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Essential Classic Atlanta Restaurants That Continue to Endure

From Southern food institutions, Atlanta’s oldest Japanese restaurant, and Chinese barbecue on Buford Highway to soul food staples, Brazilian fare, and Alsatian cuisine

by Eater Staff Updated Sep 6, 2023, 2:30pm EDT

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by Eater Staff Updated Sep 6, 2023, 2:30pm EDT

Eats

While Atlanta’s newer restaurants tend to capture most of the spotlight, people shouldn’t forget about those longtime dining institutions that continue to stand the test of time. From Southern comfort spots and a Buford Highway marisqueria to congenial taverns and family-owned restaurants still going strong today, these iconic Atlanta restaurants have remained beloved favorites for over two decades, and way beyond.

Don’t see a favorite classic restaurant on this list? Send Eater the details for the next update to atlanta@eater.com.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Minas Grill & Emporium

A cornerstone restaurant and market for Atlanta’s Brazilian community for over 20 years now, Minas Grill & Emporium keeps its shelves stocked with Brazilian pantry staples and snacks. Head over for the traditional Brazilian buffet at Mina’s as well as to grab street foods like coxinhas or pastéis stuffed with ground meats or cheese. There’s even churrasco cut to order here.

Open in Google Maps

2555 Delk Rd, Marietta, GA 30067

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The Beautiful Restaurant

Established in 1979, the Beautiful Restaurant on Cascade Road continues to be an Atlanta favorite delivering heaping plates of cafeteria-style Southern staples, including crispy fried chicken, beef tips, and fried catfish with sides of mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, and turnip greens.

2260 Cascade Rd, Atlanta, GA 30311

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Ray's on the River

Steak and seafood restaurant Ray’s on the River opened in what is now known as the city of Sandy Springs on the Chattahoochee River in 1984. The restaurant continues to be a dining destination for Southern surf and turf.

6700 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30339

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Bagelicious

For over 30 years, Bagelicious has been serving up solid deli classics on its menu. For many New York transplants, it’s like a taste of home. Head here for plenty of fresh bagels topped with lox or whitefish salad, knishes and matzah ball soup, and meaty pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Cash only. Open 6 a.m. daily.

Open in Google Maps

1255 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068

Also featured in:

19 Atlanta Shops for Top-Notch Bagels

K & K Soul Food

This soul food institution has been serving the Bankhead community for nearly 45 years now, and for good reason. Biscuits here can be filled with red sausage links, pork chops, chicken or beef sausage, country-fried steak, or fatback. However, this is where to come for meats like beef liver or chicken gizzards as well as stewed beef or fried whiting. The humble counter-serve restaurant, with its brick-tiled floors and 3-D mural, includes a few booths. Check out K&K’s vegetable plates, too.

Open in Google Maps

881 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

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Paschal's Restaurant

The historic Paschal’s restaurant served as a meeting place for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his lieutenants during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. But long before MLK put Paschal’s on the map nationwide, the restaurant was already known in Atlanta for its delicious fried chicken. And, it still is today.

Open in Google Maps

180 Northside Dr SW #B, Atlanta, GA 30313

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The Silver Skillet

In business since 1956, The Silver Skillet serves a classic Southern breakfast with exactly zero frills. The restaurant serves as a frequent stop for nearby college students, Midtown office dwellers and hotel guests, and construction workers regardless of the day of the week.

Open in Google Maps

200 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Visit Website

La Grotta Ristorante

For more than 40 years now, La Grotta is still one of Atlanta’s most beloved fine dining restaurants. With tables clad in white linens, impeccable service, and an impressive wine list to pair with dishes of lobster pappardelle and black truffle risotto, La Grotta has grown into a regular spot for family and friends to gather.

