Mobile is Alabama’s gateway to the gulf and one of the state’s most historic cities. Although its larger neighbor, New Orleans, is known for its Mardi Gras celebration, the tradition actually originated in Mobile in 1702 when it was the capital of French Louisiana.
Today, Mobile still hosts elaborate Mardi Gras celebrations each year featuring floats, street parties, and a more manageable number of tourists.
For our list of the 12 best restaurants in Mobile, we consulted a number of sources, from Al.com’s Barbecue Bucket List to the Alabama Tourism Department’s list of the state’s most famous 100 Dishes to sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor. We considered factors like type of cuisine, ambiance, price, and dog-friendliness.
Mobile’s unique location offers plenty of culinary options, from authentic gulf-coast seafood to soul food to unexpected international gems, but spots that feature Southern staples like shrimp and grits, barbecue, and waffles top our list.
12 Best Restaurants in Mobile, AL:
- Dumbwaiter
- Wintzell’s Oyster House
- Meat Boss
- Noja
- FIVE Mobile
- Jerusalem Cafe
- Roosters
- Mamas on Dauphin
- Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen
- The Noble South
- The River Shack
- Vandals Street Kitchen
1. Dumbwaiter
$$$ | (251) 445-3802 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
This chic, Michelin-starred eatery is a bit pricey, but its wooden bar and brick walls give it a down-home vibe and its Mobile-style take on southern seafood is especially unique.
Among Dumbwaiter’s offerings, you’ll find an extensive selection of local gulf oysters and steaks, along with singular spins on Southern staples, like white-cheddar-infused shrimp and grits. The Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop is a local favorite. Who says the ubiquitous elixir is only for sipping?
2. Wintzell’s Oyster House
$$ | (251) 432-4605 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
Founded as a six-stool oyster bar in 1938, Wintzell’s has grown to a number of locations, but the Downtown original sets the gold standard for seafood in Mobile.
Sourcing its menu’s starring ingredients from just down the street, Wintzell’s offers oysters “fried, stewed or nude” for nearly any palate, from parmesan-covered cajun-flavored Bienville Oysters to the classic Oysters Rockefeller, along with a fine selection of traditional starters including crab claws, fried green tomatoes, and gumbo.
Though Wintzell’s locations now pepper the Gulf Coast and Northern Alabama, the business has not gotten too big for its britches. The founder’s homespun aphorisms feature in every location’s decor.
3. Meat Boss
$$ | (251) 591-4842 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
It’s all about the Boston butt here, a Gulf favorite, a cut of pork shoulder barbecued to perfection. A homey, Cottage Hill meat palace that made the State of Alabama’s barbecue bucket list, Meat Boss has been a local favorite since it opened a decade ago.
Uniquely Alabama takes on BBQ abound here, including sweet pork loin and Alabama White sauce. Though native to the north of the state, this tangy-creamy, mayonnaise-based concoction is beloved by everyone from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley.
4. Noja
$$$ | (251) 433-0377 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
Named for its location on North Jackson Street, this Michelin-starred foodie’s haven is known for its innovative taste pairings.
Featuring a rotating weekly pris fixe menu, Noja commonly combines traditional Alabama cuisine––especially locally caught Gulf seafood––with Mediterranean flavors. If lamb cooked a la ‘Bama sounds good to you, check out this upscale brick-and-brass affair.
5. FIVE Mobile
$$ | (251) 308-3105 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
Originating in Birmingham, Five Bar is far from a chain. Spanning four locations, Five offers a unique menu at each of its restaurants and wine bars, featuring a rotating cast of five local specialties.
This dog-friendly brunch and dinner spot boasts fresh Gulf catch with wild rice and a carefully crafted bone-in pork chop, along with an extensive wine list and an assortment of signature cocktails.
Its popular promotions include $5 “First 50” Wednesdays (the first 50 Burger & Fries sold go for just $5 an order) and Ladies Night on Thursdays (half off beer and well drinks).
