Niki’s West, Ocean, Miss Myra’s BBQ earn 95+ food service scores this Spring

Miss Myra
Far & Wide named Miss Myra’s Bar-B-Q’s BBQ Chicken Sandwich with White Sauce as “top pick”. (Pat Byington/ Bham Now)

Several Birmingham area restaurants, including Niki’s West on Finley Avenue, Ocean in Five Points South and Cahaba Heights’  Miss Myra’s Pit BBQ  received 95 and above on their food service scores this Spring.

Since 2018, Bham Now has reported Jefferson County Department of Health restaurant food service scores. Each month, over 100 local establishments that handle and serve food are inspected by the health department, including: 

  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Nursing homes,
  • Daycare centers
  • Hospitals
  • Grocery stores
  • Concession stands.

Food service inspection scores are updated regularly on the Jefferson County Department of Health website

The database is easy to access and it goes back several years. We estimate approximately 20% of the restaurant inspections score 95 or above, while most local school cafeterias, for example, tend to score 95 or above.

Featured Restaurants

Mr. Chen's Homewood
Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese Restaurant. (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Who made the local restaurant honor roll in April and May? Here are some notable local establishments:

Niki’s West – 95

niki's west
Comfort food at its finest. (Niki’s West/Facebook)

A Birmingham institution, Niki’s West was established in 1957 by the Hontzas family. A meat and three located near the Alabama Farmers Market — fresh vegetables are guaranteed. If you have a visitor in town, Niki’s is one of those “go to” spots.

Ocean Restaurant – 96

Birmingham, Ocean Restaurant, Valentine's Day
Grouper entree with root vegetable hash, bacon shrimp fritter and manchego cream. (Ocean/Facebook)

Ocean, on Five Points South, turns 20 years old this year. Winner of numerous honors including — Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and AAA Four Diamond award for the past thirteen years, Ocean is a Magic City foodie destination.  

Also – do you love oysters? Check out our Bham Now 2021 story about the Alabama Coastal Foundation oyster shell recycling and efforts to expand the program to restaurants such as Ocean.

Miss Myra’s Pit BBQ – 95

Miss Myra's BBQ Chicken
Far & Wide named Miss Myra’s Bar-B-Q’s BBQ Chicken Sandwich with White Sauce as “top pick.” (Pat Byington/ Bham Now)

Want to know where the Best Chicken BBQ sandwich in Alabama resides?  According to the digital publication Far and Wide it is at Miss Myra’s. By the way — Miss Myra also introduced Alabama White Sauce to the Magic City in 1984. 

Additional 95 and above scores:

bham nowies
Freddy’s Wine Bar. (Jacob Blankenship/ Bham Now)

Learn More

Birmingham, Jefferson County Department of Health
Jefferson County Department of Health. (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Visit Jefferson County Department of Health’s Food Service website for the latest scores. Food service inspections help keep us all safe. Bookmark the page and stay tuned for our monthly 95+ stories.

Check out our local business directory featuring over 700 restaurants, bars and businesses offering deals, curbside delivery and more.

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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