Irondale Cafe

Great southern cooking! Chicken livers are cooked just right and not dry. Turnip greens with their homemade vinegar are perfect and I love the stewed cabbages. Oh, forgot to mention the hush poppies are sweet and caking that ca be a dessert. Delicious! If you are in the neighborhood between Leeds and Birmingham, you should definitely give it a try for this lunch place.

Quite the unexpected hidden gem that I happened upon while waiting for trains to clear track. Totally taken by surprise at the value and overall deliciousness of the food served here. Southern themed food with just the right amount of spice and flavor, I will totally be visiting here again! Generous portions and not too hard on your pocket, I highly recommend a trip here. The fried chicken and okra were amazing, both fried to perfection and not cooked too hard. And the macaroni and cheese was delectable as well, I give this establishment a certified 5 out of 5!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 👍🏾👍🏾

This historic eatery is the inspiration for the book and movie Fried Green Tomatoes. Their food is so good! I get the fried green tomatoes every time. I love the hush puppies, stewed squash, beef tips, fried okra, and chess pie. It’s cafeteria style but the servers who refill drinks, etc are fun and helpful. I take my grandma at least twice a month.

Food, service, and friendly atmosphere was top notch! Parking is a little chaotic but to be expected. We live an hour and a half away and will definitely make the drive for lunch again in the future!

It’s a quaint little town cafe and the food is deliciously homemade tasting. When they asked me how I enjoyed my meal, I briefly mentioned I did not enjoy the catfish (I get finicky) but I did enjoy the chicken livers I got after that. Without any prompting,she refunded the price of the catfish. I was very surprised. This is the hallmark practice of any ethical and smart business.

As far as cafeteria style, meat, and three type diners, this one stands out amongst some of the best the food is what you would expect from any country style cooking place very good and cooked like your grandma made it. They also make their own several different types of hot sauces, and rolls that you can either have at your table or by to take home. They are all very good and made the right way!

Wonderful food and Wonderful service. It was such a treat. The owner was kind enough to stop by our table and tell us all about the home made hot sauces that he personally makes. I will definitely be back soon.

It was buffet style. You tell them what you want, and they serve you. I loved the fact that everything was in a separate dish. Everything we got was great! The seasoning was perfect for us. The chicken livers were fried to perfection 🥰 The fried green tomatoes were crispy 😋 The restaurant was very clean and well kept. All around, excellent experience 😀

My parents and I ate here yesterday for lunch and when we arrived 15 minutes before opening, there were already customers waiting on the doors to open, so I took that as a great sign. Thankfully there was decent parking, but I'm glad we got there when we did, because when they opened at 11 am, I'm not sure there was much parking left! Loved the blues they had playing on the speakers outside too. It's a typical, Southern "meat-and-three" place, where you wait in line, then pick out your food dipped from the servers in a cafeteria-style, order your drink, then find a place to sit. I had to ask how it worked, because the 3 of us were thinking payment might be required somewhere in this, but nope! You eat, then pay at the register on your way out, just FYI in case anyone is new here, like me. I got the catfish + fried okra and greens. They offer cornbread or a roll, but because the catfish comes with hush puppies, I skipped on those. My parents got the fried chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and the roasted chicken, fried green tomatoes and greens. We thoroughly enjoyed everything, although my catfish was not the best I'd ever had. They had some beautiful, tempting desserts that I really wanted to try, but didn't. All of the employees, from start to finish, were extremely friendly and helpful, especially with my newbie questions. I'd love to come back here and try something else on the menu because everything looked so good. Cute place, good food, excellent service, great atmosphere and location!

This is one of my favorite lunch spots of all time. You can't go wrong with a single item on the menu, but my personal favorite is always the beef tips (I always get 2 orders). Service is great and the atmosphere is a classic small town cafe. Lots of seating and good for small or large groups. Make sure you get there around 11:00 because the line will get long real fast. I've been coming once a week / every 2 weeks for years since I started working on this side of town. 10/10

I have heard nothing but absolutely amazing things about this place! I rarely venture out to this part of Irondale and especially not during the lunch hour. It's a pretty big space and there is ample parking out front too. Service is absolutely exceptional. Everyone was so warm and friendly! I ordered the fried chop, collard greens, macaroni & cheese, and a piece of cornbread. Everything was amazing, but if I had to choose, I would say the fried pork chop was my favorite and the one I can't stop thinking about! There are so many menu items that change daily. You will want to come here every day for lunch if you can! There's not too many other businesses I go to around this area so this meat and three is truly a hidden gem.

