{"id":4122,"date":"2026-09-12T15:33:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T15:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/4122\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T15:33:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T15:33:39","slug":"alabama-restaurants-with-big-portions-and-low-prices-13-top-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/4122\/","title":{"rendered":"Alabama restaurants with big portions and low prices: 13 top picks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking for a place where you can get a good meal that doesn\u2019t leave you feeling like you spent a small fortune for it?<\/p>\n

This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers which Alabama restaurants offer the most bang for your buck, and the answers ranged from Chinese restaurants to iconic meat-and-threes to buffets, seafood joints and more.<\/p>\n

Some were picked for their low prices while others were suggested because you get a-whole-lot of food no matter what you order. The best ones? They offer both.<\/p>\n

You can see some of the suggestions below, and you can read all of them on the This is Alabama Facebook page.<\/p>\n

\"BurningBurning Tree Smokehouse in Birmingham, Ala.(Bob Carlton\/bcarlton@al.com)Burning Tree Smokehouse<\/p>\n

3090 3rd Avenue South in Birmingham<\/p>\n

While Burning Tree Smokehouse in Birmingham has only been open for a little over a year, it\u2019s already earned a reputation as a good \u201cbang for your buck\u201d restaurant thanks to its menu of classic barbecue, including sandwiches, wings, ribs and more, as well as burgers, tacos, and salads. Most of their meals, which give with either one or two sides, are priced at $15 and under.<\/p>\n

Mildred\u2019s Restaurant<\/p>\n

27926 Main Street in Ardmore<\/p>\n

When it comes to getting a bang for your buck, it\u2019s hard to beat all-you-can-eat, which is what you\u2019ll find at Mildred\u2019s Restaurant in Ardmore. Their weekday lunch buffet is priced under $13 and features a rotating selection of country favorites, including chicken and dumplings, fried pork chops and meatloaf, as well as an assortment of desserts, a fresh salad bar and more.<\/p>\n

\"Buddy'sA rib plate, pulled pork plate and basket of hushpuppies at Buddy’s BBQ in Talladega.Amber Sutton\/AL.comBuddies BBQ<\/p>\n

103 Haynes Street in Talladega<\/p>\n

Buddies BBQ in Talladega has garnered a reputation for being a one-stop shop when it comes to good food. Whether you\u2019re craving their delicious barbecue, which includes everything from ribs to pulled pork and brisket, or their daily meat-and-three-style lunch menu that offers a variety of Southern favorites, you know you\u2019re going to get a filling meal at a fair price.<\/p>\n

Main Street Tavern<\/p>\n

710 N Boundary Street in Montevallo<\/p>\n

If Main Street Tavern in Montevallo is open, you can expect to see a full parking lot. That\u2019s because the popular restaurant has become known for serving a wide array of dishes, many of which are priced under $10. Whether you\u2019re in the mood for a bacon cheeseburger, fish tacos, fried chicken, pasta, wings and more, Main Street Tavern has you covered.<\/p>\n

Chop Suey Inn<\/p>\n

813 Green Springs Hwy #160 in Homewood<\/p>\n

Looking to get a lot of food without having to spend all your hard-earned cash? Chop Suey Inn in Homewood is a good place to go. In addition to having all the classic Chinese fare you\u2019d expect, from wonton soup and eggs rolls to fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, Kung Pao beef, General Tso\u2019s and more, they offer generous portions at affordable prices.<\/p>\n

\"VintageThe only Morrison’s Cafeteria still in business is located in Springdale Plaza in Mobile, Ala., the same city were it was founded.AL.com File PhotoMorrison\u2019s Cafeteria<\/p>\n

3200 Springdale Plaza in Mobile<\/p>\n

Did you know the last Morrison\u2019s Cafeteria is located in Mobile? You do now, and it\u2019s a good place to go if you\u2019re looking to have your pick of a wide array of dishes. The cafeteria-style restaurant offers everything from salads to entrees like fried chicken, shrimp and more, mostly priced between $10 and $15, served with an array of salads, vegetables and desserts.<\/p>\n

Dairy Creem<\/p>\n

2939 Dadeville Road in Alexander City<\/p>\n

Who doesn\u2019t love a lunch special? At Dairy Creem in Alexander, you can pick between a wide range of mains, including country fried steak, a cheeseburger, catfish nuggets, barbecue and more, served with fries and a drink for $10 bucks. Add one of the walk-up\u2019s ice cream sundaes or shakes for dessert, and you\u2019re good to go.<\/p>\n

