It’s no secret that the south knows its way around the kitchen, and Atlanta is arguably the heart of southern cuisine. From fried chicken to Neapolitan pizza to peach cobbler to vegan burgers, Atlanta has it all! That’s why we want to share ten must-try Atlanta restaurants!
*Check out our "Atlanta Food Tour" vlog for a closer look at our time in Atlanta!*
1. Sublime Doughnuts (535 10th St NW)
Sublime Doughnuts is an unassuming, gourmet bakeshop serving classic doughnuts as well as creative takes on America’s favorite pastry. From their “Fresh Strawberry N Cream” to their “White Chocolate Peach Fritter” and “Dulce De Leche”, I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on their menu! We had their Fruity Pebbles Doughnut and Mother's Circus Animal Cookie Doughnut and loved both! The doughnut was light and airy and the icing/toppings were perfectly sweet without overpowering the doughnut itself.
2. Antico (1093 Hemphill Ave NW)
Antico is a Neapolitan, brick-oven pizzeria that started in 2009 on the Westside of Atlanta and quickly became an Atlanta staple! And once you taste Antico Pizza, you understand why!
3. The Varsity (61 North Avenue NW)
The Varsity is an Atlanta staple that everyone has to go to at least once! While the food isn’t anything special, visiting the “world's largest drive-in” is! And if you’re at The Varsity, you may as well get a Hotdog and their famous Frosted Orange, which is a creamy orange milkshake made from vanilla ice cream and homemade Varsity orange drink.
4. LT’s Wings (1160 Fairburn Rd SW)
LT’s Wings is a tiny, no-frills restaurant that has become somewhat of a religion for wing lovers in the Atlanta area. They also serve other fried dishes like seafood platters, french fries, and onion rings, but the wings are the star of the show! Some fan-favorites to note are the cajun lemon pepper, buffalo, spicy ranch, and garlic parmesan
5. Busy Bee Cafe (810 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW)
Busy Bee Cafe opened in 1947 and 70+ years later, Atlanta locals are still lining up outside this cozy storefront to get a taste of some of the best soul food money can buy! If you ask anyone where to get the best fried chicken in Atlanta, chances are, Busy Bee Cafe will be recommended, and for good reason! The chicken is so juicy with crispy breaded skin, and the sides are just as delicious. We had the mac and cheese and cornbread dressing, and we weren’t disappointed! The mac and cheese is made with a cheddar cheese, so you get that sharpness that bites through the creamy, buttery noodles, and the cornbread dressing was like thanksgiving in a bite! So good!
6. Slutty Vegan (1542 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW)
Slutty Vegan’s entirely plant-based menu puts a non-meat twist on classic favorites! Whether you’re craving a burger, chicken sandwich, hot dog, or a po’ boy, they’ve got you covered!
7. The Vortex (438 Moreland Ave NE)
The Vortex serves up the best burgers in Atlanta and has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food” with it’s Coronary Bypass Burger! In addition to the ridiculously delicious and massive burgers, they offer a huge selection of beer, spirits and specialty cocktails, as well as some amazingly indulgent bar food. As the owners will tell you… Basically everything we offer is bad for you! Which is why it’s so good! One thing to note is that it is a 21+ establishment, so leave the minors at home! There are 2 locations, but we recommend visiting the famous Little 5 Points location with its giant skull entryway.
8. King of Pops (Located in Ponce City Market: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE)
Since 2010, King of Pops has gone from a single, second-hand ice cream cart to operating over 40 pushcarts and 2 customized ice cream trucks while retaining the original goal… Make people happy one popsicle at a time! They offer unique, gourmet flavors like Thai Iced Tea and Matcha Lemonade as well as their own twist on classics like Chocolate Sea Salt and Strawberry Lemonade. If you see one of their carts while roaming the streets, it’s worth a stop, or you can stop by their permanent stall at Ponce City Food Market!
9. Home Grown (968 Memorial Dr SE)
Home Grown is a breakfast favorite in Atlanta serving locally sourced ingredients and Southern fare. It’s also home to one of the city’s must-try dishes, the Comfy Chicken Biscuit - a biscuit topped with fried chicken and smothered in sausage gravy. If that doesn’t scream “Southern Breakfast”, I don’t know what does!
10. Mary Mac’s Tea Room (224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE)
While “Tea Room” is in the name, don’t be confused… This is a full on southern style restaurant! Back in the 1940’s when Mary Mac’s Tea Room came to be, a woman owning a restaurant was highly frowned upon, but a “tea room” on the other hand was just fine, so Mary Mac’s Tea Room was born! The menu at Mary Mac’s is as large and the serving sizes! From hamburgers to deviled eggs to fried chicken livers to Brunswick stew, there’s not much that you can’t find on this menu, but there are two things that everyone says you have to have... the Fried Chicken and the Georgia Peach Cobbler. So next time you’re in Atlanta, get a taste of history at Mary Mac’s Tea Room!
Thanks for reading! We hope this blog helps you figure out where you're going to eat on you next visit to Atlanta. Be sure to let us know your must-eat places in Atlanta and we'll check them out the next time we're in the city!