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The Ultimate Auburn University Dining Guide

Acre
Amsterdam Cafe
Hamilton's On Magnolia
LiveOaks
Lucy's
The Depot
The Hound
Bow and Arrow
Byron's Smokehouse
Moe's BBQ
Ariccia Cucina Italiana
Esposito's Italian Bistro
Little Italy Pizzeria
Venditori's
Acapulco's Mexican Grill
Tacorita
Taqueria y Carniceria Durango
Fuji
Pho Lee
Sushi Bistro Auburn
Sushiya
Umami
Toomer's Drugs
Niffer's Place
Pannie-George's Kitchen
Tenda Chick
Good Karma
Ribs from Acre in Auburn, AL.
Acre
Grilled chicken and mushrooms from Amsterdam Cafe in Auburn, AL
Amsterdam Cafe
Steak dish from Hamilton's on Magnolia in Auburn, AL
Hamilton's On Magnolia
Pasta from Live Oaks in Auburn, AL
LiveOaks
Pesto pasta from Lucy's in Auburn, AL
Lucy's
Chops from the Depot in Auburn, AL
The Depot
Burger from The Hound in Auburn, AL.
The Hound
Brisket sandwich from Bow and Arrow in Auburn, AL
Bow and Arrow
Meat and three BBQ plate from Byron's Smokehouse in Auburn, AL
Byron's Smokehouse
Staff with a chicken wing from Moe's Original BBQ in Auburn, AL
Moe's BBQ
Mushroom and Broccoli pizza from Ariccia Cucina Italiana in Auburn, AL
Ariccia Cucina Italiana
Spaghetti and meatballs from Esposito's Italian Bistro in Auburn, AL
Esposito's Italian Bistro
Pizza, mushroom and olive pizza from Little Italy Pizzeria in Auburn, AL
Little Italy Pizzeria
Baked Pasta from Venditori's in Auburn, AL
Venditori's
Fajita and margarita from Acapulco's in Auburn, AL
Acapulco's Mexican Grill
Assorted tacos from Tacorita in Auburn, AL
Tacorita
Roasted chicken plate from Taqueria y Carniceria Durango in Auburn, AL
Taqueria y Carniceria Durango
Teriyaki salmon from Fuji Sushi bar in Auburn, AL
Fuji
Bowl from Pho Lee in Auburn, AL
Pho Lee
Sushi from sushi bistro auburn Japanese restaurant in Auburn, AL
Sushi Bistro Auburn
Sushi from Sushiya in Auburn, AL
Sushiya
Fried tofu from Umami in Auburn, AL
Umami
Lemonade from Toomer's Drugs in Auburn, AL
Toomer's Drugs
Bacon and egg cheeseburger from Niffer's Place in Auburn, AL
Niffer's Place
Meat and three plate from Pannie George's Kitchen in Auburn, AL
Pannie-George's Kitchen
Fried chicken plate from Tenda Chick in Auburn, AL
Tenda Chick
Cauliflower bowl from Good Karma in Auburn, AL
Good Karma

War Damn Eagle and Good Damn Food – you’ll find both in Auburn, Alabama.  As the home of the Auburn Tigers, the town at the Alabama-Georgia border has always had a vibrant community dating back to the city’s founding in the early 19th century.  Now, Auburn is a modern college town with historic accents, like the inimitable Toomer’s Pharmacy and the various halls dotting the campus.  As a modern college town, you would expect that Auburn has great food options from all around the world, and you wouldn’t be disappointed.  Between elevated, contemporary American restaurants, classic BBQ, mouthwatering Mexican, incredible Italian, great sushi, pho, and more, college students and the community at large have incredible meals to choose from. 

We’re covering a few of our favorites below, which are great things to get before the big tailgate, after a game, cramming for a test, or for when the whole family’s in town.  Check out our other great SEC college town dining guides, including Athens, Gainesville, and more.  

Contemporary American

Ribs from Acre in Auburn, AL.
Instagram/acrerestaurant

Acre

210 E Glenn Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 246-3763
Acre is a big city metropolitan restaurant hiding in plain sight in Auburn.  With a focus on local ingredients and food served with produce grown in the restaurants gardens and orchards, a dinner at Acre is truly a five star dining experience.  The menu also has a distinctly Southern bent, with dishes like the Redfish on the Halfshell with Okra and Brabant potatoes, house made Pimento cheese, Cornbread and more.

Grilled chicken and mushrooms from Amsterdam Cafe in Auburn, AL
Instagram/amsterdamcafeauburn

Amsterdam Cafe

410 S Gay St, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 826-8181
Amsterdam Cafe is perhaps the most inventive restaurant in Auburn.  They have Southern favorites like a house pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes, but also play around with other flavors from around the world, like in their house made Hummus with Za’atar and Korean Short Rib.  With well designed, sleek decor, dinner at Amsterdam Cafe also feels both elevated and comfortable.  

Steak dish from Hamilton's on Magnolia in Auburn, AL
Instagram/hamiltonsonmag

Hamilton’s on Magnolia

174 E Magnolia Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 887-2677
Just a block from Toomer’s Corner, Hamilton’s on Magnolia is a chef driven restaurant in a wood paneled bar like atmosphere.  There’s a big emphasis on proteins and seafood in the menu, with a delicious Catfish and Crawfish plate, Shrimp and Grits, and Filet Mignon.  Don’t sleep on dessert, either – they’ve got the best creme brulee in the county.

Pasta from Live Oaks in Auburn, AL
Instagram/liveoaksauburn

Live Oaks

201 N College St, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 521-5101
One of the more modern menus and restaurants in the area, LiveOaks was once an Amoco service station that was converted into an elegant dining experience.  When it comes to the menu, the starters are very creative – they’ve got an avocado crostini, mini crab cakes, panko mac and cheese bites, steak egg rolls, bbq pork nachos and more.  When it comes to mains, they’re a little more straightforward with short rib, pork chop, and shrimp and grits on the menu, except for the one exception – a Pad Thai which is surprisingly excellent.

Pasta from Lucy's in Auburn, AL
Instagram/eatatlucys

Lucy’s

2300 Moores Mill Rd, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 521-0391
Lucy’s is the most beautiful looking of the new modern restaurants in Auburn, and the menu matches the decor.  With a focus on seafood, they ship in great oysters, tuna and other fish daily, so it’s as fresh as possible.  They also have some non seafood options that are perfectly sized, lighter fare like the Lemon Basil Rigatoni and Lucy’s Salad.  

Chops from the Depot in Auburn, AL
Instagram/theauburndepot

The Depot

124 Mitcham Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 521-5177
Another elevated restaurant focused on seafood, The Depot brings oysters in daily from all over the country – from British Columbia to Alabama.  They’ve got hearty seafood mains and a delicious Wagyu burger, but our favorite item on the menu might have been the Spicy Blue Crab dip which adds in Mexican chorizo sausage to the traditional cheese and crab dip. 

Burger from The Hound in Auburn, AL.
Instagram/auburnhound

The Hound

124 Tichenor Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 246-3300
The Hound describes itself as a Bacon and Bourbon restaurant, and they aren’t kidding.  The Hound loves smoky flavors – everything from their Bacon Flight to the Burnt Ends Baked Beans to the Bacon Braised Collards.  That’s why they might be the best places to get a steak in the county – between the prime ribeye, prime skirt steak, whiskey ribs and pork chop, there’s a protein for every possible mood.  

BBQ

Brisket sandwich from Bow and Arrow in Auburn, AL
Instagram/bowandarrowauburn

Bow and Arrow

1977 E Samford Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 246-2546
Owner and Chef David Bancroft was born in Alabama and raised in South Texas.  He’s brings the best of the South from both of those locations at Bow and Arrow.  In fact, Bow and Arrow is more than your meat and sides BBQ spot – they use their expertise in slow cooked proteins to make mouthwatering sandwiches, tacos, fajitas and enchiladas, too.  That’s probably why Chef Bancroft – an Auburn alum – has been nominated for multiple Beard Awards.

Meat and three BBQ plate from Byron's Smokehouse in Auburn, AL
Instagram/plainchicken

Byron’s Smokehouse

436 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 887-9981
A classic Auburn landmark since 1989, Byron’s Smokehouse serves the traditional BBQ so many Southerners love.  Swing by to see one of your favorite football players or come for breakfast, where they make a mean biscuit with gravy.

Staff with a chicken wing from Moe's Original BBQ in Auburn, AL
Instagram/moesoriginalbbqauburn

Moe’s BBQ

125 E Magnolia Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 821-1430
Moe’s Original BBQ began in Tuscaloosa but we won’t hold that against them.  They’re old pros at smoking delicious brisket, chicken and pork, along with nearly a dozen side dishes and desserts daily.  Friendly staff, smoked wings and great tap options – what’s not to love about Moe’s?

