I have had this bookmarked forever. Not sure how or why I did, but I sure am glad that I did!! 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 read more

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Incredible meal! Pork and greens were fantastic!! There were so many other things on the menu I wanted to try, but since I'm traveling thru I can only hope to have another opportunity to visit again! read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Pork and Greens - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Introduced some out of town friends to this little treasure a few months ago. Now we have to meet up there for a meal with each new visit. Everyone in the group agreed the Fried Green Tomatoes were the best they ever tasted. Honestly I have to say every menu item I've tried over the years has been delicious. A little mix up occurred with our order. However the professional staff was as quick to remedy the issue with a smile. Plenty of indoor or outdoor seating options available. Cozy little atmosphere to compliment the dining experience. read more

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Now THIS was a great experience! Definitely a dive, but in the very best way possible. We were driving through Birmingham and a barista at a local coffee shop (House Eleven) nudged us this way. No regrets! I had a sweet heat fried chicken sandwich with a side of fried green tomatoes. My mom had a pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. TOO QUALITY! This place redeems Birmingham for the terrible experience I had at The Garage a few weeks ago. Immensely better food and infinitely better staff!! read more

Great food, good service, old Great chicken, service fast and efficient, location is good sort of dated but is rustic.

One of the absolute worst meals I've ever had. 1) they had ONE beer on tap and zero cans. What even happened? I ordered a soda. 2) the "smoked" chicken had zero flavor and was BONE DRY! They smothered it with white sauce in an attempt to make it edible but no- it was still awful. (And I hate white sauce) 3) the grits tasted like water. Seriously- they didn't taste of corn or cheese or butter or ANYTHING except... well, water. They were a jellied mess of yellow with zero flavor. Did they even add salt? I've always loved Saw's, but this was absolutely one of the worst meals I've ever had. It's hard to believe how bad it could get. What happened?!?! read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Smoked chicken plate with greens and grits. - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great customer very welcoming! Different style decor ! Food was freshly cooked! Cole Slaw Vinegar Based 5/10 Baked Beans 6/10 Pulled Pork Sandwich 9/10 Lemonade 9/10 read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - BBQ Fries BBQ Pork Sandwich (Pulled Pork Sandwich) - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

You know those old BBQ joints that have been around so long that they don't even have a/c? That's here. But man oh man, their food is AMAZING! Literally every single thing we've ever had here has been amazing. When we tell people we were In Birmingham, they immediately ask if we went to Saw's. From their tasty pulled chicken sandwiches, fried corn on the cob, pulled pork to their fries- be ready to eat. You're not going to leave hungry from here! If you're looking for old fashioned AL BBQ, you've found it here! read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Service impeccable ~ ambience, it's a southern bar, enjoy the vibe! Food, over the top, incredibly delicious!! Highly recommend this establishment!! read more

The service was excellent! Our server went above and beyond to ensure that we were well taken care of. The food was sumptuous and the servings were plenteous. Ambiance was fair. I highly recommend this restaurant!!! read more

