"Even though Saw’s is technically in Homewood, a municipality that’s less than 10 minutes from downtown Birmingham, this BBQ spot belongs on any best of Birmingham list for one simple reason: the pulled pork. Doused in a housemade vinegar-based BBQ sauce, the meat is tangy with the regulation amount of crispy burned bits that give it that occasional satisfying crunch. When it comes to the sides, the baked beans have some nice heft and spice. The space is fairly tight, so you’ll want to keep this one in your back pocket for a casual dinner between a few friends or a solo lunch at the counter overlooking Oxmoor Road. While there are other barbecue options around the area—like outposts of Charleston’s Rodney Scott’s and Nashville’s Martin’s—Saw’s edges them out. photo credit: Deborah Michelle" - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones