Food Worth a Drive in Alabama: Barbecue to the Gulf

Food worth a drive in Alabama is spread across a state from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of Mexico, so pick a route and let the meals decide the stops. In the north, a smoked chicken dipped in white sauce is the signature; in the middle, ribs; on the coast, oysters and crab.

Alabama's tourism office publishes barbecue road trips, and Decatur and Birmingham are the stops to plan around. Spring and fall have mild weather, while summer is hot and football weekends fill hotels.

Where does food worth a drive in Alabama begin?

Alabama's tourism office publishes barbecue road trips, and Decatur and Tuscaloosa are two of the best stops. Decatur is known for chicken with a white, mayonnaise-based sauce: split, seasoned chickens cook on the pit for hours and are dipped in the sauce before they reach the table.

Tuscaloosa has a famous rib joint, and the plate to order is ribs, white bread and a side of sauce, the canonical Alabama rack. Decatur is north of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa is west, so allow time for the drive.

What is Alabama white sauce, and where can you taste it?

White sauce is a tangy blend of mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon, pepper and salt. It was invented for smoked chicken, and many Alabama pitmasters now use it on turkey, pork and even potato salad. If you want the original, go to Decatur. If you want to see how a modern restaurant uses it, Birmingham has several places that serve it.

The Birmingham barbecue guide goes deeper on the sauce and the cities. On the road, order chicken first, then ribs, and compare.

Which Alabama barbecue towns reward a stop?

Beyond Decatur and Tuscaloosa, most Alabama towns of any size have a barbecue place, and the quality is high because competition is local. Look for a smoker out back, a stack of hickory or oak and a plate with white bread and pickles. Hours can be short, and many smokehouses close when the meat runs out. Go early in the day for the best choice, and order by the half pound if you want to taste several meats.

The state's tourism office has a barbecue app listing restaurants across the state, which is useful for planning. Choose three stops across a day, and share plates.

Where to find Alabama Gulf Coast seafood

The coast is a different Alabama. Mobile's old oyster houses are institutions famous for fresh Gulf seafood. Mobile is also known for West Indies salad, a Mobile-born dish of lump crab marinated in oil and vinegar that tastes a bit like ceviche.

In Gulf Shores, a laid-back marina seafood stop is a good place to watch the boats, so check its current menu. Gulf oysters, shrimp and crab are the local staples, and the seasons shape what is on the menu. A coastal day trip pairs well with a beach stop.

What is an Alabama meat and three?

A meat and three is a lunch plate: one meat and three vegetables from a daily list. In Alabama it often includes fried chicken, smothered pork chops or meatloaf, with sides such as turnip greens, fried okra, macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes. A roll or cornbread comes with it, and sweet tea is the drink.

Many meat and threes are lunch-only and close mid-afternoon, so plan accordingly. They are some of the best-value meals in the state.

What else is on the coast besides oysters?

The Gulf side has a gentler pace than the barbecue belt. At Point Clear, across Mobile Bay, the Grand Hotel is a landmark on the bay, and the bay towns have shrimp boats and small cafes where the menu depends on the morning's catch. Crab, shrimp and fish are served fried, grilled or in gumbo, and Gulf seafood comes with grits, hushpuppies and slaw.

The state's tourism site also publishes a food and wine trail and a seafood guide, which are useful for planning. Check which stops are open on the day you travel.

How to plan a three-day Alabama food trip

Day one: Birmingham for a barbecue dinner, then Tuscaloosa for ribs. Day two: drive north to Decatur for the chicken and white sauce, then return. Day three: head south to Mobile for oysters and a stroll through the historic district, then to the beach for seafood.

Distances are long, so allow time for each leg. Check hours before you go, and book rooms early on game weekends.

What should you bring and ask?

Bring a cooler if you want to take sauce or smoked meat home, and bring napkins. Ask each pitmaster what they would order, and ask where they would eat next. Alabama cooks are proud of their traditions and often point you to their neighbors.

If you are traveling with children, many barbecue restaurants have simple kids' plates. Carry water, because the summer heat is serious.

What to read next

For a neighboring route, read the Mississippi food worth a drive guide and the Gulf Coast seafood guide. The US guides page lists more states.

A road trip is easier to remember with notes. In the Mosey app you can rate every plate along the way, record the town and the sauce and build an Alabama list that other travelers can follow.