Dreamland BBQ

The original Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa was a great experience. The building is not large. However, the day we visited, there were plenty of seats. I would assume that during football season, there could be a wait for a table. The ribs were awesome, and the sauce had a slight kick that was perfect. The loaf bread and extra sauce were the perfect accompaniment. I got the half rack of ribs, and it was a lot of food. The banana pudding was also great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Old-School BBQ Pilgrimage Worth Every Bite Nestled in a sleepy hollow outside Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Original Dreamland Bar-B-Que is the kind of place that turns a road trip into a rite of passage. A friend messaged me when he saw I was headed toward Louisiana: "If you're going through Tuscaloosa Ala-bam, you HAVE to stop at Dreamland BBQ. Until a few years ago, the only thing on the menu was ribs." From the outside, it looks like your classic hole-in-the-wall joint—but the second you walk through the door, you're transported to another era. The smell of hickory wood smoke greets you like an old friend. This place isn’t just BBQ—it’s history, tradition, and soul, all wrapped up in one unforgettable bite. I always trust the staff’s recommendation, so I went with the half chicken. Let me tell you—it was a religious culinary experience. Smoky, flavorful, and perfectly moist. I’ve eaten a lot of BBQ in my time, but this was next-level. Of course, I couldn’t just stop there. I left with a cooler full of goodies: •A full slab of ribs (because it’s Dreamland—you have to) •Another half chicken •Their Legendary BBQ sandwich •And both kinds of dessert: the banana pudding and the chocolate dream The sweet tea—Big Daddy’s Iced Tea—was the perfect Southern pairing. Everything was authentic, soulful, and utterly delicious. The vibe? Pure Americana. The kind of place where the story is as rich as the sauce. And that sauce? A vinegar-based masterpiece with just the right kick. Don’t leave without buying a jar to take home. Dreamland says it best: “Ain’t nothing like ’em nowhere.” I couldn’t agree more.

Delicious bbq and quick service with a smile. We got there early on a Sunday and had no problem getting a table. Our ribs were on our table less than 5 minutes after ordering and man were they good! Smokey and sweet and that sauce was tangy! Loved the atmosphere and will be back!

"Ain't nothing like 'em nowhere." The original. I plan cross country road trips so I just happen to be in Tuscaloosa around meal times so I can go here. These ribs are always perfect. The sauce is the best rib sauce I have ever had. It just compliments the tender meat. Other locations that they have opened have a more expanded BBQ menu, but the original focuses on the ribs. And they DO. NOT. MISS. My go-to side is their potato salad. Pour a little BBQ sauce in the cup and it is heaven in your mouth. I always get a jar of sauce to bring home, I know I can't replicate the perfection of their ribs, but I can make mine raise up several notches with their rub and sauce. I always post pictures on my socials and smile as all my friends that KNOW get jealous. Just go there. That's all you gotta do.

The original Dreamland is like stepping back through time! Forget about everything for a while and get some excellent barbecue. Start off the experience with some light bread and warm barbecue sauce! It was so good that I forgot to take pics of the big meaty ribs.

Made my first visit to the original Dreamland in Tuscaloosa — a spot I’ve heard is legendary. There’s something special about walking in and seeing that open fire still burning right behind the counter. It’s a reminder of the tradition this place is built on. That said, from a BBQ lover’s perspective, the cook this time felt a little rushed. The ribs had a nice bark, but the smoke ring was faint, the meat leaned gray instead of pink, and it was a bit dry — signs of either high heat pushing them through too fast or being held a little too long. The sauce helped, but the inside lacked depth and moisture. The mac and cheese had a great cheese sauce — creamy and flavorful — but the noodles were slightly underdone. The potato salad was my kind of style: tangy and vinegar-forward, not the overly sweet kind. And the banana pudding? Straight-up gave me Thanksgiving-at-Memaw’s vibes. They used some kind of bread instead of wafers — a little heavy-handed in ratio, but the flavor was there, and thankfully the whipped cream was used in moderation, not as a filler. I bought a whole quart and stretched it across three days. Worth it. Big thanks to Reagan at the counter — sweet, attentive, and a real bright spot during the wait. At the end of the day, it’s the difference between cooking with love and cooking for volume that makes all the difference. I’ll be back — hoping to catch them on a day when that fire burns a little slower and the pitmaster’s got time to let the smoke do its thing.

Sauce is yumm. Put it on anything. Slaw was rough cut. Banana pudding better than the chocolate pudding. Like I am at a church social.

Ribs were dry with the bones also being hotter temperature-wise than the meat, indicating they were microwaved. Definitely tougher and not fall off the bone. The sauce is very good, but there was a lot of gristle too. Tea and chocolate dessert were good though. Could've been a higher rating, but the ribs were a big letdown.

