Best Restaurants in Birmingham (2025)

Chef Adam Evans’s Gulf-focused spot anchors Lakeview with pristine seafood, house bakes, and polished service. Evans won a James Beard Award, and the restaurant appears on Eater’s 2025 Birmingham essentials—an elegant snapshot of the city’s coastal lens.

Rob and Emily McDaniel’s two-story downtown grill channels Alabama traditions over live fire—angel biscuits, big steaks, and peak-season vegetables. Praised by Southern Living and featured by Eater, Helen feels both of-the-moment and deeply local.

Opened in 2025 next door to Helen, Bayonet is the McDaniels’ bright, seafood-only raw bar and kitchen. Lauded by Southern Living editors and covered by regional outlets, it showcases Gulf oysters, crudos, and creative plates in an airy, art-filled space.

Chris and Idie Hastings’s longtime standard blends Southern, French, and California ideas with market-driven seafood. A James Beard Award–winning chef at the helm and continued inclusion on Eater’s essentials keep this Pepper Place icon firmly in the canon.

Frank and Pardis Stitt’s timeless dining room and café bridge Southern ingredients with Italian sensibility—wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and a deep cellar. Frequently highlighted by Southern Living and Eater, it’s foundational to Birmingham dining.

On First Avenue North, pastry pro Kristen Farmer Hall and chef Victor King turn out elegant pastas, pastries, and smart cocktails. Featured by Eater and TripSavvy, it’s a lovable all-day hub that captures Birmingham’s creative energy.

Chef Ryan Westover’s naturally leavened pies, seasonal starters, and thoughtful desserts earned national buzz, including Southern Living’s Best New Restaurants list. A small menu, great ingredients, and downtown setting make it destination pizza.

Since 1957, this cafeteria line has served Birmingham’s defining meat-and-three—Greek-accented Southern plates, vegetables galore, and old-school hospitality. Consistently cited by Eater and Southern Living, it’s essential lunchtime Birmingham.

A family-run smokehouse known for hickory-smoked chicken with Alabama white sauce and banana pudding. Celebrated by Southern Living and local critics, Miss Myra’s remains a true taste of Birmingham barbecue culture.

Downtown’s homegrown izakaya pairs moody late-night vibes with ramen, yakitori, and Japanese-leaning small plates. Frequently recommended by Eater and beloved by locals for service and soundtracks, it’s a distinct counterpoint to Southern fare.

Adam Evans’s 2024 follow-up to Automatic explores binchotan grilling and Asian flavors with Gulf seafood at the center. Southern Living and local press have taken notice; the sleek room and focused menu feel fresh for Pepper Place.

From Chris and Idie Hastings, this Pepper Place staple riffs on Spain, Portugal, and the Americas through live-fire small plates. Recognized by Southern Living and loved by locals, it’s ideal for sharing across seasons.