Salem&#x27;s Diner

Wife and I were downtown looking for place to eat after an appointment. Wife was interested in…read moresome vegetables. Went by Fife's it was about 12:15, we were expecting a wait. Only one person in line, restaurant was basically empty. Looked at menu and noticed meat and 2 was over$14.00. We decided maybe it was not the place for us, so we quietly left and went to Alpha Charlie's out by the airport which turned out to be a great experience. I've been to File's in years past and did not remember the place to be so dark and drab. Feel like this places days are numbered. Sure miss the Social Grill for the ones of you that are old enough to remember that place.

This was a short walk from my Airbnb and being from California. I'm not used to single digit prices…read moreon a breakfast menu. This is my idea of a perfect diner. Solid food made fresh. A bunch of regulars chatting at a table. I wanted to try the biscuits, but there weren't any. The sausage was my favorite part.

Sausage and eggs breakfast with grits and toast

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Ted's Restaurant

4.2(139 reviews)

2.1 mi

The food was delicious and had great portions sizes! The service was excellent with smiles on…read moreeveryone's faces (even in this extreme heat)! We learned about their Saturday brunches so we will definitely be bringing the family with us next time.

Classic cafeteria line, ideal for a quick weekday lunch downtown. You grab a tray, go thru the line…read moreto pick out your meat and 3, and sit down. The bring you a check to pay at the end and handle your drinks for you too. The fried chicken here is great. I'm normally a creamed corn lover, alas, none today. They have any sort of soul food classic you could want: cornbread, fried okra, pies, iced tea, etc.. It's not super huge inside, but things move fast. Parking is easy, there's a lot plenty big outside. It's been here over 50 years!

Just a few weeks earlier, Ted's celebrated its 50th anniversary. Today's decor would not be out of place back then.

Ted's Restaurant - Cafeteria serving line just as the place opens for the day. The steam table features several meats and about a dozen sides on any given day.

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Cafeteria serving line just as the place opens for the day. The steam table features several meats and about a dozen sides on any given day.

The Original Pancake House

3.9(356 reviews)

1.5 mi

It has been years since we visited The Original Pancake House. We used to go with our kids way…read moreback, and it was one of our favorites places, but it was difficult to get into because the lines were out the door. For a bit of nostalgia, we decided to go back, and we forgot what we were missing. This time there was no line, yay, and we got a table immediately! The portions were a nice size and the price was good. Alot better than other breakfast places around. I ordered the banana pancakes with the tropical syrup and a side of bacon and scrambled eggs. Food was really good, and the service was excellent!

I hadn't been to The Original Pancake House in years, mainly because Birmingham now has so many…read moregreat breakfast options. But I was craving their pancakes and breakfast potatoes, and they did not disappoint. Everything was just as delicious as I remembered. There was about a 20-minute wait to be seated because they were busy, but to me, that's a good sign, it clearly means people enjoy the food. I waited patiently, and it was worth it. My waiter was very accommodating and kept my coffee cup filled, which I always appreciate. I definitely won't wait so long to return next time. I'll be back soon!

Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich

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Pop's Neighborhood Grill

4.1(76 reviews)

1.4 mi

Food is fresh and definitely made with love. I've been trying different burgers when I come in…read morewhich are always delicious but decided this week to swap it up and get The Vulcan and was blown away! So good! Also worth noting, the owner is so kind and clearly cares about her customers and if they love the food. Service is legit 10/10 and the prices are extremely fair. The store has a cute and homey diner feel. One of the best lunch spots in Birmingham!

Decided to stop in on a quick lunch break. There were plenty of tables to inside. I was pleasantly…read morewelcomed in by the cashier. She was very helpful in picking menu options. We decided on The Country Club and the Slamming Bacon cheeseburger. It was definitely cooked to order and truly didn't take too long to get to the table. The fries were well seasoned and perfectly crisp. The burger was good but the sandwich was amazing! It was even better than I imagined and huge. Prices were pretty reasonable for the nice portion size too. For two meals we paid about $27. We will definitely be back to try their breakfast!