Italian

Mushroom and Broccoli pizza from Ariccia Cucina Italiana in Auburn, AL
Instagram/ariccia.piccolo

Ariccia Cucina Italiana

241 S College St, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 844-5140
Auburn is known as “the loveliest village on the plains”, but one of the best Italian spots in the area is inspired by the rolling hills of Tuscany.  Ariccia Cucina imports delicious Italian meats and cheeses, makes their own focaccia and pizza using a wood-fired onion.  For the closest thing you can get to a Neapolitan pie in Auburn, you can’t beat Ariccia.

Spaghetti and meatballs from Esposito's Italian Bistro in Auburn, AL
Instagram/emj_eats

Esposito’s Italian Bistro

154 N College St, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 209-6420
Esposito’s Italian Bistro serves up the Italian food that Americans know and love – Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Parmesan, Spinach Raviloi and Meatball Subs, for starters.  For those students who are missing their mom’s lasagna or for the professor carbo loading before grading a stack of papers, Esposito’s delivers.

Pizza, mushroom and olive pizza from Little Italy Pizzeria in Auburn, AL
Instagram/littleitalypizzeriaauburn

Little Italy Pizzeria

129 E Magnolia Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 821-6161
You can’t have a college town without at least one decent pizza by the slice spot, and Little Italy has been that place for Auburn students for years.  For the late night munchies, you can’t do better, but head in for their lunch specials to try the subs and salads, too.  

Baked Pasta from Venditori's in Auburn, AL
Instagram/robinlynn31

Venditori’s

2575 Hilton Garden Dr, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 826-7360
While Auburn attracts students from the Southeast, folks from all over the country come to Auburn for a world class education.  If you’re from the Northeast, Venditori’s will feel like home to you.  A family oriented feeling thanks to the owners the Sellers (which, translated to Italian is, Venditori), they’ve got classic Italian dishes like Veal Parmigiana, Lasagna and Manicotti.

Mexican

Fajita and margarita from Acapulco's in Auburn, AL
Instagram/acapulcosauburn

Acapulco’s Mexican Grill

1409 S College St, Auburn, AL 36832
(334) 501-9197
There’s nothing better than a sizzling fajita Tex Mex spot and Acapulco’s might be the best place to get fajitas in the county.  They make a great crunchy corn taco “Americano” style, and the refried beans are excelente.  It’s pretty hard not to have fun at a place that serves giant blue margaritas.

Assorted tacos from Tacorita in Auburn, AL
Instagram/tacorita_auburn

Tacorita

138 N College St, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 821-9595
Tacos have taken over the country by storm over the last 20 years and chefs have gotten creative in all kinds of ways with the perfect food delivery system – korean tacos, fried chicken tacos and more.  Tacorita is on top of that trend, with tacos that are inspired by everything from a philly cheesesteak to buffalo chicken to a BLT.  They also make a pretty good Cuban and Nashville hot chicken sandwich that are worth giving a try.

Roasted chicken plate from Taqueria y Carniceria Durango in Auburn, AL
Instagram/wrenaaron10

Taqueria y Carniceria Durango

435 N Dean Rd # J, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 887-4373
Taqueria y Carniceria Durango is the most authentic Mexican restaurant in the Auburn area.  They make the hard to find Mexican entrees like Menudo (beef stomach soup), Tortas (Mexican sandwiches), Sopes (thick tortilla pockets) and use rarer cuts like Lengua (tongue) Tripa (intestines) and al Pastor (Shawarma style) in addition to the standards.  It’s all excellent and on par with what you’d find in Atlanta, Birmingham and other big city areas.

Asian

Teriyaki salmon from Fuji Sushi bar in Auburn, AL
Instagram/fuji_sushi_bar_auburn

Fuji

1499 S College St e, Auburn, AL 36832
(334) 887-7766
There’s nothing more fun with friends than a night out getting sushi and Fuji Sushi Bar and Japanese cuisine delivers.  They have great sushi options – everything from crunchy shrimp to California rolls.  But they also do something that you don’t find on many Japanese menus – a katsu, or fried breaded pork.  Try it over rice with a fried egg. 

