5 things to know about Rodney Scott’s BBQ opening in Saigon Noodle House location in Avondale

Birmingham, Alabama, Avondale, Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott's BBQ
Rodney Scott masters the ‘cue in a cinder block smokehouse. Photo via rodneyscottsbbq.com

Woot woot. More delicious eats coming this way! Birmingham not only boasts homegrown James Beard award winners, but our city also attracts them across state lines. Barbecue master Rodney Scott owns the title of James Beard Best Chef of the Southeast 2018. Now his restaurant, Rodney Scott’s BBQ, is coming to the Magic City. The location? The current home of Saigon Noodle House in Avondale.

Birmingham, Alabama, Saigon Noodle House in Avondale
Saigon Noodle House in Avondale. Photo via H2 Realty
1. Fear Not, Fans Of Saigon Noodle House

You can still get your fix at the original Saigon Noodle House on Highway 280.

There’s a silver lining for Avondale Saigon Noodle House employees, too. The restaurant and Rodney Scott’s BBQ are part of the same restaurant family, the Pihakis Restaurant Group, which includes Big Bad BreakfastHero Doughnuts and Mile End Deli. Current employees of Saigon Noodle House in Avondale will be placed in other restaurants within the group.

Birmingham, Alabama, Avondale, Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott's BBQ
Rodney Scott. Photo via rodneyscottsbbq.com
2. Smoking ‘Cue Since Age 11

The origins of Rodney Scott’s BBQ date back to his family’s convenience store and grocery, Scott’s Variety, in the sleepy town of Hemingway, South Carolina. In addition to convenience store items, they sold produce and smoked a whole hog on Thursdays. As the years went on, they offered whole hog barbecue on more days. Scott grew up, learned to chop wood and mastered the smokehouse. Meanwhile, word of Scott’s Variety whole hog barbecue spread far and wide. Eventually, the New York Times came calling.

Birmingham, Alabama, Avondale, Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott's BBQ
 Mmmm, looks good. Photo via rodneyscottsbbq.com
3. The Birmingham Connection

When Scott finally opened his namesake restaurant, Rodney Scott’s BBQ, in South Carolina in February 2017, he partnered with Birmingham’s own Nick Pihakis of Pihakis Restaurants Group. So the Magic City connection has been there from the start.

Birmingham, Alabama, Avondale, Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott's BBQ
Ooooh. Looks real good. Photo via rodneyscottsbbq.com
4. Secret’s In The Cinder Blocks

The biggest change to the Avondale location will be the construction of a cinder block smokehouse. A master chef must have a proper place to work, after all.

Birmingham, Alabama, Avondale, Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott's BBQ, menu
Yeah, I’m going to have a tough time deciding what to order first. Menu via rodneyscottsbbq.com
5. Expected Opening Date

When Bham Now first covered the news of Rodney Scott’s BBQ coming to Birmingham, the expected opening date was anywhere from the end of 2018 to early 2019. Now, the word is it may open by the end of October 2018. Gosh, I hope so. Stay tuned with Bham Now, foodies. 

Rushing Waters
Rushing Waters
Articles: 487