Small mom and pop diner. Great food. Great staffs. Philly cheesesteak- beef was soft and flavorful. Trash can with a lid (2 eggs over easy) - comes with spicy sausages. Philly omelette- very good but I wish I order it with 2 eggs over easy or sunny side up instead. Very good but the Philly cheesesteak and Trash Can with a lid stole the thunder. So so good, we return the next day. And I got the Trash can with a lid with both spicy sausages and Philly cheese. Yummy! read more

See all

I was looking for a breakfast spot this morning after an appointment, when I found this place. This is a busy little area with shops on all the small connected streets. Thankfully free parking was available. I walked in at the perfect time, just as the breakfast grill was shutting down and the lunch grill was heating up. I was 5 minutes pass breakfast, as told by the waitress. She was so kind and told me that she would ask, if they (he) could prepare a breakfast for me. The answer was yes, but no grits. Oh well, let's try the omelette and hash brows. I'm really not into hash browns but these were delicious! Crispy and perfectly round. The omelette was also good and fluffy. The coffee was a good robust cup of coffee. This is a real old school diner. Counter seats with a few booths to the side. No frills here. Decent diner food with great friendly service. By the time I finished my breakfast, the lunch crowd was starting to come in for a seat at the counter and booths. I heard someone say, this is the best Philly cheesesteak in the area. Anyways, this was a pleasant place to have a good simple meal with some awesome service. The only reason I'm not giving 5* is because of not being able to get the grits, which was my fault for not getting there a little sooner. I will definitely come back. read more

See all

Had breakfast at Salem's, and it was amazing. Locally owned diner. I recommend the garbage can with a lid! read more

Salem's Diner - Garbage can with a lid - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I came here at 6:30am on a Wednesday because I was way too early for work and it was the closest place that was open. I didn't know what to expect but it was quite a pleasant surprise. I walked in and sat down and was greeted quickly and brought a menu. I got 2 eggs + sausage + hash browns and a coffee and it was all very very good. The service is great and I love the ambiance, it's definitely a cozy diner and I would 100% come back read more

Salem's Diner - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Came here today as a treat to me on Valentine's Day. The restaurant is quaint and you can tell there are regulars in the building. People were speaking to each other while laughing and talking. We sat at a booth and were waiting on by a waitress that was multi tasking, with a smile. We were well taken care of. We ordered French toast and a ham and cheese omelette, which we shared. There was enough to share. Worth a try people. read more

See all

Love that little hole in the wall Good food and everyone that comes in are so friendly I'll be back

Very classic American Diner feel that makes you feel like you are back in time. The restaurant is small which makes it feel very homey. Came for breakfast and the three tables inside were full so they told us to sit at the bar, started our order and moved us to a table once ready. The service is crazy fast and the waitress made us feel at home. Trash Can with a Lid was phenomenal with perfectly cooked hashbrowns covered in cheese and various chopped, grilled veggies. read more

Salem's Diner - Trash Can with a Lid - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Second time eating here. Even better than we remembered. Staff is great, like family. Space seems a bit tight on first glance, but it fits nicely. Don't miss this place. read more

Salem's Diner - Trashcan with lid - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We celebrated Valentines Day. We decided to have Breakfast. The food and service was excellent. We really enjoyed our meal. The restaurant is small but nice read more

Seated us even though we arrived at closing. Hot fresh food that was delicious. Philly cheesesteak and chicken Philly both got a thumbs up. Grilled chicken sandwich was also excellent. Thumbs up on the onion rings too. read more

The best of the best for sure. Local places are always more unique than chain restaurants. This one has been a top of the top for so so many years and if you don't know about it you may not ever go bc it is small and simple looking but the food is super yummy. And the servers are all wonderful and it's always packed bc everyone that goes here always wants to come back multiple times. Very cool place to be with buddies, coworkers, or even just by yourself. read more

See all

Well, this location has been closed for a long time so I was happy to see it back in business. The parking lot was pretty full but there was plenty of seating available inside. IF I could get anyone to seat me that is. They were doing a lot of take out business and seemed less interested in walk ins. When I finally got to a table the server was very nice and thanked me for my patience. I ordered the 2*2*2 from the 55+ menu and it was good. And I like their coffee in the small thermos pot. I'm hoping that they will improve at reception read more

See all

Sure it might not have the fancy decor and plenty of menu options. But this food is made with love and it brings back that old town feel. Food is good. Portions perfect. Service is quick. read more

Salem's Diner - Trash can (up top). French toast. Grilled chicken breast and hash browns. - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Yelp! It's Friday and we are a hungry party of 3., My mom, Dee and Me. I have been wanting to see what this talk of the town is all about in downtown Homewood. Well, I done showed up and found out! This place is delicious! It's a cross between ya grandma's house and Waffle House, ain't hardly no room to move around and before you get your order in right, the food is hot and on the table. Yes! Mommy got a 2 egg breakfast with grits, sausage and a biscuit. Deedee got smoked sausage, eggs and hash browns with toast. I got the smoked sausage sandwich with egg on wheat bread with a large bowl of cheese grits. WHAT YOU SAY? This food here is good. Mr. Ed say he tired, but he still cooking. The lady who retired from Bogue's is our waitress, hey, we still love you baby. Yall already know, I'm full and happy, so I'll be back. read more

