EVERYTHING a burger should be! Fresh beef seasoned to perfection. Veggies toppings are fresh & crisp and the fresh beef patty covers to the edge of the bun. Oh yeah it's JUICY neva greasy. #BamaBurgerBoomin #DaSouthernTaste #CountryCookin read more

White tablecloth and candlelight this is not. Your old school, dive burger spot this definitely is! This is a counter service so we walked up, placed our order and waited. The wait was just a few minutes and we got a burger, tater tots and a chicken sandwich. While they are known for their burgers, I wanted to also give the chicken sandwich a shot. Each came dressed as you would expect (lettuce tomato, mayo, mustard etc) and we happily dove in. The burger was very good and the tots were hot and fresh. The chicken sandwich hit the spot as well and the staff was friendly. read more

J and J Grocery - Burger with tots - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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Their burger was absolutely awful. Thick. Dry. Like shoe leather. Will never return. They smoked cigs inside. read more

J and J Grocery - Burger - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

If this is the best burger in Alabama I don't want to eat the second best. Large GREASEY burger with processed cheese. Small salty serving of fries that were semi warm. I ordered a combo plate but had to ask for fries. I had to buy a chocolate candy bar to kill the taste and get the grease out of my mouth. Also had smokers in the "restaurant" and ash tray of butts on the eating counter. read more

Been hearing great things about this place, but I'm seldom in the area before they close at 2:pm! Was going thru the newly installed traffic circle today and said, "I bet that's the place?!" It has been a little country store since I was a child. I suggest new customers inform them it's their first time there! Very Nice, Warm and welcoming people! I was even asked if my cheese burger was dressed (had enough mayo) to my liking as my burger cooked?! It was! It's a hand made patty that is juicy, freshly cooked when ordered! Pickles arranged so there's one in every bite. This isn't a chain restaurant type 1/8 lbs type of burger. Im full after eating less than half of my burger. Im temporarily living nearby and will take advantage of my living situation to try other menu items. I only order fries if I'm dining in because they are cold by the time I get home. Next time I will sit at the counter and order the fries I saw others enjoying. I heard the crunch from one diner a few stools away from me. Listen, if you heard about the little "hole in the wall" in Mccalla with outstanding food and service but you have put off trying them, DON'T put it off anymore! The food is worth the drive to try " Type their address or J & J in McCalla" into your car's navigation's system! Tell them Janet sent you! read more

Excellent food, fairly priced but understand this is an older establishment that prides itself on the food not its appearance. Staff is very friendly and service was fast. read more

J and J Grocery - Bacon Cheeseburger - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

It's been a long time since I've been here but decided to come for lunch to get a cheeseburger from the grill. Fresh ingredients and the staff is always so nice and welcoming. Got to come here more frequently to support. read more

It was the greasiest hamburger I've ever had! Even the bun - inside and out - was coated in grease from the grill. They allow smoking - and one of the workers was smoking! That's disgusting! Another worker was stuffing potato chips into her mouth and touching her mouth using her gloved hand that she serves food with! read more

The food was amazing. I was thinking "it's just a burger" but I would absolutely order from here again. First, the burgers are HUGE. Second, they are so tasty! I don't know what makes the difference but my mushroom Swiss was so good. The fries were hot and crisp (a great side effect of them being so busy). The staff were friendly and loud and fun. Warning, if they hear you are a first timer, they WILL make an announcement about it and blow an airhorn! Now, this place is busy, it's first come first served on the seats. So you are elbow to elbow with strangers. There are ash trays on the tables (i didn't see anyone smoke), and a dog bed under one of the tables. But you can always do a pickup order. Also, there's currently construction (as of 4/31), so keep that in mind if you visit any time soon. read more

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The hamburgers are fantastic. Fries are great! The regular burger is huge, no need to get a double. Trimmings as you like, grilled onions are done perfectly. read more

A coworker and I made a first time visit for lunch yesterday after hearing about it for a good while. Right behind the new hospital. We even got the first time visitor fog horn. The jalapeño bacon cheeseburger with fries was outstanding. The taste of the burger was amazing. You will not leave hungry. Super friendly people. Highly recommend. read more

J and J Grocery - Jalapeño bacon cheeseburger - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

My reason for 3 stars is simply because of the broken grill/stove. Breakfast options were limited. I was looking for a new breakfast place to try and came across this place on Yelp and decided to seek it out. I think it's in a good location for the new hospital and neighborhood access with better signage and paved parking. It really does give you that nostalgic feel of Deep South country living. Plenty of counter space with enough seating for a good meal, conversation and cigarette smoking. Yeah, they really smoke inside this place. I came in, placed my order and food was ready in less than five minutes. I may try it again when everything is in working order. read more