Wow, the food at Saw's is incredible. Still dreaming about the banana pudding (demolished in just a few bites). We ordered a few plates and a fried chicken sandwich - everything was delicious. Tons of seating, very low key, chill. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Combo plate with sausage and chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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You know a place is special when you still crave a dish 10 years later. Ten years?! Crazy. SAW's. Man, what can I say about this place that hasn't already been said? All I know is that when I think back to my short time living in Alabama, SAW's Soul Kitchen is one of my top memories. I wanted to taste the best the South had to offer, and my research led me to SAW's. And, wow, am I glad I went! Sadly, I only went once. I planned on going more, but I also planned to live in Alabama more than 3 years. I will return, one day! But that singular visit was literally life-changing. I have heard people say things like that about food. Really!? Aren't you being a little overly dramatic? But, here I sit, dreaming of a dish I experienced a decade ago. Recently, I read a review for this joint in West Virginia called Von Blaze where the reviewer mentioned a dish called "greens and grits" with cheese polenta, greens, sausage, and a runny egg. You know those movie scenes where the character has a flashback and the camera almost zooms into their brain as they remember a pivotal moment in their life? Well, that is what happened to me as I read the Von Blaze review. I was instantly transported back 10 years ago to this little dive (seriously, DIVE in every way!) when I ordered the craziest thing I saw on the menu: Pork N' Greens. (And the heavens were parted, and a chorus of angels rang out for all to hear: Hallelujah) A plate of cheese grits covered in greens that must have been stewing for days covered in the best pulled pork you've ever tasted covered in onion rings covered in red sauce. It just doesn't end! It sounds crazy. It looks crazy. But dear lawd, you will have a religious experience with your first bite. By the time you're done, you may just run laps around the room like an old school Pentecostal. (Don't do that. This place is SMALL!) If you took the entire South and put it on a plate, it would be this dish of pork n' greens. SAW's Soul Kitchen as been listed as Paula Deen's Best Barbecue Places in America, Men's Journal's Best Barbecue Spots in America, Eat This Not That's best spot for fried chicken in Alabama and Buzzfeed's best wing spot in Alabama. This is one of the places I consider a privilege to have visited in my life. One day I will return to this little, unassuming shack that ushers people to the gates of delicious living every single day. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - I had to pull a screenshot from Google Maps just to show how much of a dive this place truly is! - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I recently tried Southern food from Saw's Soul Kitchen and I get why people love this place. I ordered takeout and the food was still really good by the time I got home. I got the pulled pork sandwich, mac and cheese, and collard greens. The pork was tender and had a good smoky flavor without being too much. The mac and cheese was creamy and tasted like something homemade. The collard greens had a lot of flavor and were honestly one of my favorite parts. When I went to pick up my order, the place felt casual and welcoming. It had that classic Southern feel where it is more about the food than anything else. The staff was friendly and my order was ready on time which made everything easy. I also liked that the takeout process was organized and clean. Overall I would definitely go back and try more from here. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen is a must-try if you're in Birmingham -- every bite was packed with flavor and Southern soul. We started with the smoked chicken thighs as an appetizer, and they were incredible -- perfectly crispy, juicy, and covered in a mix of red and white BBQ sauce that added just the right tang and kick. My husband ordered the combo plate with smoked sausage and pulled pork, plus fries and mac & cheese on the side. Everything was cooked low and slow, full of smoky flavor, and the mac was creamy comfort food at its best. I had the pork & greens, and WOW -- cheesy grits loaded with tender pulled pork, perfectly seasoned greens, and topped off with crispy onion rings? Unreal. It's the kind of dish that hits every craving at once. We left full and happy -- can't wait to come back for round two! read more

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Probably one of the dirtiest places I've been in a long time. Tables that were dirty when I arrived we're still dirty when I left. The floors were full of used napkins and food. No one was interested in busing any of the tables or keeping the place clean. The barbecue sauce bottles were sticky, as well as the ketchup bottles and the salt and pepper shakers. I even pointed it out to the staff and no one really cared. The staff was more interested in talking to each other than cleaning the place. No one gave a $&@? Chickens and greens were great. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - This was someone's idea of being clean after I pointed out food and napkins all over the floor. This is what was left after they swept. - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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STYROFOAM IN FOOD?!?! I ordered through Uber Eats and tried the Smoked Chicken, Pulled Chicken, Deviled Eggs, and Banana Pudding. The smoked chicken had incredible seasoning, packed with flavor, but unfortunately, it was quite dry. The pulled chicken, on the other hand, wasn't seasoned but stayed moist in its own juices. Between the two, I'd go with the pulled chicken since you can pair it with barbecue sauce. Speaking of sauces, they were nothing remarkable--I preferred the Red Sauce, while the White Sauce tasted like a slightly more flavorful ranch. The deviled eggs were underwhelming, and the Banana Pudding was disappointing. It was more like cake with a few bananas and whipped cream, lacking the creamy pudding texture you'd expect. The biggest issue, however, was biting into a piece of styrofoam. It was alarming to discover it while eating, especially since it didn't appear to come from my drink cup. This experience left me questioning the food's quality and cleanliness. Based on this, I can't recommend trying this place. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Banana Pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Arrived on a Saturday late afternoon right between the lunch and dinner rushes. I believe there were 2 main floor staff. Initially, the greeting was direct but not much warmth. Not sure if staff was overwhelmed or understaffed. The server soon warmed up and the other server balanced out and was more engaging. The food was very good and with generous portions! The catfish was fluffy and wonderfully seasoned, a nice crunch without tasting super oily as it's fried. Was also craving the fried green tomatoes and they were a lovely snack between meals with the school Sauce. The smoked chicken thighs were so succulent both in the red and white sauce. The Mac & cheese was also flavorful and beautifully baked, wish I got more. Lastly, the pulled pork was also very flavorful and smoky. We got here right in time because by the time we left, the place was full with the early dinner crowds and large groups. read more

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Greater service, great food! Came in Saturday for lunch. It was pretty busy so the bartender had a lot going on but he was still very attentive and kind. Got the BBQ salad and fried pickles, which were amazing and tried a new drink on the menu, the backyard breeze. It was so refreshing and delicious! read more

Super nice staff members and the food was fantastic- large portions, we should have shared!