6. Jerusalem Cafe
$-$$ | (251) 304-1155 | WEBSITE
Located near the University of South Alabama, this student favorite offers authentic, affordable Mediterranean and Middle Eastern staples, from Gyro with house-made yogurt sauce and Dill Chicken to one of the city’s most extensive menus of affordable vegan and vegetarian options.
If you’re after some more obscure Middle Eastern eats, try the Turkish Tawook Mashwi (an herb-marinated hen) or feta- and kalamata-stuffed dolmas.
7. Roosters
$-$$ | (251) 375-1076 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
A family-friendly Latin American restaurant with a seaside twist, Roosters is Mobile’s taco destination.
Inspired by his grandma’s farm-fresh cooking and his travels through Latin America, the owner of Roosters set out to combine both loves, offering a range of tacos, from Gulf shrimp tacos to classics like carne asada, barbacoa, and al pastor pork.
Tired of tacos? Try the tortilla soup or Tex-Mex style Queso Blanco. Thirsty? Pop in at Happy Hour for $3 off house margaritas.
8. Mamas on Dauphin
$ | (251) 432-6262 | WEBSITE
The menu at Mamas on Dauphin reads like an all-star roster of affordable Southern classics. With four daily specials on constant rotation, there will always be something you’ll love for a great price at this popular lunch spot for locals and tourists, alike.
Red Beans and Rice with Sausage, Country Fried Steak, and Mamas’ take on Shrimp and Grits are among the fare available here. If it’s fried and from Alabama, you’ll probably find it at Mamas!
9. Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen
$ | (251) 287-0115 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
Who knew Mobile had amazing Nepali food? Yak the Kathmandu Kitchen, located in Dauphin Acres near Spring Hill College features familiar North Indian staples like spicy curries, samosas, pakora, and tikka masala, but the restaurant’s specialty is unique, hard-to-find Nepali dishes like Nepali dumplings called Momo and Thukpa, a vegetable stew of hand-pulled noodles available in both chicken and vegetarian varieties.
Decorated in colorful Tibetan prayer flags and cozy booths, Yak’s warm and inviting atmosphere is ideal for affordable eats or a romantic dining experience.
10. The Noble South
$$ | (251) 690-6824 | WEBSITE
View this post on Instagram
Another smart and contemporary take on Southern Alabama fare, this bar and grill nestled downtown offers an extensive brunch, lunch, and dinner menu.
Choices here range from classic-classics like shrimp and grits to artisan twists on classics like short rib served with pesto and fairytale eggplant, but the more adventurous can try Alligator Bolognese, a dish that combines Cajun alligator (yes, people really eat alligator) with Italian flavors, or an eggs benedict with oysters.
Dining with your dog in tow? The spot’s outdoor seating is perfect for you and your pooch.
11. The River Shack
$-$$ | (251) 625-2974 | WEBSITE
The River Shack is a cute, tin-roofed shack nestled behind the Dog River bridge, overlooking the Mobile Bay tidal estuary. Rustic decor, live blues, jazz, country music, and views of the very body of water your meal came from are all included.
Po’Boys, Fried Catfish, shrimp, as many preparations of oysters as you could hope for––and clams for just a few clams––at this unpretentious joint.
12. Vandals Street Kitchen
$-$$ | (251) 725-1788 | WEBSITE
Located in a shopping center near the airport, Vandals Street Kitchen’s nondescript exterior might be misleading. Behind its doors, you’ll find an exciting new eatery fusing local favorites with international street food classics in a hip bar setting.
Sip on jalapeno, soy sauce, and tajin-infused tequila (the “Bloody Maria”) beneath a pink chandelier or gaze at neon and mural-covered walls as you chow down on chicken and ube yam waffles or sweet corn succotash banh mi. For some unique and innovative vittles, visit Vandals!
Summary
Whether you’re hankering for the home cooking of a Southern childhood, or some Michelin magic, frugal gourmets and fusion foodies alike will find something to love at one of Mobile’s 12 best restaurants.
For unforgettable seafood and harder-to-find fare from the far reaches of the globe, look no further than the Gateway to the Gulf.
Great article, quite a few I’ve not heard of and just as many that I have and enjoy! Gives me a reason to venture out and try something new.