It's an experience. It's a small space for how many people are packed in there and how the fact smoking is allowed is so unappetizing. The people were friendly. I got the grilled chicken sandwich and my son got a cheeseburger and fries. It took quite a while to get our food, but it was peak lunch hour. My sandwich was good except the fact it had an unbelievable amount of mayo on both buns and I had to scrape it off. My son said his burger was fine & he liked the fries a lot. Definitely a large burger. If you want an experience of a local, country dive that feels like the 60s, you'll love this. read more

J and J Grocery - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

best burger ever, reminds of the old burger place giglios. good food , good folks, close to new hospital. read more

Total dive and an awesome spot for a great burger. We got cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, chicken fries and wings. Loved the burgers and onion rings a lot and great prices. The wings were decent but the burgers were the star of the show. Only drawback was there's smoking inside so not great for little kids but the food is worth it. Felt like we were stepping back in time eating in here with the store and diner counters for seating. Great local spot read more

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I've been hearing about this place for years but just recently made my way over there. The hype about the burgers is legit. This is one of the best burgers I've ever had. The service is great and includes a unique welcome for first timers. The store is a throw back to the old school country stores with plenty of memorabilia on the walls. Definitely worth the short drive to McCalla. read more

J and J Grocery - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Best burger in Alabama . Great service . Hometown feel. Everyone is so friendly and accommodating.

The staff is so friendly, hands down the BEST burger I had had in the Bessemer, McCalla and Bham areas. Fairly priced, fresh ingredients, quick and friendly service... what more could you want read more

Best burger in Bham, period! Old school flat iron fresh pressed burger. Fries aren't bad either. I need to take a nap after we eat there every time. read more

I finally got the chance to try this burger. One of the best burgers I have ever had. Definitely going back on my next cheat day. Do yourself a favor and make the drive to McCalla. You won't be disappointed. They even do a chant for the 1st timers over a bullhorn. Everyone was extremely helpful. read more

J and J Grocery has great Food there I love the Chicken Tenders and their Hamburgers and Cheeseburgers are so yummy I just can't wait to recommend them to everyone read more

Traveling from Houston to Tennessee this past week, we stopped by J And J Grocery. Don't let the outside scare you off. The people working inside are fantastic and the food is even better. I ordered wings, and fries. They didn't have Teriyaki but the lady taking the order recommended Japanese BBQ wings. My wife ordered fried chicken livers and onion rings. While I was ordering at the counter, I was looking at the burgers they were cooking on the grill. I almost changed my order because, they were big 1/3 lb homemade burgers on the flattop grill. They looked wonderful. The wings and livers came. The wings were the best wings I've had in 4-5 years. Crispy on the outside and hot and juicy on the inside. Same for the fries. I was happy. When my wife ordered her livers the lady ask did she wanted hard cooked or soft livers. First time for that. They came back cooked perfect. Three construction workers were sitting next to us while we were waiting for the food. I asked them what they liked. They said they had eaten here three straight days because the food was so good. They vouched for the wing, burgers and Philly sandwiches. After eating here we understood why. The place is old and a little run down but the service and the food are great. I would be eating there all the time if I lived close by. Next time - the burgers and Philly sandwiches. read more

J and J Grocery - Japanese BBQ Wings and fries - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Cooks smoking. Whole place smells like an ashtray. Is it 2024 or 1964? Couldn't believe my eyes; that is until they began watering so much I could no longer see. read more

Our family love JJs!!! The owner and family make you feel like family. The cheeseburgers are so delicious and they cook your food to your order. read more

This was a fun little find a few years ago and occasionally when passing through we will stop by. The burgers are really juicy, well seasoned, and a very generous portion. Everyone who works here makes you feel like you just walked into their home and are so welcoming. read more

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Great burger! Definitely get it to go if you do not like cigarette smoke! Walking in this place is like stepping back in time.

the best burger you will EVER have. amazing people and such a homey vibe. every time i go it's absolutely perfect.

Ordered food, sat down, and in less than 2 minutes, we received our food, so burgers were pre-cooked, causing them to be served slightly overcooked. The patty was hot but lacked seasoning. Friendly service and throwback atmosphere. Burger was of a hearty size. I can say I've now had the experience to see what everyone else calls the best burger in Alabama. Decent at best. read more

Probably the best burger I've ever had. It's a hole in the wall location but well worth the journey for an awesome burger and experience. The ambiance is just down home special with great service. The word of mouth advertising for the burgers will hook you the first time and the second time you come back because you just really liked it and the rest just falls into place. read more

Me and my co-worker went here for lunch recently. Was concerned about the "cigarette smoking while cooking" rumor, but luckily, none of the cooks were smoking while cooking the food. But FORGET ALL OF THAT. Best burger I've had in Alabama. The beef patties are as fresh as fresh can get. Yeah it's a bit grungy inside, but the burger is 100% worth it. Best burger in Alabama. read more

Bussin Burgers. 10/10. Bussin Burgers. 10/10. although it does smell like cigarettes and grease inside, it is without a doubt the best burger I have ever eaten in my tire life. Customer service is great and if it is your first time, oh boy strap in surprise! Very yummy yummy very busting! What a yummy treat! This is by far the most bussingest burger I've ever eaten! read more

