20 Black-owned restaurants in Birmingham you need to try

Reviewed by: Grace Garrison

Reading time: 7 minutes

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Eugene's Hot Chicken
Eugene’s Hot Chicken (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Are you looking for more local restaurants to support? Keep reading for 20 Black-owned restaurants across Birmingham to add to your list—we’ve got everything from meat-and-threes and sandwiches to chicken wings and BBQ.

Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Tag us @bhamnow and let us know!

1. Burning Tree Smokehouse

Burning Tree BBQ / Lakeview
(Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

One of Birmingham’s newer BBQ spots is Burning Tree on 3rd Avenue South. I love their BBQ tacos, plus you can’t go wrong with the burger.

2. Zatie’s Southern Cuisine

Wings, burgers, fish—this soul food spot in Center Point has it all.

3. T-Bone’s

T-Bone’s some of the best food in town, and probably the best cheesesteak I’ve ever had. Plus, they serve some great wraps and salads.

4. Jake’s Soulfood Cafe

IMG 0927 20 Black-owned restaurants in Birmingham you need to try
Jake’s Soul Food Cafe will give you enough leftovers for a week. (Cecilia Wood / Bham Now)

Jake’s marries your favorite soul food with Caribbean cuisine, making for the perfect fusion. Be sure to come hungry, because this spot serves large portions that you’ll be craving for lunch the next day.

5. Green Acres

green acres inside 20 Black-owned restaurants in Birmingham you need to try
Catch us grabbing a meal at Green Acres. (Chaise Sanders / Bham Now)

Green Acres has been a staple since the 1940s and serves fresh chicken and all the fixin’s (including some fantastic fried green tomatoes).

6. Yo Mama’s

(Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
Yo Mama’s staff (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Open for lunch every weekday and brunch every second and last Saturday, Yo Mama’s is another classic southern soul food spot. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu—chicken wings, quesadillas, you name it.

7. On a Bun

On A Bun BHAM
On A Bun BHAM in former Yo’Mama’s space on 2nd Avenue North (Bham Now)

A new venture from the folks at Yo Mama’s: On a Bun! It’s a late-night concept, offering things (you guessed it) on a bun, as well as some gluten free options.

8. Eagle’s Restaurant

Eagle's
meat and threes
Eagle’s Restaurant (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

You can’t think of Birmingham’s Black-owned cafés without thinking of Eagle’s. It’s open six days a week and serves up specialities like oxtails, cube steak, baked chicken and baked pork chops.

9. Eugene’s Hot Chicken

Regions Tradition Food Trucks 2024 131 20 Black-owned restaurants in Birmingham you need to try
Zebbie Carney, founder of Eugene’s Hot Chicken (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

One of my all-time favorite spots in Birmingham: Eugene’s. Plenty of chicken and spice levels to choose from, plus classic southern sides like collard greens, fried okra and cornbread.

10. Michael’s Restaurant

Michaels Restaurant 5 20 Black-owned restaurants in Birmingham you need to try
Michael's Restaurant

(Bham Now, Michael’s Restaurant)

Michael’s Restaurant was one of those storied Birmingham restaurants that got its start in the 1950s. Founded by Greek restaurateur Michael Matsos, several versions of Michael’s restaurants popped up over the years with locations on Bessemer Highway and at the old Eastwood Mall.

Since 2020, it’s lived in the Parkside District, serving seafood, steaks (from Bo Jackson’s steak line!) and other top-notch cuisine.

11. Bitty’s Living Kitchen

Bitty's Living Kitchen
Bitty’s Living Kitchen (Bham Now)

Founded by chef and certified Nutrition Counselor, Kimberly McNair Brock, Bitty’s Living Kitchen offers vegan and vegetarian eats made to “heal through food.”

12. Audrey’s Restaurant

Known for their Seafood Fridays and Sunday dinners, Audrey’s proves that you, in fact, can have it all. They post their menu every week for you to plan your meal, and pre-ordering is encouraged to get exactly what you have your eye on. 

Note: this spot is carryout only.

13. Top That Grille II

A classic soul food spot that serves chicken, fish and everything your Southern heart desires.

14. Thelma’s Place

Thelma's Place in Pleasant Grove
Thelma’s Place in Pleasant Grove (Makenzi Fultz / Bham Now)

Thelma’s Place opened in Pleasant Grove last year, and it’s already been a hit with locals! Formerly known as The Back Porch in Bessemer, Thelma’s Place is a meat and two restaurant that offers a variety of southern-style comfort food. 

  • Address: 27 Park Rd, Pleasant Grove, AL 35127
  • Hours: Daily, 11AM-7PM
  • Website | Facebook

15. Ga Briella’s Restaurant

Ga Briella’s buffet comes highly recommended by locals. With 3-4 meats, sides, a dessert table and great hospitality, it’s hard to say no to Southern eats at Ga Briella’s. 

16. Jasmine’s Cafe

As a Birmingham favorite since 2008, this spot has been hailed as the “best soul food in town”. Find staples like chitterlings and oxtails as well as sides like fried corns, turnip greens and candied yams.

17. Brown’s Southern Bistro

Brown’s Southern Bistro boasts southern hospitality along with its country specialties. While all of their offerings look equally delicious, the homemade Peach Cobbler and Pound Cake really take the cake (pun intended).

18. Rodney Scott’s BBQ

Birmingham Tailgate
Baked beans, BBQ, cole slaw, oh my! (Matthew Niblett / Bham Now)

Rodney Scott’s is another favorite on my list. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Trust me—I’ve had the BBQ, chicken fingers, baked beans, mac-and-cheese, all of it.

19. Slutty Vegan

storefront
Slutty Vegan in Woodlawn (Sunny Nguyen / Bham Now)

Named one of the best vegan fast food chains in the U.S. by Far and Wide, Slutty Vegan brings delicious vegan eats to Woodlawn.

Try it out for yourself!

20. Olivia’s Transit Cafe

Nestled in Birmingham’s Central Station is Olivia’s Transit Cafe serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and southern charm.

Anyone else’s mouth watering after reading this?

Now tell us, Birmingham, what did we miss? Tag us @bhamnow and let us know!

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Callie Morrison
Callie Morrison
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