Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

First time coming here and it was great! Fast service and friendly staff had the catfish with potato salad and green beans. (Potato salad is not sweet which 10/10) and brisket nachos with wings. Will definitely be coming back. Comparable to Moes bbq in my opinion so definitely family friendly and could easily be a regular go to spot.

I’m not a huge barbecue fan, especially after having a bad BBQ experience earlier this week but Martin’s completely changed my mind! From the moment we sat down, everything was just right. Braxton, our bartender/server, was exactly what this place needed he set the tone for our whole night. I told him I wasn’t really in the mood for anything and just wanted something to uplift me, and he said say less. Whatever drink he made completely turned my mood around. I forgot I was even sad or stressed! We were indecisive with the menu (because everything sounded good), but Braxton walked us through it and made great suggestions for first-timers. We ended up getting the catfish tacos and let me tell you, I need about five of them next time! Perfectly seasoned, flavorful, and balanced. The wings were great too crispy, juicy, and we got all flats just how I like them. My date had the burger no complaints there. We tried the green beans, and even those were seasoned perfectly. And the Farmhand Fries? OMG. Brisket, jalapeños, onions, sauce 10/10! Next time I’m definitely getting extra sauce. The atmosphere was fun and laid-back everyone around us felt like friends, and the energy was so warm. The decor 10/10. The only small downside was when we first tried to sit in the restaurant area; a lot of the tables were dirty and no one offered to clean one off. We almost left until we noticed the bar area, and that’s where everything turned around great service, great vibes, and great food. All in all, Martin’s is officially my new go-to barbecue spot. I can’t wait to come back, try the ribs, and just enjoy more of that good food and Southern hospitality.

1st visit & we loved it! Had never heard of this restaurant & my mother-in-law today us to join her for lunch. I ordered the Big Brother Sampler which consists of 2 big portions of meats & 2 sides. This is definitely a meal for 2 people, but I have leftovers to treat myself later. Brisket was the most tender that I've had from a restaurant. Ribs were so tender that it drooped over when holding it. We got an order of smoked wings & they were great. I wish that the meats had a little more seasoning on them. Fries were very delicious & appreciate the fact that they are made from scratch. Baked beans ....I didn't see a Google review about them, but let me tell you now....they were perfect! Smokey, sweet, & peppery with chunks of brisket. We will definitely glue back again for another visit to try other items.

Great local barbecue institution! Big portions of smoked meat and sweet or savory sides. Good range of local beer styles. Plenty of indoor and patio space. Two parking lots accessible from adjoining streets.

Delicious bbq at a reasonable price. Good selection of draft beers. Had the smoked chicken quarter with broccoli salad and a cornbread hoecake. Will definitely come back and try the rest of the meats - pork, beef, sausage and ribs - as well as some of the other beers on tap.

Super friendly staff very family friendly. These people know how to make some barbecue do wish they had real butter. They’ve got liquid butter alternative, which is probably some kind of nasty seed oil crap but the brisket was spectacular and I will definitely be back.

First time to Martins! It was good but needed to ask for a different barbecue sauce. The vinegar based one on the tables was not my favorite. Brisket tacos were great as was the pork. The turkey and chicken were good. Hush puppies were a little gritty! We didn’t try the pie which is unusual for me but will next time.

Stopped by for a to go order. All of the staff was very friendly and it had a great atmosphere. Food was amazing! Highly recommend this place to anyone wanting some great barbecue or a good place to hang out

Stopped by Martin's BBQ Joint during happy hour and was pleasantly surprised by how good the deals were. I ordered the bologna sandwich, and let me just say -- that thing was big. Thick cut, smoky, and full of flavor the way a proper BBQ bologna sandwich should be. The vibe during happy hour was laid-back and fun, and the staff was friendly and quick. It's definitely the kind of spot where you can grab a solid meal without feeling rushed, especially if you time it with their specials. If you're looking for good BBQ, good portions, and a good price, Martin's is absolutely worth a stop -- and the bologna sandwich is a must-try if you like it big and bold.

