The list of hole-in-the-wall burger joints in Alabama includes an eclectic mix of settings. From drug stores and groceries, to ice cream shops and even a hot dog eatery, these out-of-the-way places mostly gained their reputations through word of mouth.

One restaurant, though, gained its fame in the lyrics of a Jimmy Buffett song reportedly written about its burgers. Pirates Cove in Josephine in Baldwin County, established in 1917, is said to be the inspiration for the song "Cheeseburger in Paradise," although Buffett has referred to another hamburger joint, The Dew Drop Inn in Mobile, as the inspiration for the song.

Pirate's Cove is run by a third generation of the family that established it, the Muellers.

"It's in our blood and there's nothing we'd rather do," the Mueller brothers wrote on the restaurant's website.

One iconic burger joint, Big Spring Cafe, was housed in a boxcar in downtown Huntsville when it opened in 1928. It was later moved to Governors Drive, where it still serves its legendary Greasy Burgers.

Some eateries are known for unique cooking methods, like C.F. Penn Hamburgers in downtown Decatur, which deep fries its burgers. According to its owners, Elvis Presley developed a hankering for the burgers and would often send a driver to pick up a bagful.

Chefs at Dub's Burgers in Athens, established in 1961, make a beef patty mixed with pork and bread, then slather it in slaw, ketchup, mustard and onions before topping it with a bun.

I asked AL.com reporters to nominate their favorite mom-and-pop-type burger joints. The resulting list is not meant to be all-inclusive, so if you have a favorite burger joint that's not listed here, tell us about it in the comments section below the story.

22 Burger Joints in Alabama to Try Before You Die...

AllStar Diner

5704 Birmingport Road

Sylvan Springs, Ala.

205- 491-4181

Established: Circa 1987 by Marlon Vines

Current Owner: Brandon and Stacy Campbell

Big Chief Drive-In

600 Main Street

Glencoe, Ala.

256-492-4660

Established: 1963 by Tom Alford and Roland Locklear

Current Owner: Jeff Word

Big Spring Cafe

2906 Governors Drive SW

Huntsville, Ala.

256-539-9994

Established: 1928 by Troy Baucom

Current Owner: Pam Milam

Website: www.bigspringcafe.com

Bracken's Big-R Drive In (Hurry! Bracken's is closing soon)

U.S. Highway 31 South

Brewton, Ala.

251-867-4851

Established: Established 1963

Current Owner: LaVenia and LaPrade Pettis

Butch Cassidy's Cafe

60 N. Florida St.

Mobile, Ala.

251-450-0690

Established: 1993 by Roy Seewer

Website: butchcassidys.com

C.F. Penn Hamburgers

121 Moulton St.

Decatur, Ala.

256-355-0513

Established: 1927

Visit the CF Penn Facebook page here

Davis Drug Co.

111 South Main St.

Columbiana, Ala.

205-669-6713

Established: 1956

Current Owner: Jimmy Davis

Visit the Davis Drug Facebook page here

Dub's Burgers

204 S. Jefferson St.

Athens, Ala.

256-232-6135

Established: 1961 by Dub Greenhaw

Current Owner: Lanier Greenhaw

Green Valley Drugs

1915 Hoover Court

Hoover, Ala.

205-822-1151

Established: 1961 by Joe Box

Hamburger Heaven

Locations in Birmingham, Irondale, Gardendale, Homewood and Tarrant

First store:

1703 Crestwood Blvd.

Irondale, Ala.

205-951-3570

Established: 1982 by Jack Caddell

Website: hamburgerheavenrestaurants.com

Hamburger King

547 S. Decatur St.

Montgomery, Ala.

334-262-1798

Established: Established 1973

Current Owners: Hunter and Gay Harrison

Helena Depot Deli & Grill

29 Lake Davidson Lane Helena, Ala.

205-620-1426

Website: www.helenadepot.com

J&J Grocery

8169 Dickey Springs Road

Bessemer, Ala.

205-425-6760

Established: 1950s, grill opened in about 1993

Current Owners: Randy and Allison Coker

Magic Burger

915 Cleveland Ave.

Attalla, Ala.

256-538-7350

Established: 1951. Closed and reopened in April 2013

Pikeville Store N Deli

5182 County Road 21

Scottsboro, Ala.

256-259-0262

Current Owners: D and Connie Wilkerson

Visit the Pikeville Store Facebook page here

Pirates Cove

6664 County Road 95

Josephine, Ala.

251-987-1224

Established: 1930s by the Mueller family

Current Owners: The Mueller family

Website: www.piratescoveriffraff.com

Pop's Neighborhood Grill

1207 20th Street South Birmingham, Ala. 205-930-8002

Current Owner: Heather Guarino

Website: www.popsneighborhoodgrill.com

Sammy's Sandwich Shop

4921 Messer Airport Highway

Birmingham, Ala.

205-591-1462

Established: 1964 by Sammy Vajalia

Current Owner: Johnny and Susan Vajalia

Staggs Grocery

1424 Huntsville Road

Florence, Ala.

256-764-7382

Established: 1936 by L.D. Staggs, began serving burgers in 1970s

Current Owner: Lynn Staggs

The Oasis Bar and Grill

University Boulevard

Cottondale, Ala.

205-553-9965

Established: Early 1950s

Thorsby Dari-Delite

21100 U.S. Highway 31

Thorsby, Ala.

205-646-2527

Established: Late 1940s or early 1950s

Current Owners: Karen and Larry Reeser

Visit the Dari-Delite Facebook here

Willie Burgers

205 Main St. West

Hartselle, Ala.

256-773-0112

Established: 1926

Current Owner: Mary Lawson

Visit the Facebook page here.

...Plus one hot dog place

Chris' Famous Hot Dogs

138 Dexter Ave.

Montgomery, Ala.

334-265-6850

Established: 1917

Website: www.chrishotdogs.com

Updated Dec. 1, 2013, to clarify the origins of the song "Cheeseburger in Paradise," and to correct the name of Jack Caddell and add the name Roland Locklear.

Join AL.com reporter Kelly Kazek on her weekly journey through Alabama to record the region's quirky history, strange roadside attractions and tales of colorful characters.

Call her at 256-701-0576 or find her on

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