Hero Diner — Restaurant in Birmingham

Right across from Railroad Park... sits this cute little donut shop. We ordered 4 donuts and shared them. We ordered a pistachio donut, a Strawberry donut, a donut with sprinkles and a maple sea salt donut. The maple donut was AMAZING! I also enjoyed the pistachio donut (a lot sweeter than I had anticipated). The pistachio donut was not salty as I had expected. Of course the strawberry glazed donut and donuts with sprinkles was good. Here's a well known secret: they make EVERYTHING from scratch in house. The donuts are made with brioche dough too! I'm definitely returning. I want to try their lunch and breakfast menu (both are served all day). I was expecting just a donut shop and found much more!

Update: November 2023 I visited again! This time I learned that Hero changes out donuts on a regular basis! I tried lunch. Had the Turkey Avacado sandwich add pepper jack cheese. It was great! My friend had the loaded hashbrowns with fried chicken.

Update: December 2023 Had the Hot Chocolate Donut (marshmallows on top), Maple Bacon Donut and the Bread Pudding Donut (did not like... I didn't prefer the aftertaste). Also had a Double Hero burger with hashbrowns (AMAZING) and the Turkey Avacado (AMAZING) W/ hashbrowns.

Update: November 2024 We had salted caramel donuts (prettt goood) and chicken sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich (Ami added avocado) the cracked pepper sauce and the jalapeño pepper jam was a delightful addition to this sandwich. I had a side of hash browns.

Update: June 2025 We’re BACK! The menu has changed quite a bit. But I have to say the Homewood (Donut with cream and strawberries) was really good! We also ordered the Super Crunch with avocado and a bacon, egg and cheese folded...

Apparently today there was a marathon. When I arrived at around 3pm the shop was nearly empty. I followed the intermittent stickers on the floor to meet a large group ordering at the counter. I waited for some time as the family laughed with the cashier. When I went to order the cashier walked away. I waited some time and a women muttered under her mask while sweeping the floor "what did you order". I told her I was waiting to order. She was short with me, rude actually. I was confused, I asked if had done something wrong. I'm not from here and this was my first time, she complained about an earlier rush, (the marathon). There were no more doughnuts, although there were cinnamon rolls. I order the cinnamon rolls, 2 coffees, and a water. The cashier tossed me some cups over the plexi and walked away. I can't put my finger on it, but I just felt discriminated, maybe it was my northern accent, I'm not sure. I felt the employees were rude, annoyed, although previously jovial with other customers. I was patient, I was kind, what made these people so dismissive? The coffee station was empty, no coffee, no tea, another employee tossed a bag with a togo container on to the filthy coffee station "there's your bun" and walked away. I will admit the cinnamon roll was great, packaging was off, looked as though bits from many were hand tossed into the packaging. It tasted good, would have been better...

I came across Hero on a recent trip to Birmingham. I didn't initially stop in due to time constraints but the bright, 50s-meets-modern ambiance mixed with the incredible smell of baked goods wafting from the storefront compelled me to circle back around the following morning.

What a gem. Hero's doughnuts are some of the best I've ever eaten (I got the banana pudding doughnut, which I posed a picture of, was so light and fluffy yet full of flavor [and banana pudding], I demolished it in like 5 seconds and don't regret it at all). The service was impeccable, upon ordering a berry parfait (which was likewise fantastic), the staff weren't sure they had yogurt and apologized profusely even before they checked their inventory. Everyone on staff was so upbeat which makes a massive difference to an overly stressed, jet-lagged, wreck like I was, especially that early in the morning. The location, immediately across the street from Railroad Park is fantastic so I could take in the beautiful skyline and walk those doughnut calories off so I could buy some more, that's how that works right?

I still have dreams of that doughnut, which makes me glad I don't live in Birmingham because I'd gain 9,000 pounds in like a day if I did and it would all be due to...