2637 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

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Also featured in:

Polaris

An iconic piece of the downtown Atlanta skyline (and the city’s history) roared back to life in 2022, when rotating restaurant Polaris reopened atop the Hyatt Regency hotel. The restaurant closed at the start of the pandemic in 2020, and some wondered if it would ever return. Resembling a blue flying saucer, Polaris first opened in 1967 and makes a full rotation every 45 minutes. People arrive via a glass elevator that ascends 22 floors where they step into a dining room that once played host to Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte, and Gladys Knight. Polaris has undergone more than a few reinventions over the years, including in its interior design, which now sees an updated space filled with mid-century modern furniture and an ever-changing view during dinner. Food here leans toward classics like the steak Oscar served over creamy whipped potatoes with a bone marrow bearnaise sauce, wagyu New York strip, and the blue dome chocolate mousse dessert containing a caramel honey center. It’s sprayed with a blue-tinted cocoa butter to resemble the restaurant’s distinctive domed roof.

265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

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Trader Vic's

Few hotel restaurants in Atlanta are as iconic as Trader Vic’s, located on the bottom floor of the Hilton Downtown. The bar menu here features tiki cocktails created by legendary barman and restaurateur Vic Bergeron, including the Mai Tai, Zombie, and the frozen Peachtree Punch (found only in Atlanta). Dine on everything from crab rangoon and salt and pepper calamari to kung pao chicken, volcano shrimp, and rack of lamb served with curry vegetable Singapore noodles.

255 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

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The Municipal Market/Sweet Auburn Curb Market

Founded in 1918 as an open-air market, the Municipal Market, known locally as Sweet Auburn Curb Market, features over 30 local food businesses under one roof. This includes a cooking school, butchers and fishmongers, stands selling produce and baked goods, and a dozen Atlanta restaurant stalls serving everything from soul food and fried fish to tacos, pizza, and Afro-Caribbean fare.

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209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

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Mary Mac's Tea Room

Mary Mac’s Tea Room, the beloved Southern restaurant on Ponce known for its fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and yeast rolls, underwent a change of ownership in 2020. But very little has changed on the menu or with the decor and service here. Mary MacKenzie first opened Mary Mac’s Tea Room in 1945. At the time, it was one of 16 tearooms in Atlanta.

224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

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The Busy Bee Cafe

In business since 1947, this Vine City staple serves some of Atlanta’s best fried chicken alongside an assortment of other meat-and-three staples. It continues to be a popular spot on Atlanta’s westside, so be prepared to rub elbows with fellow diners. And, don’t be surprised to run into a famous face or two. In 2022, the restaurant was named one of America’s classic restaurants by the James Beard Foundation.

Open in Google Maps

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

Visit Website

Eats

It’s hard to pass up this Atlanta landmark restaurant across from Ponce City Market and its trendy food hall. Since 1993, Eats has been a local favorite known for its hearty yet affordable meals. The most expensive option on the menu is a meat-and-three combo for around $10. Jerk chicken is the mainstay here, but there’s something for everyone on the menu. That also includes vegetarian options.

Open in Google Maps

600 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Visit Website

Nakato Japanese Restaurant

Testuko Nakato opened her eponymous Japanese restaurant 50 years ago in Atlanta, now located on Cheshire Bridge Road. Still owned and operated by the family, the iconic restaurant offers traditional Japanese fare served in tatami rooms with low platform tables as well as hibachi-style dining and sushi via its sushi bar.

1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

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Also featured in:

Java Jive

With its retro diner decor and affordable breakfast fare, this cash-only spot on Ponce has been serving bottomless coffee and one of the best biscuits in Atlanta since 1994. And those fluffy biscuits, along with eggy breakfast plates like the Sante Fe scramble and Greek omelet and specials like gingerbread waffles, continue to pack the dinette tables at Java Jive each week. While the food is always a reason to hit up Java Jive for breakfast and brunch, regulars here say it’s the good old-fashioned Southern hospitality from owners Shira Levetan and Steven Horwitz and their staff that keeps them coming back for more. Don’t be surprised if even after one visit they remember your order. Cash only.

Open in Google Maps

790 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Also featured in:

The Colonnade Restaurant

This Cheshire Bridge Road institution is 95 years old. A monumental feat for any restaurant. The Colonnade has a loyal following among the over 60 crowd, but continually attracts new generations seeking down home, Southern comfort food (and strong martinis.) Come for classics like turkey and dressing, chicken fried steak, and fried chicken. However, regulars swear by its brunch and the bloody marys, too.

