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    El Vecino

    3.2 (6 reviews)
    InexpensiveImported Food

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    I love this place. The food and service is great every time I go. The drinks are good as well.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Outstanding food. Drinks are amazing. If you want cheap good Mexican food and drinks come.

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    14 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Annual Russian/Slavic Food Festival

    Annual Russian/Slavic Food Festival

    4.5
    (2 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $

    Food and people are amazing. Activities for the kids and adults.read more

    It's Glasnost-to-Go: I found something NEW - a sure magnet for lovers of all things Baltic and…read morebeyond. It's the ST. NICHOLAS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH--ANNUAL RUSSIAN/SLAVIC FOOD FESTIVAL! Having found it, I went...and was glad, although I took the trip alone. It was a pleasant drive with a delicious ending. It's held each year on the first Saturday - Sunday of November (times are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Noon - 5 p.m., respectively) in the Parish Hall. [It began in 1981 as a bake sale and until recently it somehow, somewhere, some way eluded me.] Just got back, but it's still going strong tomorrow! (On Sundays, visitors can see a bit of Russian dancing on the grounds, located about 30 minutes northwest of Birmingham...I was sorry I missed the dancers, but my schedule was wild that week). Following what is estimated as a couple months' prep, the ladies of the "Sisterhood of St. Olga" - some of whom you may espy in native peasant dresses - roll out trays full of Ukrainian-Slovakian delights. These bonnes bouches de babushka are based on vintage recipes bequeathed by relatives and friends who immigrated to the area, drawn by potential employ at the local coal mines. Comestibles included beet-infused borscht, shschi (Russian soldiers' cabbage/meat soup - VERY GOOD), pirozhki (buns filled with various ingredients), blini (pancakes of a sort), pelmeni (filled dumplings), and kolbasa, which you may recognize under its Polish name, kielbasa. I chose the grand-slam "Imperial Platter," which boasted halupki (stuffed cabbage), kolbasa, kraut, pirozhki, halushki (dumplings & cabbage), cucumber salad, and pigachi for only $14. I LOVED IT... Other, smaller platters, including a vegetarian selection, are priced accordingly, and many of the pastries (Imperial squares, medivnyk, Russian teacakes, pascha, and bulochki) are individually priced. The smaller pastries run $2, while the larger breads are at $5. Very reasonable! The bakery area, itself, is reason enough to go. Plan to bring extra money just for this. I did, and I was broke...but I took an armload home, with my favorite a toss-up between the nut-filled, Slovakian rozky and the kolach, a rolled bread that, per my choice, was stuffed with almonds... YUMMM. Onsite you'll discover a store known as the Beriozka, where you can find imported tchotchkes (e.g. matryoshkas, or nesting dolls; iconography; hand-painted ornaments) and other more practical imports, such as books and woolen shawls, from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova. I picked up one of the Russian cookbooks and will be utilizing it soonly... Call Father Benedict or Matushka Brigid Davis at the numbers above to get more info. Then it's time to dust off your samovar and head to St. Nick's!

    Photos
    An outdoor stage at the Russian Festival in Brookside, AL

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    An outdoor stage at the Russian Festival in Brookside, AL
    A Touch of German

    A Touch of German

    4.7
    (6 reviews)
    42.3 mi
    $$

    This store was actually really cool!…read more We really weren't sure what was going to get into with this place. When we popped in we found that they had all sorts of German related stuff .... toys, snacks, drinks, Christmas ornaments ..... The back of the store had another section of really cool toys that were really unique. As we worked our way back up the other side of the store we found a wall that had tons of spices and teas. All in large containers that you take to the front counter and tell them how much you want and they scoop out how ever much you want (pay by the ounce). The highlight of the store, the lady (presumably the owner) that made the shopping experience so nice. She also gave us some tips on cooking tea that we had never heard before. Really awesome customer service! We would for sure check them out, especially in a couple months (now Late July/early August) when she starts getting shipments of Christmas candies.

    I didn't want to go in this shop. I certainly didn't want…read moreto like this shop. Well, let me explain. I was starving and hadn't eaten anything yet and it was 2pm and I thought it was a German restaurant. Needless to say I was very disappointed, and when my husband wanted to "just check it out," I stomped in planning to give it a cursory glance and depart to the car with haste. Well I gave it a cursory glance. I saw German steins and yawned. I saw little metal toys and rolled my eyes. But then I saw some colorful and well crafted Christmas ornaments. Hmm... interesting. I saw a vast wall of spices and teas. Well, maybe I like it *a little bit * after all. German chocolate and sweets and food mixes and kitchen stuff really captivated my attention. But the nicest lady you will ever meet who works there (probably the owner) was the icing in the cake. A store that I didn't want to even go in that ends up making me want to come back again and again? If that's not a *shoppe* worth 5 stars then I don't know what is! Guten tag!

