Huntsville restaurants are amazing! In this guide, we reveal the best places to eat in Huntsville, Alabama. Includes breakfast and brunch!

Huntsville Restaurants: A Guide To The Best Places To Eat In Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville restaurants are amazing! In this guide, we reveal the best places to eat in Huntsville, Alabama. Includes breakfast and brunch!

**A big thank you to the Huntsville/Madison County CVB for hosting our trip and providing us with some of our meals.**

Huntsville Restaurants

Yes, Huntsville is known as Rocket City. However, we think that Huntsville food should be given some recognition as well. There are a lot of great restaurants in Huntsville, with a variety of cuisines and styles. We’ve been to Huntsville multiple times now thanks to house sits and visiting friends in nearby Marietta and Atlanta. On our latest visit, we went back to some favorite restaurants and discovered new ones. Below are the Huntsville restaurants that we’ve eaten at during our visits…

Pro Tip: Be sure to also check out these Fun Things To Do In Huntsville!

Most Unique Place To Eat In Huntsville – Phat Sammy’s

This is one of the most fun restaurants in Huntsville. Located in downtown Huntsville, this place is an Instagrammers dream. However, unlike other places that have a visually appealing restaurant but mediocre food, Phat Sammy’s knows how to create mouthwatering dishes. They have Asian inspired cuisine and signature cocktails that come in all kinds of cups and glasses!

We started lunch with a BBQ Pork Belly appetizer. It came with Korean BBQ sauce, pineapple pickled radish, scallion-onion salad, and sweet & spicy squid. The pork belly was so juicy and tender! We also had a Spam Fried Rice bowl and K-Mac burger. The bowl came with crispy spam, barrel aged teriyaki sauce, baby corn, English peas, 1 hour egg, and pea tendrils. The burger came with 2 griddled patties, kimchi, cheddar, and good AF sauce (which really was good AF!), on a Canadian brioche bun.

It was all wonderfully flavored and we definitely want to try more dishes the next time we’re in Huntsville. It was really hard to pick what we wanted to eat because everything on the menu sounded amazing!

BBQ Pork Belly appetizer at Phat Sammy's, one of the best Huntsville restaurants
BBQ Pork Belly appetizer
Mark eating the K-Mac burger at Phat Sammy's
Mark eating the K-Mac burger
Vicky enjoying the Spam Fried Rice bowl at Phat Sammy's
Vicky enjoying the Spam Fried Rice bowl and a drank!

Most Chill Place To Eat In Huntsville – Stovehouse

We love when spaces are transformed and reused. The Stovehouse complex was once an old factory, but it is now home to restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. We loved the Food & Leisure Garden area with its lawn chairs, swings, and games like cornhole, bocce ball, and wooden-pin bowling. We could easily see ourselves hanging out with friends while eating and drinking the night away.

Speaking of eating, there are a few restaurants at Stovehouse. We ate at Taqueria El Cazador and got a platter of four tacos. Yum!

Stovehouse is the most chill place to eat in Huntsville
Stovehouse is the most chill place to eat in Huntsville
Tacos from Taqueria El Cazador in Huntsville
Tacos from Taqueria El Cazador

Best Pub Food In Huntsville – Ale’s Kitchen

Located inside popular Campus 805, Ale’s Kitchen has some truly amazing food and we think it’s one of the best places to eat in Huntsville. The food is made from scratch, they use locally sourced ingredients, and it’s got such a fun and vibrant atmosphere. They’re also attached to Straight to Ale, an award winning brewery.

To start, we ordered a rum and coke. Yum! And for our meal we ordered Kimchi Pork Tacos. The flavors were amazing and had just the right amount of kick! We could’ve eaten about five more of those tacos!

Rum and Coke at Ale's Kitchen, one of the best Huntsville restaurants
Rum and Coke
Kimchi Pork Tacos at Ale's Kitchen
Kimchi Pork Tacos

Best Breakfast In Huntsville – Blue Plate Cafe

One morning, we had what is probably the best breakfast in Huntsville. At Blue Plate Cafe, they specialize in classic southern dishes and besides these classic dishes, they also offer a large helping of smiles and Southern hospitality.