Food amazing. 100% the best I have ever had. Service was a little dull but the food made up for it and will bring me back!! That's how good it is.

Don't microwave ribs and check quality of each plate as it's delivered. I love them ribs and hope there will be some attention to the process.

By far the best bbq!!! Been traveling for 10 days across 9 states. Are here tonight and it was the best we have had all trip long. The atmosphere was just like a home.

What a great find in our travels today!! Sometimes when you end up off the beaten path, you find the best places for a great meal!! We each had the legendary bar-b-q chicken sandwich with a side of cole slaw. If you can't eat pork - don't stress! The chicken is delicious!! Servers were attentive and provided great service!! The inside is somewhat dimly lit but it just adds to the relaxed vibe of the place!! We felt welcomed, we enjoyed our food, and we left happy!! Thanks for the great stop!

Not a lot of words required here. I've been eating at Dreamland for nearly 40 years. It's a bucket list place for so many and it will not disappoint. I ate there earlier this week on my way home to Atlanta. Did my heart and my stomach good! Mercy, do I love that sauce!

When I get the chance I love to experience BBQ at an original location. Dreamland did not disappoint! A building with history and many memories, if only the walls could talk! Service was fantastic and friendly. We ordered a rack of ribs, potato salad, Mac n cheese, and baked beans. The ribs were hot, fresh, and very tender. I'm a sauce girl and loved the sauce they make. It was light and full of flavor. The potato salad was creamy and delicious, the baked beans were hot and yummy, the Mac n cheese was just ok, a bit dry instead of creamy.

Mom & Pops feel BBQ spot. Nice environment. They have the best sweet tea I've had this side of the Mississippi!

This is the OG. Dreamland first opened in 1958, and now there are 11 locations throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. This modest and battered building is where Big Daddy's "dream" started. It is a short drive from the McFarland exit of I-65, but feels miles away from all the commercial development on McFarland Avenue. And, less than 5 miles from the University of Alabama. A perfect dining option if you have an event on campus. Seat yourself after you enter the very rustic and dicey feeling dining room. Our waiter was friendly and helpful. Service moves at a "southern" pace so don't be in a hurry. Instead enjoy some sweet tea and the generous serving of plain white bread and the Dreamland BBQ sauce. The sauce is excellent for dipping. It is vinegar based and is a wonderful blend of tanginess with a little spiciness. Dreamland is most famous for their pork ribs so I ordered 1/2 slab of ribs with a side order of potato salad. The order is six large ribs, that I was not able to finish on my own. They were five star excellent. They were seasoned, smoky, and tender. They went perfectly with the vinegar-based sauce. The potato salad was yummy too, and a good compliment to the tangy bbq sauce. Obviously this is not a fancy place, but I would say a "must" try place in Tuscaloosa..

The pulled pork was absolutely as good as it gets...but the sides were even better. Top 1 or 2 potato salad I have ever had. The mop is spicy but excellent. You have arrived it is as down south bbq experience as you can have.

Food a very long time I've been wanting to visit this location. My first experience was the one in Birmingham, and second in GA, and I've heard about this location. In any matter, the ribs were good, however not as good as Birmingham's. Might have to dust the place down. Other than that it was a good experience.

Was really good. Service was excellent and friendly and the atmosphere was really fgood here. Definitely recommend it.

Excellent BBQ, tried the slab of ribs, sausage, Mac and cheese, potato salad baked beans, and coleslaw, served with slices of white bread. Service was great waitress was super nice and helpful. The food was hot and BBQ sauce was delicious. Would totaly recommend the place. The neighborhood is sketchy but they actually have a security guard at the restauraunt.

If you're reading this, then you already know that dreamland barbecue is the finest ribs. You can get in the United States. I go there every single time I'm anywhere near Tuscaloosa.

The food was ok. The sauce was excellent and the potato salad wasn't bad. It's divey, which doesn't bother me. It was freezing inside, and by that I mean both the a/c blowing really cold, and the lack of hospitality. Our server seemed completely pissed off by our presence. It was uncomfortable and while we all have bad days, it wasn't professional. It's sad, because this is exactly the kind of spot we love to choose over the soulless chain restaurants and bad BBQ out there. But nobody wants to feel unwelcome in a restaurant from the moment they sit down.

The service here was horrible. We got dirty looks as soon as we walked in. Not quite sure who trained these people but they need some more training. As soon as we sat down the tables were extremely sticky. We had to put paper towels on the table to eat.The food was actually good. The ribs were a little dry and the atmosphere is very tense in there . My husband even asked for an extra cup of Mac and cheese and the other server stated she will let our server know. We never even received it. I will never go back to this establishment. You guys should do better.

