Highest-rated restaurants in Tuscaloosa by diners

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a 2024 survey of more than 1,500 diners from TouchBistro.

But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.

New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that new restaurant openings were up 6% from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.

To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Tuscaloosa, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.

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#30. Lai Lai Asian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.2/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1223 Mcfarland Blvd. Northeast Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Southern Ale House

- Rating: 4.2/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1530 Mcfarland Blvd. North Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. The Curry Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 3799 McFarland Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Indian, Desserts, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Slim Chickens

- Rating: 4.2/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 685 Skyland Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, American, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 30

#26. Hoo's Q and Brew

- Rating: 4.2/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 1825 McFarland Blvd. North Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Barbecue, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp

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6 / 30

#25. Catfish Heaven

- Rating: 4.2/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2502 21st St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Soul Food, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. The Sanctuary on 25th

- Rating: 4.2/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 1710 25th Ave. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Speakeasies, Music Venues, Restaurants
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. Mr. Chen's Authentic Chinese Cooking & Oriental Market

- Rating: 4.2/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 514 14th St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Just Love Coffee Cafe - Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 4.2/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2531 University Blvd. Ste 100 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. TuscNY

- Rating: 4.3/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 229 McFarland Cir North Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Pizza, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 30

#20. Ichiban Japanese Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2128 Univeristy Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30

#19. River

- Rating: 4.3/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1650 Jack Warner Pkwy Northeast Unit 1005 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Chicken Salad Chick

- Rating: 4.3/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1800 McFarland Blvd. Unit 308 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Sandwiches, Chicken Shop, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. Shiki Japanese Thai Sushi Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6521 Hwy 69 South Ste L Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Foosackly's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 405 15th St. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Cravings

- Rating: 4.3/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2320 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Brick & Spoon - Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 4.4/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2318 4th St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Thai Basil Sushi II of Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 4.4/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 1402 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Big Bad Breakfast - Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 4.4/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 520 19th Ave. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Heritage House Coffee & Tea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2370 Jack Warner Pkwy Ste A 108 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Manna Grocery & Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2350 McFarland Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Grocery, Delis, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30

#9. Fuku Ramen

- Rating: 4.4/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1800 McFarland Blvd. East Ste 420 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Ramen, Bubble Tea, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30

#8. Heritage House Coffee & Tea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 700 Towncenter Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Urban Cookhouse

- Rating: 4.5/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1490 Northbank Pkwy Ste 110 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, American, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Urban Bar & Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2321 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: American, Burgers, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. Avenue Pub - Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 4.5/5 (579 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2230 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Salad, Cocktail Bars, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 4373 Courtney Drive Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue, Hot Pot
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. King's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 501 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, Desserts, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Rolf's Deli & Sausages

- Rating: 4.7/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 2324 4th St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: German, Modern European, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Antojitos Izcalli

- Rating: 4.8/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 623 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.