Open in Google Maps

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Visit Website

Nino's Italian Restaurant

Located on Cheshire Bridge Road, Nino’s is a classic red sauce restaurant that’s been serving pasta dishes in Atlanta for over 50 years now. Keep it simple with spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna or order the fettuccine with shrimp and scallops tossed in Pernod and saffron cream sauce. There’s also the classic veal parmesan.

1931 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

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Also featured in:

Recover From an Overindulgent Evening at These Restaurants Around Atlanta

Highland Tap

Sure, there’s fancier steakhouses in Atlanta, but this Virginia-Highland stalwart keeps its steaks and martinis low key and reasonably priced. Highland Tap — known locally as “steak basement” or “steak cellar” — is located beneath the street level on North Highland Avenue. The restaurant serves up old school cuts of steak and starchy sides, along with generously poured martinis with a sidecar, while bands like Night Ranger, Fleetwood Mac, and Run DMC play over the sound system. No need to dress up here. Make sure to check out brunch here on the weekends.

1026 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Also featured in:

Majestic Diner

The Majestic on Ponce de Leon has been soaking up Atlanta’s booze 24/7 since 1929. Some nights or weekend mornings simply call for comfort food. The restaurant serves up strong coffee with diner classics like steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, grilled cheese and fries, and the Ponce dog piled high with chili, cheese, and onions. Currently open 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

1031 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Manuel's Tavern

The late Manuel Maloof opened Manuel’s Tavern along North Avenue in 1956. Over the decades, Manuel’s has become the gathering spot for neighborhood folks, political junkies, journalists, and local bigwigs swigging beer and talking about everything from sports to politics. The historic Poncey-Highland bar underwent an extensive renovation in 2016, but it still has the same charm and pretty solid food, too.

602 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30307

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Also featured in:

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar

Originally opened in 1922, Atkins Park in Virginia-Highland is one of Atlanta’s oldest and continuously licensed taverns. The century-old landmark bar is a great place to watch sports on the weekends and for Sunday supper with the family.

Open in Google Maps

794 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Pan American Bakery

For 30 years, Pan American Bakery on Clairmont Road has been selling its fresh-baked Cuban breads and pastries in Atlanta. Stop by to order one of the bakery’s classic Cuban sandwiches toasted to crispy perfection and grab a guava pastry for dessert. Cash only.

3671 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341

Also featured in:

Golden Buddha Restaurant

For 50 years now, this Clairmont Road Chinese restaurant has been a popular go-to for Atlantans seeking generous portions of sweet and sour chicken, mu shu pork, egg foo young, lo mein, and kung pao shrimp. But don’t skip out on dishes like Sichuan-style twice-cooked pork, crispy empress chicken wings, san shan soup, and spicy mee goreng (fried noodles typically tossed with seafood or chicken).

1905 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033

Visit Website

Cafe Alsace

As the name implies, Cafe Alsace serves both traditional French and Alsatian cuisine — the latter coming from a region in northeastern France bordering Germany and Switzerland along the Rhine River blending the cultures, languages, and foods of the three countries together. (Think cassoulets, boeuf bourguignon, creamy egg noodle-laden spaetzle, tarte flambee, and coq au Riesling.) The wine list here is a lovely mix of French and Alsatian vintages. It’s no secret to longtime patrons of Cafe Alsace that the restaurant is doing more to promote the food and hospitality of this unique region of France than most French restaurants in Atlanta. And owner and Alsatian native Benedicte Ulsas Cooper, who often works the dining room of the tiny three-decade-old restaurant, is the greatest ambassador of Alsace and its cuisine.

121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

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Also featured in:

Ming's BBQ Doraville

For over two decades now, Ming’s BBQ has been the spot on Buford Highway to order roast duck or roast pork feasts for takeout. This Asian Square Chinese restaurant offers all manner of Cantonese-style roast meats, including chicken, pork, and its popular crispy roast duck. Ming’s serves its roast ducks, which are displayed in the window each day, in whole, half, and quarter portions. Make sure to add some stir-fried yau choi (leafy green) or gai lan (Chinese broccoli) to the meal with a side of Ming’s barbecue pork fried rice. There’s also a location in Duluth.

