Alabama still has drive-ins where the burger patty is real, the fries are fresh, and someone might bring your food right out to your car. No self-serve kiosks, no fancy branding, just simple food done the way it used to be.
If you grew up eating burgers at a walk-up window or picnic table, these seven spots will feel like a trip back home. From Jackson to Valley, here are the old-school drive-ins worth pointing your car toward when a proper cheeseburger is all you want.
1. Ed’s Drive-In, Jackson, AL
Sit in your car or grab a picnic table, because Ed’s keeps the classic drive-in setup alive on College Avenue in Jackson. It is exactly what you picture when someone says old-time drive-in, and that is the whole appeal.
The hamburgers here have a homemade feel, thick and juicy, and you can load one up with bacon and all the fixings. Onion rings show up on nearly every table, and the fries are salted just right, not over and not under…