Buddy’s Bar-B-Que – Alabaster, Alabama

Buddy’s Bar-B-Que in Alabaster, Alabama is off the beaten path. In fact, let’s just say that eatery is “no more than a wide place in the road” as my dad used to say. And if it hadn’t been for my trusty smartphone GPS we might still be searching for some good Southern BBQ as we headed back North after our winter spent in Florida.

So after many twists and turns off that Alabama highway we finally found it…Buddy’s Bar-B-Que.

The building has certainly seen better days, but there were already cars in the parking lot and it wasn’t even noon yet, so we knew this spot was worth a shot.

And before we could even park the car, our noses assured us we had made the right decision.

Ahhh…those BBQ smells…wood smoke..and MEAT!!!

We stepped through the door into a small lobby area with a counter. And that was it. No seats…just take-out!

But I was totally sold on the joint when I saw this sign hanging on the wall…

The Alabama Department of Public Health inspection report for Buddy’s Bar-B-Que. (Buddy’s scored an awesome 95 points!)

We were warmly greeted by the young woman working the counter, and by the BBQ pit master himself. And even the other hungry folks in line were happy to answer our questions and guide us in our ordering process.

The smoker was filled with cuts of meat in various stages of doneness…and the smells wafting from that smoker were intoxicating to say the least.

We chose a big plate of pulled pork with some extra sides, based on the suggestions of the man in charge. He was too busy to do more than smile and keep chopping and plating that amazing meat for all the diners in line.

By the time we got our food, the lone picnic table on the small deck was fully occupied, and we didn’t want to balance that plate of porky goodness on our laps in the car. So we walked down around the side of the building to see if we could find a place to sit down. (It was a beautiful spring day in Alabama.) 

We saw a low split-rail fence meant to keep cars off the grass, so we created our own picnic spot. We sat on the wooden railing and balanced our plate on the cement blocks. It was perfect!

No southern BBQ worth it’s sauce is complete without several slices of plain old white bread, and when we opened the styrofoam container, there it was…in all it’s glory…perched on top of the waxed paper covering our meal.

As I pulled back the waxed paper, I felt as if I was unwrapping a gift. And I was not disappointed…

Words actually fail me as I try to describe the flavors on that plate…and let me assure you words rarely fail me! Every single item on the styrofoam tray was as good as it could be. Really. THAT good.

And the star of the show? I’m sure you can guess…

It’s meals like these that keep Peepaw and me searching those back roads and byways places like Buddy’s Bar-B-Que. No frills. No white tablecloths. Just unforgettable food….served by people we can’t wait to meet.

We go where the “locals” go.

And those “locals” NEVER let us down.