Miss Alabama 2026: Her 5 favorite restaurants in Birmingham
Ruby Tilghman has a bucket list of restaurants to visit in Birmingham. Here are some that earned an enthusiastic thumb's up.
Mason Reed 
If you want to know the hottest spots to grab a bite in the Magic City, just ask Ruby Tilghman. The reigning Miss Alabama keeps a meticulously curated digital bucket list of Birmingham restaurants she is eager to explore.
Tilghman’s culinary interest in the city grew during her undergraduate years at the University of Alabama, where she frequently made the hour-long trip from Tuscaloosa. Her connection deepened after she was crowned Miss Birmingham in November 2025. With a year of service as Miss Alabama ahead and future plans to attend UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine, Tilghman is ready to make the city her permanent culinary home. She recently sat down with 205focus.com to share some of her top-tier recommendations.
Automatic Seafood and Oysters
Where: 1625 Second Ave. South, Birmingham.
Menu Highlights: Red snapper sashimi, Peking style roast duck, sticky lamb ribs, and yellow curry spiced fried rice.
The Miss Alabama Verdict: "I went there on a special occasion around graduation, and it quickly became one of the top restaurants on my list," Tilghman says. She highly recommends the chicken and pork pot stickers, the short rib, and their unique take on calamari.
READ: Birmingham chef Adam Evans dishes on Current Charcoal Grill
The Battery
Where: 2821 Central Ave., Suite 101, Homewood.
Menu Highlights: Pimento cheese, Korean BBQ tacos, pork ribeye, and shrimp and grits.
The Miss Alabama Verdict: After a long week of pageant rehearsals, Tilghman visited The Battery with her travel companion, Robin. She gave the king salmon a glowing review, calling it a delicious, much-needed sit-down meal.
Helen
Where: 2308 First Ave. South, Birmingham.
Menu Highlights: French onion soup, New York strip steak, crispy whole branzino, and Wagyu strip.
The Miss Alabama Verdict: Tilghman admits she likes to do her homework before dining out. "I don’t just go to a restaurant and let the menu surprise me," she notes. After seeing recommendations on TikTok, she tried the steak, calamari, and burger—all of which lived up to the hype.
READ: Steak and seafood restaurant opening in historic Alabama building
Cala Coffee
Where: Three locations, including 1826 Third Ave. North, #101, Birmingham.
Menu Highlights: Specialty lattes, matcha, and cortados.
The Miss Alabama Verdict: For a quick downtown caffeine fix, Tilghman is a big fan of their iced latte with honey and oat milk.
The Red Cat Coffeehouse
Where: Three locations, including 1701 First Ave. South, Unit 101, Birmingham.
Menu Highlights: Persian Latte, breakfast burritos, and Italian gelato affogato.
The Miss Alabama Verdict: The location at Railroad Park is a favorite. Tilghman was so impressed by the signature Persian Latte—made with almond and white chocolate—that she couldn't help but film a video for her mom just to show off how good it was.
