I had an absolutely fabulous experience here when I was in town! First of all, local tip: order at the bar! There was no line and the restaurant side was crazy packed. We stumbled into this place basically looking to order a large take-out order. We were having a party at one of the nearby historic houses and all of us setting up got so hungry and Rojo was the closest nearby place. It also seemed fitting since the party was a celebration of life for Stacey Keenan who loved this place so we had to try it out. The bartender made our experience here amazing. I'm KICKING myself for not remembering his name but I hope I can track it down and add it. (he was working 4/30 around noon). He was so patient with us not being familiar here, obviously being in the middle of throwing a funeral party and not being our happiest ever, and not really knowing what to order. He even brought us a small sample from the kitchen to help us decide what to order, allowed us to order off of the catering menu and was just so pleasant. He truly made our day on a really tough day. We ordered a few quesadillas, chicken tenders, their chicken salad and some chips and dips. It was all so great. When we took it back to the house it disappeared very quickly. I would order it all again and definitely will be returning here in the future not just because the food was great but I really appreciate how they treated us and our experience here was awesome. Thank you bartender man. I hope I can find you again! read more

Great service even late night (we 15 of us went around 10pm) food is fresh and delicious. They are one of the few places open late. I recommend Roho for sure. read more

Rojo is absolutely a cool spot to meet up with friends. It has an awesome Highland Ave location, but parking is notoriously terrible (especially if its raining- be prepared). I think the location and the cool factor (and the hipster vibe) are what bring the people in. In my experience, the food is good, not great. The service is good, not great. The table/chair/seating experience is, oh wait... good, not great. The drinks are good, sometimes great. I'm echoing a lot of other reviews here when I say that Rojo is really a place to grab a drink and maybe a snack, not a place for a fantastic meal. I went to an art show there, which gave the place a unique vibe that ratcheted Rojo up in my book. I'm not too crazy about the plastic walled patio seating, although I do understand the benefits of keeping out rain/mosquitoes/etc. Will I go to Rojo again? Of course, it's Rojo. Will I recommend people go there when they want some awesome Mexican food? Nope. read more

I enjoyed a late lunch/brunch at Rojo recently and had an outstanding experience. The weather was perfect for sitting on the front patio. Watching and listening to the diverse crown was GREAT! Service was friendly and prompt. My GF had the Mahi Tacos which were Delish! The fish was very very good. I ordered the BBQ Pork tacos. They were tasty and very filling. The black beans and rice were prepared and seasoned Spot on for great flavor. We will totally be back! read more

Here's what you do. You go to Rojo (it's fun when people say 'The Row-Joes' so I invite you to do that too.) for brunch and you pick up a menu at the front. Go to the register and order your food. Order your drink. Get a number, grab your drink, and find a table on the patio. Your food will be brought to you. Tip at the register, not at the table. Plenty of variety of the food for the mood. Veg friendly, even vegans can eat there. Eat the black beans. They have fried and steaky goodness and ripe and veggie freshness. Lots of food for the price. I usually would have left overs if I didn't share with a friend or two. If it's Sunday, wait until 11:59 am so you can have a bloody mary with Zing Zang mix and pepper vodka. Eat, drink, people watch, hang. Order more drinks. Get a snack. Eat, drink, people watch, hang. Repeat. Hang out ...alllllll.....dayyyy....and...allllll......niiiiiight. That's what you do, when you go to the Rojos. But not on Monday. Monday they are closed and Highland avenue pouts. read more

Rojo is a really cool restaurant located around the Highland Avenue area. A great place to go during the summer months because of their front patio seating. Of course, this is common knowledge, so you'll be hard pressed to find a time when it's not packed. Nevertheless, I've always found a table and the wait isn't all that long. The service is surprisingly fast and friendly. I've found the food quite good. It is mostly Tex-Mex--so it isn't as Mexican-like as a more traditional Mexican restaurant, but I think it is at a higher level than some other establishments with the label "Tex-Mex". I'd say Rojo is more of a restaurant, but they have a full bar so it might be good as just a bar, too. I've only had dinner there, so I don't know if going there just to drink makes any economical sense or not. I think I remember the drinks being comparable to other bars around town, though. Overall, Rojo is a chill spot in the heart of a really beautiful area. And Bob Dylan likes it, apparently. You should probably go there. read more

