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About Us
Welcome to Shabby, one of Birmingham’s original balti houses and considered by many to be the best.
Since 1987, our family has been serving traditional Birmingham baltis in the heart of our city’s world-famous Balti Triangle.
A balti isn’t just a curry. It’s an experience. And at Shababs you’ll get the full Brummie Balti experience from the best in the business.
Nearly 40 years on from when we first opened, we’re still cooking baltis the same as we did then.
Consistency consistently
A genuine balti is fast cooked on a high flame in a traditional Birmingham-made thin-pressed carbon steel balti bowl then served at the table in that same dish. That method – designed with speed in mind to cater for as many people as possible in what were traditionally small restaurants – has become part of what gives it its unrivalled fresh flavour and makes a Birmingham balti a unique experience.
Our restaurant has grown and changed with the times, but we still use the traditional way of cooking up our baltis and freshly-baked breads in our tandoor – all prepared to order – serving up a slice of Birmingham culture and heritage right here on Ladypool Road.
At Shababs we still have our very own branded balti dishes specially made here in Birmingham.
Being the best in the business and using years of experience to our advantage, along with recipes that have been passed down generations to make sure your balti experience is unrivalled – in flavour, service and everything in between.
Celebrities, critics, longstanding regulars, visitors from across the world, friends and family. Once people have tried Shababs once, they come back. Shababs is more than a curry. It’s a unique experience that is guaranteed to ignite your taste buds from that very first mouthful, giving you a true taste of what a Birmingham balti is about.
History
1987We started our journey
We created the best Birmingham Balti from a 33-seater restaurant. There were no knives or forks on the table in those days.. But a starter and a main would have cost you £3.
1992We expanded
We expanded our premises and bought the next-door shop, increasing our seating from 33 to 90.
1993Fire!!
We think the chef’s flame was a bit too high on this occasion, but it was a minor setback, and we were back open in a few days.
2003Tornado hits
A tornado had struck the Balti Triangle, but luckily for us, we came through unscathed, even though our neighbor’s property and the George pub across the road were quite significantly damaged.
2010Refurbishment
We closed for a major refurbishment at Shababs. A 4-month project ended up taking 10 months.
2011Open again..
We reopened the freshly renovated Shababs.
2012Shababs is not a drive-thru
Someone decided to create a drive-thru at Shababs. The accident could not have come at a worse possible time, which was the run-up to Christmas.
2016Hairy Bikers
The Hairy Bikers visited us and we made quite an impression..
2019Expanding again
We acquired the next-door shops and another milestone reached with the aim to expand Shababs once again.
2016Hairy Bikers
The Hairy Bikers visited us and we made quite an impression..
Today
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When our family first opened the doors to Shababs in 1987, we had room for 21 guests. Fast forward nearly four decades and our restaurant can host 121 people over two floors.
In that time, we’ve had plenty of ups and downs including a fire, a tornado, a car ploughing through our front window, along with a recession, a global pandemic and a cost of living crisis.
Despite all that, we’ve built a reputation as one of the best balti restaurants in Birmingham, trusted to serve authentic Birmingham baltis exactly as they should be. Some of our most loyal customers are different generations of the same families who have been visiting us for nearly 40 years, proving this is simply the best balti in Birmingham.
At Shababs, taste is everything. Our restaurant may have changed since 1987, but we still focus on traditional cooking techniques, capturing the true flavour and spirit of the balti.
Our Birmingham restaurant has a private function room for up to 60 people that is perfect for parties, birthdays, stag and hen dos, graduations and even small weddings. We also offer outside catering for up to 600 people, as well as a ‘personal chef in your garden’ service in the summer, where one of our expert chefs will cook a brilliant balti for you and up to 50 guests in your own garden.
If you want to share the perfect balti experience with someone, we also offer gift vouchers that can be posted or emailed out. For more information on any of our services or to book, contact us now.