17 Alabama restaurants readers never get tired of

Our friends over at This is Alabama recently asked its followers what’s one Alabama restaurant they’ll never get tired of eating at, and based on the variety of submissions, it’s safe to assume there are plenty of eateries worth visiting again and again throughout the state.

From the Dew Drop Inn in Mobile to The Bright Star in Bessmer, Martin’s Restaurant in Montgomery, The Waysider in Tuscaloosa, and Big Bob Gibon’s Bar-B-Q in Decatur, many iconic Alabama restaurants diverse as the food they serve made the list (and in most cases, more than once.) It seems their fans also never get tired of singing their praises.

We picked a few of the standouts below, but you can see all of the responses on the This is Alabama Facebook page.

If you’re getting hot dogs (or burgers, for that matter) at Mobile’s Dew Drop Inn, you definitely should go with the onion rings.Lawrence Specker | [email protected]

The Dew Drop Inn in Mobile

The Dew Drop Inn is a Mobile favorite among locals and visitors alike thanks to its laidback atmosphere and its eclectic menu that includes hot dogs and cheeseburgers alongside fried pork cops and roast beef. Of course, the dish that keeps a lot of folks coming back is its popular Dew Drop Inn Hot Dog, which is served topped with chili, sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup and pickle.

The Bright Star in Bessemer

Known as Alabama’s oldest family-owned restaurant, the Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer has been serving hungry diners eager to fill up on prime rib, oysters, gumbo and more, including its popular snapper throats, since 1907. Even after more than 100 years, customers still aren’t tired of it yet.

The Waysider Tuscaloosa — The Waysider in Tuscaloosa. Located on Greensboro Avenue just off of 15th Street, the little red house with some of the Southeast’s best biscuits remains one of the town’s cornerstone restaurant destinations thanks to its rich history, southern hospitality, delicious breakfast and lunch and Alabama football-inspired decor. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

The Waysider in Tuscaloosa

The historic Waysider restaurant is a Tuscaloosa institution and a must for fans for the Crimson Tide as well as fans of a truly spectacular Southern breakfast, which is pretty much everyone. Some highlights of its “Breakfast of Champions” menu? The made-from-scratch biscuits, red-eye gravy and pancakes, which are often shaped like elephants on gamedays, are always a win.

Mata’s Greek Pizza & Grinders in Anniston

Since 1980, Mata’s Greek Pizza & Grinders in Anniston has been bringing in customers from all over the state eager to try its hearty and satisfying pizzas, and it seems very few leave disappointed. (Including us — it came close to our top spot on our Alabama’s Best Pizza list in 2023.)

Rick Bragg’s “Ode to Grouper” Sandwich at Sunset Pointe at Fly Creek Marina in Fairhope, Ala., is served fried, blackened or (as pictured here) grilled.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])

Sunset Pointe in Fairhope

At Sunset Pointe, we suspect it’s not just the food customers never get tired of, but the view too. Located at Fly Creek Marina, diners at the popular Fairhope eatery can enjoy unique offerings like Rick Bragg’s “Ode to Grouper” sandwich, Gulf snapper throats, seared tuna nachos and more while watching boats go by and looking out onto scenic Mobile Bay.

Mobile's best gumbo — Gumbo is a customer favorite at The Bluegill Restaurant on the Causeway. (Photo by Michelle Matthews/[email protected])

Bluegill Restaurant in Spanish Fort

Bluegill Restaurant in Spanish Fort has been feeding folks since 1958, and while it’s known for its “famous flaming oysters,” which are fresh oysters grilled before being smothered in a buttery concoction and cheese, there’s plenty of other dishes, like Ms. Evelyn’s gumbo and the crabmeat omelet, worth trying too.

READ MORE: Mobile’s best gumbo: our top 5

Niki's West in Birmingham, Ala. — Tony Pettus works the steam table line at Niki’s West in Birmingham, Ala.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])

Nikki’s West in Birmingham

It’s hard to go wrong with a meat-and-three, and Niki’s West in Birmingham is proof of that. Offering a rotating menu of traditional Southern dishes served alongside vegetables and other sides, breads and desserts, it’s easy to understand how folks could never get tired of the place — every time you go, you can try something new.

Lamberts Cafe in Foley. Baldwin County photos 2021. (Joe Songer | [email protected]).Joe Songer | [email protected]

Lambert’s Cafe in Foley

Lambert’s Cafe in Foley is a popular Alabama restaurant that’s attracted diners from all over the country for more than 20 years for a lot of reasons, one being those hot and fresh “throwed rolls” it’s known for, and another being its eclectic menu of Southern fare and home-cooked dishes.

The fried oyster po’ boy is a lunchtime favorite at Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Bon Secour, Ala.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])

The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Bon Secour

While it might be located off the beaten path, that hasn’t stopped it from growing a following. The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Bon Secour has a diverse menu that ranges from sashimi to fried green tomatoes to steaks, buttermilk chess pie and more. Not to mention, they serve oysters pretty much any way you like ‘em.

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama.

Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q in Decatur

Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q is widely known as one of the oldest and most prestigious barbecue restaurants in the world and has won more than 15 times in the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, including most recently for its pork shoulder in 2023. With that in mind, it’s pretty easy to see why some customers can’t get enough of it. (And that’s not to mention its famous white sauce.)

Martin’s Restaurant in Montgomery

For fried chicken enthusiasts, not many places can compare to Martin’s Restaurant in Montgomery. For about 90 years, the meat-and-three has been serving fried chicken that is perfectly crispy, pulley bones you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere and so much more. (We love it so much that we named it Alabama’s best fried chicken last year.) Regardless of what you order, just make sure you save room for its beloved chocolate pie.

City Cafe in Northport

The legendary City Cafe in charming downtown Northport, which has been serving lunch since 1931, is a classic meat-and-three with a full menu that changes daily so customers are always surprised by the different homecooked mains like hamburger steak, Southern sides like fried okra and field peas as well as decadent desserts — so, so many desserts — like lemon box pie are offered.

READ MORE: 5 things to know about City Cafe

Davenport’s Pizza Palace in Birmingham

There are a lot of great pizza joints throughout Alabama, but for many folks, Davenport’s Pizza Palace in Mountain Brook is the best. In business for more than 50 years, Davenport’s hand-tossed, thin-crust pizzas come topped with plenty of fresh ingredients along with the same secret sauce it has used since opening in 1964.