People seem to like this place and that's totally cool. It's within walking distance to a lot of very nice apartments, condos, and houses, and I can totally get behind the whole "walking to our neighborhood joint" appeal. It just seems like people flock here from outside of the neighborhood as well, and I guess it's a hotspot for work meetings? Parking is always a hassle and a half (you're gonna be walking a ways unless you get lucky). The layout of this place just makes me feel like I am going to trip over someone's purse or a dog's leash or hell, someone's child. The tables on the patio just feel crammed together. There is little intimacy, and I imagine it's loud as hell inside when it's full. And it always seems crowded; if it's not the late night scene, it's the families having brunch and dinner on the weekends. The person who takes my food is always nice, but the bar staff can be a little snappy (they have just stared at me for several seconds while pouring someone else's beer and finally said, "Well, what do you want?" Classy.) The food has never completely let me down, but it's nothing I couldn't make at home. The bar tends to have some interesting beer selections--which I will always appreciate but let's face it, you can get Avondale and Good People pretty frequently within the city, it seems to be kind of a requirement at this point. They might have some cool draft-only stuff from those local places but for the most part, I find their beer selection to be pretty standard for an "in the city" bar. I'm happier that the standard for that has just risen to the occasion. But they've been open forever and as previously mentioned, they are always crowded, so clearly these are not problems that most of its patrons have. I just don't like being forced to listen to the conversation next to me because my back is inches apart from another person's. I also don't appreciate having to wade through tables and chairs askew to get myself another beer. I guess I am just getting old, but Rojo just isn't my style. Ya'll can have it. read more

Rojo is a Birmingham staple. It's busy, almost constantly, and there are lots of good reasons for that. An over the top nice staff, fair prices, great atmosphere, good music, and delicious food round out those reasons. Rojo has two bars and two dining rooms, but most choose to sit on the "see and be seen" patio. This is where I genreally enjoy my Chorizo tacos with spicy verde salsa. I've tried most everything on the menu, but those are my normal choices. If you're not in the mood for mexican, they'll take care of you with wings, a burger, or an array of other gringotastic dishes. read more

My go-to place for groups and after class/work place for drinks and fun in Birmingham! Rojo has great food although it might not be the most authentic. What matters is that it's super tasty. I enjoyed so many dishes off their menu. I love the Rojo burrito the most. No free chips and salsa or anything like that here, but whatever you order will definitely fill you up. The service has always been consistently good. The place is casual and fun, so the servers are the same. I never experienced a person there to be rude or anything, but they can be playfully sarcastic or very frank with you. You do have to order at the register in the back next to the bar before sitting, so you might need to be strategic with having a friend nabbing seats for you while you go order. It helps to ensure you have a seat since this place can get packed. The establishment is simple and almost plain, but it works. I enjoy coming here for some of their special events or activities like Trivia night. Definitely recommend this to anyone to try. read more

I like the Mexican food at Rojo. It's well spiced (especially for Alabama). The drink selection is solid. The atmosphere is comfortable, but sometimes noisy. My big problem with Rojo is the table service. It's practically non-existent! Actually, it's literally non-existent. You have to wait in a line at the cash register to order food. Then, if you order drinks you have to wait at the bar for them (the bartenders are pretty snappy, kudos to them). Then, you wait at your table for the food. If I'm going to a restaurant where I can get great food and drop $50 for a meal for two I do not want to spend 1/4th of my time waiting in line. I'd give Rojo 5 stars if they'd just send a server to the table to take my order. read more

Love it. Great menu. Tons of variety. Anything you get is good. Burritos, quesadillas, etc. Chips and queso or guac is solid. Can get very busy during peak hours with limited seating. Definitely want to try brunch here! read more

I love coming here and sitting on the patio overlooking the park. It's great for Sunday brunch and cool evenings! I also love the small events, like acoustic concerts, trivia, and comedy nights. I've been to several private events here, and they're always great. The margaritas and beer are great, too. The food is good, but I just have never found anything here that I just love. The salsa and guacamole are great, but I can't find and entree that I can't live without. I've tried several different menu items, but I'm still hunting for one that I really love. read more

Awesome atmosphere! The patio had just opened but it was too chilly today to sit out there. Later today, they're offering free massages and giving away free plants- How cool! The food was awesome as well. We were tempted to order the Ghost Chicken sandwich but chickened out. Har har. Also the food came within minutes which was appreciated because we just stopped off here on a roadie down to New Orleans. This restaurant was my only impression of Birmingham but it makes me want to know more about this city. Great art on the walls and a free local music CD at the door as well. Finished off w a thirst-quenching margarita and this is one happy lady. read more

