Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I went to Birmingham with Tanner from Project Fear to try one of the most legendary curry houses in England — Shababs, the home of the original Birmingham Balti. And this dish has a history you would NOT expect.
Here's the thing most people don't know: the Balti wasn't born in India or Pakistan — it was invented right here in Birmingham. Balti was introduced to Birmingham in the 1970s by Pakistani migrants who created a fast, one-pot dish, and today it's served at institutions like Shababs in the city's famous Balti Triangle. Shababs has been serving traditional Birmingham baltis since 1987, in the heart of the world-famous Balti Triangle — and it's one of the last of its kind. In the 1990s heyday, the Balti Triangle was home to more than 30 balti houses; today only a handful remain, which makes eating here a genuine slice of disappearing British history.
What makes a real Birmingham Balti so special? It's fast-cooked on a high flame in a traditional thin-pressed carbon steel balti bowl, then served at the table in that same dish — a method that gives it its unrivalled fresh flavour. You scoop it up with a massive fresh naan straight out of the tandoor (they call it the "Birmingham scoop"), and it is honestly one of the best curries either of us has ever had.
Have you ever had a proper Birmingham Balti? Let me know in the comments!
🍛 What we ate at Shababs:
Traditional Birmingham Balti
Fresh tandoor naan bread
All the classic curry house sides
📍 Shababs — 163-165 Ladypool Road, Balti Triangle, Birmingham B12 8LQ
🏆 Home of the original Birmingham Balti since 1987
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→ youtube.com/@KalaniGhostHunter
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I went to Birmingham with Tanner from Project Fear to try one of the most legendary curry houses in England — Shababs, the home of the original Birmingham Balti. And this dish has a history you would NOT expect.
Here's the thing most people don't know: the Balti wasn't born in India or Pakistan — it was invented right here in Birmingham. Balti was introduced to Birmingham in the 1970s by Pakistani migrants who created a fast, one-pot dish, and today it's served at institutions like Shababs in the city's famous Balti Triangle. Shababs has been serving traditional Birmingham baltis since 1987, in the heart of the world-famous Balti Triangle — and it's one of the last of its kind. In the 1990s heyday, the Balti Triangle was home to more than 30 balti houses; today only a handful remain, which makes eating here a genuine slice of disappearing British history.
What makes a real Birmingham Balti so special? It's fast-cooked on a high flame in a traditional thin-pressed carbon steel balti bowl, then served at the table in that same dish — a method that gives it its unrivalled fresh flavour. You scoop it up with a massive fresh naan straight out of the tandoor (they call it the "Birmingham scoop"), and it is honestly one of the best curries either of us has ever had.
Have you ever had a proper Birmingham Balti? Let me know in the comments!
🍛 What we ate at Shababs:
Traditional Birmingham Balti
Fresh tandoor naan bread
All the classic curry house sides
📍 Shababs — 163-165 Ladypool Road, Balti Triangle, Birmingham B12 8LQ
🏆 Home of the original Birmingham Balti since 1987
🔔 Subscribe to Kalani Ghost Hunter for more food and travel around the world:
→ youtube.com/@KalaniGhostHunter
📲 Follow along:
→ Instagram: @kalanighosthunter
→ TikTok: @kalanighosthunter
→ Twitter / X: @kalanighost
