Hotbox

The Hotbox was a great after hours spot for all. The only draw back, a little hard to find. I must admit it was worth the effort. If you ever in the area you got to try the burgers; one of the best in town.

Three things to know off the top—
One: Hotbox is a food truck. Thanks to other Unilocalers for letting us know that Hotbox is BEHIND Parkside, a small bar with a patio and back yard area.
Two: The back yard is where Hotbox, the food truck is located. It’s like hanging out in a friend’s back yard. As I mentioned in my tip, grab a table before you place your order. Otherwise, you’ll be searching for a table; at least it was that way on this particular Saturday night.
Three: You will not see the truck from the street. So look for Parkside first, then go in and through to get to Hotbox.
Now for the food. My friend and I both ordered cheese burgers. Very tasty burger, though mine was a bit closer to raw/​rare in the middle than medium pink and my friend’s was closer to medium, which I prefer. But still good. The «bacon» is not what you expect. It looked more like the consistency of corned beef hash? Hard to explain, but it was kinda like paste so I scraped it off. My friend said it «taste like bacon» so I guess it was good.
I wanted to try the wings but I also wanted fries. The wings are al carte as are the fries. However the burger comes with fries so it was easier to pay $ 11 for burger and fries, instead of ordering separate. I want to go back and try the shrimp and crab dip, the wings and the lemongrass fried chicken. The wings were Carolina BBQ flavored, which is mustard-​based. Didn’t try them, but I was told that the next time that flavor may not be available because they switch out flavors regularly. So I may have missed my moment to try.
Also note there is smoking allowed but since we were outside it wasn’t as bothersome had we been indoors. There is also a small, little garage/​storage shed to the side of the food truck that has been turned into a cute little bar. A couple of tables inside with music playing and it feels like a little hole in the wall juke joint. Really cool. Next to the food truck is an igloo cooler for self-​serve cold water. Can’t beat that.
It’s a great spot for late-​night eats and there were several fans around so as the summer nights get hotter it shouldn’t be too unbearable. I’ll definitely be back.

Great, fresh, quick late night food with unique and veggie friendly options.

Perfect little hidden gem in Avondale. We’re from out of town so it was a little hard for us to find. We were enjoyed the food and the patio!

An Airstream behind an old bar with amazing food? Sign me up!
So the layout is a bit out of the norm for many cities but in New Orleans this setup is pretty regular. You basically walk through the bar and onto the back patio where you order out of an old trailer.
The food is delicious and the menu rotates. If they have the braised brisket drunken noodles look no further for your meal.
Parking is on the street and on the weekends it can be crazy.
Open seating but make sure there isn’t a chance of rain!

Just Oh M Gee! Could a burger be better? I’m in love with its juicy goodness. Who cares about calorie content?! Maybe you should feel a little guilty because of its unmitigated deliciousness… but I don’t! Give me the burger each and every time. Sure the other dishes are divine and worth a try. I always get my hubby to get the new dishes so I can try his. See I’m a smart chick. The beautiful relaxing area in the outside of Parkside has always been a fave, and to have this sleek Airstream camper permanently affixed serving incredible food makes it a go to place. Love love love it…

Air-​stream trailer that is a permanent fixture behind Parkside Bar is street food at it’s finest. Walk-​up window and plenty of seats to enjoy the deliciousness that comes out of that trailer. They offer a rotating menu, but I think there are some staples always included. We have tried a few things, but two standouts are the burger and the soba noodles. I would rate this the best burger in Birmingham. It’s truly everything you expect from a burger. thankfully we don’t live super close to this spot otherwise I would probably eat it all to often. The noodles portion is huge, and the leftovers taste even better on the second day.
Avondale is a hip, fun spot and Hotbox fits in nicely. go get yourself some grub!

This is a 5 star rating for what may well be the best hamburger in Birmingham. I don’t even eat much red meat anymore but wow. It can’t possibly be anything close to healthy but if you’re craving a delicious burger, it is here. Otherwise the atmosphere is the epitome of Avondale eclectic — mostly what would happen if 20s-​30s hipsters and older nearing retirement professionals who were previously hippies walked through the wardrobe into Narnia… and there was a permanent food truck in that part of Narnia called Hotbox…

Cool venue and good food. I had the burger which was no frills and solid. My wife had a shrimp civiche tostada which was very good.

