SAW’s Soul Kitchen

Arrived on a Saturday late afternoon right between the lunch and dinner rushes. I believe there were 2 main floor staff. Initially, the greeting was direct but not much warmth. Not sure if staff was overwhelmed or understaffed. The server soon warmed up and the other server balanced out and was more engaging. The food was very good and with generous portions! The catfish was fluffy and wonderfully seasoned, a nice crunch without tasting super oily as it’s fried. Was also craving the fried green tomatoes and they were a lovely snack between meals with the school Sauce. The smoked chicken thighs were so succulent both in the red and white sauce. The Mac & cheese was also flavorful and beautifully baked, wish I got more. Lastly, the pulled pork was also very flavorful and smoky. We got here right in time because by the time we left, the place was full with the early dinner crowds and large groups.

Wasn’t too bad. May be an acquired taste for some, but overall good. The vinegar sauce was interesting - so was the white BBQ sauce. Wasn’t totally okay with the sauces separately, but when I combined the two, they worked quite well together! Fried pickles were seasoned well (to my shock). I didn’t care too much about dipping them because the counteract was not as palatable as I expected. Mac was okay. Overall - pretty solid place.

The food at Saw's was truly incredibly good. The best BBQ I had on my trip to Alabama. The whole atmosphere and the look of the place were fantastic, and everything I read beforehand didn't overwhelm me. Saw's Soul Kitchen is definitely a must-visit if you're in Alabama, or rather, Birmingham.

I asked what Saw’s is known for and he pointed to the Pork and Greens. I’m generally not a fan of greens (I’m not from the south 😬) but I have to say with the cheese grits and the onion rings they were great. The pork was tender and flavorful. The food looked so good the woman next to me asked if she could take a picture 🤣. The place was nearly packed so I was surprised how quickly my food came out. The staff were all great.

Saw’s Soul Kitchen is always good. Might be too good. They’re around lunchtime. they had a line up place was full. Always Great Food. We will be back when I have more time. Thank you.

An authentic dining experience with beautifully prepared meals. The onion rings on the pulled pork and greens were small and delicate and the flavour of the pork was mouth watering. No nonsense service and a feeling that this place had been here for ever. Loved it.

Have never left Saw unhappy or hungry! They have a great for everyone. We got sandwiches this time, but there BBQ is amassing as well

The pork skins and pepper jelly pimento cheese were great. As always the pork and greens were a perfect 10. Great flavor with nice size portions. My friends from Detroit loved the food.

The tangy BBQ sauce on the smoked chicken along with the sausage was a nice break from the pulled pork I ate in Memphis the previous day. Saw's is a favorite spot for sports casters and writers. Those folks usually know all the local spots. Order at the counter and have a seat. Your tasty Q will be delivered shortly. Cool dive bar feel with concert posters and sports stuff all over the walls. I will be back anytime I'm in B-Ham!

Saw's Soul Kitchen in Birmingham is a must-visit! I have visited several times when I was in town on business. Every time I visit the smells from their kitchen drive me absolutely crazy. You will not be disappointed. Their fried green tomatoes are perfectly crisp and flavorful--a must-try. Pair them with any of their delicious menu items! My whole meal was amazing

All I need to say is Alabama White Sauce. They have it perfect! Great on everything. Ribs and smoked chicken are my favorites. Every location is slightly different so try them all .

This was my first meal in Alabama, and I am going to be here for a little less thana a week. It wasn't disappointing, but it wasn't stellar, either. I had some pleasant surprises, but am looking forward to other meals improving on my overall dining experience. The good: As a despiser of mayonnaise, I was surprised (and thrilled) that I enjoyed the white sauce on the chicken so much. I would get this again, and probably try it again in the next week. The fried green tomatoes did not disappoint, and the deep fried corn on the cob (yes, this is apparently a thing) was amazing. My sister, of whom I believe is a banana pudding aficionado, could not stop eating their cup. The bad: They were out of cole slaw, which my mother was hoping to help her pulled pork sandwich. My beans were decent, but had a strong, vinegar aftertaste. Not terrible, but a little too strong for me. Now, the biggest abomination of the night: If I eat mac and cheese in an Alabama restaurant, it needs to be much better than this. It was way too mushy, and had no cheese flavor. Borderline disgusting. If I lived in Alabama, this would fall into my "if invited, I would go, but probably not suggest it" type restaurant. I am glad their fried green tomatoes and chicken were a great intro, but not enough side dish consistency.