BEST BBQ EVER!!! (And I've traveled to a lot of places with good BBQ) I'd consider this place a hidden gem! I don't know what I was expecting going to a BBQ place in Alabama, but this exceeded those expectations. Pro tip, get the kid's meal which is pictured. It is pulled pork BBQ sandwich which came with a side (Mac n cheese), lemonade to drink, and I added on a side of collard greens. Don't knock collard greens till you try them... and these were AMAZING!! I'm not sure how big the "adult" portion is because this was huge. The place is like a little hole in the wall, street parking does kind of suck, but the restaurant is huge inside and really nice with a fun vibe. They also have outdoor seating for when it's warm. I ordered take out and they did forget to give my lemonade to me as well as BBQ sauce so just double check your order. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Kid's meal - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Saw's Soul Kitchen in Birmingham is a must-visit! I have visited several times when I was in town on business. Every time I visit the smells from their kitchen drive me absolutely crazy. You will not be disappointed. Their fried green tomatoes are perfectly crisp and flavorful--a must-try. Pair them with any of their delicious menu items! My whole meal was amazing read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Great food, friendly service. Generous portion. Free refill on fountain drinks. Food came pretty fast. If you love BBQ, this place is definitely worth stopping by. read more

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The pork and greens is life changing. Best bbq in Birmingham! The fried pickles are a great starter as well

Visited on a Saturday afternoon, took 15 min to order drinks once seated and another 15 to place food order.. homeless entering to fill empty cups with sodas and grabbing food off of plates. No hospitality from staff.. loaded bbq fries were good but the bad far outweigh the good. Would not bother fighting for a parking spot for this location. read more

Doesn't look like much from the outside but very good. Solid. Counter-service with table delivery. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Saws - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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! One of the best, if not THE best BBQ pork I've ever had! The chicken thighs...WOW! Outstanding sides too and great staff. Will definitely return! I rarely rate 5 stars but they deserve it read more

This was my first meal in Alabama, and I am going to be here for a little less thana a week. It wasn't disappointing, but it wasn't stellar, either. I had some pleasant surprises, but am looking forward to other meals improving on my overall dining experience. The good: As a despiser of mayonnaise, I was surprised (and thrilled) that I enjoyed the white sauce on the chicken so much. I would get this again, and probably try it again in the next week. The fried green tomatoes did not disappoint, and the deep fried corn on the cob (yes, this is apparently a thing) was amazing. My sister, of whom I believe is a banana pudding aficionado, could not stop eating their cup. The bad: They were out of cole slaw, which my mother was hoping to help her pulled pork sandwich. My beans were decent, but had a strong, vinegar aftertaste. Not terrible, but a little too strong for me. Now, the biggest abomination of the night: If I eat mac and cheese in an Alabama restaurant, it needs to be much better than this. It was way too mushy, and had no cheese flavor. Borderline disgusting. If I lived in Alabama, this would fall into my "if invited, I would go, but probably not suggest it" type restaurant. I am glad their fried green tomatoes and chicken were a great intro, but not enough side dish consistency. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Delicious fried green tomatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Great food in dive bar atmosphere. Fried catfish, smoked chicken and collard greens. Fantastic!

Okay, the four-star reviews for this place were NOT earned in my opinion. Let's start with the positives, the smoked chicken thigh app Was delicious, but they brought down the level of the dish with the white sauce which was some form of commercial sauce from a jug. The Sweet hot chicken sandwich was good as well, but the cheap dry bun made it less than great. The flavor was perfect, and the level of sweet and hot were perfectly balanced but the sandwich was a missed opportunity to me. The Carolina burger...let's see the burger was okay, but that's as good as it got. The meat itself was not seasoned well and the obvious canned chili made it mediocre at best. I wanted to like this place, but it was a miss for me. read more

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Absolutely worth the hype and probably my favorite barbecue in the city. I have been told that each Saw's location is different, so I can only speak to this menu. You get an obnoxious amount of food for a decent price. A "side" of fried pork skins is enough to feed an entire family. Their smoked chicken thighs are juicy and flavorful. Most of their pulled pork will melt in your mouth, but some parts are dry. My biggest recommendation is to bring brisket to this location! Saw's also recently changed their service. You order at the front desk, grab a seat, and a staff member brings the food out to you. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Pulled Pork Plate, Smoked Chicken Thighs - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The tangy BBQ sauce on the smoked chicken along with the sausage was a nice break from the pulled pork I ate in Memphis the previous day. Saw's is a favorite spot for sports casters and writers. Those folks usually know all the local spots. Order at the counter and have a seat. Your tasty Q will be delivered shortly. Cool dive bar feel with concert posters and sports stuff all over the walls. I will be back anytime I'm in B-Ham! read more

