The Alabama Guide

Restaurants

The local dining scene is anchored by fresh ingredients, creative cooking, and kitchens run by people who genuinely love this place. Explore independent restaurants worth making a reservation for.

96 places

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Huntsville

Steak-Out

Char-grilled steaks, Huntsville-owned since 1986

Delivery Family owned Locally owned
$
Mentone

The Hatter Cafe

Whimsical Alice in Wonderland themed breakfast and lunch cafe

Family friendly Historic/Themed Decor Southern Comfort Food
Mentone

Elevation Bistro

Fine dining and craft cocktails atop Lookout Mountain

Catering available Craft Cocktails Fireplace Seating
$$$
Guntersville

Old Town Stock House

Elevated Southern American dining since 2015

Fine dining Full bar Reservations recommended
$
Guntersville

Cafe 336

Gourmet, simple and fresh, downtown Guntersville

Homemade Desserts Locally Sourced Lunch Only
$$$
Guntersville

Rock House Eatery

Southern gourmet cooking on Gunter Avenue

Catering Full bar Hand-Cut Steaks
$$
Guntersville

Crawmama’s Steaks & Seafood

Steaks and seafood since 1987

Catering Dinner Only Full bar
$
Guntersville

Simmons BBQ

Old-fashioned smoked barbecue since 1986

Catering Drive-thru Family owned
$$
Dauphin Island

Pirate’s Bar & Grill

Burgers, Gulf seafood, and a pool view in a landmark island building.

Beach access Catering and private events Live music
Foley

Foley Brunch & Supper Club

Historic downtown Foley brunch since 1964.

Bottomless mimosas Historic building Patio seating
$$
Foley

Hattie’s Soul Food

Scratch-made Southern comfort food on Highway 59.

Catering Full bar Rewards Program
Foley

Gelato Joe’s Italian Restaurant & Bar

Handcrafted Italian pasta and house-made gelato since 2007.

Full bar Karaoke nights Live music
$$$
Foley

Local and Company Food+Drink

Upscale American dining in a historic downtown Foley building.

Historic building Private dining room Saturday Brunch
Foley

Mi Tierra Tacos Y Platillos

Tacos and platillos, done simply.

Online Ordering Takeout Taqueria-style menu
$$
Foley

Vallarta Mexican Restaurant

Traditional Mexican fare with a few unexpected twists.

Catering Delivery Full bar
$$
Foley

El Paso Mexican Grill

Bold Mexican flavors on South McKenzie Street.

Birria tacos Full bar Handcrafted cocktails
Foley

Down South BBQ

Slow-smoked barbecue on the way to the coast.

Call-ahead recommended for large orders Family packs Takeout
$$
Foley

Doc’s Seafood Shack

Fresh Gulf seafood, cooked to order, since decades ago.

Casual Dining Family friendly Gumbo and salad bar
$
Fairhope

Clovis Cafe

Homemade food made fresh daily

Full catering menu Opened 2024 Veteran Discount
$
Fairhope

Bill-E’s The Restaurant

Throw your cares and your diet to the wind

Delivery through multiple platforms Happy hour specials Small-batch house bacon
$
Fairhope

Panini Pete’s

New Orleans-inspired breakfast and lunch downtown

Breakfast bowls with dietary options Homemade beignets Named to 100 Things to Eat in Alabama list
$$
Fairhope

Kingfisher Seafood Restaurant

Authentic Louisiana cuisine on South Mobile Street

Louisiana-style seafood menu OpenTable reservations Takeout and delivery available
$$
Fairhope

Sunset Pointe

Exquisite, balanced seafood with a water view

Formerly at Fly Creek Marina Part of P.P. Hospitality Group Separate food, wine, and cocktail menus
$$
Fairhope

Agave Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar

Authentic Mexican, elevated

Catering and private events Full tequila bar Open since 2010
$
Fairhope

Aloha Made BBQ

Island-style comfort food on Nichols Avenue

Family (ohana) owned Hawaiian plate lunches Started as a food truck
$$
Fairhope

Ben’s Jr. Original Barbecue

Smoked fresh each day since the Section Street smoker relit

Dine-in, takeout, and catering Longtime Fairhope address since 1980 Open seven days a week
$$$
Fairhope

The Hope Farm

Farm-grown flavors and Southern hospitality

400+ bottle natural wine list Daytime cafe (The Barn) Farm-to-table menu
$$$
Fairhope

The Fairhope Inn and Restaurant

NOLA classics with a Fairhope finish

Event rentals Friday lunch tradition Housed in a working bed and breakfast
$$$
Fairhope

Little Bird

Southern soul meets coastal style

Multiple dining rooms Outdoor courtyard Raw bar and seafood tower
$$$
Fairhope

Sallie

French technique meets the Gulf Coast table

French-trained chef Garden cottage setting Private event bookings
$$
Orange Beach