Can say enough about this sandwich! Very unique and HUGE! Only thing I would add is if it's on a hoe cake instead of the regular hamburger bun! Because the meat is Sssoooo hhhuugee it's literally eats the hamburger bun This Mac n cheese is AMAZING! You can tell this isn't Velveeta and has fresh cheese with a golden crust that is cooked in the oven! Great place for family and friends to come and hang out!

I am a big fan of this place, but the last couple of times I have been very disappointed with the ribs. I've tried them with the dry rub and with the wet barbecue sauce. The ribs are dried out, and on the smaller bones the meat is so dry that the are tough to chew. I will keep going back, but would not recommend getting the ribs. By the way, my sides today were the baked beans and cole slaw. Both were very good.

Lively spot in Cahaba Heights! Plenty of areas to sit inside and outside. Very family friendly, but also with a bar area inside too! Great menu options with lots of fun sides. Also large portions. You order at the counter, and our servers were quick and kind. Enjoyed this spot for BBQ!!

Super charming place from the outside. We were greeted promptly and served with a smile. We sat ourselves and only waited 5 or so minutes for out dinner. When it came out we immediately recognized how small the portions were. Size was especially noticeable in regards to the patty melt. Please see photos. The food also came out at room temperature. Overall the taste wasn't there. Everything was mediocre at best. We completely regretted getting the hoe cake, as it was a plain, tasteless, pancake. We also bit into and pulled a piece of plastic wrap out of our pulled pork sandwich. I do believe if I revisit it will be on the basis of happy hour only. 07-08-2025

Looking to try some bbq in the area and stopped in Martin's. They are a whole hog style place. The atmosphere is nice and suits a good bbq joint. Had the pulled pork with fries and Brunswick stew and also tried some hushpuppies. Unfortunately, the bet part was the fries which were hot and crispy. The pork was mostly bland and just warm enough to eat. The stew was just good without any real pop to it or anything that would set it apart. The location does have a bar area in a separate room that looked to be busy and a good place to have a drink and watch a game. It is a location where you place your order and get a table number. Overall, good atmosphere but very average bbq.

Whole hog bbq is awesome! Family owned Martin's BBQ is delicious! Great ribs, brisket, smoked chicken and turkey! House made sides. Great bar. Pulled pork nachos are amazing. Good service. Fun vibe. Love the lights outside.

Fantastic southern BBQ! We ordered the full spread to feed 8 people. The brisket was melt in your mouth and smokey. The chicken and pulled pork was well seasoned. The sides were definitely the stars for me though. The green beans were my favorite - tender and flavored with the smoked ham. The Mac and cheese are some of the best you'll have. The baked beans have brisket mixed in but a bit on the salty side. Really took care of my fix for bbq.

The food is good. Great atmosphere. Pricing is fair. The issue: The music. We went for lunch early and the music was WAY too loud. I asked if they could turn it down a little. I was told 'the policy is no'. I respectfully asked for the manager. They never came. I asked our food delivery to the table person to get the manager. Again. No show. They checked to see if he came so I know they received the message. I realized late that the sound isn't as bad when the restaurant fills up. I don't think asking to turn down the musics until 11:30 is out of line. I was never able to have that conversation.

Well, the food is great, and the staff is friendly. If only I could hear others talk it would be even better. Not sure if it was today, but the music was way too loud. Put on my noise canceling headset and still the noise was too loud. Was not a fan of this, management please keep and eye on this. Would have left a 5 star otherwise.

I had eaten only lunch here the first years it opened but with a job change I haven't been in this area for years. I went for dinner tonight and wowzers it was so awesome. The first one that I placed my order with was so kind and helpful. She was great. Then I sat at the bar to eat and the bartender was the best of the best. He was super great to make the ambience here wonderful. The food I had was delicious too. I would absolutely recommend anyone and everyone to go here to get lunch and/or dinner. It's so great.

