Blue Pacific at Hoover Food Mart
An unexpected Thai culinary gem hidden within a Hoover convenience store, serving authentic and delicious dishes.
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Must-see attractions
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Blue Pacific at Hoover Food Mart
Highlights
Must-see attractions
An unexpected Thai culinary gem hidden within a Hoover convenience store, serving authentic and delicious dishes.
"Some of the best Thai food in Birmingham can be found at an unsuspecting former gas station."
Order Daily Specials
Try unique flavors like beef nom Tok or pork noodle soups offered on specific days.
Call Ahead for Orders
Parking can be tough during peak hours; calling ahead secures your order.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Thai
Price
$
Phone
(205) 978-0754
Address
3219 Lorna Rd, Birmingham, AL 35216, USA
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Unexpected Thai Gem in a Gas Station
Discover authentic Thai cuisine in a no-frills convenience store setting, a truly surprising culinary find.
Pad Thai Perfection
Locals and critics rave about the flavorful Pad Thai, often hailed as the best they've ever had.
Savory Fried Rice
Indulge in the exquisite Vietnamese fried rice, bursting with flavor and considered a standout dish.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
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Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Order Daily Specials
Try unique flavors like beef nom Tok or pork noodle soups offered on specific days.
Call Ahead for Orders
Parking can be tough during peak hours; calling ahead secures your order.
Embrace Outdoor Seating
Take advantage of the picnic tables for an al fresco dining experience.
Ask for Thai Peppers
Diners can request Thai peppers to heat dishes to native levels if desired.
Tips
from all over the internet
Order Daily Specials
Try unique flavors like beef nom Tok or pork noodle soups offered on specific days.
Call Ahead for Orders
Parking can be tough during peak hours; calling ahead secures your order.
Embrace Outdoor Seating
Take advantage of the picnic tables for an al fresco dining experience.
Ask for Thai Peppers
Diners can request Thai peppers to heat dishes to native levels if desired.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Blue Pacific at Hoover Food Mart is praised for its authentic and flavorful Thai cuisine, with many calling it the best in the area. While the no-frills setting and limited seating are noted drawbacks, the quality of the food and friendly service consistently impress diners.
"Probably my favorite local nondescript restaurant in the Birmingham area. With the severe lack of variety in Asian food, this is a gem. Can’t really go wrong with whatever you order, everything tastes great. Parking can be tough during peak hours but it’s manageable. Calling in can be tough too, but if you can’t get in, just go there, order and wait."
RC
"Parking is difficult. Beef nom Tok is absolutely delicious. Coconut soup is pretty good too. Masaman curry isn't so good."
Miranda Brunn
"We drive 90 miles to come to this place. The food is awesome & so are the people. We’ve been known to order twice in one day just to take some home. We get the Spicy Basil & PadPrik Sot… so tasty!"
MELISSA DAWSON
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Blue Pacific is uniquely located inside the Hoover Food Mart, a convenience store, offering authentic Thai food in a casual setting.
Yes, the Pad Thai is frequently cited as a standout dish and is often called the best by locals and reviewers.
Daily specials include options like Beef Noodle Soup on Tuesdays and Pork Noodle Soup on Thursdays, offering unique flavors.
Parking can be challenging during peak hours, so calling ahead to place an order is recommended.
The restaurant has limited indoor seating and also offers outdoor picnic tables.
The spice level is often toned down for local tastes, but authentic Thai peppers can be requested for extra heat.
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These are the 10 best restaurants in Birmingham in 2020
In the summer of 2015, our editor published an article titled “I ate Thai food from a gas station in Hoover and lived to tell the tale.” Almost five years later, that gas station is no longer a gas station (sometime during Blue Pacific’s record-breaking rise from obscurity to fame, owner Sam Aroon decided to gut the Hoover Food Mart convenience store to make room for more tables). What was once a quick-rising cult classic is now one of the city’s most respected restaurants for authentic Thai cuisine. Yes, it’s cliché, but do yourself a favor and order the Pad Thai.
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If you’re a fan of Thai cuisine, you must head to Blue Pacific, the in-house restaurant at the Hoover Food Mart gas station. The Blue Pacific chefs and Thai natives moved to the states about six years ago and have quickly amassed a cult following among Birmingham foodies. Get the pad Thai noodles with green onions, bean sprouts, peanuts and shrimp tossed in an authentic pad thai sauce and topped with an egg lattice for $8 at Blue Pacific.
The 35 Best Restaurants In Birmingham, Alabama
You can’t judge a book by its cover, and Blue Pacific, located in a former gas station in the suburb of Hoover is living proof. The unassuming restaurant is known for having the best Thai food in the city, but it’s not all about curry and drunken noodles here. The beef and pork noodle soups, served as specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays respectively are truly something to write home about.
Where to eat in Hoover/Birmingham?
I’d venture down to Saigon Noodle House for my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. These are more “neighborhood” kind of places though. Shorts and a t shirt kind of thing.
11 places to find ethnic food in Hoover
The best things in life are unexpected… like this amazing Thai restaurant located in a Hoover convenience food mart!. First things first: You.
My Favorite Places to Eat in Birmingham, Alabama
I love food with a story, and Blue Pacific has a fantastic one. In 2015, Sam Aroonsakulwongse started making Thai food out of a Hoover Mart.
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