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There are few states in the U.S. with such a significant and varied history as Alabama. From the Native Americans who first called the Yellowhammer State home, to the French settlers who made coastal Mobile the capital of their new colony: French Louisiana. In the years that followed, governance of the state moved between France, Spain, Mexico and Britain (which is why famous food in Alabama is so varied) before Alabama became a part of a unified United States in 1913.
With rich history comes rich culture. And a rich culture almost always means a rich cuisine. This is certainly true in Alabama’s case. Just like Alabaman culture, the state’s culinary scene is a wonderful, albeit sometimes unorthodox fusion. Drawing influences from Creole, Cajun, Mexican and classic Southern fayre, Alabama has a dish for every occasion.
In southern Alabama, Creole-inspired seafood fresh from the Gulf of Mexico is the staple. As you work your way inland, there’s a noticeable switch in cuisines with hearty southern soul food and TexMex taking priority. In truth, whichever corner you visit, there is no shortage of famous food in Alabama that will tantalize your tastebuds, and one or two dishes which may raise your eyebrows.
Famous Food in Alabama: Savory Dishes
Alabama Barbecue
Texas may be famous the world over for its barbecue, but Alabamans will tell you theirs came first. They’ll also tell you that their version is much better (but this you’ll have to find out for yourself). Alabama’s barbecuing heritage dates back to the 19th century when local farmers would slow cook hog roasts over open pits at community gatherings.
Just as it was back then, Alabama barbecue is still a favorite way for locals to come together and catch up over dinner.
Hickory-smoked pulled pork is the state’s barbecue staple, but chicken is becoming more popular nowadays so no need to worry if pork isn’t to your liking. Irrespective of the protein you choose, what sets Alabama barbecue apart is the white sauce the meat is doused in.
Invented in a Decatur restaurant in 1925, white barbecue sauce is made from mayonnaise, salt, vinegar and pepper. This is hardly your average barbecue sauce.
Where to try Alabama Barbecue
For authentic Alabama barbecue, locals will tell you to look no further than Big Bob Gibson, the restaurant behind the white sauce. Still in their original premises in Decatur where they’ve been barbecuing for almost 100 years, there is no better place to try this famous food in Alabama.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Not only a famous food in Alabama, but a dish synonymous with the southern states, fried green tomatoes really are as simple – and as delicious – as they sound. A tangy green tomato is dipped in a savory batter and deep fried until perfectly crisp.
Fried green tomatoes are best eaten with a selection of dipping sauces. Remoulade and ranch dressing are the favorites, and, although hailing from Mississippi not Alabama, Comeback Sauce is also very popular. This delicious mixture of mayonnaise and chilli sauce is a perfect accompaniment to fried green tomatoes.
Where to try Fried Green Tomatoes
It wasn’t until fairly recently that fried green tomatoes became globally famous, and that fame is thanks to the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes. Set in Birmingham, Alabama’s capital, the film was based on Fannie Flagg’s book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, the top place to try this famous food in Alabama is the Whistle Stop Cafe. Well, it would be if such a place existed. But worry not, Flagg based the Whistle Stop on the Irondale Cafe in the Birmingham suburb of Irondale, which is our top recommendation for sampling this Alabama classic.
Oysters
Oysters may be popular all across the U.S. and right across the world, but Alabama oysters are a cut above. Known for their salty, rich taste, Alabama oysters are fresh from the waters of the Gulf. In fact, they’re so good that Alabama used to produce more oysters than any other U.S. state.
Sadly a victim of their own success, oyster numbers in the Gulf plummeted, and in 2018 the state had to ban their sale. Thanks to a lot of hard work, numbers are on the rise and that ban has been lifted.
In Alabama, oysters are typically served as Rockefeller, Bienville, Monterey or simply chargrilled. Many restaurants offer sampler plates so you can try them all and choose your favorite.
Where to get the best oysters in Alabama
Our number one oyster spot in Alabama is right on the coast, just as it should be. Wintzell’s Oyster House recently made our list of the best restaurants in Mobile and once you’ve tried their oysters, it isn’t hard to see why.
