If you’re looking for a fun, upscale date night, look no further than Current Charcoal Grill. Located downtown (1625 2nd Ave. S., Birmingham), it’s right around the corner from Railroad Park and adjacent to Red Mountain Theatre. It’s elegant, modern, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. I can confidently say that anything on their Asian-inspired menu will be delicious. Not to mention, the service is impeccable—you can tell your server what you like and don’t like, and they’re so knowledgeable about the menu, they can make suggestions accordingly.
What to Expect
This innovative restaurant opened barely over a year and a half ago, in March of 2023, as a passion project between Chef Adam Evans and Chef Luke Joseph. Curious why it’s called “Current Charcoal Grill”? “‘Current’ is a reference to the Kuroshio Current found in the Pacific Ocean and ‘Charcoal Grill’ alludes to the centuries-old Japanese grilling tradition of using slow-burning Binchotan charcoals—the centerpiece of our menu,” their website explains. The restaurant blends fresh ingredients from the Gulf and Alabama’s farmers with time-honored cooking styles of various Asian cuisines, all centered on traditional Binchotan charcoal cooking. Be sure to note the elegantly designed furniture pieces in the restaurant; they are all intended to pay homage to the Pacific and create an “immersive” dining experience.
What to Order
They have something for everyone on their menu, including greens, raw specialties, seafood, grilled meats, and more. What I find particularly interesting is how they pull all types of Asian influence into their cuisine—everywhere from northern Thailand to China and Japan. They also offer a nightly happy hour from 4–6 p.m. if you’re wanting to snag a drink or two. The menu is ever-changing, which allows for the opportunity for a new dining experience each visit. However, there are some staples that you won’t want to miss.
Start with a small plate like the pork and shiitake dumplings, which boast a beautiful, crunchy cashew chili crisp overlay. (They achieve this by steaming and frying the dumplings at the same time to create a double texture, a traditional Chinese method no one else is doing in Birmingham!) As for meats, you can’t go wrong, but I would argue you absolutely must have the prime Denver cut steak or the Iberico pork—the steak is Vietnamese, soaked in an edible mold called koji, sugar charred, and laid in a bed of soy tare, a sort of “pre-teriakyi” sauce. The pork is the end of a short rib cut from the Iberico heritage breed of Spanish pigs, doused in red pepper relish, compressed pickle melon ribbons, herbs, and peanuts. You won’t regret pairing either with the fluffiest bao buns you’ve ever tasted. Another flavorful entrèe option is the luxurious panang curry, featuring deeply caramelized flavors like shallots and coconut with beef short rib. Talk about comfort food!
Top it all off with the Miso custard tart, their most popular dessert. Nestled in a bed of caramel with crème fraiche (fresh, fluffy cream) on the side, this is no ordinary piece of pie. (If you’re feeling ambitious and want to attempt a “fall” version of this at home, be sure to check out Chef Luke Joseph’s recipe for Miso-Pumpkin Tart.)
When to Go
They’re open for dinner Sunday–Thursday, 5–9 p.m. and Friday & Saturday, 5–10 p.m. You can park along the street (free after 6 p.m.!) or you can valet. With seasonal foods and drinks, there’s really no bad time to go—and trust me, you’ll want to go back. To make reservations, visit currentcharcoalgrill.com or Resy, or call (205) 829-1625. Happy date night!
