Saw's BBQ

We ate here on a Sunday afternoon. They were busy but we were seated immediately and had the sweetest waitress! I wish I’d written down her name, but she told us she was from Texas, so hopefully the managers will know who I’m referring to. The pimento cheese/pork rinds were amazing! Highly recommend!

First time here and we went because they were part of a give back program at Samford for my daughter’s sorority!! Food is very good and the place is cool.

Friendly service...good food...took the Family here after dance recital for my children.....item pictured is the Smoked Chicken Plate with mac n' cheese and baked beans for the sides....sweet tea for the beverage....would recommend. 💯🤝🏾

We're visiting the area and was told by some locals that we had to try Saw's if we were looking for BBQ. Of course it was one of the best BBQ spots I've been too. Nice local joint, pork was so tender and flavorful and the chicken was packed with flavor also. We got the Pork Tater and Chicken Tater with a medium side of Mac & cheese. I'm a huge fan of BBQ stuffed potatoes so I was happy that they had a few options on the menu. The Mac & cheese wasn't my favorite, but it was ok. I'm glad we got to stop by and try it out!

Absolutely, positively the best BBQ around. We have eaten BBQ several times in the last week and this is the best. The staff and owners are also warm and welcoming. And save room for the banana pudding. It rocks.

Probably the best BBQ in BHM, got the sampler and everything was scrumptious, ribs easily separate from the bone, chicken and pulled pork were tasty & juicy, beans were very good too. Inside seating may be a bit cramped especially on rush hour so plan accordingly.

Great hometown barbecue joint in a cozy setting! Was busy, but not packed at lunchtime on a Saturday. Food came out quickly and was nice and hot. Ordered two pulled pork plates, one with baked beans and mac & cheese and the other with potato salad and deviled eggs. Pork was excellent and all the sides were great (the potato salad is smoother than you usual get it, for reference). Crushed ice in the drinks was a nice bonus.

My husband and I have been to a lot of BBQ restaurants and haven’t found one that we really like yet. Saw’s made our BBQ dreams come true! I had the pulled pork platter w/ Mac n cheese and coleslaw. The pork was so moist and tender and the best I’ve had since living in Alabama. The Mac n cheese tasted like real and homemade Mac n cheese. So much texture and gooeyness to it. The coleslaw has an awesome taste to it. My husband ordered the chicken platter w/ Mac n cheese and potato salad. I tried the chicken and again so moist and tender. We also ordered a chili baker that we shared. We split it in half because it was so big and filling. Now we have leftovers for dinner as we couldn’t finish our entrees. We took everything to go and the service was fast. Thanks for making my birthday!

Love how there was no long wait time. Atmosphere felt very welcoming and a lot of regulars come by here. I ordered the brisket sandwich and that had such a different taste! meat was very moist, no dryness, and very flavorful. I finished my sandwich rarely quickly. I would love to come here again! Highly recommend.

This place was really good. It was better than I expected. Food: I had the pork ribs, pulled pork, sausage, potato salad, and baked beans. The pork ribs had a sweet (with a light vinegary taste) rub which I prefer. Ambience. It's a bit primitive, but that's what you would expect at a BBQ place or at least the ones in Texas. There were like several tables squeezed in; was kinda tight. Also the walls were filled with vintage news from around town. Service. This is an order at the counter and seat yourself place kinda place. Food came out quickly.

Our large family ordered several things including the green beans, baked potatoes, pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and banana pudding. Everything was fantastic. The banana pudding was out of this world. Staff was great. Restaurant was clean. Will definitely come back when we are in town again.

The BBQ here was really delicious and filling. I suggest getting a combo so you get a side and drink with your meal. The banana pudding not pictured was one of the best we've ever had

If I'm in town this is where I will always go! Staff is always kind & friendly. Too much food on a plate and I'm not complaining! It is always awesome and makes great leftovers!

This place was a great pit stop on our way to Tennessee! We were craving Alabama BBQ and were not disappointed. We wanted to go to the original, since there were several Saw's in town. Called in to make sure and got very useful directions. Expect to drive around the neighborhood a bit to find parking. Didn't take us too long for someone to leave a space. Walking in, the place is welcoming and homey. People were all friendly. The young man who took our orders gave us recommendations as first timers and even told us what was particularly good from that specific day. He was right on all counts! We got a bit of everything and had left overs for days. Ribs were delicious. Pulled pork and chicken were awesome. The loaded tater was so good. I loved their chili dog.