    Photos
    MORE to see!
    MORE to see!
    A Touch of German
    Sidewalk View Storefront

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    Sidewalk View Storefront
    Melkite Rite Food and Cultural Festival

    Melkite Rite Food and Cultural Festival

    5.0
    (5 reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$

    Who would've thought the semi-clad Vulcan oversees a stronghold of Eastern Orthodoxy?…read more Mediterranean-food lovers and xenophiles alike rejoice each fall, with this event coming right on the heels of Birmingham's Greek Food Festival. Baked chicken, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, and zalabieh are just some of the highlights, but don't forget the baklawa or, more deliciously, the date-filled m-a-m-o-u-l...! My favorite plate is the Nile, featuring kibbee, spinach pie, grape leaves, rice, spicy green beans, Arabic salad, and humos. And you can order MORE as sides! Beware...they sell out of zalabieh early every year. A narrated church tour elucidates a liturgy blending the essence of Jerusalem, Damascus, and Antioch, and you can pick up a censer at the market to take the "atmosphere" home with you. Highly recommended, family-friendly event, with food to die, or kill, for. You'll rock on Friday and Saturday night to Amin Sultan's crazy beat, or something's wrong with you! I'm still giving them four stars, even though I miss the stuffed squash! From their website menu, for those not in the know: KIBBEE: Finely ground very lean beef, mixed with cracked wheat, onions, pine nuts, spices, brushed with butter and baked to perfection. ROLLED GRAPE LEAVES: Ground chuck mixed with rice and spices, rolled in grape leaves and cooked in a water & lemon juice mixture until tender. BAKED CHICKEN: Half chickens marinated in lemon juice and butter, seasoned with a blend of spices, oregano, and baked to a moist golden brown. SPINACH PIE: Spinach, onions, lemon juice, olive oil, and spices wrapped in fresh yeast dough in the shape of a triangle and baked. MEAT PIE: Browned ground beef, onions, spices and cream cheese mixed an wrapped in fresh yeast dough in the shape of a triangle and baked. FALAFEL: Ground chick peas, onions, spices, parsley and cumin rolled into a ball and deep fried. GREEN BEANS: Italian beans simmered with crushed tomatoes, butter, spices, onions and garlic. ZALABIEH: Yeast dough made with a blend of anise, mahalab and sugar, deep fried, dipped piping hot into a special syrup and topped with powdered sugar. Simply delicious! Mine Fave Entree (and I always "request"): THE NILE $16.00 ONE HALF POUND BAKED KIBBEE, SPINACH PIE, 3 ROLLED GRAPE LEAVES, RICE, GREEN BEANS, ARABIC SALAD, AND BREAD. (HUMOS ON REQUEST)

    I went last night, and it was delicious!! I recommend the meat pie, spinach pie, hummus, and the…read moredoughnut!!! Yummm.....I want to go back again tonight!!

    Photos
    Volunteer sprinkle sugar over pastries.
    Volunteer sprinkle sugar over pastries.
    Melkite Rite Food and Cultural Festival
    Doughnut.....delicious!!!

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    Doughnut.....delicious!!!
    Los Valedores

    Los Valedores

    4.7
    (142 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $

    This was my first time here, but my sons have been telling me for a while that I needed to try it…read more They were right! I also learned they've made the exciting move from being a food truck to their own brick-and-mortar location. Congratulations on such a wonderful milestone! I ordered the quesabirria tacos with a side of chips (the chips don't come with the meal). The tacos are served with consommé and a side of refried black beans. Everything was DELICIOUS! The food was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. I'd give the quesabirria a 9.7/10. The only thing that would have made it even better for me would have been a little crispy cheese crunch. The salsa, which I had to request, was a bit spicier than I prefer. But then again, my son recently informed me that I'm a spice wimp... or something to that effect. So take that review for what it's worth! Not only was the food fantastic, but the service was friendly and FAST. The atmosphere is laid back and welcoming, and they even have a patio if you enjoy outdoor dining. Congratulations again on your new location! I'll definitely be back.

    The food is good--I can't deny that. The tacos, in particular, are really good, and they're usually…read morewhat I order every time I visit. This time, however, I decided to try the quesabirrias, and unfortunately, they were disappointing. I also ordered a horchata, which I didn't think was very good. The biggest area that needs improvement is the customer service. I would describe it as average at best, and in some ways, closer to poor. I understand that no one is obligated to greet customers or wish them a good day, but when you're paying for a meal--especially at a place that isn't exactly cheap--you at least expect to be treated with kindness. During my visit, no one greeted me when I walked in or when they came to take my order, and overall the staff didn't seem very welcoming or attentive. While I was waiting for my food, I asked if I could get a little more horchata. The employee simply replied, "No, you have to buy another one." I responded, "No, that's okay." Honestly, if the horchata had been really good, I would have gladly paid for another one. It wasn't so much about having to buy a second drink--it was more about the way the situation was handled. Small interactions like that can make a big difference in how customers feel. I truly believe this restaurant has a lot of potential. If they improved their customer service and showed a little more warmth and empathy toward their customers, it could easily become one of the best Mexican restaurants in Birmingham. The food has potential, but the overall dining experience also depends on how customers are treated, and that's the area that still needs the most improvement.

    Photos
    Los Valedores
    Sopes NO Meat (3)
    Sopes NO Meat (3)
    Los Valedores

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    El Vecino - importedfood - Updated July 2026

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