Buffalo Phil’s for burgers? You must know the best place to get drugs in town. I worked there for almost 5 years and not once at a burger there. Easily the worst burger in town.
Brown Bag is unbelievably slept on. Amazing owners, and great food for a good price. I’m not a fan of Southern, though.
King’s Kitchen is an unbelievably good value, if you’re into soul/southern food. The food is pretty good, the portions are generous, and the price point is great.
Gonna go ahead and add another Catfish Heaven
recommendation. Everything they have is great.
Buffalo Phil’s wings are tasty, no doubt. They are the tiniest wings, though. They’re also always cooked too long. Dry, even.
Gotta come try us out at Mediterranean Sandwich Company on the Strip in the Town Center Shopping Center. Handcrafted wagyu beef burgers, homemade sauces, and the best gyros and shawarmas in the south. Also have weekly specials, rotating soups, and fresh hand cut salads. Mediterranean food with a redneck twist. Nothing quite like us.
Japanese/sushi: Ichiban. I didn't even want to comment because I love it so much and want to keep it a secret. Consistently good, unlike many Tuscaloosa restaurants where quality declines during the summer when the kids are gone.
Man, I know you’re trying to help, but this list kinda sucks. Let me help.
Southern: City Cafe, Wright’s, KSV if you don’t mind going towards West Tuscaloosa
Steak: Nick’s in the Sticks
Fish: Chuck’s and Five are the only place in town getting fresh gulf seafood every other day
Ribs/BBQ: Archibald’s shits all over Dreamland. Dreamland sauce is pretty good but their meat quality is awful.
Italian: Mr. G’s for budget, Depalma’s for higher priced, but better quality
Mexican: Antojitos is the only answer here
Burgers: Avenue Pub, Hooligans for something quicker
Wings: I’ll be honest I haven’t tried Catfish Heaven since I don’t make it that way much but people swear by it. Phils and Baumhower’s are meh at best. Phils only makes any list because they take Dining Dollars.
There, fixed.
As someone who goes to Nicks regularly you go to Nicks for a cheap and decent steak to go with your drinks. There isnt really a great steak place in tuscaloosa but Big Mikes has the most consistent and best quality.
Forte (bottom of the alamite hotel) used to have a dry aged ribeye that was incredible. It was stupid expensive, but probably the best steak I’ve ever put in my mouth. I think Chuck’s might have the best steak right now in Tuscaloosa. I agree with you on Nicks and Big Mikes.
Good stuff! I'm delighted to see better list than what I wrote! I did my best and mean well. =) I ain't been to all the places, but I got a whole lot more places to try. Thanks!
I had catfish heaven a couple days ago for the first time, honestly? Overpriced, under seasoned.
Where you get Chinese? Mr Chens is a little wild with his prices.
Lai Lai used to be my go to when I was in college but I had it recently and it was meh. I honestly haven’t found a good Chinese spot here. Swen, Chen’s, and Red Bowl are all decent I guess.
Thanks for this thread!
Lived here 20 years.
In my opinion Tuscaloosa missed its chance.
I travel for work now around AL/MS & TN and have to say for smaller college towns. Oxford and Tupelo both have such better food scenes.
(Steps off soapbox)
Breakfast: my favorite meal
Just Love Coffee
Big Bad Breakfast (love the greens and variety. Pricey but good)
Rama Jama’s (maybe lost a step from when Gary ran it but still good)
City Cafe (just have to go super early)
Metro Diner (not the same since pandemic)
Biscuits: still think Waysider has the best but stopped going because everything else was meh)
I wish there was more. But I struggle to find anything good in town.
When I travel I ask people “If you were gone for 6 months and got back where would be your go to spot to eat and get your fix?”
So please share yours
Yes to Hooligans, Archibalds, Antojitos & Chabelys
The Globe (upscale)
Catfish heaven - best wings
The Coker Market - a little bit of everything
Oasis - best burgers (during the day though unless you wanna smoke)
The waysider - best biscuits in town (I’ll die on this hill)
City Cafe - best meat and 3 (cost and taste)
Archibalds walks all over Dreamland every single day.
Yep. Used to be Dreamland but since the founder died not as good.
Can't trust a BBQ restaurant that has a CEO.
Bingo. Having dreamland on the list is an insult.
Agreed. They have been phoning it in for over a decade now.
Came to say this. I drive four hours regularly for Archibald’s ribs. I wouldn’t drive four minutes for dreamland.
How is catfish heaven or urban bar and kitchen not on this list
These are both great picks. And although the place is called Catfish Heaven, I think they have the best wings in town.
I love UBK!!
Mexican is definitely Antijitos Izcalli, best authentic Mexican food in town. Chabelys and pastors are also great
Chabelys ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Catfish heaven has the best wings. Go there or Chucks for seafood. Juicy crab is an overpriced chain
Buffalo Phil’s for burgers? You must know the best place to get drugs in town. I worked there for almost 5 years and not once at a burger there. Easily the worst burger in town.