We ordered a Blue Plate Breakfast that came with two scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and toast. We always ask for cheese with our scrambled eggs and it’s how we tend to judge a place. Sometimes cheese is thrown on top after the eggs are done, so it doesn’t even melt. At Blue Plate Cafe, however, the cheese is mixed in. And a lot of cheese too! So we were very happy with our cheesy order lol! The hashbrowns were also nice and crispy.

Best breakfast in Huntsville is at Blue Plate Cafe
Blue Plate Breakfast

Best Burger In Huntsville – 1892 East

Self described as a modern-tavern, 1892 East is another of the best restaurants in Huntsville. They are proud of their community and work with local farms and breweries so you know everything you order is made with fresh ingredients.

We were told we HAD to get the “1892 Burger” when we visited, and who are we to argue with a local’s recommendation? Turns out they were totally right because this burger was amazing. It was thick and juicy and came with balsamic aioli and cheddar cheese from a nearby farm. It’s one of the best burgers we’ve ever had! The fries were also crispy and seasoned very well.

1892 Burger from 1892 East, one of the best places to eat in Huntsville AL
1892 Burger

Best Coffee In Huntsville – Honest Coffee Roasters

Another great Huntsville breakfast spot is Honest Coffee Roasters. They are located downtown, and have freshly roasted coffee and simple but tasty breakfast options. We were wanting a light breakfast that morning, so we ordered a latte and muffin, both of which were very yummy.

Best coffee in Huntsville is at Honest Coffee Roasters
Yummy latte
Muffin from Honest Coffee Roasters in Huntsville AL
Very rich muffin

Best Chocolate In Huntsville – Pizzelle’s Confections

If you’re looking for the best chocolate in Huntsville, you have to visit Pizzelle’s Confections. Created by sisters Michelle and Caitlin, their chocolate shop offers guests delightful treats and desserts. Everything is handmade and almost too pretty to eat.

They also have very creative and elaborate chocolate flavors. We tried two different chocolates while we were there. The first was the “I Do Declare!” which had dark chocolate with local goat cheese, local honey, balsamic reduction, and walnut praline. The second was “Nutty By Nature” which had peanut butter and peanut praline ganache with a layer of marshmallow in dark chocolate. Both were fantastic and we were amazed at how well all of the flavors went together. Oh, and we also got a chocolate milkshake because… well, why not?

So many chocolates at Pizzelle’s Confections in Huntsville
So many chocolates at Pizzelle’s Confections
The “I Do Declare!” and “Nutty By Nature” accompanied by a chocolate milkshake
The “I Do Declare!” and “Nutty By Nature” accompanied by a chocolate milkshake

Best Cuban Food In Huntsville – Havanabama

As the city continues to grow, the food in Huntsville continues to diversify. If you’re craving some good Cuban coffee and comfort food, definitely reach out to Karlene at Havanabama. She moved to Huntsville from Miami a few years ago and is now delighting locals with her pastelitos, empanadas, croquetas and coffee. She does have some vegan options as well.

Anyone wanting to place an order can either DM her on Instagram or through email at info@havanabama.com. Karlene does need at least a 24 hour notice, to ensure freshness and availability. She also sells customized merchandise and novelty items with the goal of having a food truck and brick and mortar shop soon.

Pastelitos, empanadas, croquetas and coffee from Havanabama
Pastelitos, empanadas, croquetas and coffee

Best Sunday Brunch In Huntsville – Cotton Row

There are a few downtown Huntsville restaurants, but if you’re looking for the best brunch in Huntsville (or best meal for that matter), head on over to Cotton Row. They have an amazing chef and the restaurant has won many awards. It’s American fine dining, with deep Southern roots.

