By Madoline Markham
Photos by Keith McCoy
1. Beulah Mae’s
Alabaster
First a food truck, now a restaurant with a storefront! This soul food eatery features dishes inspired by the owners’ grandmother Beulah Mae’s cooking.
Try: The smothered porkchop and turkey dressing
Find It: 5569 1st First Avenue SW next to Little Caesar’s
2. Greek Street
Highway 280
There’s a new restaurant concept from the family behind Taziki’s with a menu inspired by urban food found in Athens.
Try: The beet salad, gyros, plant-based burger and loukomades (a pastry topped with powdered sugar, cinnamon and honey)
Find It: 5291 Valleydale Road in the same strip as Ashley Mac’s
3. Uncle G’s Pizza Food Truck
Pelham
Hello there Detroit-style pepperoni pizza! It’s got thick crust with cheese caramelized around the edges in a square pan—sort of like cheesy bread pizza, with sauce and dough made from scratch. The chef behind it recommends placing orders early since they often sell out a week in advance!
Try: The Classic Pepperoni
Find It: Follow @UncleGsPizza on social media for location updates.
4. The Sweetest Booth
Mt Laurel
Cookies double as artwork in this new custom cookie shop, and you can even sign up for a cookie subscription to keep ‘em coming.
Try: Custom themed sugar cookies, gourmet cookies with flavors like coconut lime pistachio and special order cupcakes
Find It: Inside OHenry’s at 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 111B
5. Chicken Fry’d
Chelsea
Yep, they’ve got fried chicken, plus chicken salad, slides, salads and more for lunch or dinner, all from the couple who opened Chelsea’s Station 31 and Montevallo’s Main Street Tavern.
Try: The fry’d chicken of course
Find It: 16064 US-280 in the former Whataburger location
6. The Beer Hog
Pelham
The Beer Hog is now serving up more than 65 beers on tap and more than 300 in bottles plus soft pretzels and thin crust pizzas in Campus 124 in the former Valley Elementary School campus.
Try: Your favorite Birmingham breweries’ beers
Find It: 2408 Pelham Parkway
7. Walnut Block Specialty Food Mart
Pelham
It’s technically a shop, but Walnut Block’s certified angus beef, in-store hand-cut steaks and prepared take-home casseroles sure do take the work out of dinner.
Try: Quiches, casseroles, sausage balls, cakes, dips, sliders, chicken salad, pimiento cheese, twice-baked potatoes, pies, breads, steaks, charcuterie boards, cinnamon rolls and cookies
Find It: 2709 Pelham Parkway, Suite A.
8. Miami Fusion Café
Highway 280
2020 might have limited our travel plans, but it didn’t stop our culinary “travel” to the Caribbean brought to you by Puerto Rico native Luis Delgado at the new location of his restaurant.
Try: The Cuban sandwich made with pork that is slow roasted for 12 hours
Find It: 5511 Highway 280 in the Greystone area
9. Creations Galore and Moore
Calera
Nedra Moore has been perfecting her craft baking and decorating from her Alabaster home for the past six years, and now you can find her creations at her new bakery.
Try: Cake jars, waffle splits, have chocolate covered Oreos, Rice Krispy treats, cakes, cookies, cheesecakes cinnamon rolls
Find It: On Calera’s Main Street at 8261 US-31
10. Shugah’s
Pelham
Shugah’s is nestled in a 100-year-old home and is known for its pies, cheesecakes, cake and quiche. Stop by for lunch Wednesday to Sunday.
Try: Becky’s Pie, chocolate pie with caramel and pecans—or really any pie
Find It: 3187 Lee Street
11. Cinnaholic
Highway 280
When a Berkeley, California, couple started a cinnamon roll bakery, they were sure to market the rolls as being made from scratch and gourmet before they mentioned they were dairy- and egg-free. But don’t worry, most of their customers can’t taste that it’s anything other than delicious.
Try: A cinnamon roll topped with your choice of frostings and toppings
Find It: Village at Lee Branch shopping center
12. Oak Mountain Brewing
Pelham
Pelham now has its very own brewpub brewing up its own varieties and a selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and desserts.
Try: One of their sandwiches named after Oak Mountain State Park favorites, the Peavine Hoagie or King’s Chair Melt
Find It: 110 Cahaba Valley Road
13. Mama Coco Cantina
Calera
Wall art inside this new Mexican eatery draws inspiration from the Disney movie “Coco,” but the name Mama Coco instead comes from a common nickname for Hispanic grandmothers.
Try: The signature Burrito Grande—an extra-large burrito filled with grilled chicken, grilled steak, shrimp, grilled bell peppers, grilled tomatoes, grilled onions, rice and beans, lettuce and sour cream topped with green sauce, red sauce and cheese sauce.
Find It: In the Family Dollar shopping center on U.S. 31 near historic downtown Calera
Coffee & More
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck
Did someone say coffee truck? Check to see when Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck is stopping in your neighborhood. Follow @travelintomscoffeebham for a weekly schedule.
Boho Tea Bar
Alabaster has a new spot for boba tea, fruit teas, fruit-flavored lemonade, pastries and açaí bowls. Find it at 462 1st Street SW, and follow @bohoteabar for updates.
OHenry’s Coffees
There’s two new spots to get OHenry’s Coffees without driving to Homewood. Stop by Chelsea Coffee House in Chelsea and their new shop next to Ace Hardware in Mt Laurel. Stay updated at @ohenrys.
Adventurer’s Coffee
Time for an adventure—a coffee adventure. Take one yourself at the Calera shop’s new location at 200 1st Street South in Alabaster. Follow along at @adventurerscoffeeco.
Coming Soon
Ruby Sunshine
Highway 280
Time for brunch! New Orleans-based Ruby Sunshine will bring a taste of the Big Easy to Brook Highland Plaza with its eggs benedict, pancakes, French toast and cocktails. Learn more at rubysunshine.com.
Half Shell Oyster House
Pelham
Oysters, please. This Gulfport, Mississippi-based restaurant is opening in Campus 124, and we are here for the Gulf goodness—charbroiled, Rockefeller, Bienville, Orleans, all of it. Follow @halfshelloysterhouse for updates.
The Local Oyster House and Seafood Restaurant
Columbiana
The owners of Tin Top BBQ 2 in Columbiana will soon be bringing seafood straight from the Gulf to a new concept in the former location of The Local Kitchen & Ale at 21270 Alabama 25.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s
Highway 280
Fans of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Helena and Hoover will soon be able to order wings, sandwiches, burgers, tacos and signature cocktails from a new family sports restaurant and pub in Brook Highland Plaza. Learn more at beefobradys.com.
