is the main pub on this road. Hen and Chickens have also started serving Indian grills, sizzlers and curries. I have not tried any of the food from here as of yet. However I do intend to come back and try the Indian food. I am someone who is up for going to different places and I love my Indian food. There is an excellent atmosphere and it is lively whenever live sports are shown at this pub. read more

Hen and Chickens - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

This is a stalwart of the Birmingham and Black Country desi pub explosion. Proper Indian food in an old school Brummie boozer. Class. It's not much to look at from the outside. Desi pubs are known for their unassuming exterior. It looks like a dilapidated old pub that hasn't been open for years. But inside I was pleasantly surprised. The decor is more light and airy than dark and dingy. A bit old school but nice! But it's got a welcoming atmosphere. There are a couple of big screens showing Sky Sports but they don't intrude on the laidback atmosphere. The place was rammed at lunch time, which is always a good sign! Full of families, groups of friends and business people like us. The mixed grill we had between us was RIDICULOUS. Sizzling away on a cast-iron skillet, the smells and sight of the Seekh kebabs - super juicy despite their crisp grilled exterior, spicy chicken wings, chicken legs and crispy fish pakoras were an absolute treat. Reasonable beer selection - a nice IPA that I'd not heard of before was lush. Service was great - albeit we'd pre-ordered our food before arrival, but 15 mins in, we were eating. £17 for a large mixed grill, which is easily big enough for 2/3 bods. Go here! read more

Hen and Chickens - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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Great place for Indian food in Birmingham. It was the place all the locals told us to go to. Near two train stations. I got the small mixed grill and it was amazing. Not spicy hot like India but really tasty. Some of our group got chicken curry and butter chicken they were both really good. Defiantly give it a try. The only thing is that it is pretty small, but we had 6 and ate just fine. Apparently they take reservations. read more

Hen and Chickens - The mixed grill! Yummy! Chicken wings, fish, two types of chicken breast, and lamp kabob. - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Huge portions at cheap prices. I'm doubting the freshness of the food, which is edible but nothing special/ to make me want to return If you want to overindulge on a platter of spiced meats at a low price then this place is for you though. Be warned- the large meat platter is HUGE. The surroundings and location aren't great, but the staff are friendly enough. read more

Me and an few friends went to the hen and chickens after hearing about there tandoori mixed grill. I've never seen a mixed grill that big. The food was well cooked and presented on a steaming skillit. After eating I actually had to sleep lol. Will definitely go again. read more

This is an unusual place to find one of the very best 'British-style' curries in Birmingham. From the outside (and the inside to be honest!) it's like 1001 other old school locals pub, but grab yourself a seat, sup on a lovely smooth, clear pint of Worthingtons and order your scoff. The big grill sizzler combo is always popular with the local Asian customers but way too much for my little bird appetite. I really enjoy the Butter Chicken, pilau rice and nan. I used to pop here weekly when I owned a shop close by, but now I'm way over the other side of the Jewellery Quarter so not convenient. I miss it: sat on my lonesome, reading the football pages and and enjoy a treat. The place went downhill for a while and I stopped going, but a new owner came in about a year ago and he's revitalised it. Very friendly, proper fuss-free service and a great chef. Prices are competitive so no worries on that score. And if you fancy a game of pool with your pilua then it's right there. The only downer is some of the juke box music choices can be a bit rubbish, but that's usually down to customer choices. Call it part of the charm. Highly recommended. read more

I've had the pleasure of eating at this place and have to say the food is absolutly fantastic...not kidding. The mixed grill is a killer...food is so fresh.. The curries are to die for. My only criticism is that it is a small place. read more

Fantastic food. Had small mixed grill while one of my boys got seafood platter and other son had chicken Tikka Masala and garlic Naan. We did family style and everything was wonderful. The tribute pale ale was also very nice read more

The grill platter is a must have!! All kinds of meat including fish, and it's quite a huge serving! read more

Hen and Chickens - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

really good and really inexpensive. Yes, it's a dive for sure, but the Indian food is definitely above average. Suprisingly good. Not a sleek, comfy, or cosy place, it's about eating good grub here with no frills. read more

Food was tasty. But had to seat by a door which had to be left open. Obviously with the cold weather. Our food got cold than expected. Friendly atmosphere. But no promotional drinks on display. Prices where a bit expensive. read more