During our visit to Cotton Row, we ordered a Gem Lettuce Salad and the Pan Seared Wild Pacific King Salmon dish. The salad came with shaved pecorino, fennel, sourdough croutons, and goddess dressing. We’ll be honest, it takes a lot for a salad to thrill us. But everything was so fresh and the dressing really made it pop. It was delicious and we also thought the plating was really nice.

Gem Lettuce Salad from Cotton Row, one of the best Huntsville restaurants
Gem Lettuce Salad

The salmon came with crispy baby potatoes and vegetables along with an herb citrus butter. Out of all the meals we had in Huntsville, we probably ate this one the slowest because we really wanted to savor every bite. The salmon melted in your mouth and the potatoes and vegetables were cooked perfectly. If Cotton Row wasn’t such a classy place, we would’ve licked the plate!

King Salmon from Cotton Row, one of the best restaurants in Huntsville AL
King Salmon

Best Breweries And Bars In Huntsville

Did you know that Huntsville has a ton of breweries and bars? The best way to experience them all is by exploring Huntsville’s Trail Networks. They have a Craft Beer Trail, Craft Cocktail Trail, and even a Craft Coffee Trail. As you visit each location on a trail, you get a stamp on your nifty Trail Card. Then, once you’ve gotten stamped at all of the locations, you get a free prize!

Mark enjoying the Huntsville Craft Beer Trail
Mark enjoying the Huntsville Craft Beer Trail

Final Thoughts On Huntsville Restaurants

We always enjoy our visits to Huntsville! As we mentioned before, we think Huntsville food should be acknowledged more. There is a lot of tradition in the cuisine, but also a lot of modern adaptations. We loved that so many of the Huntsville restaurants were sourcing their ingredients locally and we also loved that so many venues were fun and creative. We can’t wait to visit again and discover more delicious places to eat in Huntsville, Alabama!

Ready to book your stay in Huntsville? We’ve stayed at both the Embassy Suites in downtown and the Hampton Inn Huntsville/Village of Providence just outside of the US Space and Rocket Center.

The Embassy Suites is in a perfect location that allowed us to get to downtown attractions quickly. They offer free breakfast and complimentary drinks and snacks for two hours every night. Check Embassy Suites Huntsville Hotel & Spa rates.

The Hampton Inn Huntsville/Village of Providence is in a great area known as the Village of Providence. There are restaurants and shops within walking distance and the US Space and Rocket Center is a short drive away. The hotel also offers free breakfast. Check Hampton Inn Huntsville/Village of Providence rates.

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Huntsville restaurants are amazing! In this guide, we reveal the best places to eat in Huntsville, Alabama. Includes breakfast and brunch!

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6 Comments

  1. Well I’m wanting to travel to Huntsville to try some of those dishes now! Great article capturing a variety of restaurants to dine at if ever in that city!

  2. Sadly Pints and Pixels has moved to Campus 805 and is no longer serving food!

  3. Everything on the menu looks delicious. Can’t wait to taste the best of Huntsville soon.

  4. Rose Fletcher says:

    I live in Huntsville and these recommendations are great however there are many more delicious and fun spots here to enjoy. Personally my favorite restaurants for best fine dining are Purveyor & the Bottle, both located in downtown. I love La Finka, and Phil Sandovals for Mexican cuisine. Other favorites are Church Street wine shop on Gates Ave. and Flight Plan in the Jones Valley area for a lite bite to eat and great wine. A fun, different spot is Catacomb, which is a speakeasy. The experience is so much fun! Their cocktails are absolutely amazing! There are many others but just wanted to throw a few other favorites in for you. Enjoy!

    1. Hi Rose, thank you for your comment! We do plan on updating this article each time we revisit Huntsville so we appreciate the suggestions. And we agree that Catacomb is a fun spot. We are actually in the process of updating our “Fun Things To Do In Huntsville” article and are including it there. It will be out soon, so we hope you’ll keep an eye out for it. Thanks again! 🙂

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