From show-stopping fine dining spots to quaint neighborhood favorites, Atlanta has no shortage of restaurants. There are literally thousands of places to eat across the city and metro area — and new ones are opening all the time. Plenty of hidden gems
fly under the radar — tucked away in neighborhoods, food halls, strip malls, and Outside the Perimeter (OTP). This list highlights what’s worth seeking out and what to order once you get there.
In this latest update by Allison Ramirez, underrated spots range from a decades-old Grant Park neighborhood favorite to a newly debuted Ethiopian food stall delighting in the Peoplestown neighborhood. The restaurants are listed geographically from south to north. Send recommendations to atlanta@eater.com for consideration on the next update.
Ruki’s Kitchen
1161 Ridge Ave SW, Atlanta, GA, 30315, US
(404) 975-3386
Atlanta doesn’t have a ton of Ethiopian restaurants, making this year’s debut of Ruki’s Kitchen just south of downtown even more exciting. Inside Terminal South in Atlanta’s historic Peoplestown neighborhood, this cozy food stall serves a small menu of flavorful Ethiopian favorites like tibs combos, platters and vegetables. Don’t miss the Habesha lemon pepper wet wings made with Ethiopian spices, lemon pepper, clarified butter, and mitmita buffalo sauce.
Dakota Blue
454 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA, 30312, US
(404) 589-8002
A Grant Park neighborhood staple since 2003, Dakota Blue is relaxed, friendly, and guaranteed to turn newbies into regulars. The menu is packed with sandwiches, burgers, tacos and comfort food favorites — and the Cubano (either traditional pork or vegetarian with black beans) has a lot of fans. It’s an easy bike ride from the park for a casual meal, some drinks, or a laid-back weekend brunch.
Broad Street BBQ
98 Broad St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30303, US
Opened in June of this year in South Downtown on Broad Street, Broad Street BBQ has a solid menu and brings the same friendly, laid-back energy as Sammy’s (Adair Park’s beloved sandwich shop and cafe from the same owners). This barbecue joint does smoked meats, Southern-inspired cocktails, and plenty of options besides meat (like crudite served on ice with ranch or blue cheese, collard green lasagna, potato salad, and baked frijoles) really well. It’s a great new addition to Atlanta’s barbecue scene — and an especially fun stop for anyone craving smoked brisket, hoe cakes, and a Coke float. Drinks have quirky names like “Brine Brine Baby” and “What are you, the police?”
Auburn Angel
302 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, US
(404) 955-7123
After years of development and stumbling blocks, Auburn Angel has found its footing. Chef Robert Butts dazzles with bold flavors that balance comfort and refreshment. Located in a 1940s cinderblock building, the moody interior features remnants of the older building, like the original wood floors, paired with more contemporary flourishes, like Sputnik light fixtures. Go for the classic Auburn breakfast of soft scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, stone-ground white grits, and a biscuit. After 5 p.m. head to Auburn Angel for crispy chicken livers with pepper honey, a smoked salmon board, or the Friday steak with green peppercorn jus.
La Chiquiada
110 W Trinity Pl, Decatur, GA, 30030, US
(404) 549-2018
At this Mexi-Cali sleeper in Decatur, diners often spot owner Catherine Zuber making cocktails, brewing coffee, and chatting up diners. With no large signs, this hidden gem highlights fresh local produce in big salads, slaws, tamales, tortas on telera bread, and — of course — tacos and burritos. Weekend breakfast service offers exclusives like house-made biscuits and cinnamon rolls, topped papas, tostadas, chilaquiles, and huevos rancheros.
