About Us

 Mr. and Mrs. W.M Owens founded Eagle’s in 1951. Family owned and oriented our tradition has always been to offer delicious food at affordable prices. We emphasize the sourcing of the highest quality ingredients, meats and produce available. The couple named the restaurant Eagle’s because they wanted the business to soar like an Eagle. It was one word and easy to remember, as individuals traveling North during The Great Migration could tell others about it along their journey. Between 1940 and 1960 over 3,348,000 blacks left the south for northern and western cities. The economic motivations for migration were a combination of the desire to escape oppressive economic conditions in the south and the promise of greater prosperity in the north.  Eagle’s was one of the first African American owned businesses in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1974 Mr. Owens, whose health was beginning to deteriorate started looking to sale the restaurant. Many people wanted to buy Eagle’s and change the name, to something representing them and their family. Good friend Joseph  E. Rucker of Birmingham, Alabama understood that Mr. Owens wanted the restaurant to keep the name Eagle’s and promised to do so. In 1974, while working full time at AMERICAN (Acipco plant ) Joseph Rucker bought Eagle’s and thrived. In 1993, at the age of 60 Joseph E. Rucker sold Eagle’s, Eagle’s Lounge and the goodwill of the businesses to Delores Banks of Birmingham, Alabama, the mother of his and her youngest son, Ahmad Jamal Rucker. The restaurant has remained true to its roots and offers fresh soul food daily in a relaxed environment, nestled right in the heart of the North Birmingham Acipco community.  

OUR VIBE

Like many products we buy as consumers there are different versions or models of that particular good. For instance, when buying a car there is usually a base model, a model that costs a little more than the base, maybe another model, and then theres this top of the line model that can cost twice as much as the base model. Owning an Eagle’s is a lot like owning that top of the line model.  The best in class. When it comes to Soul Food, Eagle’s is Best in it’s Class. We began as a family, building a local brand in the community that was committed to preparing and serving delicious food that meets the highest standards of quality, freshness, and seasonality. We are here to ensure that each guest receives fast, professional, and courteous service. We establish strong business relationships with suppliers who share our commitment to quality and affordable pricing. We thank every guest for the opportunity to serve them, as we feel honored to do so. By maintaining these principals we shall remain a fixture in this community, that we love, live in, and serve. Eagle’s Restaurant “Birmingham’s Premier Soul Food Restaurant.” 

Named one of the 9 Tastiest Soul Food Spots in the U.S. by Yahoo!

“Best Neckbones I’ve ever had” - Andrew Zimmern of The Travel Channel (The Birmingham News)

“One of the best stories I’ve ever done. Love Eagles… A true classic” - Andrew Zimmern (Twitter)

Winner of Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family Restaurant Wars Contest in 2011 - A national contest which placed us in an online head to head battle with another Birmingham Restaurant. We won with a 78% to 22% voting majority.

Taste of Alabama appearance ABC 

Travel Channel Appearance - Summer 2013 "Bizarre Foods America"

Featured in the Birmingham IN Guide iPhone and Android App

55 Dishes you must eat in Birmingham

50 Essential Birmingham Restaurants

Travel Channel Appearance Winter 2018 "The Zimmern List"

NICHE

Soul Food is traditional southern African- American food. The origins of soul food can be traced back to Africa and to Europe as well. Eagle’s Restaurant serves a very unique corner of the market that expands deep into the souls of many people. Soul food brings back memories of love of family or parents and grandparent’s cooking, school days, hard work, patience and positive vibes. The recipes and style of cooking have been passed down from generation to generation and if you didn’t pay attention to mom or grandma in the kitchen then chances are those recipes and styles are still with them. We take seriously the tradition of soul food and a customer can tell as soon as they enter our doors, the freshness of our vegetables, the consistency of our gravy the vibrant color of our candied yams. These are all things that we take great pride in at Eagle’s.