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5150 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

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Marisqueria El Veneno

One of Atlanta’s oldest and most beloved marisquerias, El Veneno offers platters of mixed seafood to feed a family, soups filled with crab legs and shrimp, oysters, and plenty of micheladas to curb the kick from the hot sauce. Try the caldo de camaron or huachinango estilo Nayarit, a fried, whole red snapper topped with spicy salsa. Check out ATL’s other marisquerias, part of the thriving Mexican seafood scene here.

5082 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

Zyka: The Taste | Indian Restaurant | Decatur

This Indian restaurant institution first opened on Scott Boulevard in North Decatur in 1997, where it continues to offer a broad range of dishes from around the subcontinent. This includes serving halal meats, vegetarian options like aloo tikki and gobi Manchurian, and popular favorites like Chicken 65, Hyderabadi biryani with mutton, and malai kofta. Make sure to order kulfi at Zyka — a dense frozen dessert in flavors like pistachio and mango served in clay pot. There’s also a location in Alpharetta.

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1677 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA 30033

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Old Hickory House

The last remaining Old Hickory House in metro Atlanta is still going strong after more than 50 years. A barbecue institution, Old Hickory House serves its meats smoked over hickory wood for hours, including its popular baby back ribs, chopped pork, and half chickens. Make sure to order Brunswick stew and a side of the delicious squash casserole. The restaurant also doubles as a meat-and-three, serving classic Southern plates like country fried steak or fried catfish paired with cornbread and a choice of two vegetable sides.

2202 Northlake Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084

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Where to Order Some of Atlanta’s Best Barbecue for Takeout and Delivery

Matthews Cafeteria

Matthew’s Cafeteria in Tucker has been slinging Southern favorites since 1955: that’s how folks know it’s good. The restaurant’s ownership still remains in the family, and the fried chicken tastes like granny made it. Diners travel from around Atlanta to eat at this old school cafeteria. Matthews rarely disappoints with its array of Southern comfort foods.

2299 Main St, Tucker, GA 30084

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Minas Grill & Emporium

2555 Delk Rd, Marietta, GA 30067

A cornerstone restaurant and market for Atlanta’s Brazilian community for over 20 years now, Minas Grill & Emporium keeps its shelves stocked with Brazilian pantry staples and snacks. Head over for the traditional Brazilian buffet at Mina’s as well as to grab street foods like coxinhas or pastéis stuffed with ground meats or cheese. There’s even churrasco cut to order here.

Open in Google Maps

2555 Delk Rd, Marietta, GA 30067

Visit Website

The Beautiful Restaurant

2260 Cascade Rd, Atlanta, GA 30311

Established in 1979, the Beautiful Restaurant on Cascade Road continues to be an Atlanta favorite delivering heaping plates of cafeteria-style Southern staples, including crispy fried chicken, beef tips, and fried catfish with sides of mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, and turnip greens.

2260 Cascade Rd, Atlanta, GA 30311

Visit Website

Ray's on the River

6700 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30339

Steak and seafood restaurant Ray’s on the River opened in what is now known as the city of Sandy Springs on the Chattahoochee River in 1984. The restaurant continues to be a dining destination for Southern surf and turf.

6700 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30339

Visit Website

Bagelicious

1255 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068

For over 30 years, Bagelicious has been serving up solid deli classics on its menu. For many New York transplants, it’s like a taste of home. Head here for plenty of fresh bagels topped with lox or whitefish salad, knishes and matzah ball soup, and meaty pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. Cash only. Open 6 a.m. daily.

Open in Google Maps

1255 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068

K & K Soul Food

881 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

This soul food institution has been serving the Bankhead community for nearly 45 years now, and for good reason. Biscuits here can be filled with red sausage links, pork chops, chicken or beef sausage, country-fried steak, or fatback. However, this is where to come for meats like beef liver or chicken gizzards as well as stewed beef or fried whiting. The humble counter-serve restaurant, with its brick-tiled floors and 3-D mural, includes a few booths. Check out K&K’s vegetable plates, too.

