Gate-side in Terminal 1, this is one of BHX’s only true sit-down restaurants
Past security in Terminal 1, Giraffe is where you actually get menus, plates, and table service instead of another pre‑packed sandwich. It sits in the main departures food cluster, so you’re 5–10 minutes’ walk from most gates. Price tier is firmly $$: mains often hit the £12–£18 range once you add a drink.
The cooked breakfast is the headline here. Multiple TripAdvisor reviews call the full fry‑up the safest order, and one regular even said they “would use again” purely for a decent breakfast before 9:00 flights. If you’re here before 10:30, go straight for the fry‑up or breakfast burrito and skip the more elaborate options.
Later in the day, the burgers draw the least complaints. Several reviewers specifically pick out the burger and fries as the most reliable choice, with fewer issues than salads, pastas or anything trying to be “health‑led.” Figure on £14–£16 for a burger and soft drink, more if you add alcohol. For kids, portions are smaller but still not cheap by Birmingham standards.
Service style is classic airport crunch: one reviewer noted food was “very good” but rushed, and another said staff were clearly under pressure with “a lot of tables and flights going.” That lines up with reports of feeling hurried once boarding calls start, especially in the 60 minutes before major departures banks.
What regulars do: they arrive a full 60–75 minutes before departure if they want to sit, order, and eat without clock‑watching. They also mostly stick to breakfast plates or burgers, which show up repeatedly in positive comments. Less‑ordered dishes see more inconsistency in both portion size and timing.
Practical tip: Check your gate and boarding time, then sit only if you have at least 45 minutes in hand; otherwise grab a coffee here and eat something simpler closer to your gate.