In Alabama, you definitely won’t go hungry! During my road trip through the state, I sampled a wide variety of Alabama cuisine. From the tender BBQ pork in northern Alabama to the seafood, shrimp, and oysters of the Gulf Coast, the Southern flavors were irresistible everywhere I went.

The piquant white BBQ sauce, peach chutney, spicy Cajun flavors, and cheesy grits were just a few highlights. Let’s explore the culinary delights of Alabama and discover some must-try dishes along the way.

In Alabama, if it can be fried, it will be! Fried green tomatoes, succulent fried chicken, and even fried pickles are staples. This is soul food at its finest. Meat reigns supreme, seafood is a close second, and the portions are generous. Even a salad comes with at least ten toppings, all washed down with endless refills of sweet iced tea.

Every place has its traditional cooked breakfast, and Alabama is no exception. If you’re familiar with the “English Breakfast” fry-up, you’ll notice some differences in the Southern Breakfast. Bacon in Alabama is crispy rather than soft, and eggs are typically fried. Biscuits here are more like savory scones, served with gravy or butter. Grits, a porridge made from coarsely ground cornmeal, are a Southern staple, often enhanced with butter, salt, or cheese.

Fried green tomatoes, large slices of green tomatoes dipped in batter and deep-fried, are often served as a side dish at breakfast or with BBQ. The drink of choice at breakfast is either iced tea or hot coffee, both frequently topped up at no extra charge.

In Huntsville, The Blue Plate Cafe is the go-to spot for a full Southern Breakfast experience, offering bacon, eggs, cheesy grits, biscuit and gravy, and bottomless coffee. It’s the kind of food your mother or grandmother might have cooked if you grew up in Alabama.

In Montgomery, Cahawba House is an airy diner perfect for trying Southern specialties for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. You can build your own breakfast with any combination you like. I tried the Southern biscuit with pimento cheese, fried green tomato, and crispy bacon.

Iced tea, also known as Sweet Tea, is served at practically every restaurant. It’s a light tea brewed and then cooled, served from large jugs either unsweetened or sweetened. The sweet tea can be quite sugary, but you can ask for ‘half and half’ for a less sweet version. On a hot day, iced tea is refreshing and cooling, especially with free refills to stay hydrated.

BBQ in the Southern USA involves cooking large cuts of marinated pork and other meats slowly over a wood fire, resulting in succulent and smoky meat served with sides like potato salad and coleslaw. In Alabama, a white BBQ sauce, similar to mayonnaise with vinegar and mustard, is often served with the meat. Dreamland BBQ, a small chain that started in Tuscaloosa, is a great place to experience Alabama-style BBQ. Their smoked pork ribs are a specialty, but I opted for a lighter Smokehouse Cobb salad topped with shredded BBQ pork.

Fried chicken is another Southern favorite. Pieces of chicken are tenderized by soaking in brine or buttermilk, then fried in a flour coating. The result is succulent meat with a crispy coating. For boneless options, look for “chicken tenders.” Champy’s Chicken in Muscle Shoals offers a diner-style experience with succulent fried chicken cooked to order.

Salads in Alabama are hearty and loaded with toppings. A typical example is the Steakhouse wedge salad at Central in Montgomery, topped with bacon, candied pecans, sliced vegetables, and creamy blue cheese dressing. Another popular summer salad is the strawberry salad, featuring cress leaves, whipped feta cheese, almonds, pesto, and a fermented strawberry dressing.

Peaches are abundant in Alabama, especially in Clanton, the peach capital of the state. The fruit is at its best in the summer months. Peach Park and Durbin Farms Market offer a range of peach products, including peach ice cream, cobbler, and preserves.

Sweet pies are a staple in Alabama diners and Mom and Pop restaurants. Peach cobbler, made with a layer of cooked fruit topped with a mixture between cake and pastry, is a favorite. Pecan pie is also popular, with pecans being the state nut of Alabama. Priesters Pecans in Fort Deposit is a great stop for everything pecan-related, including pecan ice cream.

Banana pudding, similar to English trifle, is another staple, with layers of custard, whipped cream, vanilla wafers, and sliced banana. I tried it at Saw’s Soul Kitchen in Birmingham, where it was served in a styrofoam cup.

Homemade lemonade is a refreshing alternative to iced tea, often with unique twists like thyme or vanilla. Grapico, a local grape-flavored soda, is another interesting find.

Sno-cones, crushed ice flavored with fruity syrups, are a popular treat in the Alabama heat. I enjoyed one from Shymeer Ice in Birmingham and another in Gulf Shores after a hot bike ride.

Boiled peanuts, a popular snack, are flavored with Cajun spice or Dill Pickle. The Alabama Peanut Company in Birmingham offers a variety of flavors in a large, airy shop.

As you travel south through Alabama, Creole flavors become more prevalent. Beignets, small pillows of dough deep-fried and dusted with icing sugar, are a breakfast favorite. Gumbo, a thick soup or stew combining meat, seafood, and vegetables, is another Creole staple. Dauphin’s restaurant in Mobile offers a refined version called Gumbo Z’herb.

Shrimp is a Gulf Coast specialty, with dishes like Cajun shrimp and shrimp tacos being popular. Oysters from the Gulf of Mexico are also a delicacy, often served cooked rather than raw. Wintzell’s Oyster House in Mobile is a great place to try them.

West Indies Salad, a dish of crab meat dressed with oil, vinegar, and finely chopped onion, is another Gulf Coast specialty. It was invented at Bayley’s Seafood Restaurant on Dauphin Island.

Moon Pies, a favorite at Carnival time, are sweet biscuits sandwiched with marshmallow and coated in chocolate. The Moon Pie store in Mobile offers a variety of flavors.

Alabama’s food scene is rich and diverse, with a mix of traditional Southern, Creole, and modern influences. Whether you’re enjoying a hearty breakfast, a BBQ feast, or a refreshing iced tea, there’s something for everyone to savor.