Open in Google Maps

881 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Visit Website

Paschal's Restaurant

180 Northside Dr SW #B, Atlanta, GA 30313

The historic Paschal’s restaurant served as a meeting place for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his lieutenants during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. But long before MLK put Paschal’s on the map nationwide, the restaurant was already known in Atlanta for its delicious fried chicken. And, it still is today.

Open in Google Maps

180 Northside Dr SW #B, Atlanta, GA 30313

Visit Website

The Silver Skillet

200 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

In business since 1956, The Silver Skillet serves a classic Southern breakfast with exactly zero frills. The restaurant serves as a frequent stop for nearby college students, Midtown office dwellers and hotel guests, and construction workers regardless of the day of the week.

Open in Google Maps

200 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Visit Website

La Grotta Ristorante

2637 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

For more than 40 years now, La Grotta is still one of Atlanta’s most beloved fine dining restaurants. With tables clad in white linens, impeccable service, and an impressive wine list to pair with dishes of lobster pappardelle and black truffle risotto, La Grotta has grown into a regular spot for family and friends to gather.

2637 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Visit Website

Polaris

265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

An iconic piece of the downtown Atlanta skyline (and the city’s history) roared back to life in 2022, when rotating restaurant Polaris reopened atop the Hyatt Regency hotel. The restaurant closed at the start of the pandemic in 2020, and some wondered if it would ever return. Resembling a blue flying saucer, Polaris first opened in 1967 and makes a full rotation every 45 minutes. People arrive via a glass elevator that ascends 22 floors where they step into a dining room that once played host to Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte, and Gladys Knight. Polaris has undergone more than a few reinventions over the years, including in its interior design, which now sees an updated space filled with mid-century modern furniture and an ever-changing view during dinner. Food here leans toward classics like the steak Oscar served over creamy whipped potatoes with a bone marrow bearnaise sauce, wagyu New York strip, and the blue dome chocolate mousse dessert containing a caramel honey center. It’s sprayed with a blue-tinted cocoa butter to resemble the restaurant’s distinctive domed roof.

265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Visit Website

Trader Vic's

255 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Few hotel restaurants in Atlanta are as iconic as Trader Vic’s, located on the bottom floor of the Hilton Downtown. The bar menu here features tiki cocktails created by legendary barman and restaurateur Vic Bergeron, including the Mai Tai, Zombie, and the frozen Peachtree Punch (found only in Atlanta). Dine on everything from crab rangoon and salt and pepper calamari to kung pao chicken, volcano shrimp, and rack of lamb served with curry vegetable Singapore noodles.

255 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Visit Website

The Municipal Market/Sweet Auburn Curb Market

209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Founded in 1918 as an open-air market, the Municipal Market, known locally as Sweet Auburn Curb Market, features over 30 local food businesses under one roof. This includes a cooking school, butchers and fishmongers, stands selling produce and baked goods, and a dozen Atlanta restaurant stalls serving everything from soul food and fried fish to tacos, pizza, and Afro-Caribbean fare.

Open in Google Maps

209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Visit Website

Mary Mac's Tea Room

224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Mary Mac’s Tea Room, the beloved Southern restaurant on Ponce known for its fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and yeast rolls, underwent a change of ownership in 2020. But very little has changed on the menu or with the decor and service here. Mary MacKenzie first opened Mary Mac’s Tea Room in 1945. At the time, it was one of 16 tearooms in Atlanta.

224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Visit Website

The Busy Bee Cafe

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

In business since 1947, this Vine City staple serves some of Atlanta’s best fried chicken alongside an assortment of other meat-and-three staples. It continues to be a popular spot on Atlanta’s westside, so be prepared to rub elbows with fellow diners. And, don’t be surprised to run into a famous face or two. In 2022, the restaurant was named one of America’s classic restaurants by the James Beard Foundation.

