Salem's Diner — Restaurant in Homewood

Just started school down here in Birmingham and noticed Salem's diner listed as a top ten place to eat. I stopped by on a Saturday morning to have breakfast before I headed to an internship. For starters, the place is really cool. The owner's father was a hall of famer, Ed Salem, and many pictures/memoirs recognize that on the walls.

All the staff were very welcoming and sat me down right away. Being my first time at the restaurant, they pointed out some of their best options and I had the short stack (with chocolate chips) and bacon. Those pancakes were seriously some of the best I have ever had! Whilst I ate my meal, some of the staff asked about my life, what I was up to at school, etc. which shows great respect for customers in my opinion.

After my incredible meal, I payed at the register and was invited to come right back for lunch in a couple hours. If it were not for an on-campus commitment I had to attend, I would have been right back at Salem's. I shook hands with the staff, spoke to the owner (really nice and friendly guy), and headed out.

Overall: exceptional food, great price, friendly staff, kind owner, and a cool history. Can't want to come back and try their famous cheese...

Salem’s Diner in Homewood is a classic hole-in-the-wall spot that’s been serving up delicious food for years. Their hamburgers taste homemade, full of flavor . The hot dogs are great, too-the slaw dog, comes with finely chopped slaw instead of the usual shredded kind.

My friend swears by their Chicken Philly with fries, calling it his favorite. The portions are generous, and the prices are fair.

The service has that old-school diner charm. There’s usually one waitress, and she’s all business—quick, efficient, and sweet in a no-nonsense way. You order at the table and pay at the counter when you're done. The owner is the man in the back, cooking up the food, and he’s as friendly as they come.

Also serving breakfast, their hours listed are

Monday–Friday: 6:30 AM–1pm Saturday: 6:30 AM–3pm Sunday: Closed

They even got a shoutout from Craig Ferguson during his show’s opening monologue, where he called their Philly Steak sandwich the best he’d ever had.

Parking can be a challenge during rush times. But you can usually find something in an adjacent parking lot or on the main drag if you don't mind...

This quaint little diner spot states they have the best Philly cheese steak sandwich anywhere, even Philadelphia. Being from New Jersey and eating more than my fair share of these I had to try it. The sandwich as a whole was smaller than I'm used to, however a nice serving size for lunch without the food coma. The steak itself was the correct cut of meat and was cooked and seasoned well and tasted like the other I have had. And the cheese was correct and abundant. However that is where the similarities end. There was not enough peppers or onion to make much of dent on the overall flavor. Also the bread was wrong. Instead of the slightly crusty exterior and chewy interior I am used to, baked fresh, it was a store bought smallish hoagie roll with seeds on top. The bread was soft through and did not offer a nice textural contrast that the standard Philly cheese steak bread offers. I enjoyed it however it won't bring me back. As for my wife's patty melt the meat tasted like it was frozen rather than fresh and lacked any depth of flavor. The fries were good though and the staff is...