Food · Atlanta · United States
What to eat in Atlanta
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Atlanta, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AtlChampion, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Start with Lemon pepper wings, Fried chicken and the meat-and-three and The Varsity chili dog. Order the classic plate at a long-established Southern counter: one meat and three sides, with sweet tea and cornbread, at a fraction of a dinner bill. Atlanta eats a little earlier than coastal cities; popular restaurants fill from about 7pm and many kitchens wind down by 10pm.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Lemon pepper wings
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Lemon pepper wings
Atlanta's signature wing: fried chicken wings tossed in lemon pepper seasoning, ordered 'lemon pepper wet' when they are also drenched in butter. They are a staple of the city's wing spots and sports bars.
Where: Neighbourhood wing joints across the city and in most sports bars; locals argue over which one is best.
Dish
2.Fried chicken and the meat-and-three
The Southern lunch plate: one meat, usually fried chicken, with three sides such as collard greens, mac and cheese, fried okra or sweet potato soufflé, plus cornbread or rolls.
Where: Mary Mac's Tea Room on Ponce de Leon Avenue, open since 1945, where you write your own order on a pad, and soul-food restaurants across the West End.
Street food
3.The Varsity chili dog
A chili dog with onion rings and a Frosted Orange from The Varsity, the giant drive-in near Georgia Tech that has been serving since 1928. Staff greet you with 'What'll ya have?'
Where: The original Varsity on North Avenue in Midtown.
Dish
4.Shrimp and grits
Creamy stone-ground grits topped with sautéed shrimp, often with andouille sausage, peppers and a buttery sauce. It is a brunch and dinner fixture across the city.
Where: Southern restaurants and brunch spots in Midtown, Inman Park and Decatur.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Peach cobbler
Georgia is the Peach State, and warm cobbler with a biscuit or pastry topping and vanilla ice cream is the classic Southern dessert. Fresh Georgia peaches are in season in early summer.
Where: Soul-food restaurants and meat-and-three counters; farmers' markets sell fresh peaches from about June to August.
Breakfast
6.Biscuits and gravy
Fluffy buttermilk biscuits split and covered in peppery sausage gravy, or filled with fried chicken for a chicken biscuit. They are the default Southern breakfast.
Where: Breakfast and brunch spots across in-town neighbourhoods, and every diner.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Sweet tea
Black iced tea brewed strong and sweetened while hot, served by the glass or pitcher with almost every Southern meal. Ask for 'unsweet' if you want it plain.
Where: Every Southern restaurant, barbecue joint and fast-food counter.
Dish
8.Buford Highway pho and Korean barbecue
Buford Highway, a long commercial road north-east of the city, is lined with strip-mall restaurants run by Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Mexican and Central American communities, serving pho, Korean barbecue, dim sum and tacos.
Where: Along Buford Highway through Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville; drive or ride-hail, as it is not walkable.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
9.Waffle House breakfast
The yellow-signed diner chain was founded in 1955 in Avondale Estates, just east of Atlanta. Order a waffle and hash browns 'scattered, smothered and covered' (spread out, with onions and cheese).
Where: Hundreds of branches across metro Atlanta; the original site in Avondale Estates is now a small museum.
Snack · Vegetarian
10.Boiled peanuts
Raw peanuts boiled in their shells in salty water until soft, sometimes with Cajun spice. They are a Georgia roadside snack, eaten warm and messy.
Where: Roadside stands and gas stations outside the city, and some markets and ballpark concessions.
Food experiences
Meat-and-three lunch
Order the classic plate at a long-established Southern counter: one meat and three sides, with sweet tea and cornbread, at a fraction of a dinner bill.
Buford Highway food crawl
Drive or ride-hail up Buford Highway and share small orders at a few strip-mall restaurants, from Vietnamese banh mi to Korean fried chicken and Mexican tacos.
BeltLine food halls
Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market sit on the Eastside Trail, so you can walk between their stalls and patios with a stop at the murals in between.
Sweet Auburn Curb Market
The historic municipal market near the King sites has butchers, produce and lunch counters, a good stop when visiting Auburn Avenue.
Quick bites and street food
- The Varsity chili dog — The original Varsity on North Avenue in Midtown.
- Biscuits and gravy — Breakfast and brunch spots across in-town neighbourhoods, and every diner.
- Waffle House breakfast — Hundreds of branches across metro Atlanta; the original site in Avondale Estates is now a small museum.
- Boiled peanuts — Roadside stands and gas stations outside the city, and some markets and ballpark concessions.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Peach cobbler, Sweet tea, Waffle House breakfast and Boiled peanuts. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Atlanta eats a little earlier than coastal cities; popular restaurants fill from about 7pm and many kitchens wind down by 10pm.
- Sweet tea comes sweetened by default; ask for 'unsweet' if you prefer.
- Book weekend brunch in Midtown, Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward a few days ahead.
- Buford Highway and West Midtown are spread out, so plan transport rather than walking between restaurants.
- Sales tax is added at the register and an 18–20% tip is expected at sit-down restaurants.
Tipping
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Y'all | You all, used for any group |
| OTP / ITP | Outside / inside the I-285 Perimeter highway |
| The Connector | The shared I-75/I-85 highway through downtown |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Atlanta famous for?
Lemon pepper wings, Fried chicken and the meat-and-three, The Varsity chili dog and Shrimp and grits. Atlanta's signature wing: fried chicken wings tossed in lemon pepper seasoning, ordered 'lemon pepper wet' when they are also drenched in butter.
+Is Atlanta good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Peach cobbler, Sweet tea and Waffle House breakfast.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Atlanta?
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.