As a fresher, homesickness can hit hard. While everyone around you is having the infamous ‘uni experience,’ you’re randomly hit by that familiar pang and fight to bury the realisation that you have not had a hug in months because although you have new friends – you’re not at that stage in the friendship. As you wait for platonic affection to feel natural, I say find it somewhere else.

Find comfort, and a cure to homesickness, in other things; my prime suggestion being food. Though I am only half Indonesian, it is this half that dominated my culinary upbringing with the smell of spices and coconut milk after a long day at school. So armed with little cooking knowledge, I came to Birmingham ready to find the next best Asian foodie spot. While I did fall in love with cooking, and naturally prioritised Asian recipes above all else, it is also true that food tends to taste better when you’re not the one cooking it. Perhaps it is the instant gratification or the appeal of going into the city’s centre to get it, but after one too many nights of sticky chicken wings (my cooking skills had reached a plateau) I knew I must begin my search.

Behold, Asia Asia Food Hall. Located a three-minute walk away from New Street station, at the edge of Chinatown and up a lift, the food hall boasts seven stalls across two floors. Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and more, I was astounded by the extensive menus for each. Upon entrance, we were greeted and had the card system explained to us. You pay two pounds for a membership card and then pay your preferred amount at the front desk where they transfer it to your member card. You then pay with said card at any of the stalls you so wish, returning to the front desk when a top-up is required. After, you simply take the card with you and any remaining balance is reserved for your next visit. For forgetful people like myself, you run the risk of buying a new membership card each time but should your memory fail, two pounds is a small price to pay for seven stalls from heaven.

Since sushi was decidedly not within budget for my first term, I opted for a steaming bowl of tteokbokki instead, while my friend ordered Korean fried chicken with fries. The service was speedy and the portions huge. My friend was soon met with a mountain of crispy fried chicken which she graciously shared with me. By sight alone, I suspected the chicken had undergone thorough dredging; confirmed by the loud crunch as I bit into it. I could not fault it. I did judge my friend’s choice of fries over rice as her side (a clear lapse in my friendship choices upon reflection) but still enjoyed their saltiness as I waited for the gochujang lake in front of me to cool down. The tteokbokki dish consisted of chewy tubular rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce, topped with mozzarella. As I dug in, I relished in watching the cheese stretch to its limit while loading my fork. Since then, I have used (and forgotten) my Asia Asia Food Hall card many times.

The Sakura stall, in particular, has become my favourite for its huge sushi rolls packed with both flavour and value for money. They have a large selection to choose from, including colourful platters of elegant sashimi – all served with the utmost attention to presentation. Think avocado and eel, carefully wrapped in seaweed and rice to form neat rolls, then topped with thick slices of flame-torched salmon and glistening pearls of tobiko. Suffice to say, Instagram baddies are going to love this one!

Throughout first year, I discovered several Asian food spots and recipes alike, offering comfort whenever that longing crept back in. Asia Asia was just the first of many and yet it has been a constant for me, promising comfort and quality every time. If you’re craving a taste of home and it happens to be Asian, you know where to go. And if home doesn’t happen to be Asian, you might just find a new one here regardless. The only problem is in solving my dilemma of homesickness at university, I find myself confronted with a new one – I’m now homesick for Asia Asia whenever I go back home.

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