Alabama's Hottest New Restaurant Owned by Black Trans TV Star

Singer, musician, reality TV star, and self-taught chef Lauryn England celebrated the official grand opening of her new restaurant Lady E’s Chick’n Café Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama, although local residents have been lining up to try her chicken, sides, and signature sauces since its soft opening last month. Lady E’s Chick’n Café is the first restaurant owned by a Black trans woman in the city’s history.

“The response has been amazing and it’s continuing to grow day by day,” England tells Out Traveler. “Lady E’s Chick’n Café will be Birmingham’s first destination and go-to eatery spot!”

England shined bright during her time starring on the YouTube reality series Chasing: Atlanta  (2017-2020) and Chasing: LA and produces and stars of her own show, Just Lauryn (learn more about the shows here). The former hairstylist now holds the distinction of being the first trans Black woman to own a restaurant in Birmingham. However, England is more concerned about highlighting the variety of delicious foods and experiences available at Lady E’s than citing her place in history.

“Our menu is detailed and brings something different and exciting to look forward to in Birmingham,” she says. “Not only is the food great but the experience is even better! Lady E’s Chick’n Café is not just your average chicken wing spot. It’s a taste of love in the south. We are the chicken cafe of Birmingham and Alabama! The experience I want each customer to feel is motivated, inspired but most of all ready to eat when they walk into the cafe!”

Patrons have the added inticement that their visit and meal will also benefit a worthy cause. England shares with Out Traveler she wants to use the opportunities afforded by Lady E’s Chick’n Café to honor her father who loyally helped England embrace her identity over the years. He received a kidney transplant last August, and England has committed to using a portion of the proceeds from Lady E’s Chick’n Café to create a foundation to help those with kidney issues in his honor.

“This kidney foundation will help many of those who are on dialysis and are on the waiting list to receive a kidney,” England says, adding she hopes to have the new foundation official by the beginning of next year.

If her recent soft opening was any indication, then England will have little difficulty finding funding for the new foundation. Hungry patrons lined the street in front of the café’s Park Place location, which was proactively closed by Birmingham police for the occasion.

Lady E’s Chick’n Café is located at 1905 Park Place in Birmingham. They are closed on Mondays. You can learn more by visiting @ladyechickncafe