Open in Google Maps

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

Visit Website

Eats

600 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

It’s hard to pass up this Atlanta landmark restaurant across from Ponce City Market and its trendy food hall. Since 1993, Eats has been a local favorite known for its hearty yet affordable meals. The most expensive option on the menu is a meat-and-three combo for around $10. Jerk chicken is the mainstay here, but there’s something for everyone on the menu. That also includes vegetarian options.

Open in Google Maps

600 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Visit Website

Nakato Japanese Restaurant

1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Testuko Nakato opened her eponymous Japanese restaurant 50 years ago in Atlanta, now located on Cheshire Bridge Road. Still owned and operated by the family, the iconic restaurant offers traditional Japanese fare served in tatami rooms with low platform tables as well as hibachi-style dining and sushi via its sushi bar.

1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Visit Website

Related Maps

Java Jive

790 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

With its retro diner decor and affordable breakfast fare, this cash-only spot on Ponce has been serving bottomless coffee and one of the best biscuits in Atlanta since 1994. And those fluffy biscuits, along with eggy breakfast plates like the Sante Fe scramble and Greek omelet and specials like gingerbread waffles, continue to pack the dinette tables at Java Jive each week. While the food is always a reason to hit up Java Jive for breakfast and brunch, regulars here say it’s the good old-fashioned Southern hospitality from owners Shira Levetan and Steven Horwitz and their staff that keeps them coming back for more. Don’t be surprised if even after one visit they remember your order. Cash only.

Open in Google Maps

790 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

The Colonnade Restaurant

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

This Cheshire Bridge Road institution is 95 years old. A monumental feat for any restaurant. The Colonnade has a loyal following among the over 60 crowd, but continually attracts new generations seeking down home, Southern comfort food (and strong martinis.) Come for classics like turkey and dressing, chicken fried steak, and fried chicken. However, regulars swear by its brunch and the bloody marys, too.

Open in Google Maps

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Visit Website

Nino's Italian Restaurant

1931 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Located on Cheshire Bridge Road, Nino’s is a classic red sauce restaurant that’s been serving pasta dishes in Atlanta for over 50 years now. Keep it simple with spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna or order the fettuccine with shrimp and scallops tossed in Pernod and saffron cream sauce. There’s also the classic veal parmesan.

1931 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Visit Website

Highland Tap

1026 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306

Sure, there’s fancier steakhouses in Atlanta, but this Virginia-Highland stalwart keeps its steaks and martinis low key and reasonably priced. Highland Tap — known locally as “steak basement” or “steak cellar” — is located beneath the street level on North Highland Avenue. The restaurant serves up old school cuts of steak and starchy sides, along with generously poured martinis with a sidecar, while bands like Night Ranger, Fleetwood Mac, and Run DMC play over the sound system. No need to dress up here. Make sure to check out brunch here on the weekends.

1026 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Majestic Diner

1031 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

The Majestic on Ponce de Leon has been soaking up Atlanta’s booze 24/7 since 1929. Some nights or weekend mornings simply call for comfort food. The restaurant serves up strong coffee with diner classics like steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, grilled cheese and fries, and the Ponce dog piled high with chili, cheese, and onions. Currently open 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

1031 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Manuel's Tavern

602 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30307

The late Manuel Maloof opened Manuel’s Tavern along North Avenue in 1956. Over the decades, Manuel’s has become the gathering spot for neighborhood folks, political junkies, journalists, and local bigwigs swigging beer and talking about everything from sports to politics. The historic Poncey-Highland bar underwent an extensive renovation in 2016, but it still has the same charm and pretty solid food, too.

602 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar

794 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Originally opened in 1922, Atkins Park in Virginia-Highland is one of Atlanta’s oldest and continuously licensed taverns. The century-old landmark bar is a great place to watch sports on the weekends and for Sunday supper with the family.

Open in Google Maps

794 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

Pan American Bakery

3671 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341

For 30 years, Pan American Bakery on Clairmont Road has been selling its fresh-baked Cuban breads and pastries in Atlanta. Stop by to order one of the bakery’s classic Cuban sandwiches toasted to crispy perfection and grab a guava pastry for dessert. Cash only.

