Opheem keeps its two Michelin stars as Aktar Islam takes Birmingham flavours further

When the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 was revealed, Birmingham had plenty to celebrate, and Opheem was near the top of the list. Aktar Islam's restaurant on Summer Row retained its two Michelin stars, a distinction it first earned in 2024.

Islam is Birmingham through and through. Born in Aston in 1980 to parents who had emigrated from Bangladesh, he took his first kitchen job at 13 in his father's restaurant. He went on to win the fish course in the 2011 Great British Menu final and has since appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals.

Opheem opened in May 2018 as his flagship project. It won its first Michelin star in October 2019, making Islam the first British-born Bangladeshi chef to receive one. The second star followed in 2024, making Opheem the first Birmingham restaurant to hold two. It is one of only two Indian restaurants in the UK with that honour, the other being Gymkhana in London.

The cooking applies European techniques to traditional Indian flavours. Spices are ground in-house, ingredients are pickled and fermented on site, and much of the menu is cooked over coals. Some dishes draw on 15th-century recipes from the Ni'matnama, while others take inspiration from his mother's cooking. Michelin has praised dishes such as poached cod with sea kale and pakora, and Herdwick lamb pavé with confit shoulder.

"Opheem is a culmination of my life experiences and my relationship with food," Islam has said. When the second star arrived, he was quick to share the credit: "I thank Michelin for supporting our city, not just me."

The design of the restaurant reflects Birmingham and the Jewellery Quarter, and Michelin describes the tasting menu as the best way to experience the kitchen's full repertoire.

In 2026 Islam also turned his attention to London, announcing Oudh 1722, a restaurant in a Union Street townhouse in Borough specialising in Awadhi cuisine from the royal courts of Lucknow. "Awadhi cuisine represents a rich culinary tradition I have always deeply respected," he said.

Yet Opheem remains the heart of his story, and proof that some of the most exciting cooking in Britain happens right here in Birmingham. Reservations and menus are available through the Opheem website.