Since moving to Alabama, I've been on a mission to find the best barbecue. This one hits all the right angles of quality, service and atmosphere. It's got a divey look but clean and classy. Porn and greens over cheesy grits with onion rings is what you need. Don't forget to pay for parking!

Was visiting Birmingham last week and decided to stop by to see what the talk was about, and I've seen them on TV. I ordered the famous grits collard greens with pulled pork. Let's just say the collard greens tasted like Glory Collard Greens from the can and the bbq sauce on it just made it too sweet. The onion rings on top were very good. My daughter had the smoked pull chicken which was good and tender. Would I visit them again, yeah but will order something different.

Fantastic food... the grit bowls are amazing! Intense flavors with creative twists! I thoroughly enjoyed eating here several times while visiting my dad at UAB!

Okay, the four-star reviews for this place were NOT earned in my opinion. Let's start with the positives, the smoked chicken thigh app Was delicious, but they brought down the level of the dish with the white sauce which was some form of commercial sauce from a jug. The Sweet hot chicken sandwich was good as well, but the cheap dry bun made it less than great. The flavor was perfect, and the level of sweet and hot were perfectly balanced but the sandwich was a missed opportunity to me. The Carolina burger...let's see the burger was okay, but that's as good as it got. The meat itself was not seasoned well and the obvious canned chili made it mediocre at best. I wanted to like this place, but it was a miss for me.

Very neat place to eat. Small and cozy. The barbecue chicken thighs were fine! So tender and the flavor was popping.

Delicious BBQ sauce for all the dishes. Great sides. Fun decor. I loved this place. Red sauce is gluten free, but white sauce is not. Parking is at a paid lot. I will be back next time I'm in Alabama! Thank you, Saw's!

Food cooked with a lot of attention to quality and detail. I enjoyed our visit to Saw's, the original downtown location, was very old school and had a vibe that I can't quite explain, but it's like, if these walls could talk, kind of experience! Had the fried green tomatoes, the fried hot chicken Sandwich, and the potato salad. The hot chili oil made everything sing! I even put it on my potato salad and yummmm! My husband ordered the smoked thighs, & baked beans. Both were delicious! The banana pudding ended it with a bang! Food and service were fast and easy, in and out! Caroline was awesome!!

Great food. Wli had the pulled chicken sandwich on white sauce, bbq pork rinds, deviled eggs, and mac n cheese and all of it was amazing. Highly recommended anyone to eat here.

Absolutely worth the hype and probably my favorite barbecue in the city. I have been told that each Saw's location is different, so I can only speak to this menu. You get an obnoxious amount of food for a decent price. A "side" of fried pork skins is enough to feed an entire family. Their smoked chicken thighs are juicy and flavorful. Most of their pulled pork will melt in your mouth, but some parts are dry. My biggest recommendation is to bring brisket to this location! Saw's also recently changed their service. You order at the front desk, grab a seat, and a staff member brings the food out to you.

We enjoyed our food here. We got the sweet heat chicken sandwich, patty, melt, chili fries, platter with sausage and chicken thighs. The chicken sandwich and patty melt were probably the best dishes we got. I have had better collared greens. But we loved the Alabama sauce with the chicken thighs. Must try. We were checked on multiple times by staff. Separate bathrooms and good chill experience. Parking can be difficult at peak times but if you drive around you can find something.

Driving from New Orleans to Philadelphia in two days. We've done this trip many times and stop at stupid fast food places. Now we are getting smarter and taking a few minutes to go "off the highway." This is one of the greatest finds ever. We got there at 11 and people were already waiting to get in. I had the greens, pork and grits. Heaven on a plate! Got some greens to go too. Husband loved his smoked sausage sandwich that he loved too!!

Not bad. Parking nightmare. Have to pay to park. They don't own their own lot?? One guy working. Fried chicken sandwich, pulled pork sandwich and fried pickles. Pickles were crunchy and amazing. Chicken sandwich was amazing, very good Pulled pork average. Don't know why's the big deal is here. Pretty average food, slow service. Wanted to really like this place.

The best dish I've ever eaten at any restaurant is the Pork N Greens plate. Cheese grits topped with the best collard greens I've had topped with perfect pulled pork BBQ topped with fried onions. It was an Umami explosion. My second favorite was the Sweet Tea Fried Chicken Sandwich. Chicken breast was marinated in sweet tea for a few days. Best chicken sandwich I've ever eaten. This place definitely goes on my best food spots on the country list. Note: they close really early so call before you go!