Cool lil spot for lunch & the happy hour unwind. Recently in closed the patio now you can eat year-round outside increasing the space. #GreatIdea Great selection of local brews & some very good mixed drinks, the wife loves the variety. read more

Rojo - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Rojo is a lot like Taqueria Del Sol in Atlanta. It's pretty good, great atmosphere and always super slammed. I love their fish tacos...I wish they'd ramp up the beer selection though. Some interesting flavor of people are to be seen, too. read more

I just can't make myself like this place. Everyone else seems to rave and I don't get it. I have been 3 times and was always disappointed in everything. The only thing I could see myself deciding to order if I was forced to go here is the kips queso. read more

Rojo is a nice, neighborhood place and if you're a regular, I'd imagine it would deserve 5 stars for the comfort and familiarity alone. But for those that are trying it out for the first time or aren't regulars, here's the rub. The staff is indeed friendly and the environment is extremely relaxed. The food, IMO, leaves a LOT to be desired; but I think it's heavily in part to the fact that people choose Rojo for the liquid sustenance and not the solid. So, 5 stars for the ambiance and "Cheers - NORM!" atmosphere; 2 for the stuff they refer to as food. Average: 3 stars. ;) read more

Not super dedicated with their presentation or creativity, but not bad quality of food. Gives exactly what it describes and nothing more. Got the banditos tacos, and bf got the sweet potato burrito. Filling but not life changing by any means. If you are from California and passing through like we were, it's about a 2 on an LA Mexican food scale. read more

I needed a dog friendly place to eat on my drive between Indianapolis and New Orleans. Stopping in Birmingham seemed like a great idea. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleased. First, the mexican/american menu sent up some red flags, but I ordered of the mexican menu and was very happy. The chicken tacos were amazing. Yes, they were basic, but the flavor of the grilled chicken really stood out, and there were so many pieces, I absolutely LOVED it. The tacos were served with rice and black beans which were also simple and good. I was feeling full at that point, but the american side has some cobblers that I would like to try if I'm ever passing through again. The service was FAST. You order at the bar here and they bring the food out to your table. The kitchen appears to be very large, and even though the place was packed I think the food came out within 10 minutes. Everyone was also very friendly. The crowd and restaurant definitely has an alternative vibe, and was very dim, but I don't think people should let that turn them off to the experience. The other nice thing is that even though Rojo is in a residential neighborhood, I didn't have any trouble parking. There was also a neighborhood park across the street where I walked the dog after dinner. This pit stop could not have been better. read more

I dug the place. It had a good vibe and a great selection of beer on tap. I'm a vegetarian and the menu had a good amount of items in which I could choose from. I choose the veggie tacos. While they needed a bit more seasoning, they were still pretty darn good. I'll be back, yo. read more

One of the freshest meals I have eaten while in the Birmingham area! We started with the queso, which was so creamy and delicious. Then I had the burrito bowl. It was made with whole wheat rice, but it was so refreshing that I didn't mind! Our table also had the steak burrito which was very filling. This is the type of place where you order at the bar then they bring it out to your number. The service was amazingly fast! Just make sure you top it off with a Mexican Coke! read more

One of my fave places ever. I love to take people here that have never been before. It is always a treat and helps to wet the proverbial palette for those that stick to mainstream (BORING) dining. The variety of food is great for everyone, even those less inclined to want to try something new. Then they have the spicy side with a great selection of latin (and even some fun) American dishes. Their beer selection is getting better and the service is just what you expect: laid back but helpful. Love it love it love it. I will always choose Rojo when dining in Bham, especially when Crapplebee's just won't cut it! :) read more

Top 5 in the city for good food and great atmosphere... Great patio, great bar selections. They're open for sports on the weekends, and very accomodating for large groups... read more

The atmosphere was lively and charming, the chips and salsa were pretty good. That's where the good, or good enough for me, ended. My Summer burrito with tofu sausage was mediocre at best, and not worth close to $10 (tofu sausage extra). First of all, it must've been one of the flattest, skinniest burrito's I've seen. I had to inspect closely to find the rice inside because it was so scarce. There was also barely any zucchini and squash and what little there was had zero seasoning. The tofu sausage was cut in too large chunks and the flavors didn't blend well. I finished it all because I was starving but it just wasn't a satisfying portion. My husband had the fish tacos and said they were decent, although, the fish seemed like it had sat under a heat lamp too long, and some kind of generic creamy salad dressing was provided to go on top. At least the portions were an improvement over my burrito. I hate to criticize a restaurant that's going out of their way to offer vegan/vegetarian options, which, seems scarce in Birmingham, but I really think they can do better on many fronts. read more