This place will never let you down, and even the best review can’t do it justice. I love that it’s so unassuming and you have the the added bonus of getting drinks at Parkside. This is one of those foodtrucks where you could close your eyes, and pick anything on the menu, and it will taste delicious. Our all time favorites are the hotbox burger, lemongrass chicken, tofu, chicken laap and duck noodles.

Great location in the backyard of parkside. You can never go wrong with the burgers or the wings, the pot stickers are the real deal too, one of the best hidden gems in Avondale/​birmingham

My first time here was pretty fantastic. Location and venue was pretty neat. It was a frigid night but we enjoyed yourself. The five spice tofu is fantastic. Spicy peanuts themselves were the perfect kick. Cant wait to go back!

Everyone already knows what Hotbox is by this point so I won’t elaborate much about the airstream trailer in the back patio area of Parkside. I will say that for the most part, their randomly changing menus has many more hits than misfires.
First, the hits:
The burger is excellent. It’s actually two thinner patties (I think?) which are not cooked to well done shoe leather. They taste griddled, have a little pink left in places, and are covered in cheese and homemade pickles, served on a toasted bun, and served with frites for $ 10. Kind of like your first trip to In and Out of maybe Jack Brown’s, this is an excellent quick serve burger.
Whatever they are doing with chicken thighs, although typically fried. Last night was lemongrass fried with a coconut aioli with cilantro generously roughly chopped and interspersed amongst the fried bird. Although not advertised on the menu, I think they included slices of fresh jalapeño fried along with the chicken. I think I nearly ate two orders of these my self.
Their drunken noodle dish of the day/​week. Last night was meatballs which were actually pretty good but somewhat overpowered the awesome noodles, of which we found ourselves wishing for more. Sauce was excellent too.
Then the middle of the road:
The wings can be hit or miss. Last night, the tikka masalas wings were pretty mehh and somewhat bland, while the bed or rice and masala covered naan were excellent. Another time, they were so hot I could taste nothing but fire in my mouth, belly, etc. But one other time, they were good although I cannot recall a lot more.
Eggrolls last night were roast pork with poblano and jalapenos. They were fine but did not wow me.
The shrimp, ginger and soy potstickers last night were also fine but with the chix thighs and great beer from Parkside, I did not want to waste my calories on them.
The misses:
These are kind of minor such as the atomic wings and last night’s bun being burnt to a crisp but still served, along with the hours (I wish they opened a little earlier than 5 and sometimes 5:30 at night) but keep it from being even more amazing. None of those will stop me from returning regularly though, so keep up the great work HB!

Wow. WOW! This place was excellent. We stopped in Birmingham one night to visit some friends and they suggested we go to «this food truck called Hotbox in the back yard of a bar.» We didn’t really know what to expect but we trusted their foodie opinions and we are so glad that we did! EVERYTHING on the menu is phenomenal. Drunken noodles, yes please! Fried chicken… to die for! Best fried dumplings I’ve ever had! And the egg rolls… I’m drooling just thinking about them! GO TO HOTBOX! GO FAST!

Hotbox is great! It’s so weird; the place is an Airstream in the back yard of Parkside Bar. They used to be open for lunch but aren’t anymore. I also don’t think they allow people under 21 to come here (since you have to walk through the bar to get to it). However, Wooden Goat across the street is apparently owned by the same folks and allows families.
Parkside’s backyard is a great place for Hotbox. There’s an outdoor bar, a couple of stages for live music, and a really eclectic vibe. There are about 20 tables scattered throughout; enough room for maybe 100 people. Sometimes you have to bus your own table but that’s understandable given this place’s popularity.
Anyway, the food. It’s great. I’ve had the pork egg rolls, the lemongrass potstickers, the fried chicken, and the burger. The egg rolls are greasy but piping hot and huge. The lemongrass potstickers were good… I think I was a bit beyond tipsy when I ate those though. The fried chicken was excellent.
However, the best thing of all is the burger. It’s fantastic. I can’t really describe it– it’s pretty simple, just a burger with some bacon jam (whaaat?!) and cheese. But they put all kinds of seasonings in the patty itself and it comes out tasting like the greatest thing you’ve ever eaten. It also comes with shoestring french fries that are a bit like McDonalds in their crave-​ability but are thinner and crispier. All around a great meal.
Minus one star because (and this may sound silly) the food doesn’t really go well with alcohol. It may with beer but liquor and this food don’t really get along. Don’t get me wrong– this food is the most amazing thing in the world when you’re already tipsy. However, if you’re not already tipsy when you get your food, maybe put off the drinks until after you’re through eating.
You won’t regret it– your mouth will be too busy dealing with the amazing-​ness that is the Hotbox burger to notice.