Downtown for a concert and needed lunch. Saw the reviews for this place and decided to give it a try. Hubby enjoyed The Original BBQ sandwich, and I had the Sweet Tea Chicken sandwich. Both were good, but I think I won. We shared the onion rings which were crispy and excellent. I regret not ordering the fried pickles though....they looked amazing. Order at counter and food brought to your table freshly prepared! Definitely a hole-in-the-wall place....you have to look for it! Definitely worth the hunt!

Great locals restaurant and bar. Good food and atmosphere. Recommended by Atlantic Aviation at the BHM airport

Oh my goodness, I am still thinking and daydreaming of the food here!! Such friendly staff too, and there's seating inside. We ordered a few things: Smoked Chicken Thighs: These come with a white BBQ sauce. You must get these!! These were by far the best thing we tried and some of the best BBQ from our roadtrip of the south. Sweet Tea Fried Chicken Sandwich: They marinate their chicken in sweet tea before frying. It's not totally obvious from the flavor, but there is a hint of sweetness to the chicken. It's pretty good but I think I prefer spicy fried chicken. Carolina Burger: Cheeseburger with chili, mustard, onions and pickles. People talk about this being a standout dish from their menu and I wasn't that impressed. It's basically just a chili burger. Get the smoked chicken thighs!!!

It was an experience. We were staying in town for a few days around the corner so we walked over. There is parking behind but not sure if you pay or not. Small place but interesting inside. If you are not sitting at the bar, you need to walk up and place your food and drink order. We got the chicken thigh meal with red and white sauce. I got greens and deviled eggs. Husband got green beans. We are not a fan of the white sauce so we got that on the side vs drizzled on the chicken although he did say it was flavorful. Deviled eggs were dry but okay. Greens were good and so were the green beans. The chicken was delicious with just the red sauce and tender. Friends had the fried green tomatoes and claimed they were good as well. Drinks were great and you get your own water and soda when they give you a cup.

The food was great, however it is on the pricey side ($15-25 for a meal and a drink). Customer service was as expected, but not friendly. They have limited seating.

Some of the best food in Birmingham! Came here for lunch. We were told to seat ourselves and then order ourselves at the front counter. The inside is nice and has cool decor. Do yourself a favor and try the Sweet Tea Fried Chicken. I was deciding between the pulled pork sandwich and the sweet tea fried chicken sandwich and the employee told me the Sweet Tea Fried Chicken was their #1 best seller and after taking a bite, I instantly knew why. The outside is so crispy and perfectly fried while the inside is insanely juicy. The white sauce on top is delicious. You NEED to try this sandwich. Easily the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had. The pulled pork was pretty good. However, their BBQ sauce is not my favorite. I prefer a thick, sweet BBQ but SAW's BBQ sauce is more watery and vinegar tasting. We got Mac and cheese and a very generous portion of fries as the sides. My friend also enjoyed his patty melt, which also has the white sauce in addition to a burger sauce. I absolutely recommend this to anyone visiting Birmingham. We will be back.

Visiting here from Hawaii and we were in search of a good place to eat southern food. My mother's palate is very hard to please so finding a place that meets her standard is a feat. We've tried a couple places in Montgomery but the meats were dry or lacked flavor. At Saw's the food was juicy and had sufficient flavor. We got the pulled pork plate with fried pickles and coke slaw, patty melt with sweet potato fries, smoked chicken sandwich with fries, sweet tea chicken tenders with fries, and fried green tomatoes. All great options and portion size was just right. The service was great. Everyone was friendly. The ambiance was chill with self seating. It was not too crowded or loud. Price was reasonable. I will return when visiting Birmingham again and would recommend this place to others.

The sweet heat fried chicken sandwich was the best chicken sandwich I have EVER eaten. Fantastic! Add the onion rings to the plate and you have a meal that will bring a smile to your face. Friendly service and great atmosphere.

SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH - incredible, juicy, flavorful, delectable COLE SLAW - fresh, crunchy, sweet, vinegary PULLED PORK - juicy, flavorful, satisfying ONION RINGS - so yummy with lots of flavor (make sure to enjoy fresh or else they got soggy) GREAT SERVICE - CLEAN - GREAT VIBES MAC AND CHEESE - in our opinion: pasta was over cooked and soggy, pretty bland. Maybe it was an off day? It was our first time. Everyone else seems to love it! Definitely will be back when we pass through!

