I visited the new food hall in Birmingham Chinatown and one thing drove me mad – Robson McCallister

On a particularly cold weekday in January, I was triple-layered and warm like a spring roll inside a spring roll. With the Chinese New Year only days away, I was visiting the new Asian restaurant Han Dynasty Food Hall, which had opened towards the end of last year.

If you haven’t been to a food hall before, I’d recommend visiting Han Dynasty purely for the experience. It’s a concept where you can try different cuisines cooked fresh whilst sitting at the same table with friends and family. Imagine a buffet but one where you’re not hit with an insatiable desire to nap twenty seconds after devouring your third plate. Perhaps that’s just my experience.

I had been to a food hall in Birmingham before, the appropriately named Asia Asia, which seemed more of a hassle. You had to pay in cash at a bar before receiving a pre-paid card that you could use at the stalls. Han Dynasty eliminates the nuisance by making it simple, you go up and pay at the till. Although card was not an issue for some, cash was still the preferred method for many of the vendors.

Read More: Inside charming new Birmingham coffee shop quickly becoming ‘one of busiest spots in Chinatown’

Although I went with a group to the food hall, it’s worth mentioning there is a seafood buffet restaurant for more formal dining. Spoilt for choice was the sentiment echoed as each one passed stall after stall growing hungrier by the second.

Sushi, ramen, duck, casseroles, rice bowls, I could go on about the options. And I’m going to. Takoyaki, meat skewers, soup dumplings, I haven’t even mentioned about the drink options. But as I advanced to my first stall, I went with some deep-fried pork buns.

Whilst each stall has a unique design to lure you over, ranging from bright orange to neon lighting, the area itself is beautifully simple. Plain white walls and unscuffed wooden tables matched with good company provide a simple recipe for a wholesome environment.

Each person went for something different, which is the charm and I think the idea. it would be a bit boring if a family of four went for the same ramen bowls and didn’t share anything (you know who you are).

Sean went for tuna nigiri and an unagi don (eel rice bowl), Callum went for fried chicken bites and ramen & Josh and Lauren went for beef teriyaki and octopus takoyaki. I went for a roasted duck with rice (£10), beef skewers to share (£9) and the aforementioned pork buns (£9).

The entrance at Han Dynasty Food Hall
(Image: Robson McCallister/BirminghamLive)

“I instantly regret my decision,” said Callum as his face turned as red as a can of Chinese herbal tea bought by Josh. He asked for his ramen to be spicy and the chef delivered on that promise. But slurp after slurp, the pain subsided and he said it ended up delicious and worth every second.

Once Sean had conquered his challenge of using chopsticks efficiently, he had a similar opinion. The eel in particular had a teriyaki sauce and he said it added depth to a seafood dish that can often be bland.

I knew Josh and Lauren were happy as they were the quietest and left their plates clean. This is right on their doorstep and they recommended the seafood buffet next door to visit if you enjoy the food hall.

For me, the star of the show was the duck, accompanied by a sweet and sour dip. It wasn’t necessarily the crispy skin which blew me away, it was the tenderness of the meat itself perfectly balanced with the sauce. I enjoyed the beef skewers too, but must admit that the pieces were incredibly fatty. Devilishly juicy might be the only appropriate way to describe them, it’s the last thing you’d want if you’re on a diet.

Duck with fried rice at Han Dynasty Food Hall 
(Image: Robson McCallister/BirminghamLive)

After we all finished, the pork buns finally arrived, and was It worth the wait? As long as you don’t burn your mouth by biting into it like everyone else did, I would say definitely.

I preferred the crispy and crunchy coating of the bun as opposed to a softer soup dumpling, and much like the beef, it’s not one if you’ve started the year health-conscious. Yes, it was greasy, yes, it was fatty, but it was worth every guilt-filled and delicious bite.

Now that you have a good picture of the food, let’s talk about the toilets. It was nothing like I’ve ever experienced, and this is coming from BirminghamLive’s expert toilet reviewer. Seriously. When I walked in, tablet screens greeted me above the urinals, displaying advertisements in Chinese, including one for J&H Coffee next door.

If you were surprised by that, I suggest you head upstairs and you will be struck with a wave of bright neon lighting. Upstairs at Han Dynasty is a dedicated videogame area, including clew machines, fighting games and more.

I paid £10 for 25 tokens which should give a family plenty of time, but only lasted seconds amongst my group. I don’t need to go into detail about my saga with the claw machine on that day. I also don’t need to go into detail about whether expletives were raised at an intimate object after I lost five times in a row. The main thing is that we had fun, apart from the stupid claw machine.

Overall, there’s an undeniable charm about Han Dynasty and it’s unlike any restaurant in Chinatown with a food hall, seafood buffet and videogame arcade. Whether it’s formal or casual, family or friends, or just somewhere to try something new, I promise you’ll find something you’ll like ahead of the Chinese New Year.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/visited-new-food-hall-birmingham-30785426

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