Restaurants in Birmingham: Eats in UK’s Second City. The second most populous city outside London, Birmingham is known as London’s “Second City”. Gaining prominence during the Industrial Revolution, this city is historically significant as well as culturally rich. With a mix of contrasting modern and Victorian architecture, the city never bores its visitors. Birmingham has a notable restaurant scene, having four Michelin star rated Restaurants and a thriving foodie culture. With its large South Asian community, the city is known for its excellent spicy dishes, even with a curry that is unique to Birmingham, the Balti.