When people visit Birmingham and its surrounding areas, they come hungry for two things: bold history and even bolder flavor. The good news? Locals know exactly where to find both. We’ve rounded up their favorite spots, organized by location, so you can eat your way through metro-birmingham, one yummy bite at a time.
I’m working on adding links for each restaurant soon. Until then, dig into the list and get ready to enjoy what the Magic City has to offer. **This list was last updated on March 26, 2025.**
Hungry for more? Follow me on Instagram for delicious foodie pics.
Burgers, biscuits, barbecue, boba tea, beer and so much more can be found in Birmingham restaurants, which have received national recognition. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
AVONDALE
Avondale Common House
Big Spoon Creamery
Joyland
The Marble Ring
Miracle Pizza Co.
Saw’s Soul Kitchen
Seafood is always a win in the Magic City. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
DOWNTOWN
Alabama Peanut Co.
Alicia’s Coffee (Inside the A.G. Gaston Motel Museum)
Armour House
Bamboo on 2nd
Bayonet
Birmingham Breadworks
Birmingham Wings and Waffles
Bistro 218
Brick and Tin
Café Dupont
Carrigan’s Public House
CAVA
Cayo Coco Rum Bar and Restaurant
Current Charcoal Grill
Guiseppe’s Cafe on Birmingham’s Southside has been a staple in the Magic City for years. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
East West Kitchen and Bar
El Barrio Mexican Restaurant
Encore Rouge
Fife’s
Frothy Monkey
Full Moon BBQ
Green Acres
Gus’ Hot Dogs
Helen
You see this? Yeah, a photo is worth a thousand words at Hero Doughnuts, where the line up in the doughnut case will have you walking out with a dozen. So good! (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Hero Doughnuts
Last Call Baking Co.
Le Fresca
Michael’s Steakhouse
Newk’s
Outback Steakhouse
Paramount
Pizitz Food Hall
Pizza Grace
Red Cat Cafe
Reve Restaurant
Salud Taqueria
Shu Shop
The chicken and waffles at Yo Mama’s has received high praise through the years. In 2024, Southern Living said it was one of the top 35 restaurants to visit in Birmingham, AL. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Starbucks
Tasty Town
Taziki’s
Ted’s Restaurant
The Essential
Trattoria ZaZa
Wooden City
Yo Mama’s
Wings from East West Kitchen and Bar in downtown Birmingham. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
FIVE POINTS SOUTH / SOUTHSIDE
Bottega Restaurant and Café
Chez FonFon
Fish Market
Galley and Garden Restaurant
Insomnia Cookies
Magnolia Point
Makarios Kabob and Grill
Ocean
Original Pancake House
Rocky’s Pizza
Slide
Surin
This chocolate Italian cake is from Amore Ristorante Italiano on U.S. 280. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
FOREST PARK
Juniper
The Rougaroux
Biting into a cookie from Cookie Fix is like having a piece of heaven right in your hands. Their cookies are crispy on the edges and soft and gooey in the middle. They offer different varieties, and also have a ready-made dough in their freezer section. Locations are in Homeood, Hoover, CAHABA HEIGHTS and on 280. You cannot eat just one. So, do yourself a favor and order half dozen. Remember, sharing is caring. Pictured are their chocolate chip cookies with sea salt. Their unbaked peanut butter, chocolate chip and oats is on the right. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
HOMEWOOD
Cookie Fix
Davenport’s Pizza
Edgar’s Bakery
Do Not Disturb
Gianmarco’s Restaurant
Johnny’s Restaurant
Kale Me Crazy
Little Donkey Taqueria
Pastry Art Bake Shoppe
Real & Rosemary
Rodney Scott’s Barbecue
Ruby Sunshine
Saw’s BBQ
SoHo Social and SoHo Standard
Tina’s Market
But first, dessert! Homemade icebox pies are available at restaurants such as Ted’s in Birmingham. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
HOOVER/VESTAVIA/CAHABA HEIGHTS
Farrely’s Southern Bar and Kitchen
First Watch
FoodBar
Glass Panda
Heavenly Donut Co.