A wonderful eclectic experience. This is a place to see and be seen in Birmingham. Rojo is always busy and rightly so. With two different menus (Latin and American), a great outdoor patio and a crowd that is as diverse and unique as any you will find anywhere you can't go wrong hitting up this awesome Birmingham hot spot. Each time you go you will be in for a unique experience. Whether they are playing live music, having dog day on the patio or a packed out night on the weekend you will be sure of one thing and that is you won't find another place like it in town. Great food, great drinks, great people, great times. No matter who you are you will find Rojo intriguing and welcoming. read more

This was my second time at Rojo! I went with my hubby for a quick brunch! My vegetarian burrito was delicious but hubby was a little disappointed with the chicken sandwich! He said it was a little on the dry side! We also ordered some chips and salsa! Loved their salsa! read more

We took it back to the hotel so I don't know what it's like inside, but outside the surrounding area is beautiful and they have sidewalk dining. They were busy but we had ordered and paid online so we got everything lickity split without going inside thanks to good service by attentive staff. The food was excellent at a reasonable cost, well packaged, and we were all pleased. Seems to me like a first-rate neighborhood restaurant that can handle a frantic dinner time rush. read more

Many people would argue that Rojo is a Southside staple. I will argue that it is a staple purely because of its location and atmosphere. My bacon blue burger was mediocre and my wife's steak tacos made no lasting impression. The same can be said for the sangria. All of this being said, I will go back because I enjoyed the atmosphere. Next time I will stick to beer and liquor on the rocks while I enjoy the atmosphere and time with friends. read more

Did not like the food and did not like the ordering method. This place has no servers and you have to go to the counter and order your food. This is like a local Chipotle but obviously better. The food is not bad but it is not something you would want to go back again. For Mexican food there are TONS of better options around. read more

I like spicy food (from south Louisiana), so the paella is my go-to dish here. Like their beer selection for being a restaurant. I'm a fan of anyone who carries multiple Avondales! read more

I came here after hearing rave reviews from much of Yelp and my coworker who was recently in the area. I love Mexican food and was excited to try Rojo. The setup is a little unconventional in that you order café style: go in the door, grab a menu, and head up to the counter to order and pay, get a number and your beverage, grab a seat, and they will bring the food out. It's a nice atmosphere and I was pleasantly surprised by the musical selections. Ingredients were very fresh, but unfortunately the preparation turned them into the blandest tacos I may have ever had, and I currently live in New England. The beans and rice were good and the food was helped by hot sauce and salt, but the veggies were prepared with no seasoning at all and somehow tasted blander than just eating the raw ingredients would have been. I'm giving it a two for the beans and rice and for that I could get a meal I wasn't allergic to - gluten-free, no soy, vegetarian, easily made vegan, but on the whole I was underwhelmed. read more

The food is a 3.5 and the atmosphere is a 3. With a huge menu to pick from everything sounds SO good. We started with a chips and dip trio and their BBQ wings (nothing amazing but not terrible). I had the blackened tilapia with sautéed veggies and coleslaw- the fish was delicious!! Rarely does a plain fish like this taste as good as this dish. The atmosphere is LOUD and very casual- you order at the bar (only 1 order taker, so be prepared to wait). Then you grab a table with the hopes of finding one. read more

I love this place for dinner!! I like to get their steak burrito, which has a special sauce that I haven't tasted anywhere else. Their queso is also super good and I like to pour it over my burrito. This place is definitely where I come for comfort food. It's not really a Mexican restaurant, it's definitely Tex Mex. They have an American and a Mexican menu, so if you like burgers and nachos, they have those here as well. It's not the cheapest comfort food around, but it always leaves me happy and satisfied, which is really all that you can ask for. read more

Not sure if they've ever been introduced to salt or pepper. For the price you'd expect at least a touch of flavor. It's a beautiful venue and location and that's about it. read more