 

 

Bowl from Pho Lee in Auburn, AL
Instagram/bijou_gt86

Pho Lee

756 E Glenn Ave, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 209-2979
Pho Lee is another restaurant that focuses on Vietnamese with other Asian influences.  Open in Auburn since 2013, they’ve been making Banh Mi’s that students line up for.  For those feeling adventurous, dig in to the House Specials, or skip the steak house and order the filet mignon with fried rice.  

Sushi from sushi bistro auburn Japanese restaurant in Auburn, AL
Instagram/sushibistroauburn

Sushi Bistro Auburn

1888 Ogletree Rd #170, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 329-5113
A humble sushi shop that is more than the decor, Sushi Bistro plays with texture better than any other sushi restaurant in the area.  They make great bento boxes for lunch but don’t be afraid to visit and go omakase style, or chef’s choice.

Sushi from Sushiya in Auburn, AL
Instagram/sushiya_auburn

Sushiya

2319 Bent Creek Rd Ste 300, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 209-6188
One of the sexier sushi spots in the Auburn area, Sushiya is a good go to for date night.  Split some of the large variety of house rolls with your date or dig in to Tempura or a Teriyaki dinner.  

Fried tofu from Umami in Auburn, AL
Instagram/umami_auburn

Umami

2319 Bent Creek Rd Ste 400, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 329-7188
They say that there’s 5 distinct tastes – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and Umami.  A Japanese word for savoriness, it captures the whole rainbow of savory dishes you can get from Asia – and Umami the restaurant does that too, with it’s pan asian focused menu.  They’ve got great ramen bowls and pad thai, Indian style butter chicken and Indonesian style spicy chicken, Korean chicken wings and crunchy Vietnamese spring rolls.  Umami is all of Asia in one restaurant.  

Sweets

Lemonade from Toomer's Drugs in Auburn, AL
Instagram/toomersdrugs

Toomer’s Drugs

100 N College St, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 887-3488
Toomer’s Drugs is famous for its proximity to Toomer’s Corner and the (no longer allowed to be) toilet papered tree.  But Toomer’s Drugs is more than a landmark – they’ve got the best lemonade in the state!  It’s also a great spot to get a quick cone of ice cream while taking a walk downtown.  They’ve got some savory stuff on the menu too, like chicken salad, but dessert wins at Toomer’s.

Burgers

Bacon and egg cheeseburger from Niffer's Place in Auburn, AL
Instagram/niffersplace

Niffer’s Place

1151 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 821-3118
Niffer’s Place has been serving the best burgers in the Auburn area for over 30 years!  Started by Auburn alum Keely Beasecker, the focus at Niffer’s is great food at great prices.  They’ve got 20 burgers on the menu for whatever flavor you want – anything from The Hawaiian with pineapple, mozzarella and teriyaki, to the The Sullivan, with homemade chili and white cheese dip.  They also do a great job on the fryer, with delicious flautas, corn nuggets and fried pickles.

Southern

Meat and three plate from Pannie George's Kitchen in Auburn, AL
Instagram/kimx3eats

Pannie-George’s Kitchen

2328 S College St UNIT 6, Auburn, AL 36832
(334) 821-4142
If you grew up in the South, then you know the value of a good meat and three.  Pannie-George’s Kitchen keeps the tradition alive with classic dishes like Meatloaf, collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread and more.  

Fried chicken plate from Tenda Chick in Auburn, AL
Instagram/tendachick

Tenda Chick

232 N Dean Rd, Auburn, AL 36830
(334) 821-8543
We all know and love the big chicken chain that’s never closed on Sundays, but Tenda Chick is putting up a good fight.  They focus simply on making a mouthwatering chicken tender, then pair that on a bunch of different plates, including chicken salad, a sandwich with chicken tenders and BBQ sauce, or a wrap with melted cheese, tomatoes and ranch.

Indian

Cauliflower bowl from Good Karma in Auburn, AL
Instagram/augoodkarma

Good Karma

1409 S College St, Auburn, AL 36832
(334) 246-3144
An Indian restaurant that lives up to its name, Karma makes incredible, crispy samosas along with a build your own bowl entree you can build with one protein, a sauce (Tikka Masala, curry and other options), a base (rice, Naan or fries), and spice level.  We suggest getting a side of Naan instead of making it your base to dip and mix with whatever sauce your heart desires.  

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To learn more about the delicious food spots at other SEC schools, check out our Best Restaurants in the SEC guide, which includes all 14 college towns and their amazing eateries.