\"TopThe cornbread at Top of the River in Guntersville.Haley LaurenceTop of the River<\/p>\n

Locations in Guntersville, Gadsden and Anniston<\/p>\n

No matter which Top O\u2019 the River location you visit, you\u2019re bound to have a meal that leaves you feeling full and satisfied. Their menu features seafood, steak and of course their popular catfish. Try the Riverboat Special which is half a pound of fried catfish filet, hushpuppies and a baked potato as well as a skillet of cornbread, coleslaw and picked onions for the table.<\/p>\n

Red\u2019s Little School House<\/p>\n

20 Gardner Road in Grady<\/p>\n

Whether you want a quick bite or a full buffet, Red\u2019s Little School House in Grady is the way to go. The one-of-a-kind restaurant\u2019s menu features everything from a $6 hamburger to a $13 all-you-can-eat buffet filled with country cooking. Whatever you order, be sure to add a $3 slice of one of their homemade pies to the tab — it\u2019ll be money well spent.<\/p>\n

\"Lambert'sPlate of hog jowls, a popular dish served at Lambert’s Cafe in Foley, Ala. (Photo courtesy of Lambert’s Cafe)Photo courtesy of Lambert’s CafeLambert\u2019s Cafe<\/p>\n

2981 S McKenzie Street in Foley<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ever feeling like your stomach is a bottomless pit, Lambert\u2019s Cafe in Foley is a great place. That\u2019s because in addition to what you order off their diverse menu, you also can have as much of their \u201cpass-arounds,\u201d which include fried potatoes, black-eyed peas, fried okra, macaroni and tomatoes as well as those hot \u201cthrowed\u201d rolls, as you want.<\/p>\n

Time to Eat Cafe<\/p>\n

7351 Theodore Dawes Road in Theodore<\/p>\n

Time to Eat Cafe in Theodore was a popular pick with readers when it comes to restaurants where you can get the most bang for your buck. That could be be because of their all-you-can-eat catfish and seafood deals, offered on Friday and Saturday, or because they serve up heaping helpings of country classics. Either way, you\u2019ll leave feeling like you got your money\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n

\"Sisters'Cornbread dressing, potato salad, string beans and a fried pork chop served with cranberry sauce, a roll and a hushpuppy at Sisters’ Restaurant in Troy, Ala.Amber SuttonSisters\u2019 Restaurant<\/p>\n

13153 U.S. Highway 231 in Troy<\/p>\n

Sisters\u2019 Restaurant has been a staple of the Troy community for nearly 30 years, attracting locals and beach travelers (not to mention, Hank Williams, Jr.) alike with its meat-and-three lunch menu, which changes daily and is priced under $13, filled with classic Southern fare like hamburger steak and fried pork chops as well as all the fixins\u2019 and desserts you could want.<\/p>\n

Beans and Greens<\/p>\n

10294 Centre Road in Gadsden<\/p>\n

Beans and Greens in Gadsden is a buffet-style restaurant, which is always a good way to make sure you a full plate (or two) without having to overspend. Pricing tops at $14, and the buffet features a daily rotation of four to six main dishes, including catfish filets, meatloaf, fried chicken, smoked ribs and more as well as plenty of vegetables, desserts, salads and more.<\/p>\n

\"CityCity Cafe in Northport, Ala.(Ben Flanagan\/bflanagan@al.com)City Cafe<\/p>\n

408 Main Avenue in Northport<\/p>\n

Open for more than 90 years, City Cafe in Northport is an Alabama institution where diners know they\u2019re going to get a good meal at a good price. Whether you stop in for breakfast or lunch, you can grab a filling meal, including their meat-and-three menu that changes daily and is offered for under $12, without doing too much harm to your wallet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking for a place where you can get a good meal that doesn\u2019t leave you feeling like you spent a small fortune for it? This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers which Alabama restaurants offer the most bang for your buck, and the answers ranged from Chinese restaurants to iconic meat-and-threes to buffets, seafood<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4123,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[4247,4245,4243,4246,4244],"class_list":["post-4122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-alabama","tag-alabama","tag-alabama-dining","tag-alabama-food","tag-alabama-grocery-stores","tag-alabama-restaurants"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/vive.im\/@dc\/117258800740085755","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}