Market rankings · Alabama

Sit-down restaurants in Alabama

Markets across Alabama ranked by the Groundwork market score for sit-down restaurants, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 10,602; 4,061 chain locations (38%)
Official establishments: 2,771; −2.6% since 2019
Household spending a year: $7B; On food away from home
Listings per 10k households: 53.1; 13% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $663K; In line with the U.S.
Rank among states: #20 of 51; Market score 52 · Upper middle

A site report maps the sit-down restaurants on map listings around any address in Alabama by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

As of September 2026, map listings count 10,602 sit-down restaurants in Alabama. Chain locations make up 38% of them, against 29% across the U.S. That comes to 53.1 for every 10,000 households, 13% below the U.S. rate of 61.3.

At $3,519 per household (14% below the U.S. average), households in Alabama spend about $7B a year on food away from home. Spread across 10,602 sit-down restaurants, that is $663K per restaurant, in line with the U.S. figure of $664K. That spending covers all food away from home, which sit-down restaurants share with other businesses in the trade.

Official counts show 2,771 businesses with payroll classed as full-service restaurants in Alabama in 2023, down 2.6% from 2019. That is one for every 721 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 1.5% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 110 SBA-backed loans worth $66.1M have gone to businesses classed as full-service restaurants in Alabama.

Among the 50 states and DC, Alabama ranks #20 for sit-down restaurants, with a Groundwork market score of 52 (upper middle). Of the 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Huntsville metro area scores highest (77). Of the 13 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Cullman area scores highest (79).

Every market in Alabama for sit-down restaurants

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Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Alabama, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Alabama, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Huntsville, AL	77	1,151	55.9	$737K	+12.5%	#24 of 387
2Decatur, AL	62	302	48.2	$741K	+2.5%	#104 of 387
3Tuscaloosa, AL	60	487	46.1	$747K	+2.9%	#113 of 387
4Birmingham, AL	52	2,650	57.0	$658K	+1.4%	#175 of 387
5Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	46	327	51.4	$659K	+3.5%	#223 of 387
6Montgomery, AL	43	837	55.3	$631K	+0.9%	#250 of 387
7Auburn-Opelika, AL	43	432	56.3	$623K	+7.1%	#252 of 387
8Gadsden, AL	39	179	45.4	$690K	+0.4%	#278 of 387
9Anniston-Oxford, AL	36	219	48.7	$651K	−0.3%	#300 of 387
10Mobile, AL	36	895	55.4	$608K	−0.7%	#303 of 387
11Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	36	712	72.2	$535K	+14.8%	#304 of 387
12Dothan, AL	32	350	57.4	$573K	+3.4%	#329 of 387
Columbus, GA-AL	24	793	62.2	$539K	−1.3%	#367 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Alabama, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Cullman, AL	79	143	40.5	$846K	+6.7%	#23 of 538
2Scottsboro, AL	69	85	39.0	$799K	+3.3%	#81 of 538
3Talladega-Sylacauga, AL	68	131	34.4	$919K	0.0%	#86 of 538
4Ozark, AL	63	79	40.0	$789K	+1.3%	#133 of 538
5Russellville, AL	60	47	39.3	$781K	+1.1%	#164 of 538
6Enterprise, AL	60	108	51.5	$693K	+6.3%	#168 of 538
7Selma, AL	55	48	30.1	$872K	−7.9%	#211 of 538
8Fort Payne, AL	54	119	45.5	$662K	+3.4%	#225 of 538
9Albertville, AL	54	205	56.2	$616K	+6.0%	#228 of 538
10Alexander City, AL	51	77	45.1	$718K	−0.8%	#254 of 538
11Troy, AL	44	80	64.1	$482K	+2.4%	#334 of 538
LaGrange, GA-AL	42	248	61.5	$527K	+3.0%	#356 of 538
12Eufaula, AL-GA	31	70	68.7	$425K	−1.2%	#461 of 538