I've been here several times and cannot believe I've never reviewed it. Guess I need to remedy that ASAP! I do love me some BBQ, and this is a welcome addition to the Birmingham area. They have a large area, both inside and outside, so that they have ample seating, and it is very nice when the weather isn't too hot or too cold. They have good wings, brisket, and have even added smoked sausage recently. I have had their turkey, ribs, and brisket burger as well - all were good. Their sampler plate is enough to split between two people as well. Their sides are good - I like the macaroni and cheese the best, but the fries are decent as well. I did not like the broccoli salad.

Nice bbq joint in Vestavia Hills. You order at the counter, get a number and your food is brought to you. They have outside and bar seating. The cashier was very nice and had a great attitude. I have been on several occasions but never posted a review until now. A must try is the catfish; wings are also delicious.

Sweet home Alabama! Martin's provides the weary southern soul with great comfort! Great ambience! Great people watching. I enjoyed the eclectic art, posters, sports regalia take you back to the 1970s...ex. "Walking Tall", "Deliverance ", Daisy Duke, . Great food! Wings are solid. Smoked Turkey sandwich, brisket burger and the slaw were devoured . All the t-shirts, rubs, sauces your heart desires. Excellent beer selection. The music adds to the experience. I would recommend Martin's to any BBQ lover who wants to enjoy good grub and southern hospitality.

My friends and I decided to try this bbq spot out for Memorial Day weekend! I like the set up of the restaurant with the additional open space outside for eating. The food was decent! I enjoyed my smoked turkey. The Mac and cheese could have used some seasoning. Overall it's a nice spot!

Brisket was Smokey, fatty and moist. What else could a person want out of their brisket. Hoecake was decent but could have been a lot better if served with butter. Mac and Cheese was on point. Atmosphere. Very large spot with three separate areas. One area is a full on bar. The other is outside seating. And the last is the large indoor dining with some indoor/outdoor flow. Perhaps a bit too loud for me but I may have just been having old man vibes that night.

Mid at best. Ambiance is great because of the neighborhood vibe. Service is what it is being a fast casual. The bbq is just mid at best. Little flavor, and being in the BBQ capitol of the south, doesn't cut it.

Sat at the bar and went out on a limb with smoked bologna sandwich. Incredible. Literally melts in your mouth. Waitress warned me (and she was right) that it is thick. Think good burger. Comes with mustard and cheese, but I substituted mayonnaise. Perfect lunch.

Recently got introduced to Martin's when an event used them to cater boxed lunches. Each lunch had a sandwich, chips, and a cookie. The meat was very good, and the sandwich was a good size for a lunch. Of course, the cookie was good, too. The stand-out, though, was the handmade chips. They were really good, and spiced with a little zing to them. I liked it all enough that I will both try to go in person and consider them for boxed lunch catering in the future.

didn't get any of the sides i paid for in my takeout order. But everyone wants a tip before you get anything now days, then you get screwed . bad service.

Great service, anytime it's packed it seems like we always get our food pretty quickly. We love the Brunswick stew in the winter!

We attended my company Christmas party at our office, Martins catered the event, I was very impressed with the food. I can't speak for the service or the Ambiance as I have not eaten there yet but the food has me planning that experience.

Very nice place.. the employees provide great customer service. They continually walk around pickup up trash. Very clean place. Love the pictures and memorabilia on the walls is amazing. Good BQ, but I'm not a fan of the meat falling off the bone with their ribs, but nothing personal against this place. I should of got the dry ones The clientele very clean cut. They also have a nice bar area. I liked the atmosphere. I will come back for sure, but I'll get something else. I would definitely try this place out if you like something new.