Forced to patronize for a business dinner. Been on the road for over 5 hrs, super tired then asked to meet at Dreamland at 8pm. Dreading it, I went. Best pork ribs I have ever had! Atmosphere A++, barbecue A++, sides A++, overalls A++++. Highly recommend no matter how road weary you are.

Bucket list: Eat at the original Dreamland BBQ... check. If you live in Alabama, you've heard of Dreamland BBQ. A little off the beaten path, this is the original and first Dreamland BBQ opened in 1958. After entering you will agree. I was told originally, it had a dirt floor. Now it's concrete, small, rustic and decorated with what would can be described as "vintage". The walls are covered in Alabama football memorabilia as well as license plates from around the country. With a bar on one wall, the ceiling is splattered with funny t-shirts. You won't find any LED lights here so it's not the most brightly lit restaurant. The only thing missing was a couple of pool tables in a corner. It was a rainly cold night that myself and 2 fellow yelpers, Paul and Gary visited. We sat ourselves and was met by our server, a very friendly young man. He took our drink orders. My sweet tea was good but it was so sweet, I had to ask for a cup of unsweet tea to mix. If you're the OG, you don't have to do much with your menu and so they didn't. Just the facts mame! Full slab, half slab of ribs, rib sandwich, chicken, smoked sausage, legendary bbq sandwich. That's all you get to choose from and the fixins: coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad or mac n cheese. I almost got their famous pork ribs, but opted for their legendary pork bbq sandwich. I don't know about legendary, but it was a pretty good sandwich on a warm toasted bun with pickles. I'm glad they didn't flood it with their BBQ sauce, but instead didn't put much sauce on it at all. So I had the opportunity to flavor it myself. Their BBQ had a hint of sour and tang probably from some vinegar. With the contrasting sweetness of the sauce, I can see why many love Dreamland. My potato salad was ok. The coleslaw was also on par. Paul let me have a couple of his ribs and now I know why it's famous. Tender and falling off the bone delicious. Oh I have to mention that after being seated they bring you a free appetizer plate of sliced white bread and 2 small cups of their famous BBQ sauce... something different. Now that I can say I've eaten at the original Dreamland, I'd like to go back and try their sausage. If you're in Tuscaloosa, give em a try.

This place is legit. The original location of Dreamland BBQ the ambiance and service is exactly what you would expect of this iconic BBQ Joint.

Don't order as much ribs as you normally would; serving sizes are huge here. Baked beans are horrible. We went to the original store.

This unfortunately appears to be a case of good products, but staffed by incompetent employees. I'm not sure if we were treated differently since one of my colleagues is black. Either way the service was so bad. We walked in the door at 5:37pm, we were unable to leave until 7:11pm due to our waitress struggling to run our payments. In the time we were there, the waitress (Porscha) neglected our table and decided to charge me for the half chicken that remained untouched on my plate. In short I paid 13:00 for chicken I didn't want and$3:00 for coleslaw that I did actually eat. She ran away each of the meager 3 times that she visited our table bed I could ask for a lemonade, or cut me off when I'm in the middle of trying to tell her I want the chicken sandwich. Not half a cracked bird on my plate. 1 star would not recommend. If the choice is between you going hungry & eating at this establishment. Go hungry

The ribs were great. The atmosphere is warm and the service is fast and friendly. My chicken was a bit dried out, but the BBQ sauce made it better.

I have heard my whole life about Dreamland and its iconic status. That may be all it is any more, a status, because the food there is sub par for the name recognition it has. Texas Roadhouse has better ribs than Dreamland. I was so disappointed. Sweet tea was good, but if they run out at night, they just tell you no more refills. Their sauce is tangy and not my cup of tea, and they spread it on everything they serve, probably to mask the mediocre ness of their meat, so request no sauce if you aren't sure, because it taints everything it touches. Decor is meh. They have ceiling fans that run 24/7 and you can see where the dust ring has accumulated above them and I'm surprised none randomly falls onto people and their food. We went here before A-day football game and the best part of the meal was just listening to the locals talk. But if I were you, I'd try Full Moon or Jim n Nicks. Just let dreamland stay legendary in your mind as to not ruin it

Since my first review, I have been to Dreamland two more times and forgot to update my review. All I can say is that Dreamland is one of my favorite places to go eat when I visit Tuscaloosa! I have yet to find any other place in the area that feels like home cooked meals. Thank you!