Counties

Counties in Alabama, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Limestone County, AL	91	141	34.4	$1.2M	+18.0%	#18 of 2,405
2Cleburne County, AL	79	11	18.4	$1.7M	+6.0%	#134 of 2,405
3Shelby County, AL	77	451	51.9	$853K	+6.5%	#202 of 2,405
4Autauga County, AL	74	92	40.1	$936K	+5.1%	#278 of 2,405
5Blount County, AL	70	76	34.3	$996K	+1.8%	#369 of 2,405
6St. Clair County, AL	70	174	49.6	$742K	+7.1%	#388 of 2,405
7Washington County, AL	69	17	28.5	$1.2M	−3.3%	#393 of 2,405
8Cullman County, AL	69	143	40.5	$846K	+6.7%	#409 of 2,405
9Chilton County, AL	69	74	41.4	$811K	+5.9%	#411 of 2,405
10Elmore County, AL	69	160	48.7	$769K	+4.2%	#415 of 2,405
11Lawrence County, AL	68	48	35.2	$968K	+2.3%	#428 of 2,405
12Cherokee County, AL	66	35	34.3	$937K	+5.8%	#488 of 2,405
13Madison County, AL	66	1,010	61.2	$676K	+11.0%	#507 of 2,405
14Clay County, AL	65	17	29.2	$1.1M	−0.1%	#516 of 2,405
15Bibb County, AL	64	24	31.2	$982K	+0.4%	#558 of 2,405
16Hale County, AL	62	19	33.7	$844K	+2.9%	#666 of 2,405
17Geneva County, AL	61	38	35.7	$853K	+3.2%	#705 of 2,405
18Jackson County, AL	61	85	39.0	$799K	+3.3%	#711 of 2,405
19Randolph County, AL	61	39	42.1	$749K	+4.8%	#717 of 2,405
20Tuscaloosa County, AL	61	430	47.8	$742K	+3.8%	#718 of 2,405
21Henry County, AL	61	33	46.7	$714K	+7.1%	#722 of 2,405
22Talladega County, AL	59	124	36.9	$861K	+0.3%	#776 of 2,405
23Winston County, AL	58	34	36.1	$868K	+1.4%	#806 of 2,405
24Morgan County, AL	58	254	51.8	$698K	+2.6%	#831 of 2,405
25Dale County, AL	55	79	40.0	$789K	+1.3%	#947 of 2,405