YoHo Rum & Tacos

Waterfront tacos and rum at The Wharf

Full bar Late Hours Located at The Wharf
Orange Beach

Luna’s Eat & Drink

Soulful Southern goodness on Canal Road

Craft Beer Family owned Gluten-Free Menu
$$
Orange Beach

Ginny Lane Bar & Grill

Casual waterfront eats and drinks at The Wharf

Happy hour Kids Menu Located at The Wharf
$$$
Orange Beach

Big Fish Restaurant & Bar

Fresh Gulf fish meets sushi bar on Canal Road

Family owned Happy hour Market Fresh Fish
$$$
Orange Beach

Ristorante Carmelo

From-scratch Italian dining on Perdido Beach Boulevard

Early Dinner Hours Full bar Suite-Based Dining Room
$$$
Orange Beach

Cotton’s Restaurant

Steak and seafood on Perdido Beach Boulevard since 1985

Dinner Only Established 1985 Full bar
$$
Orange Beach

Doc’s Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar

Fried seafood and oysters, Orange Beach style since 1984

Casual Dining Family owned Outdoor seating
Orange Beach

Cobalt, The Restaurant

Contemporary coastal seafood on Terry Cove

Family owned Outdoor patio Raw Bar
Orange Beach

Cosmo’s Restaurant & Bar

Eclectic, chef-driven dining just off Canal Road

Family owned Full bar Live music
$$
Gulf Shores

Papa Rocco’s

The home of warm beer and lousy pizza, since forever.

15+ years Best Raw Oysters Award winning pizza Daily live music
Gulf Shores

The Cove Bar & Grill

Burgers, quesadillas and live music at the Cove.

Independently Owned Indoor and outdoor seating Live entertainment
Gulf Shores

Agave Bar & Grill

Mexican fare and margaritas off Gulf Shores Parkway.

Extended Thursday through Saturday hours Full bar with margaritas Independently Owned
Gulf Shores

El Rey Mexican Restaurant

Tex-Mex on Gulf Shores Parkway, open every day.

Independently Owned Long daily hours Open 7 days a week
Gulf Shores

Lauria’s by the Beach

Family recipes and homemade Italian, morning to midnight.

Family recipes from the owner's grandmother House made pasta and flatbreads Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
Gulf Shores

Picnic Beach Bar & Grill

Good clean barbecue near the Gulf Shores public beach.

Casual bar and grill setting Family friendly barbecue Near the Gulf Shores public beach
Gulf Shores

Hog Wild Beach & BBQ

Beach town barbecue, smoked and delivered.

Casual, beach focused setting Catering available Independently owned barbecue
Gulf Shores

Original Oyster House

Fire grilled oysters and homemade gumbo since 1982.

Hand shucked, fire grilled oysters Operating since 1982 Seats up to 300 guests
Gulf Shores

Gulf Island Grill

Gulf seafood and smoked ribs, steps from the beach.

Fresh Gulf seafood Full bar with margaritas and bushwackers Open daily from 11 a.m.
Gulf Shores

DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen

Gulf Shores seafood, cooked a half dozen different ways since 2000.

Full bar Locally owned since 2000 Multiple preparation styles: fried, broiled, grilled, blackened, steamed, Cajun
$$
Oxford

Yoki Buffet

Szechuan, Hunan, Cantonese, and sushi, all on one buffet line.

All-you-can-eat buffet Open seven days a week Sushi and hibachi station
$$
Oxford

Struts of Oxford

Fresh wings, hand-pattied burgers, and weeknight trivia in Oxford.

DoorDash delivery available Fresh never-frozen wings Hand-pattied burgers
$
Oxford

M&J Home Cooking

Daily-changing Southern buffet in Oxford.

All-you-can-eat buffet Daily-changing menu Family friendly
$$
Oxford

Viet Alley

Authentic Vietnamese pho and banh mi on Oxford's US-78 corridor.

Closed Mondays Fresh, made-to-order Vietnamese cuisine Online ordering via Chowbus
$$
Oxford

Fuji Japanese Cuisine

Sushi, teppan yaki, and hibachi steak in Oxford.

Free parking Full bar Teppan yaki and hibachi steak
$$
Oxford

Jasmine Chinese, Thai & Sushi

Chinese, Thai, and sushi together in one Oxford dining room.

Daily lunch specials except Sunday Full sushi bar Open seven days a week
$$
Oxford

El Agave Grill & Bar

Mexican grill classics and margaritas on the US-78 corridor.

Full bar with margaritas Located on the US-78 corridor Lunch and dinner service
$
Oxford

Brad’s Bar-B-Que

Smoked pork and fried catfish, Oxford tradition since 1988.

Free parking Mobility accessible No alcohol served
$$
Oxford

Hubbard’s Off Main

Classy Southern plates in a historic downtown Oxford building.

Catering and private events Historic downtown building Live music Friday and Saturday
$$$
Oxford

Garfrerick’s Cafe

Farm-grown, wood-fired dinners in the heart of Oxford.