Wow, what a great discovery. This small, out of the way little restaurant/convenience market isn't much to look at, but their food is absolutely wonderful. I took one one bite out of the bacon burger w/Mayo, pickles and onions, and was immediately transported back to 1983 and the burgers I used to eat at Bill's Grocery in Montevallo. the French fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and I probably used five napkins during the course of the meal handling that incredible, juicy, cooked to perfection burger. The building is a little run down and the seating is a little tight during peak hours, but it was well worth the 24 minute drive to get there. I'll be making that drive at least once a month from now on for that wickedly tasty treat. read more

J and J Grocery - Mmmmmmmmm, I like it like that! - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Great burgers and awesome owners and staff. Convenient and worth the time to experience a real burger

A true hidden gem! I was surprised with how good the burgers were. The staff are always in good spirits and its a welcoming environment. I highly recommend. read more

Wow, what a pleasant surprise! This place ranks right up there w my favorite gas station Thai place. There should be a new category for gas station food! Because, yes this is not only a gas station but a small grocery store with a grill. After reading all the hype, we had to go try the burgers for ourselves. Yes, they really are THAT GOOD. A big hearty sloppy burger with lots of flavor. Got mine with the works. I also sampled the fries and the onion rings. Also very good. Came at 1 pm and there really was not a wait. Ordered at the counter and they brought it out to us. There are two lunch counters that everyone sits at so don't expect to sit by yourself. We chatted with some of the people in there. Everyone was friendly. They also serve breakfast and there are other things to order besides burgers. Would I come here again? Yes, definitely but probably will get it to go. This must be the only place in Alabama where you can still smoke. The smoke didn't bother me so they must have pretty good ventilation but sitting next to the dirty ashtrays was not appealing. Overall, a very positive experience. read more

J and J Grocery - Onion rings - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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If you are looking for a pillar of healthy food, you might want to reconsider coming here. But if you want a delicious burger, a visit to this dive should be in your future. After reading an article about J and J's burger, I sent a text to my friend who is down to venture out for something delicious. After a few weeks, we made the trek to see what all of the hype is about. As mentioned in so many other reviews, this seems like the last place in the country where you can still smoke. But even with someone that was smoking, I didn't even smell it. So the aforementioned good ventilation is in fact valid. I was a little unsure about what exactly to get and how the ordering process went. But a very friendly and helpful gentleman guided us through the process and threw out some recommendations. Every order (whether to-go or dine-in) is written on a brown paper bag. If you are to-go, you take it in that bag. And if you are staying that put it at the register where you pay for everything from the grill or the convenience store. I went with the single bacon cheeseburger despite my normal MO of getting a double. And I'm REAL glad I did. I couldn't even finish what was there. And taking the recommendation of the guy taking our order, I went with the chili cheese tots. And I'm REAL glad I did that too. Because they were delicious. The burger was a buttery meaty pile of deliciousness. Again, probably not cardiologist recommended. But the flavor was outstanding. And with Sunkist on draft, I needed a week of salads after this. But well worth it. Can't wait for my next visit to J and J. read more

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I have passed J and J Grocery for many years. I've never given it a second thought because it is a small building that is off the beaten path. I was surprised that others had heard of it, and I was shocked to learn about it's reputation for having a great burger. Al.com identified it as one of the best burgers in Alabama. My friend Buddy and I had lunch on Tuesday. The place was busy and the parking lot was full. It is a small country convenience store, but the interior has more dining area than I expected. There are two long counter tables that customers share. There were about six ladies working the lunch hour. The ladies were Mayberry friendly, and we were greeted enthusiastically. I ordered a bacon burger "all the way" (lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mayo). The burger come with fries and a drink for about $8. Before I finished getting my fountain drink my order was ready. It was freshly cooked so they must have burgers queued up for the lunch crowd. I thought the burger was EXCELLENT. The burger was huge and it took two hands to handle it. It was quite messy (a tad greasy) and I went through a handful of napkins. The fries were thick cut and they were okay (a little greasy). The place allows smoking and a lot of second hand smoke in the air. If you are sensitive to smoke this will be a huge negative. But, I definitely recommend this place for a great homemade burger. read more

J and J Grocery - Bacon burger - Grocery Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

It was a very ahh. Interesting place. Food was great Service was also great. But what I enjoyed the most was How friendly the other customers were. They knew I wasn't from around there. But just friendly people With no racism. The way it used to be read more

One of the best, if not the best, burgers in Birmingham. Y'all must try this place but get there before 2pm as they are only open until 2pm and try the lemonade! Bring your appetite because the burgers are large. read more

Best burgers in the metro!! Don't enjoy the cigarette smoke from the old dudes just hangin out. Or walk-in then out smellin' like I've been in a dive bar for 6 hours. But call it in and pick up the absolute best burger/cheeseburger you've had in these parts!! Onion rings are good too. read more