both cuisine and service are spectacular yet I have reservations for management approach. I arrived around 14:00 which is like the ending period of lunch time while the restaurant is full house with customers waiting outside to be seated. What shocked me is that there is only one server throughout the entire (full housed) restaurant which he needed to simultaneously handle the tasks of a host, a waiter and a cashier. Obviously he was overwhelmed despite working at his fastest speed while the overall performance can hardly be considered as efficient. I am not criticizing the server as he demonstrated unimaginable tolerance and delicacy and the cuisine worth the wait. However, I strongly doubt that the restaurant should allow customers beyond their handling capacity to be seated and served (Including myself) not only because it would reduce its efficient but also it would burn out their employees both physically and mentally which is unideal for customers, employee and revenue in a sustainable way. Advices for potential customers, feel free to bring high expectations as there would be no disappointment yet please also bring extensive patience as the restaurant is remarkably understaffed.

This used to be one of my favourite places but i haven’t been in a while and after going I’ve realised a lot of things have changed. The food is actually really nice but it used to be better. The takoyaki balls are much smaller than they used to be and the omurice lacked the same flavour. While it is only a small place, having two waitresses on isn’t good enough and as a consequence they rushed us for our orders. The toilet was horrendous and dirty, as if someone had stood on the toilet seats and cobwebs above the sink. I’m really not sure if I’d return.

We waited for 10 minutes to get in. We then waited for 30 minutes to be told that our orders would be taken shortly. And then when we placed our orders, we were told several items were not available. And then the nightmare began. Only drinks came an hour after we placed the order. The noodles came 30 minutes later. Food is fair but the waiting and service is ridiculous. If you have time to waste, give them a go.

Amazing food with good prices and nice staff. More people need to visit. The fried chicken is delicious.

It may take a wee while for the food to come out but it's worth the wait. Pretty authentic from what I can gather and everything we had was tasty. Staff was on point ,toilets were clean and it must be one of the most reasonably priced restaurants in Birmingham . Staff are great and probably under a lot of pressure as it's always busy so give them a break if the service isnt up to your standard.

I missed my Taiwanese food and Formosa Izakaya definitely helped with my homesickness lol. All very tasty 😋 recommend the pork and glutinous rice sausages and radish omelette. A few criticisms: 1. It’s an open kitchen so be warned that you’d walk out smelling like your dinner. 2. I’d like my food to be served gradually, not all at the same time. 3. Beef skewers are a bit tough.

Absolutely incredible. Every dish was so delicious and the service was wonderful. We came twice in a weekend and will be back every time we’re in Birmingham! Also they’re dog friendly which is a huge plus!

Should avoid pork bento box, the pork is dry and hard to chew. Omelette rice is nice to have. There were only few selections of drinks on the day, not the best experience.

Disappointing visit :( I've come here a handful of times in the past year, and each time it's been wonderful. This time I came in for a quick meal with my sister, as I had less than an hour before I needed to leave for work. We arrived at 4:45pm and upon entering, were asked if we could finish by 7pm, almost as if they were already rushing us out... Once sat, we each ordered a bowl of noodles and a starter to share. 15 minutes later, my noodles came before the starter, and it took a further 3 minutes for the starter to come. We enjoyed sharing the starter, and then my noodles started to get cold, so my sister urged me to eat, even though her food hadn't arrived yet. The portion was smaller than I've had previous times, so I easily finished in 15 minutes, and still no sign of my sister's food. At this point it had been more than 35 minutes since we ordered, so we asked someone about our food and she replied "I'll check your order". She never came back to give us an update and another 10 minutes had past. The food finally came but at this point I already had to leave, so I left my sister to dine alone. I paid for the meal and while having interacted with staff multiple times, not once did anyone apologise for forgetting our food or for it coming late. I work in the food business myself, so I'm absolutely appalled by the customer service I received today. With the combination of this and the quality of food having dropped, I doubt I will be visiting again

Visited this restaurant for lunch. Ordered two drinks, two mains and one snack. The taste is not what I expected as a Taiwan restaurant but still good. I originally planned 1.5 hours in here but eventually we spent 2 hours here, most of the time spent in waiting the food.