Atmosphere: Saw's BBQ is a hole-in-the-wall-esque restaurant with a decent amount of seating available inside. There are lots of fun decorations and memorabilia scattered on the walls, which you can admire while waiting for your food. Service: We ordered at the back counter, and our food came out very quickly. Food: We shared the Saw's Sampler, which came with pulled pork, chicken, 2 large ribs, and a choice of 2 sides -- we chose devilled eggs and potato salad. We saw that the devilled eggs were a polarizing option, with some reviews hyping it up and others disappointed. Our experience was somewhere in between: it was great but not a life-changing side dish. The potato salad was very creamy and almost reminiscent of egg salad if you're into that. The meat portions were quite generous. Our favorite was the ribs, which were tender and had a nice subtle, smoky flavor. The chicken and pulled pork were a bit on the dry side. While the sampler as a whole was good, there was a common predominant flavor that almost overpowered the experience - pickles. Everything had a bit of a vinegar "tanginess" to it, which may be good for some and a turnoff for others. Overall: Saw's BBQ was a great, filling lunch experience. The portions were quite good, just take note of the pickley-vinegary taste that the sauces, sides, and seasonings have!

First time there Wings amazing Greens amazing B-q amazing The place rock star From Fl will be back on next trip Amen to this place

The BBQ sauce is sickeningly sweet. All I could think of was the amount of sugar or corn syrup that it contained. It was slathered on top of the ribs so I scraped it off the best that I could. Beyond the sugar content the sauce was nothing to write home about. Nothing here was worth the visit. The coleslaw was unmemorable and the green beans were overcooked to an army green color. They were so mushy you couldn't stab them with a fork. We were not welcomed in; the lady taking our order was busy snacking and looking at her phone.

My favorite barbeque* in Birmingham. You gotta love the now-signature "and greens" meal. It started as Pork 'n' Greens, but it was served at only one of the half-dozen SAW's restaurants in the county. However, as it became more and more popular, most of the SAW's locations began serving the delicious bed of grits topped with turnip greens, very thin and delicate onion rings, and SAW's delicious pork. Now that it's clearly become the restaurant's main attraction, you can get your choice of meats with the same delicious "side flavors." I have not tried the others, choosing to stick with the pork. I just had it a few days ago with my son before he heads for Japan and where he will be unlikely to find any Southern Barbeque for the next few months. And now I'm making myself hungry! The food is served quickly and efficiently, and I recommend trying several locations to see if one fits you better than the others. Each is unique, but they all serve good barbeque. *I'm spelling it with a Q because it's in the name of the restaurant. Not gonna argue with quality.

Well some of the Side dishes just didn't taste good. The chicken and ribs were were good. I've heard other saw. Locations are much better.

One of favorite bbq places in bham. Probably my favorite Alabama white sauce around. BBQ chicken and the pulled pork are great.

Let's get into it ! Now we have left Georgia and found this gem in Birmingham. Parking- not sure if they have their own lot but we parked up the street and walked down. The place was decent. I didn't stay to sit. I walked in you can order at the counter and eat at the counter or have a seat. Real down to earth feel not fancy it's bbq ! They offer liquor though which most don't. I came here on a whim and wasn't even hungry but found the prize to me ! We came close to closing time so most options were sold out (yes including the pork ) they get busy and it's really good. I had the sweet tea chicken sandwich! The guy helping us said it was better than a certain famous chicken restaurant that rhyms with filet(fil -a) hahah and let's say he didn't lie. I'm faithful to them too in chicken sandwiches! You got to choose a side and I got Fries because the Mac and cheese was out. Again it was late no blame to them. It came out in less than 10 mins and it was hot. From the chicken to the fries to the bread ! Although the picture was not justice it gave my heart a smile. The chicken is marinated in a sweet tea brine, coated, and fried. That chicken was the most moist and crunchy chicken of my life. And you could taste the flavor with no sauce added. My sandwich was gone in 4/5 bites ! I can't recommend much but this sandwich is a must have!!!

