This past Friday, I was dropping off donations at The Foundry, and noticed that Hit Different was…read moreright across the highway. I jumped at the chance to try this place out because of the reviews of other Yelpers. The restaurant is sitting on the corner of Pelham Parkway and County Road 68 East, across from The Foundry Superthrift Outlet and Dollar General, and next door to TherapySouth. It is a nice sized place and the atmosphere is welcoming. I was helped by Dyron, who seemed like he never knew a stranger. He was so kind to everyone, including those on the phone. I even heard him say, "So we got your dad covered - what can I get started for YOU?" He was excited when he found out I was a "newbie". I love the menu. Each item has some form of "hit" in the name - slappin', crackin', slammin', and more. I ended up with the "Bussin' Burger" and a side of fries to go (since I was heading back to work). The food is cooked upon ordering, so my meal was nice and hot when I left. And I am here to tell you, the name of the burger was totally accurate! It was delicious - seasoned very well, and the perfect amount of toppings. The fries were good, but that burger - so good! No wonder Hit Different is a 2026 Shelby County Small Business of the Year Nominee! They deserve it and then some! Do yourself a favor, listen to the other Yelpers, and head down Highway 31 for an amazing meal at Hit Different! I am going back!

We went to Hit Different the other day for lunch and it was so good! My pulled pork sandwich was…read moreperfectly seasoned and had tasty barbecue sauce on a nice warm not soggy bun! The okra was ok, it could have used more seasoning. The Mac and cheese...man that was tasty. Thick and hot with long strings of cheese. One of the managers came by and checked on us and was telling us about the menu for the next time we come. I can't wait to go back! Check em out!

Eugene's Hot Chicken definitely lives up to the hype. The atmosphere is casual and was pretty busy…read morewhen I went, but it still felt welcoming and organized even during the rush.The workers were also very nice and answered all of my questions. My food came out quickly and tasted very fresh! The food was great. I got the mild chicken tenders with mac and cheese and collard greens. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and had just the right amount of heat without being overwhelming. The sides tasted fresh and homemade, which made the whole meal even better. I also liked that the restaurant was clean and seemed well-maintained, including the dining area and drink station, which made the experience more comfortable for me as a customer. Overall, I think it's a great spot if you're craving Southern-style comfort food with bold flavor. I will definitely be going again!

Let's start with the bad: I came in at 1:30 and there was only 1 other customer. The owner/manager…read morewas on a computer in the corner while there was nobody working the front. I waited in line for the kiosk for 10 minutes. I got my food just after 2:00. The chicken was cold and the fries were stale. I had assumed it would be hot and fresh since it took so long. The good: the employees and staff were very friendly. The flavor of the food was good. The portion size was incredible and a good deal for the price. The bathroom was very clean and well stocked. This was my first experience at Eugene's, I will probably give it another shot. Mixed review, but 6/10 for my first time.

Today's review is Rusty's BBQ located at 7484 Parkway Drive in Leeds, Alabama. They are a family…read morerun business and have won several awards over the years since opening in 2009. Rusty's is hands down the best BBQ in Alabama, I drive over 50 miles at least three times a month or more to eat here. They offer up pork sandwiches, plates, ribs, brisket, cheeseburgers, a vegetarian BBQ, chicken, sausage, world famous collards, homemade pies and more along with a variety of sides. I don't eat vegetables so I double down on the fries, I cover them with their sweet BBQ sauce, which I also love on the meat. The serving size at first glance looks a little small but don't be fooled, it will fill you up along with the generous helping of whatever side you order. The last time Julie was with me she ordered the ribs with okra and mac & cheese, both were enough to feed a family of four. The ribs were fall off of the bone and cooked to perfection, not burned like some rib places around the area. As for me, like I said, I always order the pulled pork plate with double fries, sweet BBQ sauce all over both. I have tried the spicy BBQ sauce and at first taste it was a little hot for my taste buds, but over time I kept dipping my fries in it and once I got used to it, it was pretty good, I would not put it directly on the meat or fries. I also tried the house sauce, it was just a sauce, kinda like if you didn't want your BBQ plain, best I can describe it is like drinking water instead of anything with taste, it's something to wet your throat. They offer a white sauce but I did not try it. The sweet tea is also very good. The service is good as well, someone came out and checked on me as I was eating, they play the blues on the radio but not too loud, the decor is local with lots of hometown football and area sports decor. The only thing I did not see that makes a great BBQ joint a legendary BBQ joint is a picture of Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, all of the legendary BBQ joints in Alabama have a picture of the Bear. Rusty's offers ample indoor and outdoor dining and plenty of parking with handicap parking available. Now to the only negative, when I order I always emphasize that I want NO pickles on my plate, I can't stand pickles or pickle juice. Several times they have put pickles on my plate, it's just a couple of small pickles and I remove them but it's the fact that I point it out plainly when ordering and they still get it wrong. I don't let little things like that slide when reviewing restaurants. If you are a local and eat here alot be sure to put your phone number in when paying to earn points for your reward, it's only 5% off, but every little bit counts. Overall Rusty's hits a home run when it comes to BBQ in the state of Alabama, it's worth the drive. 5/5

Terrible Potato Salad. Needs a new recipe. Onions, celery, mayo, sweet relish, Salt, pepper, dry…read moreHidden Valley Ranch Powder. Cole Slaw, add a little vinegar and white sugar, mayo. Your coleslaw has no flavor. Some places add sweet relish too. I bought the 1/2 Chicken, but I didn't have any BbQ sauce in the bag. Chicken was good. Very nice People! Great Service! Ambiance was nice and clean.