3671 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341

Golden Buddha Restaurant

1905 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033

For 50 years now, this Clairmont Road Chinese restaurant has been a popular go-to for Atlantans seeking generous portions of sweet and sour chicken, mu shu pork, egg foo young, lo mein, and kung pao shrimp. But don’t skip out on dishes like Sichuan-style twice-cooked pork, crispy empress chicken wings, san shan soup, and spicy mee goreng (fried noodles typically tossed with seafood or chicken).

1905 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033

Visit Website

Cafe Alsace

121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

As the name implies, Cafe Alsace serves both traditional French and Alsatian cuisine — the latter coming from a region in northeastern France bordering Germany and Switzerland along the Rhine River blending the cultures, languages, and foods of the three countries together. (Think cassoulets, boeuf bourguignon, creamy egg noodle-laden spaetzle, tarte flambee, and coq au Riesling.) The wine list here is a lovely mix of French and Alsatian vintages. It’s no secret to longtime patrons of Cafe Alsace that the restaurant is doing more to promote the food and hospitality of this unique region of France than most French restaurants in Atlanta. And owner and Alsatian native Benedicte Ulsas Cooper, who often works the dining room of the tiny three-decade-old restaurant, is the greatest ambassador of Alsace and its cuisine.

121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Visit Website

Ming's BBQ Doraville

5150 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

For over two decades now, Ming’s BBQ has been the spot on Buford Highway to order roast duck or roast pork feasts for takeout. This Asian Square Chinese restaurant offers all manner of Cantonese-style roast meats, including chicken, pork, and its popular crispy roast duck. Ming’s serves its roast ducks, which are displayed in the window each day, in whole, half, and quarter portions. Make sure to add some stir-fried yau choi (leafy green) or gai lan (Chinese broccoli) to the meal with a side of Ming’s barbecue pork fried rice. There’s also a location in Duluth.

Open in Google Maps

5150 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

Visit Website

Marisqueria El Veneno

5082 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

One of Atlanta’s oldest and most beloved marisquerias, El Veneno offers platters of mixed seafood to feed a family, soups filled with crab legs and shrimp, oysters, and plenty of micheladas to curb the kick from the hot sauce. Try the caldo de camaron or huachinango estilo Nayarit, a fried, whole red snapper topped with spicy salsa. Check out ATL’s other marisquerias, part of the thriving Mexican seafood scene here.

5082 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

Zyka: The Taste | Indian Restaurant | Decatur

1677 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA 30033

This Indian restaurant institution first opened on Scott Boulevard in North Decatur in 1997, where it continues to offer a broad range of dishes from around the subcontinent. This includes serving halal meats, vegetarian options like aloo tikki and gobi Manchurian, and popular favorites like Chicken 65, Hyderabadi biryani with mutton, and malai kofta. Make sure to order kulfi at Zyka — a dense frozen dessert in flavors like pistachio and mango served in clay pot. There’s also a location in Alpharetta.

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1677 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA 30033

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Old Hickory House

2202 Northlake Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084

The last remaining Old Hickory House in metro Atlanta is still going strong after more than 50 years. A barbecue institution, Old Hickory House serves its meats smoked over hickory wood for hours, including its popular baby back ribs, chopped pork, and half chickens. Make sure to order Brunswick stew and a side of the delicious squash casserole. The restaurant also doubles as a meat-and-three, serving classic Southern plates like country fried steak or fried catfish paired with cornbread and a choice of two vegetable sides.

2202 Northlake Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084

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Matthews Cafeteria

2299 Main St, Tucker, GA 30084

Matthew’s Cafeteria in Tucker has been slinging Southern favorites since 1955: that’s how folks know it’s good. The restaurant’s ownership still remains in the family, and the fried chicken tastes like granny made it. Diners travel from around Atlanta to eat at this old school cafeteria. Matthews rarely disappoints with its array of Southern comfort foods.

2299 Main St, Tucker, GA 30084

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