Great BBQ. Their pulled pork is delicious and they have great sides. Small place, walk up to order and fast service

Great food, great service. Go every time I'm in town and I recommend anyone else does too

My favorite bbq in Birmingham! Pulled pork, mac and cheese are top tier. I don't even like potato salad and there's was good! No flops on the menu!

Literally the best bbq in the city. If you don't get their banana pudding, we cannot be friends. Be patient, it's worth waiting. Be ready other folks also enjoy their bbq.

The food is excellent, service was good but don't expect them to be overly friendly. Jay had the smoked half chicken with white sauce, turnip greens and coke slaw (vinegar based). Mom and I shared the pulled chicken sandwich which was not really pulled like I would think if, it was large pieces of chicken breast, very tender and moist. Both the red and white sauces are two of our all-time favorites. Ambiance -small downtown location.

I had Saws BBQ when I was in Birmingham, it truly is a jewel. BBQ with Soul food, it was one of the best meals. It is a definite stop, Folks it's a very busy place, Lines happen.

It's a mixed bag, for me. I ordered chicken plate and didn't really like the taste at all. The sauce they used reminded me of Catalina salad dressing. The mac and cheese wasn't very creamy. The cheese grits were ok. My wife had the fried green tomato and bacon sandwich. She really loved it and I took a bite and was jealous. We both agreed there's better food, to be had, in the area.

Excellent food. Great atmosphere! I haven't ordered anything I didn't like. Birmingham staple.

Exceptional food. Creative and delicious A must for our family any time we pass the area

This is always a 5 star each time that I visit the area SAW's is a favorite with friendly staff and the best bbq food.

Always delicious pork sandwiches and side choices. Quick service. Great local restaurants for visitors to the area.

Most amazing ribs ever. The food was impeccable. Best ribs I have ever had by far!Another thing that blew me away was the service. The lady at the desk was the nicest person I have ever met. She even gave us some banana pudding (which was amazing) on the house. 1000% percent recommended!

Saw's has great barbecue, some of the best in Birmingham, hands down. Their white bbq sauce is pretty special. My family loves it. Today, I stopped in for the banana pudding. It's good and I'd definitely recommend it. Is this your southern grandmother's banana pudding- that's better than anyone else's?? No, Gram is still the reigning champion. Lol. HOWEVER, if you want a good back up - this is it!

Hey...we were in town for the Alabama.Tennessee game, Rollll Tide.. But we saw a local BBQ spot and thought hey let's give them a try... Well the sweet tea..a 10.. The Coleslaw...a 10... But other than that...

The food was beyond what we expected in a casual atmosphere. I ordered only sides and they were delicious. My son-in-law let me sample his onion rings. There was something remarkable about the breading that caused them to remain crisp even to the end of the meal! That was also true of the fried green tomatoes. My daughter said the Mac and cheese was double good, too. Highly recommend this little place.

I think it's the best in BHM. Small place in Homewood but food is really good. I had the smoked chicken sandwich with white sauce and potato salad And a cold Coors Light. Chicken was all white meat and delicious. Potato salad is smoother than I would like but I ate it all and is was tasty and not too many onions. Place is small so may be better for pick up or eat quickly when you are there. Also have some nice T-shirt's and huggers for you beer there and the logo with the pig looks good. Good bbq.

