Bundobust, the home of Indian Street Food and craft beer, opens its doors to a brand-new branch right in the heart of Birmingham, just a stone’s throw away from Colmore Row Business District and St Philips Cathedral. With previous locations in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, the people of 0121 can finally get their hands on an array of Indian dishes, served like never before such as the Gobi Manchurian, Bhaji Butty and Aloo Dhal Kachori. Ahead of their grand opening on Friday 2nd June, we headed down to take a sneak peek at what exactly is in store.  

Walking through the doors we were welcomed with an abundance of urban vibes and a fitting interior to match. The walls were decorated with prints of old Indian films and a selection of greenery dotted throughout. The seating was comprised of benches and chairs, with the restaurant resisting a formal dining experience and instead indulging its visitors in some casual foodie fun. The staff were constantly on hand to make sure your experience was nothing less than perfect, contributing to an atmosphere that felt right like home.  

…the restaurant resisting a formal dining experience and instead indulging its visitors in some casual foodie fun

After asking said staff members for their recommendations we decided to opt for the combo for 2. For just £33 you get a selection of six different dishes, these being Onion Bjahis, Mung Bean Chatpata, Bundo Chaat, Tarka Dhal and Rice, Paneer Tikka and Palak Kofta. Did I also mention the restaurant is completely meat-free? An aspect we didn’t realise until we were knee-deep in the second dish. The combo also has a vegan alternative with plenty of plant-based dishes to suit all dietary needs. If the combo however doesn’t seem like your thing, there are so many more options to choose from. Each dish starts from as low as £2.75 with the highest going for £7.25. Great food that doesn’t break the bank – what’s not to love?

If  you’re feeling adventurous, why not try every single dish on the menu with the Bundo Combo? It states that it feeds up to 8 people but after the selection of dishes we were given for 2, I’m pretty certain it would have fed more than that!

My favourite dish has to go to the Bundo Chaat. I would be doing a disservice if I gave this anything other than five stars. Composed of chickpeas, potatoes, onions and layers of samosa pastry and topped with chilli sauce, yogurt and tamarind chutney, the only way I can describe this is as a Samosa in a bowl. The chilli sauce reminded me of my local samosa spot, reinforcing those authentic Indian vibes. I was left scraping the sides of my dish to gather up every last bit as I regretted not ordering another round. 

A close second for my favourite dish would be the Paneer Tikka. This was barbecued mushrooms, peppers and paneer cheese marinated in a tikka masala yogurt and drizzled in red pepper ketchup and spinach chutney. I promise my intention is not to write one of those reviews that overly praise a restaurant, but it really was just that good. All the dishes were served in paper dishes which fed into that street food vibe, that being said the sustainability advocate in me was conscious of the environmental impact this had. 

We also ordered a side of okra fries to go with our combo. Described by Bondubust as the ultimate beer snack, the crispy alternative to ordinary potato fries had just enough crunch and flavour to rival their popular competitor. Having had my eyes on these since I first heard about the opening, I was pleasantly surprised by the vegetable’s unbeknownst versatility to taste so good. 

There was also an impressive range of cocktails and mocktails available to pair with your food. We opted for the Mango Lopez and three rounds in, we remained loyal to the drink and its refreshing blend of mangos, pineapple, coconut and lime. 

I was left scraping the sides of my dish to gather up every last bit

Don’t forget to head downstairs and snap a photo in the photo booth before you leave! Capture the memories with friends, family, or maybe even a first date. Bundobust is definitely a restaurant you can attend for any and all occasions, we had a great experience attending the opening this weekend, and I’m already planning my next visit!

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