Alabama's Top Dishes: A Culinary Road Trip Guide from North to South
Alabama brims with exceptional cuisine wherever your travels take you. The state's culinary riches are so vast that an effort to identify the top 100 dishes expanded to over 200 must-try favorites.
Navigate this abundance with our curated road trip from north to south, featuring stops in major cities across the North, Central, South, and Gulf Coast regions. Each includes an appetite-building activity paired with iconic local dishes.
Fair warning: You might need stretchy pants for the ride home.
Shoals Area
Why visit: Encompassing Florence, Tuscumbia, and Muscle Shoals in northwest Alabama's two-county region, this area may not be immediately familiar—but its musical legacy is legendary. Icons like The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Etta James, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded hits here. It's also the birthplace of W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” composer of “Beale Street Blues” and “Memphis Blues.”
Build your appetite: Tour Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, FAME Recording Studio, or the Alabama Music Hall of Fame to trace the footsteps of global music legends.
Must-order dishes:
- Trowbridge’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop – Founded as a creamery in 1918, savor the signature orange-pineapple ice cream with a chicken salad sandwich.
- Odette – In downtown Florence, indulge in the brie & peach grilled cheese.
- 360 Grille – Alabama's only revolving restaurant offers stunning Tennessee River views; don't miss the crab cakes.
- George’s Steak Pit – Savor 12 ounces of premium beef in George’s special rib-eye.
Huntsville
Why visit? This former farming community rocketed to fame during the 1960s Space Race, with German rocket scientists at NASA's center designing the Saturn V rocket that propelled Apollo missions to the moon. Huntsville continues to shine—even named a top destination by the New York Times in 2019—fueled by its vibrant, emerging food scene.
Build your appetite: Explore the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, chronicling America's space program from its origins to modern missions.
Must-order dishes:
- 1892 East Restaurant & Tavern – Featuring seasonal menus from local family farms, start with the crispy shrimp and grits.
- Beauregard’s – Renowned locally for the best hot wings and habanero sauce.
- Ol’ Heidelberg – Begin with the hearty German brown farmers bread, regardless of your entrée.
- Purveyor – In downtown's The Avenue, try the ahi tuna poke tacos.
- Tenders! – A 25-year local favorite, order the Big Daddy Chicken Plate.
Decatur
Why visit? Barbecue enthusiasts flock to Decatur, birthplace of Alabama's signature white barbecue sauce—a mayonnaise-based blend with salt, black pepper, sugar, and vinegar, perfect for chicken and pork.
Build your appetite: Visit the reader-voted USA Today Best New Museum, Cook Museum of Natural Science, downtown, with interactive exhibits for all ages.
Must-order dishes:
- Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q – A 1925 original and multi-time World Barbecue Champion; try the signature bar-B-Q chicken with white sauce and save room for homemade pie.
- Morgan Price Candy Company – Pocket-sized delight: the English toffee.
- Simp McGhee’s – Cajun-infused fine dining by the Tennessee River; order the seafood-filled mushroom caps.
Birmingham Area
Why visit? Birmingham teems with James Beard-nominated chefs crafting masterpieces at spots like Automatic Seafood and Oysters and Johnny’s, blending Southern staples with global flair.
Build your appetite: Wander 1,500-acre Red Mountain Park along Red Mountain Ridge, with over 15 miles of trails including the accessible Butler Snow Sensory Trail for diverse explorers.
Must-order dishes:
- Café Dupont – Daily-changing menu from regional ingredients; the buttermilk fried chicken with lemon beurre blanc and truffle creamed potatoes shines.
- Chez Fonfon – French bistro vibes; dive into desserts like chocolate pot de crème, chocolate caramel nut tart, or coconut pecan cake.
- Lloyd’s – Since 1937, every meal comes with crisp, golden onion rings.
- Post Office Pies – Wood-fired pizzas; the swine pie boasts sausage, slab bacon, and pepperoni.
Montgomery
Why visit? Downtown Montgomery's craft beer scene thrives. Common Bond Brewery offers four flagships plus seasonals in a lively taproom. Or relax at Goat Haus Biergarten in an 1888 Victorian mansion overlooking historic downtown.
Build your appetite: Discover 175-acre Blount Cultural Park daily, with ponds, trails, a natural amphitheater, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and year-round Alabama Shakespeare Festival productions.
Must-order dishes:
- Chris’ Hotdogs – A celebrity favorite since 1917; the famous hot dog with mustard, onions, kraut, and signature chili sauce.
- Lek’s Taste of Thailand – Pair any entrée with spring rolls and peanut sauce.
- Tomatino’s – The Mediterranean pizza piles on spinach, mushrooms, red onions, peppers, olives, artichokes, feta, provolone, mozzarella, capers, and tomatoes.
Auburn
Why visit? Beyond football, fast-growing Auburn in eastern Alabama leverages fertile farmlands for fresh produce, seafood, and global flavors.
Build your appetite: Adventure at 696-acre Chewacla State Park with hiking, mountain biking, or canoeing on the 26-acre lake.
Must-order dishes:
- Bow & Arrow – Tender moist brisket (half or full pound) with hashbrown casserole.
- Toomer’s Drugs – Historic 1896 soda fountain's fresh-squeezed lemonade.
- Acre – Hearty grilled “flat iron” steak with butterbean orzo salad, toasted pecans, feta, dill, fried onions, and kalamata-tomato “chimmi”.
- The Depot – Alabama's first James Beard Smart Catch Leader Award winner; sample flash-fried cobia wings.
Mobile Area
Why visit? For seafood lovers, Mobile on Alabama's Gulf Coast delivers year-round fresh catches on every menu.
Build your appetite: Board the historic USS Alabama, the 45,000-ton battleship that led the fleet into Tokyo Bay in 1945, for a full tour.
Must-order dishes:
- Dauphin’s – 34th-floor views with Gumbo Z’herb.
- Original Oyster House – Overlooking Mobile Bay, any seafood excels, especially fire-grilled oysters.
- Blue Gill’s Restaurant – Fried or sautéed crab claws.
- Felix’s Fish Camp – Generous Gulf lump crab in the crab soup—opt for the bowl.
