I did not arrive in Birmingham expecting to be impressed by the vegan food.
Vegan travelers learn to approach certain cities with a combination of hope and suspicion. We scan menus before we arrive. We look for the word “vegan” like a lighthouse. We learn, too often, to make a meal out of side dishes and call it resourcefulness.
So when I landed in Birmingham, Alabama, for a trip centered on the city’s civil rights history and Juneteenth celebrations, food was not my main focus.
I ended up pleasantly surprised.
Here are some vegan options I ate in Birmingham that I would order again.
Pizza Grace
Pizza Grace is a popular pizza spot. It was quite busy when we arrived and there was a small wait.
At first glance, I did not see anything labeled vegan, which usually means I have to begin the familiar little ritual: ask about the crust, the sauce, butter, the toppings, etc.
The staff told me the crust and marinara were vegan, so I asked if they could make me a simple pizza with crust, sauce and vegetables.
What arrived was much better than the bare-bones pie I had prepared myself to accept.
It had roasted garlic, mushrooms and lots of different flavor elements.
Then came dessert, which was a sorbet-style flavored ice that tasted of watermelon, cucumber and lime. It was a refreshing end to the evening.
Slutty Vegan
Then came Slutty Vegan.
Slutty Vegan is not subtle, and that is part of its charm. It is unapologetically plant-based fast food. After a day of scanning menus and asking the usual questions, it was a relief to walk into a place where everything was vegan by default.
I ordered a burger and fries. It was good. It was also very greasy, but not every vegan meal needs to be virtuous, and not every vegan restaurant needs to worship at the altar of kale. Sometimes you want food that feels like a little rebellion against every dry salad that has ever been presented to you as a full meal, and this was that.
Shu Shop
Then came Shu Shop.
Shu Shop is a downtown ramen and izakaya spot in Birmingham’s Theatre District. It had friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere. I ordered vegan ramen (technically a vegetarian ramen made vegan) and vegan sake.
The ramen was warm and brothy. After a day of moving through Birmingham’s history, through museums, streets and stories that were not light, it felt good to have something deep and savory in front of me. I left satisfied.
El Barrio
By the time I ate at El Barrio, I had begun to understand that there were more options in Birmingham than I initially expected.
El Barrio’s vegan tostada was one of the clearest wins of the trip. It came with seasonal vegetables, refried black beans, crispy plantains and chipotle salsa. It had enough going on that I did not feel like I was eating the subtraction version of someone else’s meal.
This is one of my quiet measures of whether a restaurant understands vegan food. Does the dish feel like it was built for someone, or like it was built by erasing things? El Barrio’s tostada felt like the former. It was not pretending to be anything other than what it was.
And what it was was good.
Adam and Eve Cafe
We stopped at Adam & Eve Café in Five Points South.
The café had a great vibe. It felt like a place where you would meet your friend to catch up. Better yet, they had vegan pastries.
We tried the vegan strawberry cake and the vegan maple danish. Both were excellent. They made me wish I had these pastries in my hometown. If you order the danish, be sure to ask them to warm it up. It makes the experience better.
Curry Up Now
Curry Up Now was crowded when I went. This made me thankful for their clear menu labeling.
Indian food, even in fast-casual form, often gives vegans more room to breathe. Lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, rice, chutneys, and spices are the architecture of the cuisine.
I ordered the hella vegan bowl and pani puri. The bowl was balanced with sweet and savory flavors, along with a variety of textures. The pani puri added that iconic tangy crunch pani puri is known for.
The Essential
The Essential had the easy charm of a Saturday morning brunch spot. I sat on the patio, lingered over the morning and ordered avocado toast, made vegan, with an oat milk latte. Both were tasty and a good start to my day.
Alabama Peanut Co.
One of my most Birmingham food moments came at Alabama Peanut Co.
I stopped by because I had heard good things. The place seemed to be popular with groups. I managed to snag a seat.
The vegan boiled peanut flavors included salt, dill pickle and Cajun, so I ordered a sampler.
Boiled peanuts are the edamame of the South. They were salty and addictive. They were also probably best shared. The Cajun boiled peanuts were my favorite and the flavor I would recommend. If you have never had boiled peanuts, they are not something you want to miss.
Epice
Epice is a Lebanese restaurant that piqued my interest because they seemed to have a menu with various dishes that could be made vegan. I was right and my server confirmed that they did indeed have several options that were either vegan by default or veganizable.
I ordered the falafel and al raheb with dipping veggies.
The falafel was delicious, made with pistachios. The al raheb, a charred eggplant dip, was exactly what I wanted. I opted to have it with dipping vegetables since I needed something lighter, but it can also be ordered with pita bread.
Birmingham Vegan Travel
Birmingham is a city with more vegan possibilities than I first gave it credit for. You may have to ask, but there is pleasure here for vegan travelers, especially those willing to move beyond the obvious and let the city reveal itself.
I arrived wondering whether Birmingham would have much room for me at the table.
I left knowing it did.
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