Favorite Places to Eat in Birmingham, AL

Must Eat Places in Birmingham, AL - Ashley Mac's, Ragtime Cafe, Beef O'Brady's and The Front Porch at Ross Bridge.
We recently moved to a new part of town, and we LOVE it! We lived off of Highway 280 for YEARS. We moved to Hoover and, it is like a whole new world over here! 
We’ve been having the best time finding new places to eat. 
We’ve tried several places and have four favorites. 
If you follow us on Instagram, you probably already know our favorites. 
We are there all the time! 

Ashley Mac’s
Ashley Mac's famous chicken salad - Birmingham, AL
Ashley Mac’s is known for their chicken salad.
We agree that it is the best in town!
The Bistro Steak Salad at Ashely Macs in Birmingham, AL is incredible! Grilled petite tenderloin, cherry tomatoes, bleu cheese, grilled red onions, and garlic croutons. Served over a bed of mixed greens with our Balsamic vinaigrette and creamy horseradish dressing and a sour cream biscuit.
The Bistro Steak Salad is incredible!
Grilled petite tenderloin, cherry tomatoes, bleu cheese, grilled red onions, and garlic croutons. Served over a bed of mixed greens with our Balsamic vinaigrette and creamy horseradish dressing and
a sour cream biscuit.

The Grilled Chicken Sandwich at Ashley Macs in Birmingham, AL is my absolute favorite!  Grilled chicken, bacon, Havarti cheese, lettuce, tomato and homemade honey mustard served hot on a toasted croissant.
The Grilled Chicken Sandwich is my absolute favorite!
Grilled chicken, bacon, Havarti cheese, lettuce, tomato and homemade honey mustard served hot on a toasted croissant.

The Turkey and Spinach Aioli Sandwich at Ashely Mac's in Birmingham, AL gets two thumbs up! Fresh sliced turkey, tomatoes, baby spinach, Havarti cheese, and our homemade spinach aioli served on toasted ciabatta bread.
The Turkey and Spinach Aioli Sandwich gets two thumbs up!
Fresh sliced turkey, tomatoes, baby spinach, Havarti cheese, and our homemade spinach aioli served on toasted ciabatta bread.

Broccoli Slaw at Ashley Mac's in Birmingham, AL
LOVE the Broccoli Slaw on the side!
Cupcakes are a MUST at Ashley Mac's in Birmingham, AL
You simply can not eat at Ashley Mac’s and not eat a cupcake.
They sell packs of 6 mini cupcakes. I suggest the variety pack so you can pick your favorite.
My favorite is the strawberry!
Ashley Mac’s
4730 Chace Circle
Hoover, Alabama 35244
205-259-5044

Beef O’Brady’s
Angus Texas Sliders at Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL -  3 fresh Angus sliders with smoked Gouda and cowboy sauce each on a King’s Hawaiian bun. Ask for extra cowboy sauce on the side - SOOO good!  I mean, its a burger on a Hawaiian roll. Hello!?!
I know what you are saying. Beef O’Brady’s is a chain. 
Yeah, it is. BUT it is right by our house and it is actually really good. 
The people that work there are super, super nice and there is a wide variety of food!
One of my favorite things to order are the Angus Texas Sliders .
3 fresh Angus sliders with smoked Gouda and cowboy sauce each on a King’s Hawaiian bun.
Ask for extra cowboy sauce on the side – SOOO good! 
I mean, its a burger on a Hawaiian roll. Hello!?!

The Chicken Tenders at Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL are surprisingly good. Real chicken battered and fried. It comes with slaw and fries. It is definitely enough to share!
The Chicken Tenders are surprisingly good.
Real chicken battered and fried.
It comes with slaw and fries. It is definitely enough to share!

At Beef O'Brady's you can order any burger on the menu and substitute grilled chicken. This is the BBQ Bacon Grilled Chicken Sandwich. YUM!
I am a big fan of grilled chicken sandwiches.
At Beef O’Brady’s you can order any burger on the menu and substitute grilled chicken.
This is the BBQ Bacon Grilled Chicken Sandwich. YUM!

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger at Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL!! Fresh Angus covered with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, melted American cheese, smoked bacon and two onion rings. Served with lettuce and tomato. Holy cow!
Here is the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger!!
Fresh Angus covered with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, melted American cheese, smoked bacon and two onion rings. Served with lettuce and tomato.
Holy cow!

Fried Pickles at Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL
The Fried Pickles are great!!!

Sweet Jalapeño Grilled Wings at Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL
The Sweet Jalapeño Grilled Wings are crazy good!
LOVE sweet heat!

The Veggie Flatbread at Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL is great for an appetizer or main dish. Classic veggie with mushrooms, diced tomatoes, green peppers, red onions and topped with cheddar jack and Parmesan cheese.
The Veggie Flatbread is great for an appetizer or main dish.
Classic veggie with mushrooms, diced tomatoes, green peppers, red onions and topped with cheddar jack and Parmesan cheese.