I tend to forget about Irondale Cafe. I'm so glad I visited again a few months ago. When I arrived, there was a line out the door. I immediately felt defeated because I wasn't feeling standing in a line. I was starving! Turned out to not too bad of a wait. Met some nice people in line. Once inside , all of the food looked soooo good!!! I had to hold back from ordering one of everything. As y'all can see, I had a meat and 3 veggies. Chicken livers were fantastic as well as the greens , corns and fried okra! Whew!!! I enjoyed my meal. The ambiance is not quite cafeteria style. It's more like dining at a family member's house. The staff was hardworking and approachable. I definitely will be back and IC is back on my food radar!!

My husband and I went on Sunday afternoon around 12:35pm. Restaurant was very busy. But the wait was only 20 minutes. Buffet style service, lots of different foods choices. Staff were very polite.

Delicious food. Great selection of meats and vegetables. Fast paced go through line.

I might be biased since I grew up in Irondale and frequent this establishment, so I apologize up front. Ever since I was a baby (now 42), we have gone to Irondale Cafe. The meat and three option, vegetable plate, or just the person that decides they want one of each, can leave satisfied. I took my wife and in-laws from out of town here knowing that they would enjoy this more than some of the other meat and three locations in the city. They loved it. The smothered chicken livers in brown gravy with onions was super tender and tasty. The fried okra and fried green tomatoes are some of the best around. The greens were tasty, not bitter, and with a little bit of pepper sauce, were brought to the next level. The baked mac-n-cheese was homemade and good. The pork chop was very tasty, as was the catfish and cornbread. Try the cabbage, it doesn't have a ton of flavor, but it is a nice compliment to everything else. The jalapeño hush puppies were nothing to really right home to as they seemed a bit over fried. The sweet tea rocks here too. The ambience is like a small town diner but with big rooms. You get all walks of life in here. Plus, if you have little kids with you, try to get a table by the window so they can see the trains passing through which is quite often. There are a couple shops to walk around in the area too. Come check out the Irondale Cafe and you will not be disappointed.

Looking for a lunch that was tasty and comforting. My last day in Alabama after a week in the area for my sis's funeral, and a week of so-so food. This was wonderful. Everything was cooked perfectly. I ordered the chicken and dumplings, collards, green beans and toasted coconut pie. Oh my! The pie was not too sweet, the best I've ever had. You stand in line to go through the cafeteria line which moves fast. Clean restaurant with friendly staff. If I'm ever in the area, I will definitely eat there again.

This is a cafeteria-style meat and 3 restaurant. I came with my two kids (6&2) and my parents for lunch. The wait was very reasonable and there is a great selection of dishes. Half of the people behind the line were some of the rudest people I have ever met in my life. First was a young white guy who was fine. Next a black woman who we will come back to, then an older Hispanic woman who was a little bit rude/short, but nothing I would have thought twice about if she'd been the only one. Last there was a young Hispanic girl with braided pigtails who was perfectly nice and also was the person who rang us up at the end. At one point someone further down the line asked me a question, which I answered. The woman who I said we'd come back to was incredibly impatient and kept yelling at me for the next item while each person is asking me questions about each of the three plates I'm trying to order. I actually had to ask her to please stop yelling at me. I ended up only getting food for the kids exclusively so I didn't have to talk to her any more. When we got to the table, I spilled one of the kids waters all over the place and the waitress/hostess(?) came over and started slamming things around before she started cleaning it up (I helped, of course). By the time we got it all mopped up, she was very nice, but she came at us very aggressively out of the gate. Now, again, I did not personally eat anything here, but the other 4 people in our party left behind 75-80% of their food stating it was not good. We go out a fair amount and this was far and away the worst experience in my working memory. None of us will ever be back and if you're thinking visiting for the first time, I'd reconsider.