This is a Solid little food truck. Not something you would know anything about unless you were local to the area but I guess that’s what Unilocal is for.
They have my second favorite burger in the world right now.
2 perfect fresh meat patties, house made bacon jam, American cheese. That’s it folks! Simple, easy, amazing.
The pot stickers were a 3 star situation and I heard the wings are awesome. Will try mor food soon.
FYI.
The raining champ in «Charleies favorite burgers» still hails from Billings Montana served at the «fork and spoon»

Hotbox will pretty much ruin every other burger you will ever eat. Their Burger is pretty life changing! There is bacon Jam on it. That is a thing and it is de-​freaking-​lish. Since this place in the back of Parkside you do need to wait until they are open at night. It’s worth it! The wings are pretty great too. Lots of flavor and a pretty decent size for the price. The prices at first shocked me. For a food truck that’s behind a bar in Birmingham, AL you would think things might be a little less. But when I ate that damn burger… I WOULD HAVE PAID 100 MILLION BUCKS FOR IT. Worth the money!

It’s a little hard to find, tucked as it is behind Parkside Bar, but definitely worth the search.
A caveat first. This isn’t haute cuisine. The offerings are more casual in nature, such as burgers, sandwiches, and the like. But it was really, really good.
The kitchen is a sleek Airstream trailer. The dining patio is open air and spacious. I have no idea what Hotbox does on rainy or cold nights but, given that it was a beautiful November evening, who cares?
All in all, it’s a great contribution to the stunning transformation of Avondale. My wife and I were pioneers here when first married, and can’t wait to return when the last child graduates in a couple of years.

This place is amazing. I cannot say enough good things. It’s a permanent food truck in the back of Parkside which is a cool bar with a hipster vibe. There is outdoor seating and string lights and interesting decorations.
I got the red chicken curry and my boyfriend ordered the burger. The chicken was cooked to perfection. It was fall off the bone tender and the curry had a creamy (coconut milk) kick to it. I wanted more rice to sop up the sauce and the cooks happily obliged. They’re super super friendly, and watching the Simpsons in the background which I thought was cool.
And then there was the burger. Can I say I ALMOST saved my entrée for lunch tomorrow to order myself this masterpiece? It is a double burger with cheese, pickles, and bacon jam. The freshly made fries just created perfection in the meal. Holy wonderful. I would go back twice a week easily for this. You have to try it. It’s a hole in the wall you do not want to miss!

The atmosphere and food at Hotbox are something special! I heard many shining reviews about the delicious culinary mashups that are offered at Hotbox. However, tasting the deliciousness personally is a totally different thing! I finally got to check out the outdoor restaurant on a clear and cool night with live music. Zarinah & The Zaratans played a great set on the back porch patio stage next to Parkside. All of this is set up in an open courtyard behind Parkside bar and includes Hoxbox (which is housed in stationary vintage food truck that has a walk-​up window), plenty of tables and seating areas, and a stage area for live bands.
The nice Hotbox crew greeted me when I walked up to order and helped me to navigate the unique menu options. The rotating menu presently includes shrimp potstickers, cucumber salad, spicy soba noodles, beets & bok choy, roast pork salad, lemongrass fried chicken, carnitas tostadas, Thai sausage sandwich, green curry duck, pork belly drunken noodle, mussels tom ka, and a burger that features bacon jam!
I eventually picked the Mussels Tom Ka and a Mexican Coke. The dish includes mussels, coconut broth, and fresh lemongrass. It was a refreshingly explosive combination that reminded me of light traditional ramen san the noodles and Bouillabaisse. It was seriously awesome and had me craving savory soups the rest of the week! In a nutshell, I can’t wait to explore more of the delicious food at Hotbox!