The overcooked 3 strips of bacon on the Pop's Bacon BLT with the less than hunk of bacon

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Lunch Menu

Al's Deli and Grill

4.0(262 reviews)

1.5 mi

I got the combination chicken and beef potatoe it was huge I ate it for lunch and I ate it dinner…read morejust good !! Still have left overs !!

First time getting takeout or hearing about this place. It was ok. I love bakers and the potato was…read morehuge. I did the grilled chicken baked potato. My only complaints were there was no seasoning beneath all the toppings. Also the bacon bits were artificial. Yuck. The potato had so much potential but may go back to try something different. The order was ready upon arrival so I applaud that.

Bar-B-Q Grilled Chicken Baker

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Yo' Mama's

4.7(595 reviews)

2.8 mi

The crowd spoke and the crowd was right. Yo Mama's serves up some tasty morsels at a reasonable…read moreprice in downtown Birmingham. I couldn't make my mind up so I got half hot chicken and hot regular. The regular was like Kentucky fried chicken on steroids. The crispy outer coating was really quite good and the food came out piping hot. For an affordable price you can right at Yo Mama's! Would love to come back and try some of the other dishes here. French fries were also tasty.

Everything went well during my lunchtime visit to Yo'Mama's restaurant. The Hot wings and French…read morefries was delicious. The waitress was cordial to make sure I enjoyed my "first" visit. The ambiance of the restaurant was calm and pleasant. There are several dining tables to choose and enjoy the scenery.

Counter

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Waffle + 6 pc chicken wings underneath + house made syrup

The Harvest

4.0(119 reviews)

2.9 mi

Harvest was one of the best dining experiences I had in Birmingham. One thing worth mentioning…read moreright away is that it's located inside the historic Redmont Hotel. That wasn't immediately obvious from many of the reviews I read beforehand, so don't let the hotel location deter you--this is a destination restaurant in its own right. I ordered the braised short rib (without the grits), and it was outstanding. The meat was incredibly tender, packed with flavor, and cooked to perfection. It easily ranks among the better short rib dishes I've had. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and struck the perfect balance of being available without hovering. The dining room has an upscale yet comfortable atmosphere that makes it just as suitable for a business dinner as it is for a date night or special occasion. If you're visiting downtown Birmingham--or staying at the Redmont--don't overlook Harvest just because it's inside a hotel. It's proof that hotel restaurants can absolutely compete with the city's standalone dining scene. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Birmingham.

This place was honestly a surprise. My husband and I were in the area looking to get dinner but the…read moreoriginal restaurant we wanted to go to was booked. We ended up here. I will say this is one of the best steaks I have had up to date so far. Cooked just the way I liked it.

Cute but chic ambiance

Beef tartare

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Scenic View Cafe

4.4(9 reviews)

3.1 mi

I came her for lunch because I had just duty and it was right by the courthouse. I really couldn't…read morefind any info ( menu, pics of the food etc...) online. I've always seen this place in passing, but was never able to make it there because they're only open from 7am-3pm. I'm honestly had a burger in mind because most lunch spots serve burgers. I only had an hour for lunch and this was the closest spot. When I walked in the owner and workers were making the announcement that because it Jury Monday they only had grilled beef hotdogs available. In the combo you get 2 beef grilled hotdogs and chips for $6.60. I was very hesitant because they already had the hotdogs wrapped in foil sitting by the register. I knew then it would be a hit or miss. I was hungry and decided to go with this meal. She asked did in need condiments and I said yes. I asked for ketchup, mustard, relish, and sour kraut . I look in my bag to find 2 packs of ketchup and mustard and a small container of relish and kraut. I'm a ketchup person and one little pack per hotdog wasn't it. Also I asked for plan chips and was given bbq. The food itself was underwhelming. How can you go wrong with. Hotdog?? I ate it because I new I would be sitting for a couple of more hours. If I ever have jury duty I will definitely pack my lunch....this was a waste of $6.60.

