Hibachi South · Southern-style hibachi at home
Alabama Backyardsand Beach Houses
Two very different Alabama parties keep us busy: a Birmingham backyard full of family, and a Gulf Shores rental full of everybody else.
Birmingham, over the mountain and beyond
Birmingham entertains at home. The neighborhoods over Red Mountain, in Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills, are full of brick houses with back patios on a slope, and Hoover and Trussville add newer subdivisions with flat lawns and roomy driveways. Those are the yards where a hibachi dinner makes sense for a milestone birthday, an anniversary or a Sunday when the out-of-town kids are finally home.
Then there is late November. The Iron Bowl turns the whole state into two camps, and plenty of fans would rather host the game than drive to Tuscaloosa or Auburn. A chef cooking out back during the pregame, or right after the final whistle, keeps the den free for the people who cannot look away from the screen. Since that weekend often lands right around Thanksgiving, families sometimes fold it into one long gathering. Book that date well ahead.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Down on the coast, the houses are built for groups. West Beach Boulevard and Fort Morgan Road are lined with raised beach homes that sleep a small army, Orange Beach mixes houses with condo towers near The Wharf and Perdido Pass, and families who want quiet look back toward Bon Secour and the bay side. A raised house with a parking area underneath gives us shade, a solid floor and easy access, which is close to ideal.
Condos are trickier here just as they are anywhere on the Gulf. Building rules often keep propane off balconies and common decks, so check with your association or rental manager before we lock in a date. Sand is out as a cooking surface, so the grill goes beside the house or on the pool deck.
Getting there
Birmingham is an easy run from our Buford base, about as straightforward as our longer trips get. The Gulf coast is farther, and travel for those parties is figured from Buford or the nearest major city, whichever is closer, then shown in the quote before you book.
Our Iron Bowl party will run long. Can dinner be timed around the game?
Yes. Tell us kickoff and when you want to eat, and we will plan the cooking for halftime, before the game or after it, whichever your crowd prefers.
Is hurricane season a problem for a Gulf Shores booking?
Summer and early fall are storm season on the Alabama coast. If a storm threatens your week, reach out and we will work through the options with you; most evenings simply call for a covered backup spot in case of a passing shower.
Can you cook in a Mountain Brook backyard that sits on a hill?
Usually. We look for the flattest open spot, often the driveway or a terrace, and we may ask for a photo of it beforehand.
Alabama city pages
- Birmingham
- Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
- Celebrating someone? Our birthday hibachi page covers the details.