BottegaCafe 20220315 105919 Birmingham named among top underrated food cities in U.S. — Bottega Favorita—Roasted shrimp, calabrian chili butter, garlic, lemon + parsley (Bham Now)

It might still be one of the country’s best-kept secrets, but Birmingham’s food scene is anything but underrated to those of us who live here.

A recent list from national food publication Mashed named Birmingham one of the 12 most underrated food cities in the U.S.—spotlighting places that may not always top travel roundups, but shine thanks to a strong regional identity and dishes you won’t find anywhere else.

Birmingham’s culinary offerings

Bayonet’s fried soft shell crab sandwich with fries. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

If you’ve lived in Birmingham for a while, you’ve probably heard someone say that “all there is to do here is eat and drink!”

And while that’s not exactly true, what’s wrong with spending your free time eating at delicious, award-winning restaurants? Birmingham boasts more than a dozen James Beard nominees (including five winners!) and 11 Michelin nods, not to mention its rich collection of unique hole-in-the-walls.

Mashed agrees—here’s what they said about Birmingham’s culinary scene:

“Birmingham often flies under the radar when people think of America’s great food cities, but it has a thriving foodie scene that focuses on fresh, local cuisine, thanks to the locals’ deep respect for hunting and farming.

Given its location in the deep South, it should come as no surprise that Birmingham serves up some amazing Southern comfort food. But the area also has a lot of ethnic influences, particularly from Mexico, India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, so there’s no shortage of dishes to try.”