Two words. . . Barbecue baker. Holy cow. Anytime anyone I know goes to Birmingham I tell them about this place, and I've made the trip just to eat here. Final meal level food.

I'm town for a meeting and Saw's was recommending for local food. It was exactly what we were looking for. A short U er ride from the hotel near UAB where there are very limited options. Smoked chicken was tender and I lived the tangy red sauce. Nice vinegar kick which is my favorite. The grits were good not too heavy and I loved the turnip greens. Onion rings sliced thin and the portion size is large. I could t finish my meal. I didn't personally taste the sweet tea fried chicken sandwich but my colleague said it was really good. We both really liked the dill pickle chips (This was my 3rd time ever trying fried pickles and they were good) The fried green tomatoes... more please It's not often I eat fried food but if I lived here I would definitely be a regular Derive is walk up and order no table service but the ladies did bring our food and drinks. Friendly people here

Saw's is kind of an establishment in town. I fear that at least three of us may have ordered stuff outside of their wheelhouse, but maybe not. Let's start with the amazing...the sweet tea chicken fingers. Holy smokes! This sweet tea on food thing is going to catch on nationwide once people discover it. It was incredible. Because of the coating, it looks over cooked when it comes out of the kitchen but don't worry, they know what they're doing back there. Juicy and tender with the coolest tea flavor to it. I'd order this every time I come here. The chicken thighs could have used another 15 minutes on the grill. It's not that they were under cooked but the meat wouldn't come off the bone which was unfortunate. For the most part, they were pretty good. The pulled pork was fairly yummy but they could have given the butt a little more seasoning before starting the cook. It's a big piece of meat that's nearly impossible to over season. The loaded baked potatoes are pretty nice too. A good order if you're looking for some comfort food. All on all, I'd recommend Saw's but they're just missing a couple of things to get them up to 5 stars.

Right off the interstate. Quick and friendly service. Good comfort food that pleased every member of our party.

Like all great BBQ shops, from the outside Saw's looks like a dive bar. Inside, though, it is a character-laden bar/restaurant with great food and drink menus. Our Uber driver had told us that we had to try the Pork 'n Greens. I did, and it was a wonderful choice! Pulled pork on greens and cheese grits, all topped with thin onion rings, turns out to be a taste sensation. I added the vinegar-based BBQ sauce and enjoyed one of the best combination of flavors I've ever tasted. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich with their red sauce and said it was awesome! If in Birmingham, try this place.

It smelled like everything would taste great but that's where it stopped. I had takeout so I can't speak to the customer service experience. The food was edible, it just didn't taste deeply sauced or seasoned.

Fantastic barbecue. A must stop whenever I'm in town! As for extra sauce on the side so you can try them all! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Moonshine slushy...strong

Best Bar B Que in Birmingham! Greens and mac and cheese are outstanding. Love pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches!

If you're looking for traditional Southern BBQ, that's the place to go! I've never been disappointed by the quality or quantity of the food. Try everything!

Pork and greens is amazing! Mac and cheese is good, as well as patty melt and onion rings.

We were in Avondale for a show and stopped by Saw's. They were packed, but we didn't wait very long for a table at all. The drinks came quickly and the waitress was attentive. Their food is always on point. The BBQ chicken thighs with the crispy skin are always fantastic.

Saw's Soul kitchen is downright dangerous. I had no business being here. I know what you're thinking....why would you go to Alabama at all? No not that! I assure sure there are fine people here. I mean here, a restaurant, ordering a fried chicken sandwich. The 3rd such instance of Fried chicken in a one week period. Don't judge me! I'm trying here. But I have absolutely no regrets. It's a sweet tea fried chicken sandwich, with some sort of white hot cheese sauce thing that I still can't explain. It's simply glorious. Ok The service is excellent, and the fries were perfectly seasoned and crispy. But come on, nothing else really matters after sweet tea fried chicken. My arteries will have to take the hit on this one....no regrets!

It's been a while since I've been here I wanted a good burger and almost completely forgot how good their burger was! It did not disappoint! I'm really loving how they've opened up the space & added the bar! Our order was To-go so I didn't get a chance to grab their famous bushwhacker so the hubs & I will definitely do a repeat visit! I highly recommend the burger and the drink their pork & greens are delicious too

This was one of the best lunches I've ever had, no doubt. I was traveling with my oldest son and we found a spot at the bar around 2pm. It was a Friday afternoon and it was full, but we didn't have to wait. We had more food than we should have and it was all amazing. My favorite were the pork rinds, they were perfect. My son had this amazing pimiento cheese and I had barbecue with the white sauce. All of it was perfect. It's not in a busy or fancy part of town, which added to the character. Service was great and the price was less than it should be considering the food quality. When we asked for a box to bring leftovers to the hotel, they brought a brown paper bag for the pork rinds so that they would stay crisp. That's exactly the kind of touch that makes this place special. Bravo!

