5 New Birmingham Restaurants to Try This Month (Plus An Expansion & A Relocation!)
A downtown sandwich shop expansion, a beloved Thai spot's return, Italian pastries in Alabaster, late-night cocktails in Five Points South, and a new patio at a Vestavia favorite — here's where to eat right in Birmingham now. Image: Facebook / Waldo's Chicken and Beer
There’s always something new cooking in Birmingham — and October is no exception. Beloved Thai comfort food is back, Italian sweets like cannolis and tiramisu are making their way to Alabaster, and a new Five Points South spot is serving craft cocktails with a side of late-night dancing. Add made-to-order subs, a chicken-focused favorite, and an expanded patio to the mix, and you’ve got a few more spots to add to your rotation this month!
Ampersandwich
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: eatampersandwich.com
Ampersandwich is bringing its popular made-to-order subs to downtown Birmingham, opening a second location beyond its original neighborhood shop in Avondale. Founded in 2021 by Joe Phelps, owner of Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar, the sandwich spot keeps things fresh with quality ingredients and bread from local favorite Birmingham Breadworks. From familiar classics to specialty creations, the menu offers plenty of ways to make a midday meal something to look forward to.
Blue Pacific at Hoover Food Mart
Neighborhood: Hoover
More Info: Facebook
Thai food fans have reason to celebrate: Blue Pacific is back! The beloved, family-run restaurant inside Hoover Food Mart on Lorna Road has reopened after being closed since March, offering a limited dinner service while the owners work toward a full return. The Aroonsakulwongse family now serves their authentic Thai favorites Wednesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Italian Cookie Company
Neighborhood: Alabaster
More Info: theitaliancookiecompany.com
Italian Cookie Company brings a little taste of Italy to Birmingham with scratch-made cookies and pastries, along with classic sweets like tiramisu, cannolis, and cream puffs. You’ll also find market staples like coffee, olive oils, and ready-to-heat favorites like baked ziti and lasagna. Stop in to satisfy a sweet craving, pick up dinner for your family, or find something special to bring to your next dinner party.
La Catrina
Neighborhood: Five Points South
More Info: Instagram
Five Points South has a new spot for nights that call for cocktails and dancing. La Catrina brings a late-night bar scene centered on craft cocktails, live DJs, and an energetic atmosphere. Meet friends for drinks or keep the evening going long after dinner at this newcomer, which offers another way to experience Birmingham after dark.
Waldo’s Chicken & Beer
Neighborhood: Chelsea
More Info: waldoschicken.com
Waldo’s Chicken & Beer has opened its newest Alabama location at Valley Post along U.S. 280, taking over the former Little Donkey space and becoming the first restaurant to open at the development. Founded in 2019 by Birmingham native and University of Alabama graduate Mark Waldo, the Nashville-born brand has grown to 35 locations across 10 states, including five in Alabama. With this latest opening, Waldo’s brings even more of its delicious chicken-focused lineup to the Birmingham area.
EXPANDED: The Local Bourbon House & Eatery
Neighborhood: Vestavia Hills
More Info: localbourbonhouse.com
A familiar Vestavia Hills favorite now has a little more room to hang out. The Local Bourbon House & Eatery has added an outdoor patio, creating even more space to settle in for a casual meal, catch a game, or enjoy some live music. With its laid-back atmosphere, food worth gathering around, and bourbon options to explore, the expanded eatery offers another reason to make an evening of it — especially when the October weather calls for dining outdoors.
REOPENED: Santos Coffee
Neighborhood: Gardendale
More Info: santoscoffeefarms.com
Coffee runs in Gardendale now include another option. Santos Coffee reopened its Highway 31 location after upgrading its lobby and interior. The shop is the brand’s seventh location in the Birmingham metro area, making it even easier to work a Santos stop into your morning routine or afternoon pick-me-up.
Still hungry? Keep scrolling for even more recent restaurant openings!
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SEPTEMBER 2026 UPDATES
Our local dining scene continues to evolve, and this month brings a fresh mix of newcomers to explore. A new coffee shop, an Italian restaurant, Chinese cuisine, and a familiar spot in a new location are all adding a little something special to the Magic City’s culinary lineup. Here’s a look at some of the new restaurants in Birmingham that are worth a try!
Foo Hai
Neighborhood: Homewood
More Info: Instagram
Earlier this month, Homewood welcomed a new eatery serving handmade noodles and dumplings. Foo Hai is a new concept from the founders of Urban Hai in Midtown Atlanta, and the Birmingham location is officially open at the corner of 29th Avenue South and 19th Street South.
