With two Michelin Stars under his belt, Aston-born Aktar Islam, restauranteur at the very highly-rated Opheem , is revered by many as one of the best chefs in the country. We've sampled his food and can confirm that it is extraordinary . When Aktar makes a recommendation for a restaurant he loves then, we're inclined to listen.
And this week he gave a nationwide shout-out to a little Stirchley restaurant with just 50 seats that he says is 'honest and robust' reminding him of dinners he's eaten in Thailand. Soi 1268 launched last year on the neighbourhood's Pershore Road. Stirchley has been named a number of times as the city's coolest neighbourhood and for residents who love food, the Thai restaurant is among the many reasons it's named among the best places to live in Britain .
Aktar said he loves it too. Read more: 'Positively horrifying' bar opening in Birmingham that's 'Wednesday Addams meets Stranger Things' Sign up for the Brum Food Club free weekly newsletter for updates on what's happening in the city's food and drink scene . Speaking to Conde Nast Traveller , Aktar said that he 'tries to keep things casual' when eating locally, mentioning Soi 1268 as a favourite.
He said: "I really love it there. I've eaten at a lot of Thai restaurants around the country, but I just found their flavours were a lot more honest and robust, and reminded me of the food I ate in Thailand. "They haven’t got a very big menu, and they clearly concentrate on things they do well.
" Aktar Isla.