See all

Love these local establishments, great vibes and old school decor. Staff was the highlight, everybody including the staff behind the grill and cash counter were super nice. Loved the food and would definitely be coming back. read more

Salem's Diner - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Coffee? Delicious! Food? Delicious! Service? Delicious! Only kidding! Mr. Salem is a delight. The servers are the sweetest like aunties welcoming you in! I grew up on diners in NJ and this place is so nostalgic and perfect! I'll be back! read more

Salem's Diner - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This is a great little diner breakfast was delicious. The service and quality of food is excellent. The atmosphere is great they treat you like family. Definitely going back for lunch. read more

Salem's Diner - 2 eggs and bacon - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Call me nostalgic, but I love a diner that has staff who look like they've been working there for 20-30 years. Walked in for breakfast on a weekday and the tables were full, but there were seats at the bar. Knew what I wanted and ordered as soon as server greeted me. Food came fast and fresh from the cook. You could awkwardly stare at them the whole time while you sit at the bar, but you're only about 3ft away so it's weird. The place is SMALL. If you come at peak diner times, I can imagine a LONG wait. But the food was good. Got the trash can w/ a lid. Had decent amount leftovers and they tasted just as good. Definitely recommend for a diner adjacent to Birmingham. read more

See all

I'd been meaning to try Salem's since I heard about it. I had a feeling it was going to be a blast from the past; and I wasn't disappointed. I'll make this short. This is a place that's namesake is onsite and knows the difference between sheet & shinola. The food I had was flawless. I was welcomed warmly. There was a very positive vibe reminiscent of a better time. A very rare grand slam. read more

Exceptional breakfast. Crisp hash browns, perfectly seasoned grits, spicy hot breakfast sausage direct from the producer and good coffee. Diner coffee is so consistently bad that I don't even hope for good coffee at a diner. A pleasant surprise. The coffee and service were so good I had 3 cups before I realized it. We sat in Mike Silve's booth. My partner had the Philly cheesesteak omelette, Perfect. Understandable the sandwich is the most popular lunch option. One of the servers said, "Need anything else, babe?" What else is there? An A+ diner. read more

We were in town for the police and fire world games and ran across this place as a breakfast option close to our hotel. This was one of the best meals we had while on our 8 day trip from Houston, Texas to Birmingham, Alabama. Everything we had was outstanding-- the eggs, the pancakes, the sausage. My husband got the trashcan with a lid and it was by far the best thing we got! The staff was incredibly friendly and it just felt like we were regulars even though it was our first time. We told some friends to come try it and they did. They liked it so much they went back the next day for lunch and we were told that their Philly cheesesteak was the best one they'd ever had. Definitely recommend this Diner, you will not be dissapointed! read more

Best breakfast in Homewood. We stopped in for some eats and we were floored. The place is a little small so get there early or allow time to wait. The service was friendly as were the local patrons. Everything was good....sausage, biscuits, grits, bacon. Simply delish. read more

Salem's Diner - Trashcan with a lid (2 eggs over easy) - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Everything was delicious and what I expected. Highly recommend when in Birmingham for great breakfast and tasty desserts.

Salem's is a great neighborhood diner. I was taken to Salem's by two longtime loyal customers, who spoke highly of the Philly Cheesesteaks and the hash browns. The Philly Omelette with hash browns was the way to go. Melty cheese - not the fake cheese whiz stuff - glued the omelette together, while the hash browns were crispy and crunchy. One of the highlights of a few days in Birmingham. I (Home)wood come back here again. read more

Salem's Diner - Philly Omelette - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I'm going to review this as though we aren't in a Covid world. The food is delicious! We had a breakfast and a sandwich. They were both exactly what you want. Just good old diner food! The staff was friendly and made us feel at home. Now if you're looking for a safe Covid diner this may not be for you. The inside is crammed. It's impossible not to be. They did have outdoor seating. That said, not all the staff were wearing masks. And those who were weren't all wearing them properly. So even if you're eating outside there's a high chance the staff is breathing on your food. read more

Salem's Diner - Menu Oct 2020 - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Eggsellent. The trash can with lid hit the spot (great name for entree), especially after a morning workout. Nice crisp to the hash browns, great portions, and tasty sausage and bell peppers too. Good price. This is one of the entrees that will be hard not to order the next time I come here. And every time after that. Don't mess with success. But if I struck gold the first time, then I'm betting on striking gold the second time, so I may have to try something different - perhaps something on the lunch menu. Overall, great food, friendly staff, and it definitely exceeded what it was supposed to be - a well-seasoned, fabulous, local diner. read more

Salem's Diner - Trash can with lid - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great cheese steak and french fries. Ambience is good. Service is friendly and prompt.

