Your guide to 9 Birmingham spots serving gumbo for National Gumbo Day, Oct. 12

Ready to curl up with a warm bowl of gumbo? We’ve got the perfect excuse for you—National Gumbo Day is today, October 12. Here are nine of the best spots to get gumbo in Birmingham.

Gumbo recs from Bham Now + our audience

Before we get into the Birmingham spots serving up mouthwatering bowls of gumbo, I wanted to reach out to local gumbo lovers in our Instagram audience for their recommendations. I even heard from one gumbo expert about why the warm savory dish means so much to him:

“Gumbo is not only a food, but an experience—from the first steps of making it to sharing it with best friends, tasting the mix of shrimp, sausage and okra while listening to an old song about the bayou. Late at night or for lunch, eating it for a snack or for a meal, gumbo is the perfect food.”

Cameron Handley, local gumbo enthusiast

1. The Rougaroux

The Rougaroux is a Forest Park favorite serving up delish Cajun specialties like poboys, bread pudding and, of course, gumbo. Their gumbo changes by the day, but you can enjoy options including their smoky duck and wild mushroom.

• Address: 817 39th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 11AM-9PM
• Price: $5 cup | $9 bowl
• Facebook | Instagram

2. Homewood Gourmet

Homewood Gourmet offers warming dishes with locally sourced and natural ingredients, serving up everything from gourmet sandwiches and salads to chicken and sausage gumbo that they make fresh daily. Head to their Homewood location to eat onsite or grab a meal to go, or check them out at The Market at Pepper Place.

• Address: 1919 28th Ave S STE 113, Homewood, AL 35209
• Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30AM-6PM | Saturday 10:30AM-2PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Cajun Seafood House

Cajun Seafood House is a locally-owned Vestavia spot serving up Louisiana-style gumbo in Birmingham. Choose from a seafood gumbo or their house gumbo, which combines half seafood and half chicken.

• Price: $7.99 bowl
• Address: 2531 Rocky Ridge Rd, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
• Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11AM-9PM | Friday-Saturday 11AM-10PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

4. Saw’s Soul Kitchen

Saw’s Soul Kitchen may be known for their drool-worthy barbecue, but their gumbo would hit the spot right now too. It’s offered as a special, so be sure to check their social media to see when it’s on the menu.

• Address: 215 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 11AM-9PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

5. Cajun Roux Bar & Grill

Cajun Roux Bar and Grill is one of the newest spots in Hoover’s Stadium Trace Village with options like gator bites and sweet corn hushpupies. Pair your meal with a cup of their Sweep da Kitchen gumbo.

• Price: $5 cup | $10 bowl
• Address: 5220 Peridot Pl Ste 132, Hoover, AL 35244
• Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, Sunday 11AM-9PM | Friday-Saturday 11AM-10PM
• Website | Facebook

6. Cajun Boys & Our Poboys

The owners behind Cajun Boys & Our Poboys are Louisiana natives bringing their family’s favorite recipes from the Bayou to right here in Birmingham. Try their chicken and sausage gumbo or the seafood gumbo for a kick.

• Price: Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo $5.49 cup, $9.99 bowl | Grandma Donovan’s Seafood Gumbo $6.99 cup, $10.99 bowl
• Address: (Caldwell Mill) 2673 Valleydale Rd, Birmingham, AL 35244 | (Chelsea) 48 Chesser Crane Rd, Chelsea, AL 35043 | (Pelham) 3120 County Rd 52 E, Pelham, AL 35124
• Hours: (Caldwell Mill + Chelsea) Sunday-Thursday 11AM-8PM, Friday-Saturday 11AM-9PM | (Pelham) Tuesday-Thursday 11AM-8PM, Friday-Saturday 11AM-9PM, Sunday 11AM-7PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

7. Gumbo to Geaux

Gumbo to Geaux is a Creole food truck serving up fresh bowls of gumbo throughout Birmingham, with stops like Siluria Brewing Co, Cat and Bird Winery and apartments. Check their Facebook to see where you can find them and book them for your own events.

• Address + Hours: Check Facebook for updates.
• Website | Facebook | Instagram | 205.873.2740

8. Snapper Grabbers

Snapper Grabbers Land & Sea is a specialty grocery store and seafood market that also includes a cafe. Their “Almost Famous Seafood Gumbo” is made fresh daily with a recipe that the chef has been perfecting for 30 years.

• Price: $6 cup | $9 bowl
• Address: (Vestavia Hills) 521 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 | (Liberty Park—carryout lunch only) 8021 Liberty Pkwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35242
• Hours: (Vestavia Hills) Tuesday-Saturday 11AM-2PM | (Liberty Park—carryout lunch only) Tuesday-Saturday 11AM-2PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

9. Cajun Steamer

Cajun Steamer has multiple locations throughout Birmingham, so no matter where you are, you can grab a warm cup of gumbo. Take advantage of their lunch special and grab a sandwich while you’re at it.

• Price: $5.29 cup | $9.89 bowl
• Gumbo Day Special: $12 lunch special—cup of any gumbo with a sandwich or salad
• Address: (Hoover) 180 Main St #200, Hoover, AL 35244 | (Trussville) 5071 Pinnacle Square, Birmingham, AL 35235
• Hours: (Hoover) Monday-Saturday 11AM-10PM, Sunday 11AM-9PM | (Trussville) Monday-Thursday 11AM-9PM, Friday-Saturday 11AM-10PM, Sunday 10AM-9PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

Where are you going to celebrate National Gumbo Day in Birmingham? Tag us @BhamNow to let us know!