I had seen this place crop up on lists of must-try places in Alabama, and it was a mile or so from my house, so I had to try it. This is a really cute, local, authentic southern place. It's in downtown Irondale right across from the train tracks, and has a very classic hometown feel. When you walk in, you order your food cafeteria-style. We got there at about 1 pm on a Sunday. There was a long line, but I would say we waited about 15 minutes to order our food. Food was good. They have a number of entrees and side dishes, all the typical food you'd expect. I ordered the country fried steak, which is one of my favorite foods. It was ok- the steak didn't seem fried, seemed more like hamburger steak. But it was pretty good. I also got the Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes, which were good. The portions weren't huge- I was definitely full but not overly so. You also get a roll or cornbread, and the cornbread was really good. The sweet tea was also really good. There is a large dining room with plenty of seating. Service was excellent- everyone was really friendly. Overall I would say this place was worth the hype. I'd probably try a different entree next time, but I would definitely come back!

Food is awesome, cafeteria style service, very attentive and very good. Good old fashioned ethics that is hard to find. Very nice inside, period items everywhere, very clean. One of my favorite places. Best meat and three you will find. Been here for 96- years, fried green tomatoes are worth the drive.

Absolutely awesome, great food, great service, friendly helpful people, super clean and organized. One of the best meat and three you will ever find.

Outstanding Southern meat and veggie restaurant in a setting that Norman Rockwell would appreciate - a scene straight from Americana across the street from an old train stop and multiple sets of still busy tracks near an active train yard with all of the sights and sounds that come with that. The food is consistently excellent - lots of entrees and vegetables, yeast rolls and cornbread are available on the steam bar buffet line daily at lunch, which is the only meal they serve. It's worth a visit for sure!

Great food and service, taste like home cooked. I had the chicken livers, green fried tomatoes, lima beans and green beans, and corn bread. Just really good food

Good home cooking, nice people, and reasonable prices. The menu varies by the day of the week. They also have homemade pies and other desserts.

The original Whistlestop Cafe and a tie in with the famous movie Fried Green Tomatoes .... I had never been here nor really knew anything about this place. A business lunch, we popped in here a little early and got our food orders in as the place steadily became busier and busier as it got closer to 11:30. I should state a 4 star review from me for a meat and three is an accomplishment. I've really never been a fan and in most cases will go out of my way to avoid them. The selection of food was good - plenty of meats and plenty of sides to choose between, oh, and they also had cornbread. I went with the Fried Chicken, fried okra, black eyed peas and cornbread. First, this was sooooooooo much food! The chicken was fried to perfection and had great flavor. The okra was a little on the soggy side for my liking. The black eyed peas were good, wish they had included some jalapeno. The cornbread, well, it kind of stole the show --- so good! Staff was friendly and service at the table (drink refills/napkin requests/etc) were excellent! I'd actually come back and try this place out again without hesitation and would recommend if you're in the area.

Best food I've had in a long while! It's definitely the place for lunch near Birmingham Shuttlesworth Airport. Leave your diet in the airplane!

Food was ok it was fun to see the atmosphere and the dessert were great. Found it a little greasy but it's was true southerners diner

The food was ok. It lacked a great deal of flavor. I remember eating here a couple of years ago and the food was very good. The catfish was soggy and the turnip greens and green beans needed salt and pepper. I was sooo looking forward to the peach cobbler but that need more sugar and cinnamon. I'm not sure if they have new chefs or they were just having a rough day in the kitchen. I may give this restaurant another try......just not anytime soon.

First time I've been in a while, the place gets nicer every time I visit. It's so clean, open and inviting. This place is definitely one of my top favs for meat and three's hands down! So many good items to choose from, I went with the special, which was the Chicken and dumplings. They gave me a nice portion and it was very tasty! I recommend any of the fried food, it's a nice golden brown and not over or under cooked. The staff today were super nice and friendly. Great job with the social distancing.I will be back very soon!