Great breakfast place and very friendly staff! Basic breakfast offers without all the extras, just good old fashioned breakfast like it should be! read more

Located in downtown Homewood, I came here after hearing their cheesesteaks were as good as the ones in Philly. Craig Ferguson said better than Philly. Being from Philly I would beg to disagree. Were they good? Yes. Better than Philly? No. The meat was good and had a good ratio of onions and peppers. It also had the right amount of cheese too. You can't get whiz but whiz isn't exactly healthy either. The rolls are nothing like the ones you get in Philly. The rolls here are more like the bagged white rolls you get in the bread aisle at the super market. So the roll was a big disappointment. I liked that with my cheese steak, I could get a mix of fries and onion rings, sweet! I have to say that the dinner itself reminded me of a philly steak shop. Small with limited seating but without the line out the door. What makes this place special are the people who work here. Our server was great and the owner treats everyone like a friend. He alone would make me come back here again and again. read more

Another great meal at Salem's Diner. We had Tilapia sandwiches and fried bologna sandwich. read more

Salem's Diner - Grilled Tilapia Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

This place is small and intimate. The food was amazing. I had the trash can with a lid. I got chicken in my trash can which was absolutely delicious. I also had a side of pancakes which was also very tasty read more

A little touch of Philly, right here in B'ham. Well, I can't really say from experience, but my friend that is from Philly originally said this place would fit right in up there. Looking for a new place to try, it was hard to pass up this place when they proclaimed best Philly Cheese Steak ... bold words. A little research and you'll see plenty of other people are willing to make that statement on their behalf. Four of us entered, gazed upon the menu (not serving breakfast any longer), which was really just a formality ... we were all getting the Philly Cheese Steak. About 15 minutes later 4 orders came up ... overall really, really good. Generous portions of meat and cheese complimented the peppers and onions. Great flavor overall and very pleased with the order, in fact everyone was happy with the food. Calling them the best, well, you're gonna have to try them yourself and make that call ... I will say they are pretty good though. read more

See all

Great place for breakfast. I had the omelette and it is huge and tasty. My wife had some eggs, grits and sausage and she loved it. This is a not a pretentious place that over charges for putting garnish on your plate, looking at you Big Bad Breakfast. Wayne, the owner, is a nice guy and greets everyone who comes in with a smile and a good morning. If you like no frills good food in a cozy place, this is the place to go. read more

I came by Salem's today for the first time. It surely won't be my last. The restaurant has the atmosphere and "vibes" of a true diner ! Service was wonderful. I felt like I've known the entire staff for years they were all warm and extremely friendly. The food was amazing. I ordered my food and it seems like all of three minutes later it was sitting in front of me. The owner is a great guy who deserves all the business in world. Definitely will be back soon for some of their amazing breakfast and conversation. read more

Decided to drop by for breakfast at this lovely diner after a long night's work. Loved how small and cute the place was. Very family friendly and had a homey feeling. Met Ernie (I hope I spelled his name right), one of the staff (or owner, unsure). All very nice and friendly staff, workers, servers. Great food as well. As a first timer, I had to go for the trashcan with a lid platter. Hot, crispy, and fresh from the stove top. Burnt my palate and tongue while eating it, but totally worth it. Darn good food, good company, good people, and good prices. Will be back again with more company. Thanks! read more

Salem's Diner - Diners Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Wonderful place to dine. I will revisit this place. My husband and I Really enjoyed our meal. Thank you read more

WoW! This place has been located in Homewood for 15 years! I'm glad we stopped in for lunch.. we arrived a little after noon ish and was able to get a table right away. I didn't really look at the menu too much because I already knew what I was getting. The corndog combo with onion rings, in honor of LSU hate week!!! Our drink orders were taken first so we all ended up getting water, not really taking into consideration that the combo likely came with a soda. Rookie mistake.... we just didn't know. The service we received was really good otherwise. The atmosphere had a nostalgic feel so this made us feel very welcomed. The owner was hands on and took pride in each order being prepared! We all ordered something different from the menu- Chicken philly, grilled chicken sandwich and slaw dogs. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed their food for the most part. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal; super fresh and those onions were some of the best I've ever had! We topped off our meals with a slice of their homemade lemon icebox pie. The pie was really good but the consistency was a little off but still had a really good flavor to it! I can't wait to come back and try their hash browns! read more

See all

Excellent food. I had the Greek meatballs, Greek salad, squash casserole, and Lima beans. I will definitely be back. It's now on the meal plan. read more

Great service. Great food. Old school vibe! I loved my time living in Bham and visiting this place weekly!

Great breakfast. Philly omelette is a favorite. This place is in the regular rotation for us.