The Eastern Lake neighborhood east of downtown Birmingham has become home to a cluster of Vietnamese, Latin American, and other immigrant-run restaurants and markets. Pho and banh mi shops sit alongside Salvadoran pupuserias and Mexican taquerias, making this one of the more interesting corners of the Birmingham food scene for those willing to leave the downtown and Five Points South corridors.
No specific destination dominates — the best approach is to drive or Uber along Montclair Road and First Avenue South and see what looks busy. Busy tends to mean good in this part of town.