Catering available Farm-to-table menu Private dining for up to 100 guests
$$$
Anniston

Effina’s

Tuscan-inspired cooking on Noble Street

House-made pasta Locally owned with a sister location in Jacksonville, AL Weekend Brunch
$$
Anniston

Cancun Cantina and Grill

Anniston's neighborhood cantina on Henry Road

Family-friendly dining room Independently Owned Open seven days a week
$$
Anniston

Dad’s Bar-B-Que

Hickory-smoked Anniston tradition since 1993

Catering available Drive-thru service Hand-dipped milkshakes
Pelham

Pelham Diner

Shelby County meat and three since 1984

Catering available Daily rotating meat-and-three specials Free WiFi
$$
Pelham

Cajun Boys & Our Poboys

Louisiana po'boys and gumbo in Shelby County

Family-owned by New Orleans natives (the Donovan family) Fresh Gulf seafood po'boys Full bar
$$
Pelham

Creekside BBQ

Creekside smoked meats near Oak Mountain State Park

Alabama craft beer on tap Creekside covered patio Dog-friendly seating
$
Albertville

Pho & Bun Bo Ok

Vietnamese noodle soups on Highway 431.

Family owned US 431 location Vietnamese cuisine
$
Albertville

La Orquidea

Casual Mexican food and a market, side by side.

Attached Mexican market Baltimore Avenue location Family owned
$$
Albertville

Bootleggers Italian Cookhouse

Italian flavor meets Southern hospitality on Main Street.

Historic downtown location Pasta entrees Pizza by the slice or whole pie
$$
Albertville

Hydrant City Grill

Smash burgers with a Cajun kick.

Full bar Located inside Main Channel Brewing's Albertville taproom Smash burgers
$$
Albertville

Papa Dubi’s Cajun Kitchen

Louisiana cooking on Sand Mountain.

Cajun cuisine Family owned Full bar
$$
Homewood

Real & Rosemary

Real food and good company

Family-Style Meals Kids Menu
$
Homewood

Dave’s Pizza

Homewood's longtime neighborhood pizzeria

Live music Outdoor patio Rewards Program
$$$
Homewood

Ironwood Kitchen & Cocktails

Elevated Southern comfort in The Valley Hotel

Full bar Hotel Restaurant Weekend Brunch
$
Homewood

Soho Social

A fresh twist on Southern staples in SoHo

Catering Full bar Happy hour
$$
Homewood

Social Taco

Tacos, margaritas, and weekly specials in SoHo

Full bar Happy hour Weekend Brunch
$$
Homewood

Pizzeria GM

Old-school pizza with a Naples-to-Bronx pedigree

$
Homewood

Sam’s Super Samwiches

Chili dogs and Super sandwiches since 1970

Catering Online Ordering Private events
$
Homewood

Johnny’s Restaurant

Greek-owned, Southern-cooked, lunch only

Gift Cards Takeout
$
Homewood

Saw’s BBQ (Homewood)

Carolina smoke, Alabama sauce

Catering Curbside Pickup Dine-In
$$
Homewood

El Barrio Homewood

Coastal-leaning Mexican cooking on Oxmoor Road

Catering Full bar Sunday brunch
$$
Homewood

La Perla Nayarita

Coastal Nayarit flavors on Green Springs Highway

Family friendly
$$
Homewood

The Battery

Upscale fare, downscale egos

Full bar Sports Bar
$
Homewood

Cafe Sorelle

A neighborhood cafe on Broadway Street

$
Homewood

O’Carr’s Delicatessen

Historic Homewood's neighborhood deli

Catering Ice Cream Parlor
$$
Homewood

Jinsei Sushi

Sushi bar and lounge in the SoHo district

Full bar Takeout
$$
Daphne

Rayza’s

Sushi, steak, and seafood on US-90

Full bar Happy hour Sushi Bar
$$
Daphne

Don Carlos Mexican Restaurant

Traditional Mexican food with Friday night music

Family friendly Full bar Live music Fridays
$$
Daphne

Boudreaux’s Cajun Grill

Louisiana cooking with a Mobile Bay view

Bay view patio Full bar Sunday brunch
$$
Daphne

El Rancho Mexican Restaurant

Traditional Mexican cooking on US-98

Full bar Patio seating Private dining
$
Daphne

China Chef Restaurant

Straightforward Chinese cooking on US-98

Family owned Takeout
$$
Daphne

Teak House Thai Cuisine

Full-service Thai cooking on the Eastern Shore

Dine-in and takeout Kids Menu Vegetarian Options
$$
Daphne

The Waterfront

Gulf seafood on the water in Daphne

Full bar Happy hour Waterfront dining
$$
Daphne

Daruma Japanese Steak House

Hibachi grilling and sushi on US-98

Hibachi Grill Sushi Bar Takeout available
$$
Enterprise

Royal Thai

Thai curries and noodle dishes on Glover Avenue

Lunch and dinner service Online Ordering Vegetable, chicken, beef, and seafood options
$$
Enterprise

Las Galeras

Mexican dining on Rucker Boulevard

Extended weekend hours Sit-down dining
$$
Enterprise

BBQ Haven

A safe place for good barbecue on Boll Weevil Circle

Booth and table seating Bottled house BBQ sauce Family meal deals