The menu features authentic Chinese dishes, including scallion pancakes, sweet-and-sour pork ribs, Sichuan dandan beef, braised chicken hot pot, and brown sugar rice cakes, as well as the restaurant’s unique chef’s specials.
TreeBar & Courtyard
Neighborhood: Woodlawn
More Info: Instagram
TreeBar & Courtyard brings a lively new gathering spot to Birmingham’s Woodlawn neighborhood. The space offers indoor and outdoor bars, colorful murals, a stage for live music and entertainment, food trucks, and plenty of comfortable space to settle in and enjoy — both inside and out.
Pazzo Italian
Neighborhood: Vestavia Hills
More Info: Facebook
You can never have too many options for delicious Italian cuisine, and now there’s a new one in Vestavia Hills: Pazzo Italian. Located in the former Napoli Pizza space on Rocky Ridge Road, the sit-down restaurant serves classics like rigatoni Bolognese, gnocchi, chicken piccata, and burrata salad — along with desserts like tiramisu, limoncello cake, and gelato flights. You can round out your meal with a selection of wine and cocktails.
Holy Smokes Barbecue
Neighborhood: Chelsea
More Info: Facebook
A little Texas has arrived in Chelsea, thanks to the opening of Holy Smokes. The barbecue food truck serves smoked meats with influences from across the South. Its menu runs from Texas-style brisket and Memphis-style pulled pork to Conecuh stadium dogs, Birmingham-style chicken, and Alabama white sauce. Be sure to check the truck’s social media for its current location and hours.
Chilly Willy’s Shaved Ice
Neighborhood: Inverness
More Info: chilly-willys.com
Chilly Willy’s Shaved Ice goes well beyond the standard snow cone. Its signature Snowstorms pair shaved ice with toppings and creative combinations like Yeti Freeze, Arctic Sunset, and Yeti’s Blood. The Frozen Fuel series adds Alani Nu Energy, and a variety of flavors and toppings make it easy to customize your cup.
NEW LOCATION: Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Shoppe
Neighborhood: Hoover
More Info: whiskeyfoxtrotbham.com
Whiskey Foxtrot isn’t new to Hoover, but it has a new address. The family-owned burger joint has moved its original John Hawkins Parkway location a couple of miles down the road to a more central spot. The restaurant is now closer to the heart of Hoover while keeping the same menu and burgers we already know and love — along with a little more room to settle in and stay a while.
EXPANDED MENU: The Valley Hotel Coffee Co.
Neighborhood: Homewood
More Info: valleyhotelbirmingham.com
The Valley Hotel Coffee Co. is taking its coffeehouse routine into the evening. The Homewood café now hosts The Social Hour, a relaxed spot for cocktails, wine, and shareable bites. The menu includes espresso martinis, Aperol spritzes, peanut hummus, smoked trout dip, and charcuterie, with the courtyard offering an easy place to settle in after work.
EXPANDED MENU: High Dive HiFi Lounge
Neighborhood: Lakeview
More Info: highdive-bham.com
High Dive HiFi Lounge opened late last year, giving us a unique spot for coffee, cocktails, curated playlists, and bites. Now, the lounge is adding Sunday brunch, served every week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu features new dishes like the Breakfast Burrito, Egg Salad Sandwich with Milk Bread, French Toast, Shrimp & Grits, and Breakfast Bowl. Pair your meal with a mimosa or build your own Bloody Mary at the bar.
Still hungry? Keep scrolling for even more recent restaurant openings!
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AUGUST 2026 UPDATES
There are plenty of new restaurants to check out this month, along with a few familiar favorites that are making a comeback. From a new bagel shop to a go-to bar for your next happy hour, there’s a new spot for just about every craving. Here’s your excuse to try these new restaurants in Birmingham!
Karma’s Kitchen
Neighborhood: Five Points
More Info: Instagram
Five Points South got a new late-night hotspot with the opening of Karma’s Kitchen, a 24/7 diner from Dan and Sherri Williams, the owners behind Dave’s Pub. The all-day, all-night eatery will serve breakfast around the clock (a much-needed option for hungry night owls), as well as standard diner comfort food for lunch and dinner. Highlights include burgers, chicken fingers, patty melts, and corn dogs.