BABY GOT BACK! Heard about Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint on a Television show a month or so ago. It is a Tennessee based bbq spot which has opened a location in the Sweet Home. Their menu is family friendly which is great for people with kids. While here we noticed some kids from a soccer team in Vestavia as well as tons of other families with their children sitting both inside and outside. It is a little confusing when you walk inside because there are certain doors you need to go to in order to order stay vs to go meals. I had wished there was a little more organization when it comes to the various lines. But what they have I guess works for them so what am I to say. As you wait in line there are all sorts of rubs, sauces, merch and of course their very own cook cook "Life On Fire" that you can pick up while waiting to order. I wished that there were also some samples that would go along with some of the sauces and rubs that you could try too. This can help to push the sales of those items a little more. We both ordered something different. I ordered the smoked bologna sandwich with fries as my side. Courtney ordered the six wings, but he asked for them to be dry not wet with bbq sauce, he also go fries in the side just as I did. After we ordered and received our drinks we were off to find a spot to sit. I choose something inside so I could admire the rustic feel to the inside of the restaurant. The decor was interesting to look at. Some vintage decor as well as a very sexy looking pig. Once our food came out, man oh man I did not expect for my bologna sandwich to be that BIG. Oh my lawd it was huge. I think two people could have eaten that together with no problem. But one person not a chance. It was delicious nonetheless. The bologna cut like butter. I thought it was funny to see this huge piece of meat on a tiny little bun. Martins is hosting a march maddness deal this month, keep an eye on that! We would definitely be returning to martins I've heard from multiple people that they have some of the best brisket for miles. So this gives us a reason to come back for more bbq. Have y'all been to Martins yet?

Best Brisket Cheeseburger! First time here and the entrees were great. Sides ok. Service was very friendly.

Very best place in Birmingham to get the best catfish and brisket in this part of Alabama. Very friendly and great wai staff. Do yourself a favor and try this great little local restaurant

Solid 5/5. Service is always great, food is consistent. The brisket tacos dipped in white bbq sauce is a must! This place can get pretty busy especially with families with children and there isn't a lot of parking. We love to sit on the patio, great neighborhood feel!

A lot of servers willing to help. Love the outdoor seating, it was a beautiful day. Food was just as we expected it to be. Brisket plate with Mac-N-Cheese & Slaw. I think this is the best brisket in town, moist, full of flavor bombs. Mac Cheese and Slaw were a perfect combination with the brisket. Husband had a Pulled port sandwich and Brunswick Stew. Both winners, sandwich was moist it disappeared before my eyes. He said the stew was good but mine was better.

Convenient location, great family atmosphere and good BBQ. What more could you ask for?

They run out of food at dinner time, so unfortunately I've not had many options from here.

Good but food was not warm. It came out very fast though. Service is good and the environment inside is really cool

The layout of this restaurant was pretty cool! It's very spacious. There is a bar with TV's and takeout area across from the normal dining area. It had a very nostalgic vibe with tons of pictures and placards from various places on the walls. There's tons of BBQ places in the Birmingham area but this is definitely on the top of the list. The Brisket was very tender and flavorful and the ribs fell off the bone! With both platters we ordered the sweeter smoky BBQ sauce. The macaroni & cheese was actually baked which I appreciated! The staff was very friendly and service was quick. You place your order at the counter and seat yourself where you like; there is indoor and outdoor seating. They also have lots of tshirts, stickers, spices, and shot glasses to choose from for purchase.

This place is larger than you think! Much larger so don't think you will be in a crowd even if the parking lots are full. There is outdoor seating, indoor seating, and bar seating. Everything is spaced far apart and the staff are wearing masks. I normally tend to rank all bbq as the same but this place stands out not only because of the venue and the food but the staff!!!! We started off just with the pork slider for our kid and pork nachos with a side of smoked turkey. I had no idea this was a chain restaurant (many locations from Nashville to Kentucky) because they feel hometown. The smoked turkey was the best I have ever eaten (moist and flavorful) and the nachos with pork and slaw were more than just chips( explosion of flavor in your mouth). All the staff seemed happy and actually helpful. Our guy dropping off our food at the table got us a tasting sample of all the sauces with a smile (under the mask). The Alabama white sauce is actually vinegar based and the closest to bob Gibson's I have ever found ( I am from north Alabama so nothing will ever be equal to Gibson's white sauce-sorry!!). Please try it!! Overall I rate this place a 5 star bbq joint that I recommend everyone in the area visit. And try all the sauces including the jack creeks sweet and spicy bbq sauce (vinegar based) and the palmetto gold (mustard based) bbq sauce!!!! Yes - I am a sauce freak if you haven't figured that out yet.

