FOODIE ALERT: New Mediterranean restaurant opens in downtown Birmingham

Karams
Karams owners Saber and Abrahim Alshoja in downtown Birmingham. (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Karam’s Restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant that serves 100% halal meals, opened this week in downtown Birmingham.

The exciting new restaurant is located at 715 18th Street North, about a half a block from Alabama Power Headquarters and behind Birmingham City Hall. There is plenty of parking in the area, including spaces on the side of the restaurant.

Diverse Menu

Karams
Lamb and chicken Karams shawarma sandwiches and fries. (Gabi Hembree/Bham Now)

If you are looking for a wide array of meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner—Karam’s is the place.

According to Karam’s owners Saber and Abrahim Alshoja:  

“Our main mission here is to bring diverse food to the downtown Birmingham area, including 100% halal meals,” Abrahim told Bham Now. “This community has not really had this type of food. We’re trying to bring different plates, different dishes to the Muslim community as well as American food to people who don’t get to experience that halal type of meals.”

When it comes to food and drink, halal is similar to the concept of kosher in Judaism.

Checking out the menu, the breakfast is traditional southern fare with biscuits, eggs, sausage and grits. 

Lunch and dinner is a real treat.

Karams
Karams “Baba Ganoush” — an appetizer at their new restaurant in Downtown Birmingham. (Gabi Hembree/Bham Now)

For appetizers, you’ve got baba ganoush, falafel & hummus dishes, healthy and hearty soups. The entrees range from specialty sandwiches to shawarma platters and lamb delicacies.

For dessert, we can’t wait to try the chocolate mousse and baklava. For folks who are seeking gluten free options there are meals and desserts available.

Delivering to Birmingham – Hours 

Karam’s open bright and early at 6:00AM and close in the evening at 9:00PM.  

On Tuesday, Bham Now staff visited the new eatery for lunch. The staff was welcoming and helpful and the meal was scrumptious and tasty. 

When we left, Saber said:

“Be on the lookout, because we are going to be adding other dishes and we’re going to be constantly expanding and getting better — delivering to Birmingham.”

Are you going to try out Magic City’s newest downtown restaurant? Tag us on social medi if you do @bhamnow

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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