This was my first BBQ road trip in a few years and I feared that I'd blown it by getting off to a late start. My arrival time in Tuscaloosa would be 7:00 p.m.  ...too late for most BBQ restaurants, but not Dreamland. Dreamland is open on Sunday nights until 9:00! I got there around 8:30. I ordered a rib sandwich and an order of coleslaw to go. The ribs were still warm when I got to my hotel room. My brain was telling me that a mistake was made as I placed the container on the table... it appeared to weigh at least 1/2 pound. Opening the container revealed four hefty bones. These were full-size spare ribs (St. Louis + rib tips), cooked to perfection and covered in a tangy, sweet, vinegary, red sauce. The ribs were tender, smoky and had a distinct vinegar and pepper kick. The order was more than I should have eaten in one sitting (but I ate them anyway). The coleslaw was a nice creamy mayo-base complement to the ribs. I'd learn from a previous visit to dip the bread in the sauce and eat it along with the BBQ. Texas rules when it comes to pit-smoked beef and sausage. Someone will try to take away my Texas card for this, but northern Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia can't be beat for barbequed pork ribs!

Delicious food and the staff was friendly-also iconic atmosphere-unless you're a Georgia Bulldog fan haha, wish I lived closer, I would have this a lot more often

Ok I think the warning sign was there were no cars in the parking lot... Restaurant-its basic, filled with old license plates, t-shirts and pictures. It was clean though. Food-I don't know about the others, we were a group, but the food was just ok. Wait, let me back up...they were out of the half chicken so I resulted to the chicken sandwich. They give you plain white bread with 2 cups of BBQ sauce. My chicken was dry, the bread was toasted tho, although I didn't eat the bread. The ribs were not hot that my husband had and the half chicken that was served was not flavorful. I didn't use the restroom, but everyone said it was useable. I was not impressed

For my first time visiting the south, specifically Alabama I went to a local at the hotel we were staying at to ask where she would go for BBQ....she didn't even have to think about it she blurted out right away, Dreamland BBQ. This spot is truly old school has been around since the 1960's. Simple decor and down home hospitality was the takeaway here. The food was great, simple and well cooked. I opted for the link sausage. My girlfriend the half rack of ribs. The BBQ sauce had a nice vinegary tang but accented the meal well. To end the meal their two desserts had to be tried. The banana pudding and chocolate pudding were delicious, homemade and just made out meal a memorable one at this Tuscaloosa staple restaurant.

Great ribs great atmosphere people are usually always glad to help and always gotta roll tide or 2 around!!!

Love this place!!! Go to any Dreamland that you can, go out of your way, heck if you just order it online and have it shipped! Anyway you do it you will not be disappointed. Their Ribs are the best around, and dipping that white bread in their BBQ sauce is just perfect. Keep on smokin'!

Original Dreamland in Tuscaloosa and the BBQ is absolutely great. Friendly service and quick too. It's a little bit off the main drag in a neighborhood but don't be fooled by it's location. Food is superb!

Such good sausage links and bbq ribs! Not overly saucy! Perfectly cooked ! The sausage links were by far the best I had ever had. Super casual amazing spot as a must visit before or after any game. Simple food done well!

Ribs. Bread. Banana pudding. Dreamland needs nothing more I can still remember the first time I stopped by here. I'd heard and read about Dreamland before, and passing through Tuscaloosa I thought I'd give it a shot. Well, finding it can be a bit of an adventure, as the location of this classic is not exactly on the beaten path. But pulling up, I remember getting my first sight of the place, and it instantly looked just like the sort of restaurant where I find the greatest experiences. Simple building, clean but certainly not fancy. These are ribs in their purest sense, meaty, messy, and delicious. Adding in the bread and sauce as accompaniment sounds a little disappointing at first, but it all just fits together so well. Then a home-style serving of nanner puddin' to finish things off makes for a full stomach and a quality experience. That's how it was on my first visit, and on every visit since. Never, never a bad experience here after several stops.

Been to dreamland BBQ multiple times, never disappoints. Very popular place. Joshua was a great server, very kind, maybe needs some more confidence but he seemed kind of young and he was great. Food came out in a timely manner and the place was clean.

Awesome service and atmosphere, plus the food is very good! Will be back to visit. Some of the best BBQ I've had.

I've been to dreamland's other outposts before, but never to the original in Tuscaloosa. Definitely casual in attitude but you come here for the ribs. And of course the wonder bread they hand out to dab in the sauce. The university,of Alabama vibe and memorabilia on the walls makes this place special and different from the outposts. If you were a rib connoisseur, this is your Cooperstown.