Authentic Japanese/Taiwan skewers, always busy. Best place to go if you not feeling hungry. The only problem is the floor is unexpected wet especially in the toilet area which is quite dangerous.

Went quite a while ago and food was pretty good. Based on personal preference, I found some of the bbq meat to be a bit fattier than I liked. Staff were ok - I think they were understaffed the time I went so not the most attentive. I’ll definitely return if the opportunity arises as there are more dishes I’d like to sample, though I hope the toilet will be cleaner next time.

Formosa Izakaya in Birmingham is a Taiwanese culinary gem. Their beef noodles are a revelation - tender beef, flavorful broth, and perfectly cooked noodles create a harmonious symphony of taste. Each bite transports me to the bustling streets of Taiwan, with an authentic and high-standard rendition of this classic dish. The attention to detail and traditional cooking methods truly set Formosa Izakaya apart. What's equally impressive is their reasonable pricing(£9.5), making this exceptional experience accessible to all. In my culinary journey across the West Midlands, Formosa Izakaya stands out as the epitome of Taiwanese cuisine. For those seeking an unforgettable and genuine Taiwanese dining adventure, Formosa Izakaya is the ultimate destination.

If you love Taiwanese food, you have to visit, small shop not many seat. Braised beef noodles taste great, soup is rich, beef tender and soft, a little too heavy for some people, if this is the case, pick thick cut braised pork on rice, another brilliant choice.

I would highly recommend the fried chicken fillet curry rice, the chicken was beautifully succulent and crispy and it was well priced at £9.50. The braised beef noodle soup was lovely, the noodles had a good bouncy texture and the soup was full of flavour. The crispy spare ribs on hot and spicy thin noodles looked very impresive. The dish could have been more spicy, but the soup base flavours came through nicely. The ribs were very large and crispy and went well with the noodles. Another very good value dish. The Dann Zai noodles didn't stand out particularly much, so I would probably not order this next time. Service was very good, fast, friendly and welcoming. Would recommend for a casual quick lunch in town.

Had the Taiwanese beef noodle and Asahi (Japanese beer). Food was tasty and served in a large portion. You can try typical Taiwanese food here. Also the waitress was friendly and efficient.

Interesting blend of various East Asian food cultures that works well in some cases but not so much in others. The good news is that the dishes are very reasonably priced for the quality and quantity you get.

One of the best Asian food restaurants in Chinese Quarter, Birmingham. Nice vegetarian options as well. Great portions and economical prices

Tried this place as it was recommended to us and got to say it was worth the visit. The chicken was lovely but the beef noodles and pork belly rice were amazing! Definitely worth a try for anyone who hasn't experienced Taiwanese cuisine.

food is interesting. but the whole place is quite stuffy and hot. the bbq/smoke smell is very strong. cant stand it. had to eat and leave immediately.

The highlight of our meal was the omurice! Some dishes could have been a bit more aromatic or spicy. Nonetheless, the prices are a bargain considering the quality of the ingredients! The kitchen is open and the smell of the fresh food is all over the place, so do not be surprised if your clothes are a bit smelly afterwards!

Food is fine, with variety choices of well-made and authentic Chinese dishes. However, as many mentioned in other comments, we were quite confused about the attitude and service offered by the staff. They just kept us waiting for nothing when there were still plenty of vacant tables.

Ordered braised pork rice, texture was good , but a little bit salty. The stir-fried 3 cup chicken taste is a little bit salty, lack of fragrance as compared to those at Taiwan. The soya drink was great, taste good. The staff were unable to tell which are their best seller and didn't bother to give any other words, instead just standing there looking at us silently. I think as a restaurant staff they should be able to know which are their top seller and keep the conversation with the customer on going. We don't feel the staff friendliness at all. But the other staff are friendly and able to give us some recommendations about the attractions nearby.

One of my favourite places to eat in Birmingham. Amazing food and really affordable as well!