I wasn't keen on going when my boyfriend told me he wanted chicken and chips, but then he told me it was chicken with a twist and everyone was leaving great reviews. So, I trusted him and we went after visiting the burning soul brewery just up the street. Immediately the decor hits you, and I wasn't sure if we were in the right place as it is not what I was expecting, it could do with a new coat of paint and some little touches here and there.. but anyway. There is about 4/5 tables in the bar area where you can have food. We looked around and the two couples in either side had mixed grills. They were massive and looked delicious so we ordered the same. We had masala fries, samosas and a peshwari nann bread too. Everything was so nice, the sizzler is in the starters menu but there is the choice between small and large. It came out in about 15 minutes, with extra plates and sauces for us to share. It was sizzling hot and the platter was served on a bed of onions. There was spicy battered chicken, tandoori wings, kebabs, battered fish and chicken pieces in sauce, normally my boyfriend has no problem eating but we both knew we would have to ask to bring some home before we started. It was so nice! The fries are amazing and the tandoori wings and fish on the platter were definitely my favourite. The staff were very friendly, if love to go back again and try one of the curries. Every other table had took their leftovers home so we did the same and the staff wrapped it for us before we left. All our food plus a g&t and a pint came to about £25! #bargain EVERYONE SHOULD TRY IT!! read more

Brilliant place for a tasty Indian, no bells or whistles but does have Sky Sports... just good grub! #IndianJQ

This has to be one of the best additions to the already fantastic Birmingham curry scenes. They offer amazing value for money with decent portions and incredible flavours. A non traditional setting for such a fantastic restaurant I would say this is defiantly one to check out. read more

I love hens and chickens. Large portions, great prices and very friendly staff. The mixed grill is well known around brum. This one has is a sizzling platter of fish tikka, shish kabab, chicken tikka, coriander chicken, chicken legs and wings. Everything a meat eater could want. The ale selection is great too. Make sure you book on weekends as tables are limited. read more

I came here because if the great reviews. It's true..the mixed grill was delicious! The place was pretty quiet, not much music or atmosphere. There was a smoking area out the back with heating which was good. Staff weren't the friendliest, although they did make us a balti even though it's not listed on the menu. Saying that, the curry wasn't that great. Naan was top notch. All in all the food was okay, nothing epic..but the staff and the atmosphere really need some livening up for this to get a better score from me. I don't mind dingy pubs, I love dive bars, but no one likes to eat in silence. read more

The food was outstanding good! I say thank you to the kitchen! I wish all chefs would be that passionated. Thumbs up!

Best place ever to eat at. I must have been here over 20 times. The mixed grills are huge and really good value for money. The chicken curry is really yummy. The place doesn't exactly look like a nice place to eat as its just a pub that's quite loud. But once you taste the curry you'll realise what everyone is talking about. I've also picked food up and taken it back home, as its only a 10 minute walk it's so easy! read more

Just got back after another Mixed Grill... reiterating again... an awesome experience. Timed like a swiss watch, the food was brought out completely hot and smoking! Very impressive! I recognize many of the friendly staff from last year's visit...a winner in my book... read more

This place is a small pub with a few tables to order some excellent curries! Although don't be fooled by the cheap prices the portions are huge. We got the famous mix grill to start with although I only enjoyed the chicken wings and the battered fish. The curries were really flavoursome and the customer service was excellent. We even got to try some beers before choosing what we wanted. Overall a great place for a pint and some good quality Indian food. read more

The large mix grill is huge and you will struggle if you buy more sides (which I did) overall it was decent but I have spent most of the following day on the toilet! :-( read more

I decided to visit this place based on the reviews traveling from Northampton. As I walked in the place looked a real dump. Pool table immediately met me with all the Asians who were very well mannered. It was only 9.15pm at night and there were a lot of "non Asians, who were eating and having food brought out to them, I regrettably decided to order two pints of lager before ascertaining whether the food was being served. These were the worst kept pints the worst infact I have ever had. I asked for the menu but was told it was takeaways only! At 9.15, while people were having food brought to them! There was hardly free tables on and few tables that were free had reserved on it! If they had stopped doing food, why were the tables reserved? If they had closed the kitchen why were take-ways still available, why were people 10mins after sitting there was food being brought out to people? If only I had heeded my inner voice of this is a dump, move on I left my pint, 98% full as did my friend and thought never again! Terrible drink, terrible atmosphere, terrible service It did rather seem he wanted to cater and bend over for the for non Asian customers. This is a dive make no mistakes! My mistake was going there! Went to another pub not being familiar with Birmingham at 9.40pm, who served us food and made us feel welcome and who did fab chop sizzler, As one door closes another opens! read more