I had an appointment in Birmingham and had a 100 mile drive back home. To add some urgency, we were under a severe storm warning with the potential for tornadoes. I should have finished my appointment and immediately headed for I-65. Instead, I wove my way over the mountain, past the Vulcan and through Homewood till I got to perhaps one of the best BBQ joints in Alabama - Saw's. We had some died in the wool Yanks staying with us at home and I couldn't think of any way better to welcome them to our great state. And, it was my husband's birthday so a splurge on a full slab was definitely justified. I chose the family meal that came with a pound of luscious pulled pork and that marvelous slab. I chose baked beans and the requisite homemade Mac and cheese for my two sides. The meal also came with four buns, a half loaf of fresh white bread, a cup of sauce and the best part, a large cup of pickles. I added a large banana pudding too (and in hindsight, I should have picked up two). Since I had left home super early, I needed some lunch that I planned to eat enroute. My plan for lunch on the road didn't quite work as planned. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. When I opened it, it was sitting in a pool of sauce and juice - there was no way to eat this as a sandwich. Since I'm in a family of Eagle Scouts, hence, always prepared, I didn't have to look hard to find a fork and knife stowed in the center console. Instead of driving, I ate my sandwich in the parking lot - spending that extra 20 minutes not getting on the road was not the smartest thing I could have done but it sure was a delicious way to spend that time. Don't judge, but I did eat a cup gooey, cheesy Mac while driving. It was absolutely delicious. Later that evening, I served the northerners a good ole BBQ dinner. They truly enjoyed every finger licking bite. And if you were wondering, I beat the storm home. Thankfully, I didn't have to introduce my guests to a tornado drill - the storms weren't as bad as predicted - now THAT would have been a heck of a way to introduce them to the south!

Very good BBQ, liked the red sauce as well as the white sauce. Meat was tender. Sides were good. I would recommend to anyone for lunch or dinner. Take someone visiting or new to town for a taste of Bham.

We had the pork, ribs and a potato with pork. All the meats were great and the greens were great and definitely worth getting and even possibly returning for just those. The baked beans were not great but everything was above average and best in area. The service was not good and the guy taking orders was terrible. We would go back especially if we were local but I did not leave thinking I can't wait to come back, We visit bham several times a month and with all the options available we will probably go elsewhere. However, if bbq is your desire this should be your stop!

Great lunch sandwiches. Family tried pork, sausage and chicken. Really good sides, too. Reasonable prices with quick service.

We wanted to get good Birmingham BBQ and found this place on Yelp. We got the pulled pork, chicken, and ribs with the deviled eggs, baked beans, and turnip greens. The meat was very good. Although I'm not always crazy about chicken, here, it was amazing. I could drink the white sauce. The sides weren't bad, and what you'd expect at a bbq place. The beans were normal, the eggs, not overly tasty, and the greens sweetened - maybe sugar or honey. The cashier was not overly helpful, but polite enough. The atmosphere was quaint with lots of things to look at on the walls. Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. I'd consider visiting again.

I was in Alabama for a 48 hour work trip and on the way to Buc-ees I wanted to try some BBQ, so I found the best rated BBQ in town and this place was it! Someone in the reviews said that this place had "fall off the bone ribs" and that it was the best BBQ in BMH "hands down" and that the onion rings were sooo good. Boy was this place OVER HYPED!! I saw that there were 2 locations, but decided to pick the more hole-in-the-wall spot. Usually once a spot gets popular and they open a new "bigger and better" location, the quality of the food drops, so the Homewood location seemed like the best option.  As soon as you walk in, the smell of the BBQ is inviting and the girl at the counter was super nice.My coworker and I ordered the combo with a rack of ribs, 2 sides (mac n cheese, potato salad) and a pound of their pork with white bread and rolls.  The food came out within 5 minutes, which was great but also a bit troubling. It made me feel like everything was just sitting there in some tub waiting to be ordered. This combo was definitely for more than 2 people, but we weren't fazed! I tried the mac n cheese first...and the cheese was too thin...not a good consistency. Flavor was a bit lacking, but with some hot sauce, it was ok. The potato salad was ok, a bit mushy and lacked flavor as well. I did like the pork they gave us, but that bbq sauce was watery and too tart for me. I was hoping for some deep bbq flavor, but alas...twas not to be.  The ribs...NOT fall off the bone. Probably because of the sitting in a tub/heat lamp factor. The flavor was pretty good (this sauce was a bit thicker than the sauce they had bottled and gave with the pulled pork) The rack of ribs was pretty big with about 8 ribs or so. Oh, but they did NOT have any onion rings...they didn't even have a fryer! WTH man?!  Overall it was an OK experience, but Dallas and Memphis still has the best bbq I've had. Even Phil's BBQ in San Diego was better than here.

Wonderful burgers, BBQ, Mac n cheese, and banana pudding. The waiters are always extra sweet and caring when I bring my dog with me. The ambiance on the patio is wonderful as the inside can get quite loud and crowded.