Shrimp & Grits
Another icon of southern cuisine, shrimp and grits is one of the simplest of the famous foods in Alabama. Proof that food doesn’t need to be dressed up to make it delicious, this classic dish comprises of fried shrimp cooked in a rich broth, served on a bed of grits (that’s coarse porridge for any grits novices).
Traditionally eaten for breakfast in the eastern U.S., Alabamans more commonly serve it as a lunch or dinner entrée.
Where to try Shrimp & Grits
As one of the most popular famous foods in Alabama, there’s no shortage of places to get your hands on this warming dish. Our top pick is Dauphin’s in Mobile. Not only do they do an amazing shrimp and grits, at 424 feet above ground, they also offer the best views of the city.
Sweet Tea Chicken Sandwich
Exactly as the name suggests, this dish unique to Alabama consists of sweet tea-infused chicken in a sandwich. The chicken is marinated in sweet tea before being coated in a buttermilk crumb and fried. Served in a burger bun, the finished sandwich is piled with bell peppers and served with a generous covering of ranch dressing. The result is surprisingly delicious.
Where to get a Sweet Tea Chicken Sandwich
There’s really only one contender when it comes to getting the ultimate sandwich: Saw’s Soul Kitchen. In the Birmingham suburb of Avondale, Saw’s opened their doors in 2009 and were an instant hit. Aside from all the staples of soul food, they have an impressive barbecue selection, too.
Famous Food in Alabama: Sweet Treats
Banana Pudding
When the port of Mobile started importing bananas in the 19th century, this once luxury fruit became commonplace in Alabama. It was then that banana pudding was born. A little like a trifle, banana pudding is a custard-based dessert topped with sliced banana and vanilla wafers. It can be either baked or chilled and is sometimes served with meringue or topped with whipped cream.
Where to get the Best Banana Pudding in Alabama
The best place to sample this famous food in Alabama is in its birthplace: Mobile. Head to Pollman’s Bake Shop for an authentic chilled pudding to go, and enjoy it with a view over the Port of Mobile.
Moon Pies
If you’ve ever been to Mardi Gras, the chances are you’ll have tried a Moon Pie. Whilst the first Mardi Gras in the U.S took place in Mobile in 1703, Moon Pies weren’t invented until much later. And, as much as they’re a famous food in Alabama, they actually originated in Tennessee.
Technicalities aside, trying a Moon Pie is a must in Alabama. We’re not talking about the prepacked versions you can buy in stores up and down the country, but a freshly baked pie from a local bakery. The difference is phenomenal.
Where to get a Moon Pie
Almost every bakery, no matter where you are in Alabama, will have proper, homemade Moon Pies on sale. Our favorite is Three Georges Candy in Mobile. A visit does come with a health warning though; there are enough delicious looking treats here to send you into a food coma.
Pecan Pie
When you consider that the state produces over two million kilograms of pecans every year, it’s hardly surprising that pecan pie is a very popular famous food in Alabama. This rich, sugar-heavy pie is made with shortcrust pastry and filled with a mixture of eggs, butter and syrup with pecans mixed in and layered on top. Americans will know it as a staple of Thanksgiving dinner.
Where to try the best Pecan Pie in Alabama
Just like Moon Pies, you’ll find pecan pies in almost every bakery in Alabama. Wherever you sample one, it’s bound to be delicious, but not all pies were made equal. In our opinion, Uncle Mick’s Cajun Market & Café in Prattville has the pick of the pecan crop.
Chocolate Biscuits
If you’re from outside the U.S. you may get a shock when you order a chocolate biscuit in Alabama. Make no mistake, this is no McVitie’s Digestive.
The chocolate biscuits which are a famous food in Alabama are American breakfast biscuits – a little like a scone – lavishly covered in rich chocolate sauce, sometimes called chocolate gravy. Typically eaten for breakfast or brunch, as questionable as this dish sounds, it’s nothing if not delicious.
Where to get a Chocolate Biscuit
Despite being an iconic famous food in Alabama, chocolate biscuits are a little harder to track down than most of the dishes on our list. This unusual delicacy is much easier to find in the north of the state where chocolate gravy originated. Our top recommendation is Staggs Grocery in Florence. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the best local spots never do.
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