Eagle's Restaurant ★ 4.6
Eagle's Restaurant on 16th Street North in Smithfield is the Black-owned soul-food anchor since 1951, with Friday catfish and weekday meat-and-three plates.
Signature: Smothered pork chop, Fried catfish, Greens and cornbread
Niki's West is a soul food restaurant in Acipco Finley, Birmingham.
Niki's West on Finley Avenue West Birmingham has run the canonical meat-and-three since 1957, with a cafeteria steam table by the Alabama Farmers Market.
Signature dishes: Fried catfish, Turnip greens, Cornbread
Address: 233 Finley Avenue West, Birmingham, AL 35204
Eagle's Restaurant on 16th Street North in Smithfield is the Black-owned soul-food anchor since 1951, with Friday catfish and weekday meat-and-three plates.
Signature: Smothered pork chop, Fried catfish, Greens and cornbread
Brick and Tin on Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Birmingham is the casual Southern sandwich counter, with pimento cheese and tomato-pie plates.
Signature: Pimento cheese sandwich, Avocado tartine, Tomato pie
El Barrio on 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham runs a modern Mexican menu downtown, called best Mexican restaurant in Alabama by the convention bureau in 2024.
Signature: Spicy chicken tostada, Mole de pollo, Chunky guacamole
Surin West on 11th Avenue South in Birmingham has served Thai cuisine since the 1990s, with broad vegetarian options and a sushi counter alongside the curries.
Signature: Tofu coconut soup, Pad Thai, Yellow curry
The Essential on Morris Avenue downtown is Kristen Hall and Victor King's 2018 neighborhood cafe and bar in the Mercantile on Morris near Founders Station.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable plate, House sourdough, Brunch egg sandwich
Yo' Mama's on 4th Avenue North in the Fourth Avenue Historic District runs a downtown soul-food kitchen with a deep gluten-free menu and Saturday brunch.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Smothered pork chop, Banana pudding