5 iconic BBQs you must visit in Birmingham

What’s the best way to celebrate National Barbecue Month? If you live in Birmingham, we’re pretty sure you know. The city is full of places that serve delicious tacos, from pork brisket to the most delicious chicken. People in the metro area are quick to praise their favorite barbecue spots, including restaurants that twist traditional dishes in delicious ways. (Saw’s Pork and Greens, anyone?)

Since May is National Barbecue Month – and National Barbecue Day was celebrated on May 16 – we think it’s the perfect time to sing the praises of Birmingham’s BBQ joints. Here are five iconic places you must visit, all of which have stood the test of time.

CARLILE’S GRILL

Where: 3511 Sixth Ave. South, Birmingham.

History: Carlile’s is one of Birmingham’s oldest barbecue restaurants, second only to Golden Rule Bar-BQ, dating back to 1891. Brothers Warren and Herman Carlisle opened Carlile’s in 1945 and moved to its current location in 1950. The Carlisle Family he owned the restaurant for about 30 years, then sold it to the Evans family, who kept Carlile going for another 30 years. The Collat ​​family took over in 2007 and have been keeping the Carlile tradition ever since. (And if you’re wondering why the brothers named Carlisle would drop the “s” when naming their restaurant, it was a deliberate choice after their last name was misspelled elsewhere, or so the story goes.)

Hours: 10:30-15, Monday to Friday.

The menu includes: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Beef Brisket Plates, Rib Plates, Combo Plates, Burgers, Grilled Nachos, Fried Pickles, Baked Beans, Onion Rings, Radish, Cobbler, Ice Cream Pie lemon and more.

Order this: You can’t go wrong with a pulled pork sandwich ($6.25 regular, $9.50 jumbo) or a pulled pork plate with fries and beans ($10.99). Adventurous types will want to try the Baggett Burger ($7.75), made with pulled pork, bacon, cheese and red sauce. The homemade banana pudding ($4.25) is also a must.

Good to know: President George W. Bush visited Carlile’s in 2001, and country star Lyle Lovett declared himself a fan of the savory “taco.”

More information: 205-254-9266 or Carlile’s website.

READ MORE: Make a forgotten Alabama barbecue joint relevant again

MR MYRA’S PIT BAR-BQ

Where: 3278 Cahaba Heights Road, Birmingham.

History: The pit has been smoking at Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-BQ since 1984, earning raves from legions of barbecue enthusiasts. Miss Myra’s, operated by Myra Grissom Harper and her family, is famous for its white barbecue sauce, made with mayonnaise, white vinegar, salt and pepper. “We have a white sauce and we have a red sauce,” Grissom Harper said in a 2018 interview with StyleBlueprint. “My husband was from Decatur and of course everyone in Decatur makes white sauce and I always loved it. We had a few people who didn’t like it when we first opened. … If you don’t like the taste of vinegar, you won’t like the white sauce. But we sell it by the gallon now. So I guess people like it!”

Hours: 11:00-19:00, Monday to Saturday.

The menu includes: Chicken Plates, Pork Plates, Rib Sandwiches, Smoked Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Combo Plates, Beef Sandwiches, Loaded Potatoes, Deviled Eggs, Brunswick Stew, Peanut Butter Pie and more.

Order this: The Half Chicken Platter ($13.25) is a delicious idea paired with classic sides like potato salad, baked beans or salad. Save room, if you can, for some kind of banana pudding ($3.79-$7.49). Owner Grissom Harper also recommends the chocolate chess pie ($3.79 per slice).

Good to know: Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern visited Miss Myra’s in 2013 and immediately enjoyed the hickory-smoked chicken. In fact, he included it on his barbecue bucket list. “Crispy golden skin, sweet, smoky, moist bird and its famous white sauce,” said Zimmern. “Miss Myra’s tangy and creamy version of Alabama BBQ sauce is a perfect dip for seasoned smoked chicken.”

More information: 205-967-6004 or Miss Myra’s website.

READ: Best BBQ Chicken in Birmingham: Our Top 5

FULL MOON BAR-B-QUE

Where: Several locations in the Birmingham area, including the original restaurant at 525 25th St. South.

History: Football coach Pat James opened Pat James’ Full Moon Bar-B-Que in 1986 in a cinder block building on Birmingham’s Southside. “James and his wife, Eloise, nicknamed their place ‘The Best Little Pig House in Alabama,’ and it lived up to it… famous for Pat James’ smokes and Eloise James’ sweet desserts,” AL.com said in a 2016 article. Brothers David and Joe Maluff bought Full Moon in 1997 and began expanding the business, which now has over a dozen locations in Alabama, plus one in Mississippi.

Hours: Varies by location. At the original Southside commune, hours are 10:30 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday.

The menu includes: Pork Plates, Smoked Turkey Plates, Chicken Plates, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Burgers, Ribs, Combo Plates, Smoked Turkey Salad, Potato Salad, Slaw, Baked Beans, Chow Chow, Carrot Cake , half moon cakes and many others.