Ralph’s Listening Room
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: Instagram
For those who prefer their cocktails with a soundtrack, Ralph’s Listening Room has arrived. The new Second Avenue North spot from longtime business partners Qadeem Hassan and Justin Speegle blends a curated vinyl collection with cozy surroundings, cocktails, and serious sound.
Inspired by Japan’s jazz kissa listening bars, Ralph’s is designed for hanging out — whether you’re settling in for a jazz set, discovering a new release, or simply letting the music set the mood.
Chateau Bevvy Winery
Neighborhood: Bessemer
More Info: chateaubevywinery.net
There’s a new reason to head to Bessemer: Chateau Bevvy Winery, Jefferson County’s first urban winery. The latest venture from Alabama native and Army veteran La Fran Marks, Chateau Bevvy grew out of La Fran’s travels and appreciation for wine culture around the world.
The winery occupies a restored 1910 building in downtown Bessemer that once served as a saloon and later a drugstore. La Fran sources grape juice from East Coast and international partners, then ferments, ages, and bottles each wine on-site.
Noble Pursuits
Neighborhood: Lakeview
More Info: Facebook
Noble Pursuits, Alabama’s first bar dedicated to traditional kava drinks, opened in Lakeview on August 8. The new neighborhood spot serves kava imported from Fiji alongside house-made specialty beverages.
Made from the root of a Pacific Island plant, kava has long been part of social and ceremonial traditions across the region and is known for its calming effects. At Noble Pursuits, the focus is on the experience as much as what’s in the cup, offering Birmingham a fresh way to unwind without the usual bar scene.
Road to Burma
Neighborhood: Pizitz Food Hall
More Info: Facebook
A new soon-to-be-favorite has joined the options at The Pizitz Food Hall. Road to Burma brings bold flavors of Myanmar to Birmingham, drawing on the country’s culinary traditions and its influences from India, China, and Thailand. The eatery’s menu uniquely balances savory, tangy, and spicy notes, with plenty of dishes to introduce diners to a cuisine that’s still relatively under the radar in the Magic City.
Lucky Stranger
Neighborhood: Avondale
More Info: Instagram
Taking over the former Parkside on Fifth location, Lucky Stranger is the latest project from owners José de Jesus Medina Camacho, Kelsey Drum, Ali Randall, and Nan Wagner. It has one simple goal: to create the kind of neighborhood spot where you can show up exactly as you are. The drinks keep things easy, from wine and canned beer to simple cocktails, with a few playful surprises along the way.
The Broken Knife
Neighborhood: Avondale
More Info: thebrokenknifebirmingham.com
The Broken Knife is back, giving sandwich fans another reason to head to Avondale. The well-loved shop has reopened at Elysian Gardens, where it’s rolling out a new menu of oversized, made-from-scratch sandwiches featuring house-smoked meats, artisan bread, and homemade sauces.
Copper Star Coffee Co.
Neighborhood: Hoover
More Info: Instagram
Hoover is home to a new brick-and-mortar that’s perfect for your morning coffee run. This European-inspired café pairs coffee from Birmingham favorite O. Henry’s with hot paninis, soups, Belgian waffles, and ice cream. It also features an inviting patio, making it a great spot to take your coffee and breakfast outside and enjoy a little fresh air.
Cake Me Up
Neighborhood: Hoover
More Info: cakemeupdessertshop.com
A sweet new addition has opened its doors in Hoover. Cake Me Up is a Brazilian dessert shop serving artisan cakes, fresh coffee, and treats. Founded by Chef Viviane, a native of Minas Gerais, Brazil — who turned a love of baking for friends and neighbors into a business — the shop blends familiar desserts with Brazilian favorites.
NEW MENU: Galley & Garden
Neighborhood: Southside
More Info: galleyandgarden.com
Galley & Garden is certainly not new to Birmingham’s dining scene, but its menu is getting a fresh start. With new Executive Chef Ché Gaines and General Manager Coe Taylor at the helm, the restaurant has introduced a new menu built around seasonal ingredients and partnerships with local farmers.
Ché brings Southern traditions together with Caribbean, Latin, and global influences, putting his own spin on the next chapter of this Birmingham favorite.
Dig in, Birmingham!
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Paige Townley
Paige Townley is a Birmingham native with a soft spot for good stories, interesting people, and beautifully made things. When she's not writing about places that inspire or people who shine, she's likely spending time with her family, planning her next adventure, or cheering on the Crimson Tide.
