Atlanta wouldn't be the same place you know and love without southern cooking. Heaping plates of fried chicken, mac n' cheese, greens, yams and okra leave people coming back for seconds — maybe even thirds.
FOOD SCENE
6
James Beard Award finalists
[AJC, 2019]
$13.75
for a fried chicken entrée at Mary Mac's Tea Room
[Mary Mac's Tea Room, 2020]
#5
food city in the South
[Southern Living, 2019]
Dig In
Food is a form of Southern hospitality. The doors are always open and plates are always full in Atlanta. Find a variety of cuisines — from Southern cooking to French cuisine or the best of the Mediterranean.
Photo by: The Sintoses
TRADITIONAL FARE
Photo by: Poor Calvin's
WITH A TWIST
Atlanta evolves fast, and so does the food scene. Collard green quesadillas at The Blaxican. Fried green tomatoes drizzled with Japanese aioli at Poor Calvin's. Poblano grits with chorizo and salsa verde at Publico.
Home classics will always shine, but foodies in Atlanta count on top-rated chefs to put a spin on classic dishes you know and love.
TASTE THE ORIGINALS
The chicken sandwich was invented in metro Atlanta. Sorry, Popeyes, but you're living in a Chick-fil-A world now. Waffle House is an Atlanta staple at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., serving you 24/7. And the Atlanta OG list wouldn't be complete without The Varsity, home of the world's largest drive-through.
Take a Trip Around the World
Vietnamese meets Cajun seafood. Mexican meets Korean barbecue. Indian meets Sloppy Joes. And the international corridor on Buford Highway celebrates diversity. In a place where all paths meet, food beyond borders comes alive.
Photo by: Bread & Butterfly
HAVE A FLAVORFUL AFFAIR
Treat your taste buds to French cuisine at Bread & Butterfly, Mexican at Nuevo Laredo Cantina or Thai food at Talat Market.
Those are just a few hotspots specializing in international cuisine. If you bring an appetite and friends, they'll bring everything else. No flight needed.
Photo by: Gunshow
AND COME BACK HOME
New takes on Southern-American food, served in laid back atmospheres, is what sets Atlanta apart.
Try Gunshow, a James Beard finalist where you order from rolling carts. Get fresh seafood in a modern industrial space at The Optimist. Or make a reservation at James Beard-winning Staplehouse, which gives a portion of proceeds to food service workers in crisis.
My favorite thing about Atlanta is that there are a lot of eateries and a variety of cuisines for everyone.[ Chan Lee, Turner Intern ]
Photo by: Andrew Thomas Lee
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT:
SOUTHERN BELLE AND GEORGIA BOY
According to Chef Joey Ward, Southern Belle is ready to bless your heart. He named the cocktail-forward, southern-rooted restaurant after his wife and co-owner, Emily.
Make your way through a secret passageway to find his second concept, an intimate tasting room, Georgia Boy. Chef Ward has foodie cred. He was the Executive Chef at Gunshow, a James Beard finalist.
Food is even better paired with the big game