Show all 67 counties

Counties in Alabama, ranked for sit-down restaurants by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Coosa County, AL	54	7	15.8	$2M	−1.7%	#969 of 2,405
27Pickens County, AL	54	23	34.0	$903K	−3.9%	#977 of 2,405
28Colbert County, AL	53	120	49.4	$670K	+3.8%	#1,055 of 2,405
29Wilcox County, AL	52	11	28.5	$983K	−8.3%	#1,067 of 2,405
30Franklin County, AL	52	47	39.3	$781K	+1.1%	#1,082 of 2,405
31Coffee County, AL	52	108	51.5	$693K	+6.3%	#1,101 of 2,405
32Dallas County, AL	50	48	30.1	$872K	−7.9%	#1,153 of 2,405
33Chambers County, AL	49	54	40.2	$753K	−0.9%	#1,216 of 2,405
34Walker County, AL	47	109	42.9	$734K	0.0%	#1,309 of 2,405
35Lee County, AL	47	403	58.0	$616K	+8.6%	#1,334 of 2,405
36DeKalb County, AL	46	119	45.5	$662K	+3.4%	#1,371 of 2,405
37Marshall County, AL	46	205	56.2	$616K	+6.0%	#1,379 of 2,405
38Lauderdale County, AL	45	207	52.7	$652K	+3.3%	#1,430 of 2,405
39Tallapoosa County, AL	43	77	45.1	$718K	−0.8%	#1,490 of 2,405
40Fayette County, AL	43	28	44.8	$687K	−2.8%	#1,493 of 2,405
41Covington County, AL	42	79	54.0	$591K	+1.2%	#1,559 of 2,405
42Baldwin County, AL	42	712	72.2	$535K	+14.8%	#1,568 of 2,405
43Sumter County, AL	40	18	37.3	$704K	−5.0%	#1,624 of 2,405
44Conecuh County, AL	40	18	40.8	$688K	−5.7%	#1,626 of 2,405
45Mobile County, AL	40	895	55.4	$608K	−0.7%	#1,647 of 2,405
46Jefferson County, AL	40	1,742	64.5	$569K	−1.3%	#1,653 of 2,405
47Etowah County, AL	39	179	45.4	$690K	+0.4%	#1,674 of 2,405
48Crenshaw County, AL	39	28	53.5	$563K	0.0%	#1,697 of 2,405
49Pike County, AL	39	80	64.1	$482K	+2.4%	#1,706 of 2,405
50Russell County, AL	38	116	48.5	$625K	−0.6%	#1,728 of 2,405
51Calhoun County, AL	37	219	48.7	$651K	−0.3%	#1,764 of 2,405
52Monroe County, AL	35	32	43.5	$657K	−3.8%	#1,826 of 2,405
53Escambia County, AL	35	69	53.9	$541K	0.0%	#1,847 of 2,405
54Lamar County, AL	34	23	45.2	$651K	−2.6%	#1,871 of 2,405
55Marengo County, AL	34	39	49.4	$630K	−5.0%	#1,878 of 2,405
56Montgomery County, AL	34	576	63.0	$533K	−1.1%	#1,901 of 2,405
57Houston County, AL	31	279	64.4	$519K	+2.8%	#2,013 of 2,405
58Choctaw County, AL	30	25	47.6	$626K	−5.7%	#2,037 of 2,405
59Marion County, AL	30	60	56.5	$534K	−0.3%	#2,056 of 2,405
60Bullock County, AL	27	12	32.5	$759K	−4.5%	#2,140 of 2,405
61Clarke County, AL	26	55	65.3	$474K	−4.2%	#2,182 of 2,405
62Macon County, AL	25	29	40.1	$726K	−6.8%	#2,189 of 2,405
63Butler County, AL	25	39	51.3	$568K	−4.8%	#2,197 of 2,405
64Barbour County, AL	25	65	71.2	$413K	−1.4%	#2,209 of 2,405
Lowndes County, AL	Not scored	9	21.0	$1.3M	−9.0%
Perry County, AL	Not scored	15	43.6	$552K	−12.2%
Greene County, AL	Not scored	15	46.5	$548K	−8.2%

Markets with fewer than 5 sit-down restaurants on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many sit-down restaurants are in Alabama?

Alabama has 10,602 sit-down restaurants on map listings as of September 2026. 4,061 of them (38%) are chain locations. The listings count restaurants of every cuisine, pizza included. Official counts show 2,771 businesses with payroll classed as full-service restaurants in 2023, down 2.6% from 2019. Official counts also show 803 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Alabama spend on food away from home?

About $7B a year, or $3,519 per household. That is 14% below the U.S. average (an index of 86, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 10,602 sit-down restaurants on map listings, it comes to $663K per restaurant. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only sit-down restaurants. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,997,247 households in Alabama and national spending patterns by income.

How does Alabama compare with the U.S. for sit-down restaurants?

Alabama has 53.1 sit-down restaurants per 10,000 households, 13% below the U.S. rate of 61.3. Spending per restaurant is $663K, in line with the U.S. figure of $664K. At the national ratio of sit-down restaurants to household spending, Alabama would have about 10,590, against 10,602 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 721 households, against one for every 500 across the U.S. The official count fell 2.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +1.5% for the U.S.

Which market in Alabama has the highest market score for sit-down restaurants?

Among 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Huntsville metro area scores highest, at 77 (high). Among 13 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Cullman area scores highest, at 79 (high). Among 64 scored counties in Alabama, Limestone County scores highest, at 91 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Alabama scores 52 for sit-down restaurants (upper middle), #20 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Alabama. It maps the sit-down restaurants on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Restaurants and cafes18,378 listings
Fast food and sandwich shops3,007 listings
Pizza1,143 listings
Coffee shops and cafes1,537 listings
Bakeries and dessert shops1,346 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in Alabama?

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