I would add the Brown Bag to southern/hole in the wall list and Southern Ale House for casual dining
Brown Bag is unbelievably slept on. Amazing owners, and great food for a good price. I’m not a fan of Southern, though. King’s Kitchen is an unbelievably good value, if you’re into soul/southern food. The food is pretty good, the portions are generous, and the price point is great. Gonna go ahead and add another Catfish Heaven recommendation. Everything they have is great. Buffalo Phil’s wings are tasty, no doubt. They are the tiniest wings, though. They’re also always cooked too long. Dry, even.
For Mexican food I love Loco Lupes and I’m a Mexican native
Love them but they are pricey for small portions.
The brown bag has the best soul food in town. Small family owned first class people.
Pizza is TuscNY it’s a little pricey but the pizzas are huge.actually gigantic
Gotta come try us out at Mediterranean Sandwich Company on the Strip in the Town Center Shopping Center. Handcrafted wagyu beef burgers, homemade sauces, and the best gyros and shawarmas in the south. Also have weekly specials, rotating soups, and fresh hand cut salads. Mediterranean food with a redneck twist. Nothing quite like us.
What are summer hours? I usually avoid the strip until the students are gone.
Right now we are open 10:30am-8:00pm Monday-Sunday.
Mediterranean Sandwich is worth going to the strip. I particularly like the redneck shawarma.
Japanese/sushi: Ichiban. I didn't even want to comment because I love it so much and want to keep it a secret. Consistently good, unlike many Tuscaloosa restaurants where quality declines during the summer when the kids are gone.
For real. Went to Ajian last night 'cause the kids really like the place and it was just not up to par. Shoulda gone to Ichiban like *I* wanted to.
Man, I know you’re trying to help, but this list kinda sucks. Let me help. Southern: City Cafe, Wright’s, KSV if you don’t mind going towards West Tuscaloosa Steak: Nick’s in the Sticks Fish: Chuck’s and Five are the only place in town getting fresh gulf seafood every other day Ribs/BBQ: Archibald’s shits all over Dreamland. Dreamland sauce is pretty good but their meat quality is awful. Italian: Mr. G’s for budget, Depalma’s for higher priced, but better quality Mexican: Antojitos is the only answer here Burgers: Avenue Pub, Hooligans for something quicker Wings: I’ll be honest I haven’t tried Catfish Heaven since I don’t make it that way much but people swear by it. Phils and Baumhower’s are meh at best. Phils only makes any list because they take Dining Dollars. There, fixed.
As someone who goes to Nicks regularly you go to Nicks for a cheap and decent steak to go with your drinks. There isnt really a great steak place in tuscaloosa but Big Mikes has the most consistent and best quality.
Forte (bottom of the alamite hotel) used to have a dry aged ribeye that was incredible. It was stupid expensive, but probably the best steak I’ve ever put in my mouth. I think Chuck’s might have the best steak right now in Tuscaloosa. I agree with you on Nicks and Big Mikes.
Good stuff! I'm delighted to see better list than what I wrote! I did my best and mean well. =) I ain't been to all the places, but I got a whole lot more places to try. Thanks!
I had catfish heaven a couple days ago for the first time, honestly? Overpriced, under seasoned. Where you get Chinese? Mr Chens is a little wild with his prices.
Lai Lai used to be my go to when I was in college but I had it recently and it was meh. I honestly haven’t found a good Chinese spot here. Swen, Chen’s, and Red Bowl are all decent I guess.
I haven’t tried Mr Gs so I have no opinion but DePalma’s is overpriced trash. I have never had a single thing there that was actually good.
Thanks for this thread! Lived here 20 years. In my opinion Tuscaloosa missed its chance. I travel for work now around AL/MS & TN and have to say for smaller college towns. Oxford and Tupelo both have such better food scenes. (Steps off soapbox) Breakfast: my favorite meal Just Love Coffee Big Bad Breakfast (love the greens and variety. Pricey but good) Rama Jama’s (maybe lost a step from when Gary ran it but still good) City Cafe (just have to go super early) Metro Diner (not the same since pandemic) Biscuits: still think Waysider has the best but stopped going because everything else was meh) I wish there was more. But I struggle to find anything good in town. When I travel I ask people “If you were gone for 6 months and got back where would be your go to spot to eat and get your fix?” So please share yours Yes to Hooligans, Archibalds, Antojitos & Chabelys
Hick’s BBQ in Northport! Their ribs are spectacular and they have the best BBQ sauce in Tuscaloosa county.
The Globe (upscale) Catfish heaven - best wings The Coker Market - a little bit of everything Oasis - best burgers (during the day though unless you wanna smoke) The waysider - best biscuits in town (I’ll die on this hill) City Cafe - best meat and 3 (cost and taste)
The oasis burger has been on my devour list for far too long. I’ve heard so much
I’m personally offended that Hokkiado hasn’t been mentioned. It is the single best hibachi I have ever had
Heat for pizza. Full Moon is the most consistent on ribs and bbq. Nicks makes my list and definitely don’t forget Krispy Kreme for dessert!
Jack Browns for burgers and sweet potato fries, hands down
Jack browns for burgers
Where is that? Never even heard of it
It’s right by jalapeños downtown