Funnel Cake Fries with caramel and chocolate. O-M-G! Beef O'Brady's in Birmingham, AL
We couldn’t pass up the Funnel Cake Fries with caramel and chocolate.
O-M-G!
Beef O’Brady’s
5519 Grove Blvd
Hoover, AL 35226-4605
205-987-9464

Ragtime Cafe
Outdoor seating at Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL
Ragtime Cafe is one of my favorites.
I would eat here once a week if Chicken Legs would agree to it.
It is super casual with really good food.
I love to sit outside and listen to the music. 
It is finally starting to cool off at night, so sitting outside with a glass of wine is perfect!
THE BEST Warm Pretzels with Beer Cheese Sauce at Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL
These Pretzels with Beer Cheese sauce are crazy good.
We shared these with our table and totally regretted not getting our own order.
Ridiculously good. This was the inspiration for my recent Beer Cheese Sauce recipe!

THE BEST Queso at Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL. I could make a meal out of this dip!
Ragtime’s Queso is the best in town. I could make a meal out of this dip!

Gigantic Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks at Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL
The Fried Mozzarella Cheese sticks are HUGE!
I will take a photo with my hand in it next time so you can see how big these things are.
YUM!

HOT Buffalo Wings at Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL
The Buffalo Wings are really good and really hot!!
I mean, when they come to the table with jalapeños on top you know it’s gonna burn!

My favorite! Cajun Chicken Pasta with smoked sausage from Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL
My absolute favorite thing at Ragtime is the Cajun Chicken Pasta.
I dream about this pasta! Chicken and sausage tossed in a Cajun Alfredo Sauce.
It is SO good!
Can't go wrong with a Burger at Ragtime Cafe in Birmingham, AL
You know we can’t pass up a good burger.
Ragtime’s burger is delicious!!!
Ragtime Cafe
2080 Valleydale Road
Birmingham, AL 35244
205-988-5323

The Front Porch at Ross Bridge
Candied Bacon Bombs with Fried Cheese Curds from The Front Porch in Birmingham,AL - these things are LIFE CHANGING!
We LOVE The Front Porch. It is really close to our house and has THE BEST food!
You MUST get the Candied Bacon Bombs with Fried Cheese Curds.
This dish is life changing!
Candied Bacon Bombs with Fried Cheese Curds from The Front Porch in Birmingham,AL - these things are LIFE CHANGING!
The bacon wrapped smoked sausage is good, but the cheese curds.
Oh my! The cheese curds are amazing! AMAZING!
Wings from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
We had to try the wings. They are really good. Hot but not burn your mouth hot.
They have several flavors, we will definitely try them all at some point.

Fried Pickles with White BBQ Sauce from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
You can’t go wrong with fried pickles!

Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
The Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a meal in itself!
The Front Porch's Grilled Chicken Sandwich is in my top 5 ever. Two small chicken cutlets grilled to perfection. Topped with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Ask for a side of the jalapeño ranch to go with it. YUM! Birmingham, AL
The Front Porch’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich is in my top 5 ever.
Two small chicken cutlets grilled to perfection. Topped with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.
Ask for a side of the jalapeño ranch to go with it. YUM!

This Pulled Pork Stack from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL is ridiculous. Fried Smoked Gouda Grit Cake topped with Pulled Pork, Turnip Greens, Onion Rings and White BBQ Sauce. WOW!
This Pulled Pork Stack is ridiculous.
Fried Smoked Gouda Grit Cake topped with Pulled Pork, Turnip Greens, Onion Rings and White BBQ Sauce. WOW!

The Mahi Mahi Sandwich from The Front Porch in Birmingham, AL  is a winner! Grilled Mahi Mahi topped with a Mango Pineapple Slaw and served with an agave lime cocktail sauce.
The Mahi Mahi Sandwich is a winner!
Grilled Mahi Mahi topped with a Mango Pineapple Slaw and served with an agave lime cocktail sauce.

Perfect Cheeseburger from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
The Burger is a classic.
It is the perfect size and I LOVE the bun!
I added bacon, because why not!

Shrimp and Grits from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL - Shrimp, smoked sausage, gouda cheese grits and red eye gravy.
Shrimp and Grits is a Southern classic.

Shrimp and Grits from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL - Shrimp, smoked sausage, gouda cheese grits and red eye gravy.
Shrimp, smoked sausage, gouda cheese grits and red eye gravy.

Chicken Salad Sandwich from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
The Chicken Salad sandwich is delicious.
LOVE all the pecans!
Sweet Potato Fries drizzled with caramel - ridiculous! The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
You MUST get the sweet potato fries with your sandwiches.
They drizzle the fries with CARAMEL!!!!!!!
AMAZING Pepperoni Pizza from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL
The Front Porch also serves pizza and it is surprisingly good!

he Grand Avenue Pizza from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL has pepperoni, sausage, olives, mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic and fresh basil. Perfection!
The Grand Avenue has pepperoni, sausage, olives, mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic and fresh basil. Perfection!

White Chocolate Bread Pudding from The Front Porch at Ross Bridge in Birmingham, AL - SWOON!
We have only managed to try one dessert.
We went with the White Chocolate Bread Pudding.
It was AMAZING! OMG! SO good!!
The Front Porch at Ross Bridge
2301 Grand Ave, Suite 109
Hoover, Alabama 35226
205-436-2072
What are some of your favorite places to in The Ham?
We are always looking for new places to try!!

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  1. So excited to try some of these places. We live in Green Bay, Wisconsin and our daughter just started college at UAB in Birmingham so this will help us find some great places to go. Love your posts!!!

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