SALSA SHOWDOWN
16TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN
May 9th, 2026
12 pm – 5 pm
Our 16th Annual Salsa Showdown will be held this year on May 9th of 2026, at Cahaba Brewing Company
Please help us choose the winners in the categories for best salsa, best queso, best guacamole, and best specialty dip.
TICKETS
$20 in advance * $25 at the event * Kids 5 and under are free!
WANT TO COMPETE?
Want to see compete to see if you have the best salsa intown?
WANT TO BE A VENDOR?
Become a part of our Vendor Village
SCEDULE OF EVENTS
Don’t have the guts to take on the hot pepper challenge? We will be onsite selling the limited edition shirts along with a variety of Sidewalk merch.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Educational and Outreach programs for the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema.
14TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2025
Jury
Best Salsa
La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Queso
La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole
Rojo Birmingham
Best Specialty Dip
The Current at Cahaba
Audience
Best Salsa
T’s Great Salsa
Best Guacamole
Rojo Birmingham
Best Queso
La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Specialty Dip
Rojo Birmingham
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Sponsored by Rubio Law Firm, Shipt, Renewal by Anderson & Mi Pueblo Supermarket
13TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2024
Jury
Best Salsa
Pablo’s Restaurant
Best Queso
The Current at Cahaba
Best Guacamole
Condado Tacos
Best Specialty Dip
La Paz
Audience
Best Salsa
Tarez Kitchen
Best Guacamole
Condado Tacos
Best Queso
Pablo’s Restaurant
Best Specialty Dip
Tarez Kitchen
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
12TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2023
Jury
Best Salsa
La Paz
Best Queso
Margarita Grill Pelham
Best Guacamole
Rojo
Best Specialty Dip
Southern Brothers Pork Skins
Audience
Best Salsa
Rojo
Best Guacamole
Rojo
Best Queso
La Paz
Best Specialty Dip
Southern Brothers Pork Skins
Spire’s Best Heat Award
Margarita Grill Pelham
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Presented by Spire & Abogados Centro Legal
11TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2022
Jury
Best Salsa
Rojo
Best Queso
Rojo
Best Guacamole
The Current at Cahaba
Best Specialty Dip
After Midnight Salsa Co
Audience
Best Salsa
Mexicali Blues Trussville
Best Guacamole
Rojo
Best Queso
La Paz
Best Specialty Dip
After Midnight Salsa Co
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Presented by Spire
10TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2021
Jury
Best Salsa
1st: Taco Mama
2nd: Rojo
3rd: Dos Amigos Salsa Co
Best Queso
1st: La Paz
2nd: Taco Mama
3rd: Rojo
Best Guacamole
1st: Taco Morro Loco
2nd: Spoon + Ladle
Best Specialty Dip
1st: La Paz
2nd: Rojo
3rd: Taco Mama
Audience
Best Salsa
1st: Dos Amigos Salsa Co
2nd: Groovy’s Salsa
3rd: Rojo
Best Guacamole
1st: Taco Morro Loco
2nd: Taco Mama
Best Queso
1st: La Paz
2nd: Taco Mama
3rd: Rojo
Best Specialty Dip
1st: Tostadas
2nd: Taco Mama
3rd: Taco Morro Loco
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Presented by Spire
9TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2019
Jury
Best Salsa
1st: La Paz
2nd: Little Donkey (Salsa rojo)
3rd: Little Donkey (Salsa arbol)
Best Queso
1st: Spoon + Ladle
2nd: La Paz
3rd: Rojo
Best Guacamole
1st: El Zun Zun
2nd: Spoon + Ladle
3rd: Taco Mama
Best Specialty Dip
1st: Little Donkey
2nd: Simi’s Salsa
3rd: Moss Rock Tacos and Tequila
Audience
Best Salsa
1st: Dos Amigos Salsa
2nd: Rojo
3rd: Moss Rock Tacos and Tequila
Best Guacamole
1st: El Zun Zun
2nd: Spoon + Ladle
3rd: Taco Mama
Best Queso
1st: Rojo
2nd: Spoon + Ladle
3rd: La Paz
Best Specialty Dip
1st: Moss Rock Tacos + Tequila
2nd: Tostadas
3rd: Spoon + Ladle
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Presented by Spire
8TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2018
ury
Best Salsa: Tony’s Tejas Salsa
Best Queso: Tony’s Tejas Salsa
Best Guacamole: Spoon & Ladle Soup Co.
Best Specialty Dip: Tarez Kitchen
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: Tarez Kitchen
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Spoon & Ladle Soup Co.
Best Specialty Dip: Whole Foods Market
2018 photo album here! Special thanks to Joseph deSciose and Jacob DelaRosa for capturing the day.
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Presented by Spire
7TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2017
Jury
Best Salsa: Tarez Kitchen
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Best Specialty Dip: Tarez Kitchen
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: After Midnight Salsa Co.
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Best Specialty Dip: Tarez Kitchen
Hosted at Cahaba Brewing Co.
Presented by Alagasco
View event photos from Joseph De Sciose and Karen Downs here!
6TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2016
Jury
Best Salsa: Rojo Birmingham
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Best Specialty Dip: Rojo Birmingham (Mango Habanero Salsa)
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: After Midnight Salsa Co.
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Best Specialty Dip: After Midnight Salsa Co.
Hot Pepper Eating Contest Winner:
James Williams
Hosted at Avondale Brewing Co.
Presented by Alagasco
View 2016 Photo Album here! Special thanks to Amanda Myers.
5TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2015
Jury
Best Salsa: After Midnight Salsa Co.
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Best Specialty Dip: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: After Midnight Salsa Co.
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Best Specialty Dip: Whole Foods Market Mountain Brook
Hosted at Avondale Brewing Co.
2015 Photo Album here! Special thanks to Darrell Nance.
4TH ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2014
Jury
Best Salsa (tie): Chuy’s and La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Queso: Tin Roof Birmingham
Best Guacamole: Tin Roof Birmingham
Best Specialty Dip: Rojo Birmingham
Audience Choice:
Best Salsa: La Bamba Grill
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Rojo Birmingham
Best Specialty: Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Hot Pepper Eating Contest Winners:
Bill Hancock
Christopher Johnson
Tim Scherer
Kendra Risse
Hosted at Avondale Brewing Co.
3RD ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2013
Jury
Best Salsa: Tin Roof Birmingham
Best Queso: Little Donkey
Best Guacamole: Sol Y Luna
Best Specialty Dip: Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: Sol Y Luna
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Sol Y Luna
Best Specialty Dip: Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Hosted at Avondale Brewing Co.
Presented by Alagasco
2ND ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2012
Jury
Best Salsa: Chili’s Grill & Bar
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Taco Mama
Best Specialty Dip: Little Donkey
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: El Barrio Restaurante
Best Queso: Little Donkey
Best Guacamole: Taco Mama
Best Specialty Dip Category 1: El Barrio Restaurante
Best Specialty Dip Category 2: Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Hot Pepper Eating Contest Winner:
Bill H. (second year in a row- pictured)
Hosted at The Market at Pepper Place
Presented by Alagasco
1ST ANNUAL SALSA SHOWDOWN AWARD WINNERS - 2011
Jury
Best Salsa: Chuy’s
Best Queso: Chuy’s
Best Guacamole: Chuy’s
Best Specialty Dip: Rojo Birmingham
Audience Choice
Best Salsa: Chuy’s
Best Queso: La Paz Restaurant & Catering
Best Guacamole: Chuy’s
Best Specialty Dip: Chuy’s
Hot Pepper Eating Contest Winner:
Bill H.