I was at the EWTN studios. I told the lady there that I was recommended the Irondale cafe or Milo's while in Birmingham. The lady quickly said, Definitely Irondale's Cafe, you wouldn't be disappointed. I tell you not only were we not disappointed but rather had the best southern cooked lunch we had in a long time. Chicken and dumplings, beef tips and gravy with mashed potatoes, catfish, corn bread and Mac &Cheese. Absolutely delicious!!! For desert the chocolate chess pie and coconut cream pie were both out of this world. I only gave this place five stars because 10 stars were not available. If you are in the area this is a definite stop. Oh and the trains were super cool too!

Last 2 trips to this cafe have been sub par.. want be back.. I will give it a 2 star.. don't know how they stay in business ..

What a cute cafe. You feel like you have stepped back into the 1950's. It is adorable and the food is good ole southern cuisine. The hush puppies are to die for! I had the catfish, greens, and of course the fried green tomatoes.

I really wanted to like this place. As a huge fan of Fanny Flagg I was excited to visit the source of the Whistlestop Café. unfortunately we left extremely disappointed. while there is still a bit of charm in the restaurant, it seems more a food hall/cafeteria than a cozy café. All food, either dine in or takeout is dispensed from a short cafeteria like steam table. Oddly enough, most of the food came in large plastic bags placed into the typical stainless steel trays . Not sure if this was sous vide or just way to cut down on dishwashing . food to be consumed on the premises is dished into disposable tableware. By the time we got to a table, my fried okra was approaching room temperature which diminished its appeal greatly. Green beans, a southern staple, were relatively flavorless. My grandmother would have wept. Macaroni and cheese passable but institutional if a bit bland. The true disappointment was the country fried steak. I'll be the first to admit this dish is usually hit or miss anywhere. Sometime fried to Golden Brown, perfection and fork tender, other times the crust hides a tough grizzly interior. sadly in this case it was the latter and my knife was put to continuous use. additionally, rather than choosing to fry the steaks, then add a ladle of gravy. These were served completely submersed in a brown liquid with bits of onion. This defeated the purpose of a crispy crust on the country " fried" steak and turned it into a mushy mess. the large square of cornbread one of the worst I've had in the entire south. I didn't eat more than half and if you know me that's saying a lot. we passed on dessert though it looked attractive and sadly neither of us thought to get the trademark fried green tomatoes. If they were like everything else, they were probably cold. I may try it one more time if I'm nearby just to see if we hit them on a particularly bad day, but as the same goes, fool me twice shame on me.

I was in Birmingham for a church conference and wanted to take my team for some authentic, Southern food. My go-to in situations like these is to look on Yelp. And being a BIG fan of the movie, 'Fried Green Tomatoes', when I saw all the amazing reviews for this place, I was THRILLED to try it out. Let me say they did NOT disappoint! There were four in my group. My husband had the fried catfish, and the rest of us had fried chicken. Having grown up with a grandma from Alabama, I have to say that all of the things we tried were authentic and amazing. The fried okra was probably the best that I've ever had. And don't get me started on the mac & cheese, the toasted coconut pie, or the chocolate chess pie! The cornbread was authentic southern - no sugar added - and it melted in your mouth (I like mine with butter & honey). We also had the yeast rolls, which were fluffy, pillows of deliciousness, and the sweet tea , which was perfect. The only thing different from how my grandmother used to make things, were the fried green tomatoes themselves. Although good, I prefer them with a cornmeal coating, which these did not have. Nevertheless, they did not disappoint, and the homemade roumelade sauce took them to the next level. I only had three issues with the Ironclad Cafe: 1.) They're only open for lunch (11-2:30), 2.) we didn't discover it until our last day in Birmingham, and 3.)I have to wait almost a year to eat there again!

Your typical 'meat and _ veggies' restaurant. Their claim to fame is the Fried Green Tomatoes link. Small counter for food, but tons of seating. Located next to an old train station, the outside has a nice vibe, but can be loud. The food is what you would expect from a southern meat and veggie place. It also comes with rolls or cornbread when you select your food. When you walk in, the menu is a chalkboard which is updated daily. As you get to the cafeteria line, they put the desserts right in front of you, tempting you before you get your meal. I'm glad more places don't follow this tactic - it's dangerous!

