A new restaurant opening in Moseley next month promises to serve the first authentic Afghan cuisine in Birmingham. Kabuli has taken over the former site of Greek-Cypriot souvlaki specialist Soufi, which closed after two years.

Kabuli’s founder, Farhad Spinzar, was born and grew up in Kabul before moving to Birmingham in 2001. Missing his homeland, he started cooking Kabuli palau, the national dish, to recreate the tastes of his youth: “For me, this food is like home.“

Farhad believes there is a big demand for genuine Afghan cooking in his adopted city. “It’s something I don’t think you can find anywhere else in Birmingham – the way we do things here. The restaurant will look very traditionally Afghan – the walls, the signage, the dishes, everything – and the food will be 100% traditional Afghan cooking.“

He added. “Unfortunately Afghanistan is a poor country, but the food is rich. I travel a lot so it’s not just because I’m from there that I say that Afghan food is some of the best in the world. It’s pure and you will taste every ingredient. It’s very different to Indian cuisine. Anyone who knows Afghan food will want to try it.”

Staff training is due to start at the beginning of September following a refurb of the interior, with Kabuli scheduled to open to the public the following week.