Great food is often found in unexpected places–inside a gas station, tucked in an industrial area, or marked by no sign what-so-ever.
When sharing some of my favorite hidden gems, there is this magical moment where the look of suspicious disbelief becomes that of surprised amazement.
Just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, the best metric for measuring a restaurant is its food.
These are a few of my favorites, where appearances can be deceiving. (A big thanks to Bebe and Daniel for their suggestions on our prior post!)
#1: Shinseagae
Located in a run down shopping center, next to an Asian market of the same name, Shinseagae offers excellent Korean food. From the bibimbap, which is quite possibly one of the most fun dish names to say, to the bulgogi, a delicious beef and vegetable dish, it’s hard to go wrong here.
Hours: Mon – Sat: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sun: 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location:
2701 Patton Rd SW
Huntsville, AL 35805
Phone: (256) 539-3250
#2: Bandito Burrito Co.
For over 2o years, Bandito has served Mexican food with a Californian influence. With a generous patio, a broad beer offering, and some of the best tamales around they’ve built a loyal following.
Hours: Mon – Tue: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wed – Fri: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location:
3017 Governors Drive SW
Huntsville, Alabama 35805
Phone: (256) 534-0866
#3: Jamos Cafe
A new sign has helped to make Jamos more visible, but driving around back and parking between trees on loose gravel gives this spot definite “diamond in the rough” cred. I’m partial to the steak kabobs, but their gyros and smoothies are also worth the trip.
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Location:
413 Jordan Ln NW
Huntsville, Alabama 35805
Phone: (256) 837-7880
#4: Dallas Mill Deli
Just east of Parkway on Pratt, Dallas Mill is tucked into a small brown building which is easy to sail past. Which would be a shame, because inside along with the vintage Huntsville memorbillia are excellent sandwiches and a delicious strawberry pretzel salad.
Hours: Mon – Sat: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Location:
500 Pratt Avenue
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone: 256-489-3354
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#5: Big Cove BBQ
Hidden behind the Wal-Mart in Owens Cross Roads, Big Cove BBQ features red and white checked vinyl tablecloths, tender pulled pork, and delicious baked beans.
Hours: Mon – Sat: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Location:
153 Taylor Road SE
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama 35763
Phone: (256) 518-9190
Author Profile
- The author of Huntsville Eats, Amanda Conger is a thirty-something mechanical engineer who believes in the power of eating locally to support our community. A California native, she lives in constant awe of Alabama's green trees, red dirt, and open space. When not reviewing restaurants, she can be found at MrsDragon.net, where she writes about cooking, baking, sewing, reading, home improvement projects, her awesome husband and their two cats.
