Birmingham’s dining landscape in 2026 tells a story of both loss and renewal. So far this year, at least 11 notable restaurants have closed their doors, including well-loved names like Riva Blu and Restaurant In The Woods. This rate of closure – roughly one every two weeks – is undeniably tough for the city’s food scene.
Yet amid these challenges, Birmingham is witnessing a bright spot that’s catching everyone’s attention: sushi. Six new sushi-focused restaurants are set to open across the city in 2026, with five of them situated within walking distance of each other, creating a mini sushi hub right in the city centre.
The sushi surge began in January with the debut of Sushidog in the Bullring. Following that, in February, Maki and Ramen announced plans to transform a space at King Edward House on New Street. June has been especially busy, with three major sushi openings confirmed: Sticks ’n’ Sushi in Chamberlain Square, KIBOU moving into Temple Row for an autumn launch, and Sushi Tachi, bringing its distinctive Hong Kong-style sushi to Grand Central.
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Additionally, Flavour Lounge debuted in Selly Oak, taking over the former Deli 17 location, adding to the city’s expanding sushi options.
Birmingham already boasts several respected sushi restaurants, such as Kyoto and Takumi in Chinatown, Sushi Passion in Great Western Arcade, Yakinori on New Street, Mt Fuji at the Bullring, and Yo! Sushi and Wasabi in Grand Central and the train station. These new openings only strengthen the case that sushi is firmly Birmingham’s dish of the year.
Sushi’s reliance on fresh, high-quality ingredients often means it commands premium prices, making the blossoming interest in multiple new sushi venues all the more intriguing. The city’s previous dining trend leaned toward steakhouses, with newcomers like En Steak, Pasture, Cow and Sow, and the upcoming Flat Iron arriving later this year.
Meanwhile, a top-quality chippy tea spot in the city centre remains elusive, leaving room for potential future culinary trends.
With so many new sushi spots opening, Birmingham diners face a delicious dilemma: which one to try first? As the city’s food scene evolves, it’s vital for locals to support these new ventures to avoid more empty units in prime locations.
What do you think about Birmingham’s sushi boom? Are you excited to try these new spots? And what culinary trend do you hope will take off next in the city? Share your thoughts and help shape Birmingham’s future food scene.