The food was absolutely amazing. Came out quickly and the fried pickles were very crispy. 5 stars for their white sauce as well. The reason I am giving 3 stars is because of the service. We had to get our own menus and to go boxes. We had to get up and order at the bar. I had to get up and go to the bar and ask for my beer because they never brought it to the table. Also the server kept stpping by our table asking us if random drinks were ours, which they were not. Why am I leaving a 20% tip when I am basically doing everything except cooking the food? Also I don't think the AC was working because it was hot as hell. The service here is a reoccurring problem, so probably won't be back here.

A kid outside offering to wish your car window for a few bucks. Keep up the hustle kid. We got here as a group of 8 and I called ahead. They don't take reservations but it was busy when we got theee. They saved us a table anyway. Good folks and love love the funny lines on the menu. BBQ isn't my typical meal at home because for obvious health reason. On trip, I love bbq. Or southern food we call it. This place doesn't disappoint you. Please try the chicken sandwich and I would sell this in nyc if I know how. Ambiance is casual and family place. There are all kind of folks here. I would not hang outside at night thou. Thank you for the good service.

Stopped in on our road trip to New Orleans 4 years ago based on its reviews. It was during COVID . Tucked away isolated area was this small stand-like shop with some tables. The food was fresh and despite of it being barbecue and meat it had a light taste. Enjoyed the location not much around. But hole in the wall local places usually turn out to serve the best foods

Stopped here on our way home from PCB. Found on Yelp. Reviews were good so had to try. My 18 yo daughter was like why do you always take us to hole in the wall places. She had her sights on the trendier looking place next door. Well let me say each one of us totally finished our meals. It was all so good. Fried pickles. The chicken sandwich was superb though I'm glad I got the white sauce on the side. Just wasn't really my thing.

The sweet tea chicken sandwich is the best sandwich in the south! You have to give it a try. The parking is confusing, I'm not sure if my car is going to get towed or if my car will be waiting for me after I finish the amazing sandwich. It's with the risk either way. The food comes out fast and the staff are nice. It definitely feels like a barbecue place, complete with shop rag paper towels for how serious the sauce is. There is plenty of seating though.

Wow. If you haven't been to Saw's Soul Kitchen since the pandemic started, are you in for a surprise when you walk in the place! They have completely renovated!! Inside is now at least twice as big, probably more. A lot more tables and no longer has a hole-in-the-wall feeling. You no longer order at a walk-up register, now it's a sit-down with a server experience. Exterior has a take-out window with lots of picnic tables. I love the new set up. Much more comfortable! Food is as good as ever...maybe even better! It's hard for me to say for sure since it has been awhile since I was last here, but I can attest to the fact everything was VERY good today! If our ticket is correct, Emily was our server and she was fantastic. Very nice and efficient! We got fried green tomatoes (served fresh and hot!), pimento cheese pork rinds (even better than we imagined....), pork and greens, blackened catfish and greens, chicken thigh plate, hot chicken sandwich, shrimp & grits, and banana puddings. Literally everything was good! My favorite was the hot chicken sandwich, the mixed flavor of the toppings with the fried chicken was absolutely superb....soooooo good with a slight kick!! Definitely will be one of my go to in the future!!

The absolute best BBQ I have ever had! Service was quick and the food was amazing! We each had something different. Will definitely come back! Do yourself a favor and save room for banana pudding!

Absolutely amazing White BBQ sauce. Being a Chicago native I've never had the chance to try real Alabama BBQ before this visit but I was blown away with how flavorful it was. I got the pulled pork plate which was extremely filling. My buddy and I both got plates and an extra side. We tried the onion rings good but a little salty, coleslaw good but a little Vinegar forward for me, pork rines nothing special there, and fried green tomatoes which were AMAZING! We got the banana pudding for desert but was very disappointed in it. But overall great BBQ joint!

The food and service were outstanding. I had the bbq plate with pulled pork, smoked chicken thighs, slaw and onion rings. The pulled pork was some of the best I have tasted, so moist and tender. The chicken was well cooked and had white bbq sauce that was very tasty. The onion rings and slaw were above average. This is a must visit location.