Stopped here on our last day in Birmingham for a coffee and breakfast. Coffee was good, service…read morewas quick and friendly, and the food was decently priced and tasty. I got a breakfast sandwich with egg and sausage. S.O. got just scrambled eggs and fruit. Good place for a quick meal and a caffeine injection.

2 grilled beef hotdog combo

Grilled beef hotdog

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Enjoyed the muffuletta panini so much!!

Current Charcoal Grill

4.4(125 reviews)

2.2 mi

•$$$

Great service. Great food. Great drinks. The bar is where I always sit. It's faster (in my opinion)…read more Kendall was the bartender on duty during my recent Wednesday evening visit. She's amazing!! I really enjoyed the crab claws app- $23. They are served chilled & steamed. This was the perfect little snack. I also had a nice glass of sparkling wine. It paired well with the crab claw appetizer. I always have a great experience whenever I come here. Current is definitely worth checking out if you are in Birmingham, Al

My friend, Julia, and I tried current the other night! We walked in and immediately loved the vibes…read moreand upscale, quirky, modern feel of it all. High ceilings and exposed brick are a few of the ways to my heart. If you've seen a post about this place, you've probably seen a picture of the crackly round, artistic dish and wondered what it was. There are dumplings on the underside of it and you break each one off of the crackly part to enjoy. We did enjoy these but I would've loved a soy sauce to dip them in. They came with chili crunch, peanuts, and green onions but I wanted an actual sauce. They were very standard tasting dumplings and there was nothing extraordinary about them unfortunately. As always, we'd looked at the menu beforehand and decided what we wanted. It does state on their website that their menus can change due to freshness and availability. But we'd both decided on an app and entree we wanted only to get there and have none of them on the menu. I do appreciate a rotating menu to accommodate local items, but I would also love for those to be updated on a regular basis. So after rerouting, we decided on the chicken skewers as another app with the dumplings. These were chargrilled, flavorful, and had a nice crust on them. I got shrimp fried rice and Julia got spicy beef noodles. It was fine but I wish the shrimp wouldn't have been cut up. It felt like they chopped them up in order to not put as many in the dish. At $25 for this, I'd like whole shrimp please. There were a few pieces of raw spinach with pepper on the top. I would've loved a sauce of some kind. I would've preferred shrimp hibachi with fried rice from a Japanese place that included vegetables and sauces. This was not *bad* there was just SO much room for improvement. We both agreed that nothing was awful, but for these prices and the hype, we expected more. Our waitress was super friendly. Bonus points because they had match boxes at the host stand! There was a paid parking lot diagonal from the restaurant, so we had to walk through an intersection to get there. There are some spots up front if you can snag one. Overall, we enjoyed our time here but won't be sprinting back.

Bar view

Skewers

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Awesome. Just awesome atmosphere

Cafe Dupont

4.4(238 reviews)

2.6 mi

•$$$

Was extremely impressed by the service, ambiance and amazing food. Everything was to die for. Shout…read moreout to the Chef and especially Bishop for the most amazing experience a girl can ask for. Will definitely be back!

Infinite amount of stars for the food but negative one star for how slow they are. So very hard to…read morerate this place. So here is the downfall. It might have been the slowest dinner I ever had in my life. I had a 7:00 PM reservation and I arrived early and sat down at 6:50. After being greeted and ordering wine I placed an order of the pork belly appetizer at 7:05. The pork belly appetizer came out at 8:00, 55 minutes after ordering. I placed the entree order at 7:30 and it came out at 8:30. There were only 3 other tables in the restaurant. Two three tops and a two top so not even large tables. Why on earth is it taking an hour to get out an order. I have my credit card at 8:50 and got it back at 9:15. 25 minutes to charge a card? I mean I guess you can get busy but the 4 tables here had 3 people helping with them. At no point when the server came by my table did I ever say I needed another minute. So, a 2.5+ hour dinner as a single diner was ridiculous, especially considering they were not busy. The food here was truly incredible, some of the best I've had anywhere I've traveled. I absolutely loved it. You can tell they source fresh, local ingredients daily, and that commitment clearly shines through in the quality of every dish. I started with the pork belly appetizer, which was outstanding. The cut had the perfect balance of meat and fat, expertly cooked with the fat beautifully rendered. The flavors were exceptional as well, finished with a maple glaze and paired with a sweet potato cornbread that was completely unique and memorable. For my main course, I ordered the smoked ribeye, and it was flawless. The quality was top-tier, with gorgeous marbling that truly reflected a prime cut. The smoke flavor was perfectly balanced--present but never overpowering. It had a beautiful crust, was expertly seasoned, and cooked to an ideal temperature. It honestly could not have been better. They also offered a few amuse-bouches that were equally impressive. A single bite of cherry tomato with lamb bacon was one of the best bites I've ever had. To finish, I was served a watermelon and muscadine sorbet with a St-Germain finish, an incredibly thoughtful and skillful dessert. There is an immense amount of talent in this kitchen. You will never be disappointed by the food here. My experience seemed to be overshadowed by the slow service and near the end I was so ready to just leave. However I might consider returning just for the food.