Coming from NY, its hard to find a burger joint that hits the spot…read more The service at this joint is impeccable, the owner is extremely nice i wish he had a Birmingham location. However i will drive constantly from Birmingham to Alabaster just to eat their burgers! Highkey recommend if you want a filling, sloppy, and amazing burger served with a side of... "you will be back"

The service was great, but the food could have used some improvement. My husband ordered the…read morehamburger steak and gravy and I ordered the fish fillet. He was satisfied with his meal, but I was not.

I stopped by this food truck and ordered a Philly cheesesteak, and I'm so glad I did. When I walked…read moreup, the customer service stood out. The staff member greeted me with a friendly attitude, and she took the time to answer all of my questions about the menu. She double-checked my order before I paid, making sure it was exactly how I wanted it. After placing my order, I went to sit in my car to wait. Then I looked up, and the sweet lady actually took the time to walk my food out to me! Not only that, but she confirmed once again that everything was correct and that I had all my condiments.I loved this because I am very particular about my condiments. I was very impressed by the great service. Also, the line moved quickly, and the Philly cheesesteak was cooked just right. I definitely will be returning.

Nettie B's brought their food truck to a local neighborhood, so I thought I'd give it a try…read more I got the Chicken Philly and fries. That sandwich was *packed* with meat. The photos don't do justice. Staff was super nice, though I know they were roasting in there with the summer weather. Look forward to seeing them again nearby.

Yes, I'm actually just now trying Saw's, I can't believe it either…read more It lived up to the hype for sure! I got the brisket grilled cheese, which is on their Hoover Restaurant Week menu. Not sure if it's available all the time. Piled high with brisket and their vinegar based bbq sauce - this was memorable and very filling. Their fries were good but nothing to write home about. The pimento cheese, pepper jelly, and pork rind app was amazingly sweet, spicy and salty. An absolute must try. My mom got the pork and greens dish and raved about it. Greens over cheese grits with pulled pork and red sauce and onion rings. Very flavorful and she had so much left over. Our waitress was very friendly and parking was no issue at the Hoover location. We'll be back!

This might seem a bit odd if you don't have a person in your family who MUST eat gluten free, but…read moremy wife nearly cried when she was able to order the Sweet Tea "FRIED" chicken. She hasn't had fried chicken in years, and this was a pleasant surprise. Everything we tried there was excellent! If we lived in the area this would be a regular stop.

I have had this bookmarked forever. Not sure how or why I did, but I sure am glad that I did!!…read more It's an old school hole in the wall kind of place. These are my favorite kind of places in the world. From the moment I walked up and saw the big piles of wood outside I knew I was probably going to like this place. We had an amazing meal here. Every single bite was good. I ate myself damn near sick! I cannot wait to come back!! The day we were there the bartender was waiting on the whole place himself with just someone helping him run food and clear tables. We only had an hour before we had to be at an appointment, so when we sat down at the bar I got concerned that we would not have time to eat here. He was busy. He seemed behind. Thank goodness I was wrong. Once he finally got to us we were decided on our meals. He took our order on his little handheld register thing, grabbed our tasty beverages, and poof, off he went. C had the pulled chicken sandwich with deviled eggs and I had pulled pork, smoked chicken thighs, beans, and a giant pile of pork rinds. Holy shit it was good!!! I didn't pay attention to the fact that my thighs had AL white sauce on them until well after I had ordered. Had I know that, I would not have ordered them. I despise all things that have anything to do with mayonnaise. But.... Had I known, I would have never known. I fucking loved it! I could have eaten 10 of them. There were hands down the best smoked chicken that I have ever had. The pork was bad ass too! I dare say perfect. Beans were great, and the pork rinds side was massive and still warm from the fryer with a killer seasoning on them. There are not enough adjectives to describe this food. I am in love. I cannot wait to get some more of those damn chicken thighs!! '26 - 68

Delicious pulled pork sandwich topped with cole slaw and pickles!…read more Fried pickles with a yummy white sauce. No ac but food was quick and we were able to get in and out. The gentleman bussing tables was very nice.

My wife had seen this place posted on social media, so we decided to make the drive out there one…read moreevening. Anytime there's steaks on the menu, I'm happy to give it a go. Nice, laid-back place that's probably pretty convenient if you don't live closer to Calera, Alabaster, etc. Staff was pretty friendly, and the steak was cooked exactly as requested. They've got a porch outside that looks like it would be a nice place to sit when the weather is cooler.

Always nice and order is always correct . They post daily specials on Facebook and keep it updated…read moreso check them out !