Phil Sandoval
Tre Luna Bar and Kitchen
Vecchi Pizzeria and Mercato
It’s a no brainer. The pancakes from Pancake House on the Southside are a “must” when in Birmingham. (Photo By Chanda Temple) Fish Market on the Southside near UAB offers fresh seafood, daily. And they have some the BEST hushpuppies in town. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
LAKEVIEW / PEPPER PLACE
Automatic Seafood and Oysters
Bettola
Blueprint on 3rd
Blueroot
Denim Bar
Hot and Hot Fish Club
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Ovenbird
Red Cat Café
Slice Pizza and Brewhouse
The Mayor
Umami
The Pork and Greens at Saw’s BBQ in Avondale is one for the record books. It sounds different, but it is so delicious. It features cheese grits topped with collard greens, BBQ pork and fried onions. Smoked chicken is also an option. Either way, you won’t go wrong with this dish. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
LEEDS
Bucee’s (The sandwiches, especially the brisket, are well known.)
Rusty’s BBQ
The Wharf
Fresh and flavor reign supreme at Yo Chef Surf and Turf Smokehouse in Birmingham. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
NORTH BIRMINGHAM
Eagle’s Restaurant
Ruth’s Café
Niki’s West
Yo Chef Surf and Turf
Want to bite into a piece of a Birmingham tradition? Then stop by Gus’s Hot Dogs in downtown Birmingham, where the hospitality and Southern goodness will keep you coming back for seconds. And a Gus’s Hotdog is not complete without a Grapico, bottled right here in the city. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
THE SUMMIT SHOPPING CENTER
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Cheesecake Factory
Chuy’s
Emmy’s Pizza
Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Panera Bread
P.F. Chang’s
North Italia
Automatic Seafood and Oysters, which is not too far from Birmingham’s Pepper Place, has a chef who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the South in 2022. The food is delicious. And the ambiance is pretty cool. Reservations are a must at this establishment because they stay booked and busy. Their menu changes frequently, so be sure to check their website before you go. This beef and scallops dish is a fav.. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Real & Rosemary
Seasons 52
Taco Mama
Urban Cookhouse
Village Tavern
The meat-and-three spots in Birmingham feel like Sunday dinner every day. This plate from Ted’s Restaurant near UAB features their fried chicken livers, Brussel sprouts and pinto beans. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
TRUSSVILLE
Bruster’s Ice Cream
Jim N Nick’s
Metro Diner
Mr. West’s Asian Kitchen
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux
Food trucks pop up in some of the best places in Birmingham. These are the brisket tacos from the Fat Charles food truck. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
UPTOWN (Next to the BJCC, the Sheraton and Protective Stadium)
Cantina
Capella Pizzeria
City Walk’s Food Truck Park (This area is only active during special events in the Red Block near the Skate Park. Sometimes, trucks pull up in the Green Block. Check the City Walk website to see if trucks will be parked during an event or market day that may interest you.)
Dillard’s Chophouse
K&J Elegant Pastries in Uptown, which is around the corner from Eugene’s Hot Chicken, has such good desserts and giant milkshakes that their food has been featured on everything from ABC’s Good Morning America to social media. When you go, be prepared to get hooked. (Photo provided by K&J Elegant Pastries)
Eugene’s Hot Chicken
K&J’s Elegant Pastries
Mugshots Grill and Bar
Santo’s Coffee
Southern Kitchen & Bar
Texas de Brazil
Bayles Catering is a family business in Woodlawn. It has an extensive menu. Patrons love their okra and wings. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
WOODLAWN
Bayles Catering and Restaurant
Naughty But Nice Flavored Popcorn
Slutty Vegan
This roasted corn from the Aww Shucks food truck is always in demand during food truck events in Birmingham. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
MISCELLANEOUS
Black Market Bar and Grill – The Shops of the Colonnade
Bistro on 19 – Bessemer
Bright Star – In Bessemer
Char Bar No. 7 – Mountain Brook
Chuck’s Fish – U.S. 280
Creole Connection – behind Legion Field
East of the Mississippi – Five Points West
Edgar’s Bakery – The Shops of the Colonnade
Flying Biscuit – The Shops of the Colonnade
Gardens Cafe by Kathy G at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
J’S Wings – Five Points West
Mama Nem Southern Kitchen – Across from Rickwood Field
Tasty Town is a Greek restaurant around the corner from Railroad Park. Their savory dishes and bar pull a crowd, but so does their homemade chocolate cake. Some people have been known just to go to the restaurant to get the cake to go. Yeah, it’s that good. (Photo provided by Tasty Town.)
O’ Taste and See Soul Food – Eastwood Shopping Center, Off Crestwood Boulevard
Perry’s Steakhouse – U.S. 280
Refined to Go – Helena
Sammy’s Sandwich Shop – Off Messer Airport Highway
Simone’s Kitchen – Center Point
Taj India – Highland Park
The Steakhouse of Helena – Helena
Cheers to the duck empanada from Sol Y Luna in Mountain Brook! So good! (Photo by Chanda Temple)
