The hidden little back yard is dappled in sunlight and, if you can get a table, offers one of the city’s greatest brunch experiences
05:00, 10 Jul 2025Updated 13:48, 10 Jul 2025
Kirsty is a Black Country bab in Birmingham, a freelance contributor with a particular interest in food and drink, music, leisure, fun and adventure. She was a former Women in Local News Best What’s On Journalist and she’s particularly interested in hearing about new openings and brilliant things to do in the region. Get in touch: Kirsty.Bosley@reachplc.com.
The ‘secret garden’ of Caneat in Stirchley(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
The branch of a lush green shrub tickled my neck as I sat up to take my first breath after diving into one of the greatest brunch dishes I ever ate in Birmingham.
Jesse looked at me, amazed. Not in the way you’ve look at Van Gogh after he showed you his new painting, Starry Night. More in the way you’d look at Van Gogh after he showed you the chunk of ear he just lopped off the side of his noggin.
I felt embarrassed. In the time it’d taken me to hoover up an entire big plate of cheesy kimchi hash browns, Jess had eaten perhaps a quarter of one of Caneat’s famous ‘7 Minute Eggs’, the £9 dish top chef Stu Deeley once told The Times was his ‘go-to’.
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Going back to the Pershore Road venue had been a second thought – we were in Stirchley to get brunch at the very popular new venue The Den, but it was so popular we couldn’t get a walk-in.
It was the happiest of second choices, returning to Caneat.
The garden at the back is lovelier than ever, slightly wild as it’s matured, like a proper secret garden should be.
A little play area at Caneat(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
The child-friendly venue has the prettiest little playhouse nestled in the foliage and, even though it doesn’t have all that much room to manoeuvre, I’ve always been so impressed by how it’s prioritised the comfort and enjoyment of even the littlest diners.
I was more impressed, as ever, by the menu. It often changes, keeping its core favourites but rotating interesting options to keep things fresh and exciting.
The £7 hash browns were ooey and gooey with melted cheese that was holding tight to the spices.
The starchy potato, beautifully fried to a crisp, was softened again with drizzles of hot honey, the warmth and sweetness, stunning.
But it was the chunky, generous kimchi that I loved most, big crunchy acidic slices of cabbage. It’s something I would never have the skill to attempt to make at home.
The cheesy kimchi hash browns at Caneat(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
Call me spoilt, but when it comes to food, I want it all.
I want heartiness and lightness, together. I want zing with my mellow, I want sweetness with the salty.
I want a full, well-rounded forkful of anything, designed to awaken every part of your gob in a single scoop.
Caneat regulars would argue that the 7 Minute Eggs, served with gochujang mayonnaise, coriander and sesame is a pretty perfect brunch dish.
But for me, those cheesy kimchi hash browns live are the apex of brunch brilliance. Caneat, will eat. And eat again!
This food review was independent, conducted at random and all food and drink was paid for by the reporter.