Yummy BBQ from the Nashville based chain. The indoor/outdoor layout of the restaurant is comfortable and charming. Gotta love the large bar. Pro-tip: when there's a long line during lunchtime, order at bar or call ahead I love all the BBQ sauce choices: douse your pork! My favorite item was the redneck taco (of course with pork), maybe due to the uniqueness, but also very tasty. However, I need to return on the weekend for a whole hog In Texas: 4 stars, but 5 for Alabama. Quite good

I hate to add a bad review but the brisket I had tonight was terrible. Very dry and tough. Needed a knife to cut it. Fries and mac & cheese was the only thing good on my plate.

This is our not so secret place to go for lunch when all the brunch spots are packed on late weekend mornings/early afternoons. My husband is from Texas and has lived in Kansas City, and is really picky about his barbecue. We like the brisket and pulled pork here. We aren't as into chicken and the Alabama white sauce, so honestly this is pretty much the only bbq spot we frequent anymore. It helps that there are tons of tables and never a wait! The bar has a good selection too, so makes for a fun weekend brunch for us. The nachos are such a giant portion and really a crowd pleaser. The hand cut fries and broccoli salad are our favorite sides, though the Mac and cheese and slaw are also awesome. We haven't had a bad experience with the ribs like some other have, though they're definitely not elite quality. The brisket burger is another favorite of mine! A great burger. I really wish they had a sausage option, but I understand they rotate some of the meats. They've definitely been affected by supply chain shortages like everyone else, but I feel it's priced fairly knowing that. We love that they have so many homemade sauces to choose from, and always get "the sauce sampler" to use all of them with our meals. We have brought friends here many times and they've all always been happy with their meals. It's a barbecue spot, so very casual and sometimes the staff doesn't get around to cleaning the tables as quickly as they should. Not a problem, just ask an employee for some help and they'll quickly come wipe a table down for you. I've not yet had any bbq in Bama that is better than the best I've had in Texas, or believe it or not, Connecticut. But until that day comes, we will keep eating at and enjoying Martin's!

So I'm not usually too impressed with chain restaurants. But Martin's BBQ is the exception. It definitely feels like a cute and local joint. I like that they have a separate line for take-out and for dine-in. To dine-in, you do order from the cashier, then find your own table. Keep track of your receipt and order number because someone will call out your order and bring it to you. We decided to go to Martin's when we were in Birmingham for a weekend trip because it was dog-friendly and had a very nice outdoor patio. The outdoor patio was perfect and it's super cute at night since it has string lights. I'm not much of a BBQ eater, but I got the brisket sandwich and I was really impressed with that. Service was wonderful. Overall, I would definitely recommend Martin's if you like BBQ or want a quick, casual meal!

I've been here several times and to be quite honest they never disappoint! Well, that may not be entirely true .... I have been there and ordered ribs to find out that they were out, but I guess that's a little on me and I should have arrived a little sooner. Really, probably one of the major deducts for them is the parking. There isn't enough spaces and you can end up having to wait to find a spot to park. Now, there is a lot on the other side of the building, I think you can park here .... I'd just check first to make sure that isn't reserved for something else. The food is always good. I've had the ribs, the pulled pork, the fries and let's not forget the hoecake. If you've never experienced a hoecake ---- you must put this on your to do list. It's basically a variant of cornbread, I know that sounds basic, but the taste is far from basic. As others have stated, prices are a little on the pricy side compared to the other BBQ joints I would put them on par with. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to other's. Great space to enjoy some great BBQ.