I finally found a worthy meat and three place! Food was comfortable yet subtle. Great atmosphere and plenty of space for larger parties. If you go, you have to try their homemade hot sauces! AMAZING!

Feeling like I could not take any fast food for lunch, I searched Yelp for something good and I found it. This is a very cool place right near the tracks. The food was as good as it gets. Tried the fried green tomatoes , pork chopsand potatoes and gravy. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Lunch here last Sunday. Service was good as always but the food wasn't as good as usual. The tomatoes were pretty greasy. I normally get chicken fingers but I had catfish this time. It wasn't that great. Not the best experience. I will be back and give it another try.

What a gem!!!! The food is great! Being able to watch the trains while you wait was a treat. Check for the detour if you get stopped at the tracks

I moved a year ago to Birmingham and so many people recommended I visited because it's a staple of Bham. This is the cutest and friendliest Meat & 3 place! Everyone is so kind and welcoming. And the buttermilk fried chicken is the best I've ever had! It's typical southern food, good portions, clean serving area. It's great.

Old style Main Street home cooking. Had the fried chicken, lima beans, mac and cheese, collard greens, fried green tomatoes and topped off with peach cobbler. Co-worker had the fried catfish (not to heavy of a corn meal crust) with 2 sides. Everything was as good as expected and it was like travelling back in time to my hometown. The cobbler was the only thing that was not quite up tk the rest of the meal

"Irondale Cafe" is a serviceable option for lunch in an area with not a lot of independent restaurants. They have a nice variety of meats, both chicken and fish, and a healthy number of sides so you can really make every platter your own. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is incredibly friendly, but I was just not blown away by the food, particularly the flavor. Something seemed off with the green beans, and the chicken especially was rather tasteless. Now what makes this a must visit (at least once) is the dessert; the oreo cake is to DIE for, and again you have to go just for that, it's just a same that you have to go through an unremarkable lunch to get to that dessert.

This is a quaint little diner type restaurant from the looks but they serve up delicious home cooking foods cafeteria style. It's pretty much a cozy little southern treat! My husband and I loved everything we tasted. I opted for baked Greek chicken, fried okra, rice w/brown gravy, and green beans. My hubby got the fried chicken, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, and baked Mac n cheese plus a slice of homemade coconut cream pie for dessert. Oh that pie though!! Yummy! Definitely recommend trying this place out!

This iconic restaurant is a must stop for meat & three fans. I've eaten here often for over thirty years and never had a bad meal. My favorite: Country fried steak with creamed potatoes and gravy, turnip greens and of course fried green tomatoes. Their cornbread is excellent and they always offer a wide variety of desserts!

Fried green tomatoes were wonderful I wish that was all I ordered. Catfish was just not good hush puppies were cold & dry no service at all

Disappointed, I don't know what happened with the food service here. Last time I was in the food was really good but my last visit the food was cold some of the fried items was real greasy and the meats were also cold. My family was with me and we all have decided we would have to find another place

Been going here for years. Long before the movie fried green tomatoes. I rolled in on a Sunday 1230ish time. Got the fried chicken mashed taters and fried maters. Haulinz got catfish. Looked real good, okra and collar greens. Speaking of green, bauby big bucks with lots of green picked up the tab, which is nice. Ben stopped by with his mom. He's excited about his trip to Hawaii. Duty got 3 sides of Mac n cheese. Stamo ate pork chops. Tony and G also rolled with fried chicken. Bill got fish as well. We had to remind him they don't serve bourbon, so he brown bagged it. We just missed Vance. Great place great times

Can't go wrong with this meat & three located in rustic downtown Irondale ! Try the fried chicken !

Good Covid precautions but extremely over priced. 1 filet of catfish with three sides and unsweet tea was $18.86 before tip.

Pull off the highway for this one. Best meat and three around. Smothered chicken livers Fried chicken Fried okra Biscuits And much more Delicious!!!

