Birmingham, AL · Jefferson County
Birmingham Backyard Hibachi forGame Days, Graduations and Kin
In Birmingham, the guest list usually includes people pulling for both Alabama and Auburn, and a house divided still needs dinner. A hibachi chef in the backyard handles birthdays, graduation parties and reunion weekends without anyone having to leave the game on the TV.
What a hibachi night looks like in Birmingham
The over-the-mountain suburbs south of downtown, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Hoover, are where a lot of our dinners happen. Lots there are hilly, with terraced backyards, stone patios and driveways that pitch toward the street. Trussville, Gardendale and Chelsea add newer neighborhoods with flatter yards. Closer in, Avondale, Crestwood and Forest Park have older houses with porches and smaller back decks that still fit a grill. Lakeview and Southside apartments rarely have a usable yard, so groups there often borrow a parent's house for the night. Family reunions are a summer staple, with cousins driving in from Huntsville, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa.
The calendar is set by football. Fall Saturdays mean watching the Crimson Tide or the Tigers, and Iron Bowl weekend brings family in from all over. Spring brings graduation parties for the area's high schools and for UAB and Samford students, and summer means Barons games at Regions Field and trips to Oak Mountain State Park. When the family heads to Lake Martin or the Gulf for the summer, we can meet them in Gulf Shores too.
From the grill
Setting up in Birmingham
Over-the-mountain yards are rarely flat, so the chef looks for a level patio or the top of the driveway rather than a sloped lawn. If the only flat area is the driveway, plan to move one car. Many Hoover and Vestavia neighborhoods have HOAs, and some have gates where the chef needs to be on the visitor list. Birmingham summers are hot and humid, so set seating in shade if you can, and a garage with the door open is not a cooking spot; open-sided covered patios are.
Birmingham questions
Can you do a dinner timed around an Alabama or Auburn kickoff?
Yes. Tell us the kickoff time when you book. Early-evening games usually mean an afternoon dinner, and late kickoffs leave room for a meal before kickoff.
Our Homewood backyard is terraced. Will that work?
Usually one tier or the patio is level enough. If not, the top of the driveway is the reliable fallback.
Do you cook for big reunions in Birmingham parks?
Many parks require a reservation and have their own rules about grills, so check with the park first. A family member's house is usually the simpler choice.