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The Sorbet

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Bob S.

9 years ago

Salems diner is greasy garbage. Recently I was in there getting one of their famous cheesesteaks when the infamous, corrupt, and stupid bigot Luther strange came in to make a commercial for his abhorrent run for the US senate. Would you believe in all his caterwauling about building some nonsensical border wall they never showed Salems Latin American staff. Imagine that. Somehow they got the only two white people that work there on camera, and one was the owner. Now I'm not saying the owner of Salems diner is some sort of racist for allowing this like minded dolt to film a commercial in his establishment (he lets brown people work for him after all), but I prefer my coronary artery disease without a side of ignorant fool. read more

Jose T.

12 years ago

I'm new to Birmingham so my Dad and I decided to try Salem's Diner for breakfast and I am so glad we did. Not only was the food delicious but everyone there could not have been nicer. They truly cared about how we were doing. If you're a college football fan or just a sports fan in general you'll feel right at home. There are photos of famous Alabama and Auburn football players hung on the walls. I'm from Valdosta, GA so I know about "winning" high school and college football. We had a GREAT breakfast while talking about them "Georgia Bulldogs" :) Salem's will be a regular for us read more

Cara H.

184

181

962

2 years ago

This place is an absolute gem! It's a bit small, but the cozy atmosphere adds to its charm. Despite the size, the wait for a table wasn't long at all, and the staff kept things moving efficiently while still being incredibly welcoming and attentive. Now, let's talk about the food--amazing! The hall of famer omelet was a standout, perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. This place is a must-visit. Can't wait to come back! read more

Skip J.

13 years ago

Goo goo boo boo my reviews never show up so I feel foolish writing them - yelp sucks but Salem's is a fun place to grab good food. Go with the Philly and they will split the side 1/2 fries and 1/2 onion rings just for fun. read more

Hanjuna M.

4 years ago

This is a must-visit place in Birmingham because to the welcoming service and delectable food. The return trip for additional pancakes is already set for tomorrow morning. read more

Salem's Diner - diners - Updated September 2026

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Fife's Restaurant

4.1

(137 reviews)

Big Bad Breakfast

4.4

(888 reviews)

Food and service was amazing for brunch this morning! Also the Breakfast Dude drink is to die for!…read moreWill be back!

Delicious food!! Big servings. Got there during Saturday morning rush hour and was able to get…read moreseat fast and food fast. I will definitely be back.

Johnny's Restaurant

4.3

(209 reviews)

Huge portions, amazing flavor. I have to admit, Johnny's might have just topped every other meat&3…read morein town for me. Weekday lunch here is packed. Order at the front and sit down. In honor of the owners, they've named themselves a "greek & 3." I did just that: I got the greek meatballs with tzatziki and 3 sides: mac, collards, and cajun red beans. Everything was perfect. The meatballs and tzatziki sauce were amazing. The mac was exactly how I like it: casserole-y and a little eggy. The collards were good and the red beans had a great flavor. I believe I saw they had a red beans and rice special that involved some conecuh sausage. That might have to be my order next time. Staff was all very nice, tables are clean. You gotta go up the stairs outside to make it in.

