Locals eat at the same few counters for decades. A hot dog stand from 1947. A soul food kitchen from 1951. A Greek cafeteria line from 1957. This page names them, then shows the 2026 prizes and the county inspection scores that back them up.
Birmingham places that have fed the same neighborhoods for decades
| Place | Since | The story |
|---|---|---|
| The Bright Star | 1907 | Opened as a 12-seat bar in Bessemer, just outside the city. Founder Tom Bonduris was a Greek immigrant. Bham Now calls it the oldest family-owned restaurant in Alabama |
| Irondale Cafe | 1928 | Began as a hot dog stand. Fannie Flagg based the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe on it |
| Gus's Hot Dogs | 1947 | Downtown's longest-surviving Greek-owned hot dog stand |
| Eagle's Restaurant | 1951 | Soul food one block south of the ACIPCO pipe plant. The menu changes every day |
| Johnny's Restaurant | 1954 | The family's first Johnny's opened in 1954. Chef Timothy Hontzas opened this Homewood room in 2012 and serves "Greek and three" |
| Niki's West | 1957 | The second Niki's. The downtown Niki's, from 1951, closed in 2019. Cafeteria line, run by the second generation |
| Green Acres Cafe | 1958 | Started by the owner's father. A takeout storefront known for wings |
| Fife Restaurant | 1959 | A meat-and-two. Owner John Kostakis bought it from Mr. Fife more than 35 years ago |
| Davenport's Pizza Palace | 1964 | Family-owned since 1964, in Mountain Brook |
| Ranelli's Deli | 1971 | A deli in Five Points South |
| Miss Myra's Pit Bar-B-Q | 1984 | Family-run, with a custom brick pit over hickory |
| Giuseppe's Cafe | 2002 | Dinner Monday to Saturday in Five Points South |
Birmingham best-of picks from 2026
National food sites named these Birmingham places in 2026. Bham Now reported most of the picks.
| Place | The pick | Where it was reported |
|---|---|---|
| Gus's Hot Dogs | Best hot dog in Alabama, from Cheapism | Bham Now, 29 Apr 2026 |
| Ranelli's Deli | Best Italian sub in Alabama, from The Takeout | Bham Now, 8 May 2026 |
| Giuseppe's Cafe | Best hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Alabama, from Mashed | Bham Now, 8 Apr 2026 |
| Salem's Diner | Best diner in Alabama, from Tasting Table | Bham Now, 18 Mar 2026 |
| Fife Restaurant | Best diners in America, from Food & Wine, and best cheap eats, from Travel + Leisure | Mid-2026 |
| Niki's West | Best Southern comfort food in Alabama, from Cheapism | July 2026 |
| Big Spoon Creamery | One of the seven most travel-worthy ice cream shops in the country, from the Washington Post | August 2026 |
| Miss Myra's Pit Bar-B-Q | One of the 14 best barbecue chicken spots, from The Takeout | July 2026 |
| Hop City | Nominee for America's Best Beer Bar | Greater Birmingham CVB, 2 Feb 2026 |
| Cahaba Brewing | Best Local Beer for Cahaba American Blonde, from About Town | 2026 readers' picks |
Birmingham restaurants with the best county inspection scores
The Jefferson County health department scores restaurants out of 100. These are the high scores Bham Now posted in 2026.
| Place | Score | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Gianmarco's | 97 | May 2026 |
| Gus's Hot Dogs | 96 | February 2026 |
| Roll Cajun Boudin | 96 | August 2026 |
| Karma's Kitchen | 95 | September 2026 |
Know a counter locals swear by? Tell us.