I've wanted to start writing reviews on Yelp for a long time, but until recently didn't have time. When deciding who to write my first review on, Rojo was the first to come to mind. The menu at Rojo is a unique concept, offering largely traditional American fare on one side, while serving up a more Mexican/Latin fare on the other side. While I am a Birmingham native, I spent my formative years in East Texas; I've had real Mexican food as well as typical "Tex-Mex". Rojo is neither, and I don't want it to be. Instead you get a unique fusion of various Latin flavors including Mexican, Spanish and South American, combined with subtle features and ingredients borrowed from American and Southern cuisine. For those not so adventurous, the American menu is a safe bet, offering burgers, chicken tenders, sandwiches and other favorites. While I hate bright light, the inside is a bit dim for lunch or brunch, but that's okay because a generous patio greets you as you come in from Highland Avenue. Typically quiet, and lovely on a Fall day, the patio lets you enjoy your meal and a nice draft beer while looking out over Rushton Park. On that note, the draft beer selection is pretty decent, and is complemented by a fairly hearty bottled beer selection. The service is quick and the staff is fantastic. Proprietor Laney DeJonge is nothing short of amazing and always goes out of her way to see that you are taken care of. My favorite dish by far is the Blackened Tilapia Tacos; if Tilapia isn't prepared properly, it can be a bland and very disappointing fish. The blackened cuts of Tilapia in these tacos are simply amazing, as is the sauce it is served with. Other favorites include all of the burgers, the chicken sandwich, and the chicken tenders. Apps are pretty good but some smack of frozen food-service product. Most dishes' portions leave a little to be desired; I usually need at least an app and an entree to be satisfied. My one complaint about the burgers is I wish they were juicier. The kitchen probably uses leaner beef than is desirable for hamburgers. All-in-all a great place for a late lunch or a weekend brunch. Portions could be slightly bigger, but they suffice. Service and atmosphere are great, owners are outstanding. Highly recommended. UPDATE: I've been back four times since I wrote the above review, and the food has been consistently awesome, with great service and fantastic atmosphere. It is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham, and it's so good that I don't even care about the portion sizes anymore, I just order more food! For this reason, I'm bumping my rating up to a full five stars. Well done, Rojo! read more

Fun atmosphere, nice patio. Queso dip was great, but the chicken BBQ burrito I got was terrible!! There was waaaaaayy too much BBQ sauce in the actual burrito, and they wrote "Rojo :)" on the burrito with BBQ sauce, and on top of that they gave a side of BBQ sauce. I did not want to eat a burrito stuffed with BBQ sauce and then smothered with BBQ sauce. The side salad was pretty weak too, just bagged lettuce with some croutons. read more

Rojo - While the writing in BBQ sauce was cute, the burrito was already stuffed with way too much BBQ sauce. - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I may have reviewed Rojo before. I admit I had a negative bias against the place. My first trip there was on a date with a crazy woman. This venue was one of the first around town to give off a hipster vibe (no offense if that's your thing). Everyone always raved about the food (which was just okay at best). The only thing it had going for it was the awesome patio space where groups of friends that were smokers could go eat and drink. I decided to cast my aversions aside and give this place a chance. And you know what? I'm glad I did. I had the chipotle pork burrito and my friend had veggie tacos. Both dishes were on the pretty good side of okay. You know how sometimes you go eat somewhere and someone will ask you how the food was? If you like food as much as me you'll say it was okay but a vague feeling of disappointment and regret will come over you as you lament how your food could have been just a little better? Good news, it didn't happen here. If you were to ask me how the food was I'd say it was okay with a smile on my face and talk about what I was going to get when I end up there next. I probably won't make it a point to come here as often as I do my favorite B-Ham restaurants, but I'll definitely be back. read more

Food is bland, ordering is rushed, beer took 10 minutes to make it to the table. This place seems to be functioning based on its convenient location, and not the quality of food or service. Edit: The beer actually never made it to the table, the guy who said he'd bring it to us was busy looking at the beverage as he ate nachos and drank his own cocktail. We got it ourselves. Which would have been fine if he hadn't told us he'd bring it out. read more

Had not been here in 8+ years due to kids/moving/life in general and our order got mixed up and delayed coming out due to how busy the kitchen was. Very apologetic and sincere they even gave us a gift card for $20. We will be back sooner than later. read more

I adore the blackened Mahi tacos -- the white sauce is yummdiddyliupmtious! Black beans are seasoned perfectly. Margaritas are always great. Sangria is fresh and good. You really can't go wrong. read more