I had never eaten here before but had two people recommend it recently and knew I had to try it…read moreout! The pot roast was tender and juicy and the mashed potatoes were creamy. The mac and cheese and chicken tenders were delicious, too!

Our Place

4.5

(53 reviews)

We ordered for lunch and all of our food was so good! We will def order again for our officeread more

Everything I've tried is good. Breakfast and lunch. Service is quick…read more Try to arrive early; it gets pretty crowded at lunch

Ranch House

3.9

(138 reviews)

The Ranch House is conveniently located just off Columbia Road, north of Highway 31. The building…read morewas once a Pizza Hut and still retains that distinctive 1970s design. The Ranch House has been around for many years, and the parking lot always seems to be full. I had heard it was excellent for breakfast, but I was curious about what other options they offered. The restaurant has changed ownership several times over the years, yet it has maintained a loyal following. My friends and I stopped in for lunch on Monday, and I was impressed by how large the menu is. The sweet spot here is the classic meat-and-vegetable combinations. The term "meat and three" is part of the Southern vocabulary -- especially in Alabama -- and The Ranch House does it well. The meat and vegetable selections rotate daily, and there's enough variety that you should easily find something you'll enjoy. The restaurant also includes "Markarios" in its name, and you'll notice Mediterranean influences sprinkled throughout the menu. For lunch, I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap along with a Markarios side salad. The chicken was nicely seasoned and full of flavor, and the salad was fresh and excellent. Overall, a solid local spot with something for everyone.

We have been eating here for as long as I can remember but something has changed. We ate breakfast…read morethere today and they served the food cold. Had to send it back. They did remake it but then the grits were like water with lumps and instead of being in a bowl they are served on the plate - No taste to the food. The biscuit turned very hard after a few minutes like it had been cooked earlier and then microwaved prior to serving. Then we noticed the price on the check was not accurate when compared to menu. This is the second time this has happened to us there - the waitress pointed to a place on the menu that says an up charge for eggs. Well I guess they can charge whatever according to that. We'll also had to constantly flag people down to get service. A totally different atmosphere than years past

Da Sandwich Shop

4.6

(16 reviews)

Apparently I'm on a revisit tour. This is another spot I hadn't been to in years! I came here to…read moreget a quick lunch on a rainy afternoon. It wasn't busy but there was one gentleman waiting for his order. My order was taken quickly by a young gentleman. I had to make a correction to my order but no biggie. Since the food is made to order, expect a little wait time. I was so satisfied with my food! My burger was seasoned nicely and had fresh toppings. The fries were plentiful , hot & delicious! I also had a canned sprite to complete my combo. This isn't a big restaurant. It could even be considered a "Hole in the Wall". There are a few seats available while you wait on your food and also a TV. The prices here are reasonable. The service is friendly. I plan to return soon to try their salmon patties and rice, which is served everyday!

The wings are delicious okay! They literally need nothing at all. The waffles were so good also, I…read morehate that they don't give you any syrup which was strange. Anything extra that you get as far as condiments cost! The pork chop sandwiches was soooo good but plain! Just bread and meat, the pork chop was a nice thick size though. I would return for the wings hands down. Try them out!

Ruth's Cafe

3.9

(65 reviews)

yum yum and affordable pricing. The previous shop was closer to home but wanted to try this…read morelocation. Nice parking. Right off the main road. Had my taste buds ready for bbq chicken but settled for fried white meat chicken. It was crispy and tasted good to me. Had greens and yams. Price was under $15 with tax. They kept replenishing the food. The line moved fast. Inside the was basic diner atmosphere.

I've eaten here so much that it I can honestly say everything is delicious. Sundays the meatloaf is…read morefantastic, Saturday's the Beef tips and rice are amazing, fried bologna breakfast sandwich always hits, the fried chicken is so good. Pick anything and you won't be disappointed...

Ruby Sunshine Homewood

4.2

(611 reviews)