Ribs are not consistent, sometimes tender other times bad. This means not enough smoke time Older lady at register was rude Tiny restaurant Good Mac and cheese

The food and service were good. I had the brisket and grilled cheese special. I also ordered the banana pudding. The banana pudding was good BUT the serving size was super small for $5. It was like a spoonful. That was disappointing.

Hell yes - BBQ at its finest in the south. The half a slab of ribs was more than enough to fill me up. I couldn't imagine getting a full slab. They are saucy - but literally fantastic. In terms of the sides - Mac n Cheese and Potato Salad (as recommended by staff) us what I rolled with. One of the better Mac n cheese I've had at restaurants like this. Potato salad is unique. It's very creamy and more of a mash without knowing much potatoes are in there. Overall worth the stop - smells great. Tastes great. Enjoy

I fell in love with SAW's during my time living in Birmingham, so I was super excited to stop by while visiting Bham recently. I went on a Friday afternoon and while SAW's was fairly empty, parking was pretty full because of the other stores on the block. However, I was able to squeeze in a spot a few doors down from SAW's. When I got inside, I ordered the smoked chicken plate with greens and macaroni and cheese as my sides as well as banana pudding for dessert. Alabama white sauce is my FAVE, so I couldn't wait to tear into my smoked chicken. The chicken was perfect - tender and juicy with a smoky flavor. The macaroni and cheese was way too wet, so I didn't eat much of it, but the greens were good! Aside from the chicken, the banana pudding was the star of the show! Omggg, it was absolutely perfect. I should've gotten another to go lol. I love SAW's and will always pay a visit when I'm in town.

Love this place. Several locations around town that each offer unique menu options. The smoked chicken with white sauce is the bomb. Deviled eggs are killer also. I have never had anything that I didn't like. Some locations have the string onion rings that are one of my favorite menu items !

I always struggle to give 5 starts because I think of that as perfect, but this place is definitely better than 4 stars. I ate hear what feels like a decade ago and remember it being good, so naturally when my path took me through the area again I had to try it again. I may be older, but my memory did not deceive me. This place has a great southern bbq joint feel when you walk in. I got a sampler because you must if you love bbq. The ribs, chicken and pulled pork were all smoked perfectly with flavor that popped and the meat was complimented well by their vinegar based bbq sauce which had just the right amount of kick. They also had white bbq for the chicken also great! The baked beans were delicious. The Mac n cheese was a bit over cooked making the noodles mushy. Service was speedy and welcoming. I'll be back every time I come through the area!

The bathroom was clean and that is always a plus! The line was long but didn't take to long. The ribs fell off the bone I personally didn't care for the sauce. Not sure why. But I wasn't the biggest fan. My boyfriend got Sausage he didn't care for the sauce or the sausage. I guess everyone has their own taste. Over all it was a great experience. I recommend giving it a try definitely!

I love thé down to earth atmosphere of this place...and of course the bbq always tastes great...they have great hearty sides that taste equally as good as the food. Service was very friendly too.

Server recommended loaded potato, with pulled pork, hit the spot! Zach opted for the smoked chicken sandwich and gave a solid review.

Love the entire company! Such a sweet aroma! Food was absolutely delicious! I definitely recommend, but I'm from Texas so I wouldn't quite call it BBQ. More of a southern American food place lol. But nevertheless, it was good! Good fries, good sausage, Delicious drinks!!!! & those thighs, made my thick thighs look like shriveled!

We are from Maryland and this was some dang good BBQ. The pork and greens was so yummy--the grits as the base was so delicious and unique. The hot chicken sandwich was juicy and the sauce was a perfect compliment. The pork platter was delicious as well! They have lots of good options and outdoor seating as well.

Doesn't look like much when you walk in but let me tell you, they know what they're doing in that kitchen. The brisket was so tender and the smoked chicken was delicious! The potato salad left a lot to be desired but the brisket made up for it!

Best collard greens on the planet. I don't go to barbecue restaurants with my mind on the side dishes but dadgum those collards are fine! Pork sandwich was spot on as well. Get there early as the dining room is very small. Love Saw's!