I was very happy with our meal. We ordered Brisket Chili, Brunswick Stew, Spare Ribs, Smoked Chicken, Hushpuppies, Cornbread Hoecake, Mac & Cheese, and Martha Ann's Fudge Pie. I didn't get to taste everything because my kid's snagged some items. The chili and stew were really good. I thought about dunking in a hushpuppy, but it was also very yummy and I ate it before I had time to find out how it tasted with the chili or stew sauce on it. I can't wait to order it again.

You can smell the smoke as soon as you get out of your car in the parking lot. Great open barbecue joint (although it's a chain) with all the things you'd expect. I've had the smoked Turkey and pulled pork, and both were delicious (with the Red Devil sauce). There's a full bar with happy hour specials and this place caters to families and even young kids. I will be back the next time I'm in Birmingham!

Great bbq. Excellent Mac & cheese & sauces. Lots of seating for our family. Great atmosphere.

As you know from most of the reviews, their biggest gripe is about the price. But outside of that, everything was fantastic. The price isn't so bad if you get a catering sized order. Which we have done. The que itself is good. But it was not until recently, that I actually went to the location. I went for Sunday night football. And they didn't stay open all that late. But hours are hours. I fully understand not staying open for just a few people. The inside is really nice. And the staff is extremely accommodating. I had the pork and ribs in the past through catering. Which is always good. This most recent time I had the catfish sandwich with fries. It was absolutely fantastic. Overall, I love the spot. I love the food. I just wish the prices were better. But I will 100% be back again.

Love the atmosphere and set up. Service was good, no complaints. And the food was good. So why just three stars? Value. Martin's is expensive and you don't get much food. Good BBQ but there's better to be found in the area, at a better value.

This restaurant has become my favorite BBQ spot in Birmingham. The food is always good as well as the service. Whether I opt to dine in or do curbside every experience as been spot on. I've had the ribs, brisket, cheeseburger, broccoli salad, Mac n cheese, baked beans. Everything is delicious, the only complaint is they could give you larger portion size for the sides but other than that I highly recommend this location. They do have a small parking lot but parking has never been an issue for me. They also have indoor and outdoor dining available. Since COVID the prices have seemed to increase so take that into account as well.

Service is great, restaurant was clean, line moved quickly, the gentleman at the register was very upbeat. Food is lacking for sure. We stopped here one day because the parking lot always seems to be packed. I love that there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. As for the food, the meat was dry, sauce was kind of overpowered by the vinegar, sides were average. Portion sizes are pretty good. The appetizer nachos were soggy within 5 minutes. Great size for sharing though. Maybe get everything on the side? It could have been a one off thing, but I doubt I'll be back. Not my style of barbecue.

It's a great place for families. Reason why we ultimately go there once in a while. Their barbeque quality? Way below average for Birmingham. Their brisket is good. Chicken is dry. Ribs are tasteless. Sides are lame. Their service? Below average even for a BBQ joint. Ordering is painful. Their tables outside are quite dirty all the times. Their beverages? Great, considering the standalone island they have for beers and sodas. Their facility? Fabulous. Lot of outdoor space. Nice small gravel area for kids to play. Dog friendly. All the good you can thing off. After all, a good place where to hang out. Not a good place where to get good BBQ considering it's in B'ham.

Highly recommend Martin's BBQ. Wonderful family-friendly atmosphere with an outdoor space big enough for kids to run around in and get some energy out. Pet-friendly for those of you who want to bring your beloved pup along for dinner and a fantastic brisket that'll have you ready to order seconds! I highly recommend the nachos - they put an unorthodox twist on 'em by adding coleslaw but it's phenomenal. Extra jalapeños if you're feeling wild! We love coming to Martin's for date night, family night out, friend gathering, what-have-you. We went outside of our norm and split some ribs during our most recent date night and the full rack was plenty. We had a hard time finishing them off but they were delicious!

This spot rules. Dry wings, dry rub ribs. Hot bbq sauce. Cornbread is crazy good. 10/10.

AWESOME PLACE TO EAT!! Ribs, Brisket, fries, Baked beans, hush puppies. A wonderful place to eat!