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I've always wanted to try the food at Saw's! Finally I got the chance today! This place is a little hole in the wall that you will drive right by if you're not looking close enough, but it was so worth the drive! Divey doesn't quite describe it! It earns that right to be called divey and lives up to its reputation as some of the best food in Birmingham. I definitely want to try more on this menu! The prices are not bad and there is a lot of food to choose from. I had the colonels chicken sandwich and I don't know what made them put pimento cheese on it, but I will not question it! The chicken is hot and cooked just right! We started out with the smoked thighs and are very happy we did! You won't be disappointed! My wife had the sweet heat chicken sandwich which she loved! You better get there early as there aren't a lot of tables. But it's worth waiting for! The sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had! The food comes out quickly and the big guy behind the bar was very friendly and attentive. What an amazing meal, or experience, for lunch today! This is the kind of place that Guy Fieri would be at on triple D! Rush to Saw's and try out that soul food that makes you happy inside! read more

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I have been a customer of Saws for years but I have never been to the one in Avondale. Yesterday, I went there after work around 1:30 p.m. I ordered chicken sandwich with white sauce, sweet potato fries and a small tea. The cashier told me $22.00. I have never paid that much, even at the food truck. I felt like this was absolutely ridiculous for the amount of food that I received!! I will not be going back to that Saws and I will be telling my friends about my experience. read more

Some of the best food in Birmingham! Came here for lunch. We were told to seat ourselves and then order ourselves at the front counter. The inside is nice and has cool decor. Do yourself a favor and try the Sweet Tea Fried Chicken. I was deciding between the pulled pork sandwich and the sweet tea fried chicken sandwich and the employee told me the Sweet Tea Fried Chicken was their #1 best seller and after taking a bite, I instantly knew why. The outside is so crispy and perfectly fried while the inside is insanely juicy. The white sauce on top is delicious. You NEED to try this sandwich. Easily the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had. The pulled pork was pretty good. However, their BBQ sauce is not my favorite. I prefer a thick, sweet BBQ but SAW's BBQ sauce is more watery and vinegar tasting. We got Mac and cheese and a very generous portion of fries as the sides. My friend also enjoyed his patty melt, which also has the white sauce in addition to a burger sauce. I absolutely recommend this to anyone visiting Birmingham. We will be back. read more

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Most of my reviews start... "we were traveling" or "we were passing through and stumbled on to this place".... This is no different. Staying one night in Birmingham and was looking for a place that would have white barbecue sauce and this place looked to be the real deal. It did not disappoint! Greens, fries, fried tomatoes all awesome and... banana pudding which should probably be called more like "elevated banana pudding". read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Onion rings, on pork, on greens, on grits! - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Oh my goodness, I am still thinking and daydreaming of the food here!! Such friendly staff too, and there's seating inside. We ordered a few things: Smoked Chicken Thighs: These come with a white BBQ sauce. You must get these!! These were by far the best thing we tried and some of the best BBQ from our roadtrip of the south. Sweet Tea Fried Chicken Sandwich: They marinate their chicken in sweet tea before frying. It's not totally obvious from the flavor, but there is a hint of sweetness to the chicken. It's pretty good but I think I prefer spicy fried chicken. Carolina Burger: Cheeseburger with chili, mustard, onions and pickles. People talk about this being a standout dish from their menu and I wasn't that impressed. It's basically just a chili burger. Get the smoked chicken thighs!!! read more

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The best dish I've ever eaten at any restaurant is the Pork N Greens plate. Cheese grits topped with the best collard greens I've had topped with perfect pulled pork BBQ topped with fried onions. It was an Umami explosion. My second favorite was the Sweet Tea Fried Chicken Sandwich. Chicken breast was marinated in sweet tea for a few days. Best chicken sandwich I've ever eaten. This place definitely goes on my best food spots on the country list. Note: they close really early so call before you go! read more

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It was an experience. We were staying in town for a few days around the corner so we walked over. There is parking behind but not sure if you pay or not. Small place but interesting inside. If you are not sitting at the bar, you need to walk up and place your food and drink order. We got the chicken thigh meal with red and white sauce. I got greens and deviled eggs. Husband got green beans. We are not a fan of the white sauce so we got that on the side vs drizzled on the chicken although he did say it was flavorful. Deviled eggs were dry but okay. Greens were good and so were the green beans. The chicken was delicious with just the red sauce and tender. Friends had the fried green tomatoes and claimed they were good as well. Drinks were great and you get your own water and soda when they give you a cup. read more

Saw's Soul Kitchen - Inside - Barbeque Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Excellent food and price!! This tbr real deal soul food. Everything we've tasted is delicious!!

Fantastic food... the grit bowls are amazing! Intense flavors with creative twists! I thoroughly enjoyed eating here several times while visiting my dad at UAB! read more