Well it's not going to blow your socks off but this southern food classic is exactly as expected. Positioned right next to the old Irondale train station, the tracks still bring trains to and fro on the frequent. The place that inspired "Fried Green Tomatoes" is a Birmingham staple. For me, the atmosphere and food are average. There are better spots in the Ham for southern dining. However, the ability to pick and choose ones meal Subway-style is a plus. Then choose your own seating and go! I tried the peanut butter pie -- average and I really needed it to be great today. BUT overall still a cute post-church spot. Great for Sundays and families!

First and foremost, the information below as to this being the filming spot for Fried Green Tomatoes is incorrect. I was blocked by the misinformant when I nicely advised her that the movie wasn't filmed here. It merely gained its fame when the author of the book visited here after the movie premiered at Cobb Theatre in Birmingham in 1992. This information can also be clearly found on the Irondale Cafe's website. The food here is delicious, however, if you go on a Sunday, expect a wait! Every time I have been, the servers have been nice, but again, if you go at a busy time, don't expect a refill, and don't expect a visit from your waitress to check on you. The best part of it all is the lengthy choice of food options. Best (and I believe only) meat and 3 in Irondale!

Man, all I can say is this place is AWESOME!!! Hidden away cause I had never been to Irondale. I had the Catfish, hush puppies, Fried Green Tomatoes, Baked MAC n Cheese, Buttermilk Pie, ALL good!!! If you're ever in the Birmingham area take a detour to this place.

Great meat and three! I had the catfish, greens and coleslaw. My friend had the fried chicken. Both entrees were fabulous! The catfish, jalapeño hushpups were great. The chicken breast was moist and properly fried. All in all great lunch spot if you have time.

Hands down my favorite place to eat in the Bham area! It's worth the drive to Irondale. To start off with the atmosphere is amazing. I had to try this place since its in one of my favorite movies Fried Green Tomatoes. It a cute little cafe that is tucked away in historic Irondale. The people that work there are so nice and greet you with a big smile and hello. They also give great recommendations and there is nothing that I have tried that I didn't love. Here is a ranking of the top things my BF and I have had: 1. Fried chicken- this is freshly battered and hand made.. So damn good 2. TIED: Mashed potato/ Greek baked chicken 3. Cornbread dressing w/ gravy 4. Butter beans 5. Fried green tomatoes- I know this should probably be #1. But they are good but not the best thing on the menu I need to try the desert next time because they look AMAZING. I urge you to take and extra 10 min drive to Irondale and get a plate and watch the trains go by. Don't forget to tell "TOWANDA!" As you walk out with a happy full stomach;)

Minus the fact that I probably gained AT LEAST 5 lbs when I had lunch here, this place is amazing! I was in Birmingham last week for work and thanks to some Birmingham YELPERS, this place was highly recommended. We went here for lunch on Thursday and I loved it! The restaurant is right across the street from the railroad tracks and tucked into a small strip along side the tracks. It is cafeteria style....walk thru a line and tell the guy what you want, then pay after you eat. I ordered the fried chicken ( some of the best I have ever had ), fried green tomatoes ( the best I have ever had), macaronni, squash and a piece of Oreo Pie. YUM YUM YUM!!! Everything was delicious! The service was good...my drink was never less than half full and everyone was friendly. If you ever find yourself in Birmingham you have to make sure you go here!!

I had always wanted to eat here but for me it was a letdown. The atmosphere is cute, it's clean but the food didn't deliver.

After spending a week in and around Birmingham, we decided to go "down home" for our last dinner. After perusing TA, we settled on Irondale and we weren't disappointed. The atmosphere is just, well, darned adorable! Very cute, very easy, very fun. The staff was incredible friendly and helpful. And the food? Oh man. So, being a Californian, I had never had fried green tomatoes, but I was not let down. Delicious! Definitely get the remoulade sauce for dipping, as that made them just perfection. The desserts were AMAZING. They have this thing called Fudgescicle Pie. I thought to myself, "how much could this possible taste like a fudgescicle?" Spoiler alert: a lot. It's a bit odd reading other reviews talking about long waits-- we got there at about 630 PM and didn't have any wait.