I absolutely love this spot. I was on a road trip scouting some places for my friends bachelor's party and came across this place in reviews, and through recommendations from locals. I heard that they use the original pit, and only recently did they add anything other than ribs on the menu. That's some hardcore rib-loving bbq! How could I not try it? Glad I did. The star of the show is the ribs, hands down. Matched only by the decor and the friendly staff. They are truly happy to see you and when you show an interest in the history of the place they light up! Highly recommend. Side note, the merchandise is great too. Go home with the sauce. It's that good.

Dreamland came as a recommendation from a friend who knows his BBQ. We were visiting Tuscaloosa for a campus tour and headed over for dinner. I was a bit taken aback as we wound our way through neighborhood streets but was so happy we sought it out. When we sat down, we were given white bread and BBQ sauce. I'll admit I had to look around to see what I was supposed to do with it. We say others tearing and dipping and eating. HOLY COW!!! It was off the charts great! We ordered the BBQ sandwich and a half slab of ribs. For sides we had mac and cheese and fries. My daughter said she'll dream about that mac and cheese and hopes her brother goes to school so we can come back. But the BBQ was the real star. Incredibly delicious. And make sure you don't leave without trying the banana pudding. It's a simple, laid back atmosphere. The staff is friendly and attentive. Definitely 5 star all the way around.

The barbecue here is much better than the other location. It feels very old-school and pretty relaxed. Very tiny place with good service and good food. The ribs were really good and the banana pudding is a must.

For todays #foodreview, I'm at Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa, AL. They came highly recommended from all the locals here so I had to try it. A very old school, well-established place with a simple menu, friendly service out of this world barbecue. I opted for pork ribs, sausage and potato salad with a sweet tea, of course to wash it all down with. They bring you a plate of white bread and some sweet, spicy bbq sauce to get started. Then comes the mains. Let me tell you, these ribs were simple, smokey and tender. Easily some of the best ribs I've ever eaten anywhere. The house-made sausage was just divine with a nice snap to it. Potato salad was southern style mustard based, creamy and the perfect side. If you are ever in this area, go out of your way to enjoy some of Alabama's oldest and most loved places!

Dry bbq with small portions considering the price. I was excited to go here but wow it was such a disappointment. Got better BBQ in NY which says a lot about

Food was excellent, ribs were tender but not fall off the bone (which I prefer at times). Smoke sausage link was the best I've had. Don't leave without the banana pudding. Service was great and the ambiance was what you'd expect from an awesome hole in the wall. Great BBQ in Tuscaloosa, definitely making the trip next time I'm visiting University of Alabama!

Very polite and attentive staff! I stopped in on a Sunday evening-they had steady business but not crazy busy-easy to be seated and was served quickly. No alcohol sales on Sunday's. Atmosphere is neighborhood sports bar The big daddy's sweet tea is southern style sweet-delicious. Prices are reasonable for the portion size. The sauce-now the sauce I'm gonna have to buy a pint to go home the next time I visit. It's got a little tang, little sweet, and a gentle heat that lingers but doesn't burn. If you're in Tuscaloosa, give this iconic community restaurant a try.

Phenomenal, if you looked up Southern Bar-B-Q joints, there should be a picture of this place! Atmosphere & food are off the chain! Just watch when ordering rib Sandwich, as it's only ribs & not a sandwich! Highly recommend!

Wish i would have taken a picture...just got half a rack of ribs..i got 4 small bones thinner than hotdogs..paid $26 for that and 2 sides and im still starving...back in the day they gave big thick ribs...guess ill find somewhere else

Excellent BBQ! Loved the BBQ sandwich and the beans were scrumptious! We will be back for sure!!!

First time trying this place and it really didn't impress me. I've had better BBQ. Lacked flavors. Had to dip it in the bbq sauce for it to even taste okay. Just didn't meet the expectations. The service was mediocre. The lady never asked me for a refill until I had to pay. For what I paid. Lacked service, and food wasn't good. Try somewhere else.

Super yummy BBQ. incredibly authentic. We were there just as they opened but everything was delicious. Nice to experience the OG in Tuscaloosa.

Outstanding does not even begin to describe this bbq joint. The brisket is so good it'll make you jump back and smack your mama. I take a trip to Birmingham to see my family about twice a year and got the privilege to drop in to Dreamland the day before Iron Bowl and was more than impressed. This certainly blows all bbq places in Colorado out of the water. This place is next level. I'll be taking another trip down to Tuscaloosa again to shove this amazing food directly into my mouth! 5 stars well earned

Definitely a must do stop if neat Tuscaloosa and very hungry! Note: these are BEEF ribs and huge! Small town feel and delicious.