Order this: The smoked turkey sandwich with barbecue sauce and chow chow ($7.99-$9.09) is a favorite of AL.com dining guru Bob Carlton, who ranked Full Moon No. 1 on his 2023 list of best barbeque in birmingham. We also like the Greek salad topped with pulled chicken ($12.29). If you have a sweet tooth, the half moon cakes are a must ($1.19 each, $71.9 per half dozen).

Good to know: Classic rocker Alice Cooper stopped by Full Moon’s Hoover location during the 2023 tour, mingling with patrons and posing for a selfie or two. A woman who met the star proclaimed him “a super nice guy!” and Instagram commenters declared the sight of the celebrity “So cool!”

More information: Full Moon Site.

READ: 5 things to know about Full Moon Bar-B-Que

DREAMLAND BAR-B-QUE

Where: Multiple locations in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Birmingham has two Dreamland locations, on the Southside at 1427 14th Ave. South and off US 280 at 101 Inverness Corners.

History: Dreamland was founded in Tuscaloosa by John “Big Daddy” Bishop. “Bishop was born in Tuscaloosa in 1921 and spent much of his life working as a bricklayer before pursuing his dream of opening a restaurant,” AL.com’s Ben Flanagan said in an article of 2019. “Dreamland opened in the Jerusalem Heights neighborhood in 1958, when Bishop and his wife Miss Lillie’s hickory-smoked ribs quickly became a local favorite that made headlines beyond Alabama’s borders.” Dreamland opened its first location outside of Tuscaloosa in 1993, settling in Birmingham’s Southside. After Bishop died in 1997, his son, John Jr., and daughter, Jeanette, ran the business for several years. Birmingham-based Dreamland Holding took over in 2000 and the company continued to grow. Dreamland’s founder was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2019.

Hours: Varies by location. At the Southside Restaurant, hours are 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday.

The menu includes: Rib Plates, Pork Plates, Chicken Plates, Chopped Pork Sandwiches, Grilled Breads, Wings, Grilled Chicken Wraps, Fried Green Tomatoes, Stadium Nachos (Topped with Boneless Rib Tips, Beef pork, chicken or sausages) and many others.

Order this: The original Dreamland menu featured ribs, gravy and white bread, and we can’t argue with that. Go indulgent with a half plate or share a full plate with a friend ($17-$28 in Southside). If you absolutely must have sides, try a prime rib plate with coleslaw and baked beans ($20). (Prices shown here are for the Southside location.)

Good to know: Over the years, celebrities have praised Dreamland, including David Letterman. The comedian and former TV host included the barbecue group on one of his “Top 10” lists on the “Late Show With David Letterman” in 2014. The topic was “Things Overheard at George Clooney’s Wedding,” and No. 6 on Letterman’s list was , “Next stop: Alabama Dreamland Bar-B-Que.”

More information: Dreamland website.

READ: The Story Behind Dreamland Bar-B-Que Sauce

DEMETRI’S BBQ

Where: 1901 28th Ave. South, Homewood.

History: “Tradition runs deep at Demetri’s BBQ,” Eric Velasco said in a 2019 story for Birmingham Magazine. “Today’s tomato-based barbecue sauce follows much the same recipe as when Demetri Nakos opened his namesake restaurant in the 1970s, and before that, when he co-owned El Rancho Grill in the 1960s, and even before that, when he drove his uncle’s beer. -and-‘cue joint, Oakland BBQ, in the 1950s.” The founder’s son, Sam Nakos, started working at Demetri’s BBQ in 1980 and took over when his father passed away in 2002.

Hours: 6:00-16:30, Monday to Saturday, 9:30-14:00 on Sundays.

The menu includes: Ribs Plates, Brisket Plates, Chicken Plates, Pork Plates (chopped or sliced), Combo Plates, Pork Sandwiches, Wings & Ribs Plates, Burgers, Fried Okra, Coconut Cream Pie, Pudding of bananas and many others.

Order this: Demetri’s is famous for its breakfast menu, which includes a grilled pork omelet with Gouda cheese. If you’re there for lunch or an early dinner, a combo plate is your best bet, with the chicken and ribs combo at the top of our list. (Note: Demetri’s menu prices are not displayed online.)

Good to know: Demetri’s made Playboy magazine’s list of “America’s 101 Best Breakfasts” in 2014. “We were kind of shocked,” Sam Nakos told AL.com. “Playboy is a national or international magazine and they voted us the No. 1 breakfast in the South. We were amazed by him. It’s quite an honor.” AL.com’s Bob Carlton also named Demetri’s to the Birmingham Restaurant Hall of Fame in 2019.

More information: 205-871-1581 or Demetri’s website.

READ: Learn the decades-old secrets of this Homewood barbecue joint