The Consulate Restaurant
10 10th St NW Suite P200, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
(404) 254-5760
Every 90 days — with the spin of a globe — this posh Midtown gem changes its rotating menu to focus on a different country or region. Chef Mei Lin builds the Visa section of the menu around a destination, such as Vietnam, with dishes and cocktails to match. Stamp your culinary passport with fleeting bites like Mekong green papaya salad and lemongrass and basil snails or try too-good-to-rotate-off-the-menu dishes from the Resident menu like a Havana Egg Roll, Chinese sauteed string beans, and Jamaican jerk mushroom yasso. Be sure to check out the bathrooms. The “gun room” pays homage to James Bond and features a literal wall of prop guns and movie memorabilia. The “green room” soothes with a soft palette, floral artworks, and a vintage dressing room chair.
Merhaba Shawarma
4188 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Clarkston, GA 30021, USA
(404) 228-2644
With an exterior painted the colors of the Eritrean flag, Merhaba Shawarma is a gem of a restaurant serving halal spit-grilled meat plates and gyros in Clarkston. The always welcoming owner Manna Samuel cooks up seriously stunning, generously portioned plates and gyros full of tender shawarma at this tiny restaurant.
Hankook Taqueria
1341 Collier Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, USA
(404) 352-8881
Korean and Mexican flavors collide at this unpretentious food-truck-turned-cafe, with crispy calamari dressed with jalapeños and a sweet chili sauce, beef bulgogi marinated in pineapple soy sauce and spicy Korean barbecue sauce, and crispy shrimp with hoisin-spiked tartar sauce find harmony as tacos, burritos, salads, or bowls. Prepare to sideline sauerkraut forever after a bite of the Firedog, a plump beef hot dog topped with plenty of shredded green cabbage kimchi. And always order a side of fries — they’re tossed in sesame oil, spices, and red pepper flakes.
The Woodall
2260 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, US
(404) 343-4424
In a space designed around what chef John Metz describes as “nostalgic futurism,” a former warehouse was converted to a dining room with whitewashed brick interiors, modern lighting, and a surrealist mural by local artist Thomas Turner. The kitchen dishes up tantalizing appetizers such as lump crab beignets, fried okra with whipped feta, and pigs in a blanket — making it hard to save room for mains like housemade pappardelle with wagyu beef and steakhouse cuts, including a Creole surf and turf. An exceptional cocktail menu helps, with the Green Tea Matcha Cucumber Gimlet, Spicy Fresno Pepper Margarita, and an Old Fashioned with hints of banana among the standouts. Return for brunch to try dishes like steak and eggs, shrimp and polenta, or soufflé pancakes with lime curd, whipped matcha butter, and maple syrup. An outdoor patio includes banquettes and communal seating with a fire pit.
Zucca Bar & Pizzeria
2860 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA, 30080, US
(770) 803-9990
Real New York-style, oversized, foldable pizza slices cut from hand-tossed pies may sound like a pipe dream in Atlanta, but they actually exist — and they’re delicious. At this bustling bar (with an outdoor patio) in Smyrna Village, the signature stone-baked pie comes with sausage, basil, fresh mozzarella, and mushrooms. (Patrons can build their own pies, too.) Zucca serves classic Italian-American favorites like parmigiana and française. Pastas, ranging from carbonara to linguini and clams, can all be upgraded by substituting fresh fettuccine for just $3.
Calaveritas Taqueria Vegana
3795 Presidential Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30340, USA
(470) 290-3636
Flavor-packed versions of birria, street tacos, and over-stuffed burritos rule this vegan roost owned and operated by Queretaro, Mexico, natives and sisters Mayra Peralta and Sandra Peralta, and Mayra Peralta’s partner Michael Chatman. Fill up on jackfruit, king oyster mushrooms, soy-based proteins, cheese, rice, and beans topped with sunflower seed crema—all surprisingly vegan. The menu brings the bold flavors and textures of Mexican street food to a fully plant-based lineup in the Chamblee-Doraville area. Grab a seat at one of the few outdoor tables or consider taking out.
China Kitchen
5385 New Peachtree Road, GA, 30341
(678) 860-2777
This casual spot is well camouflaged among the other stalls in the Atlanta Chinatown food court, but don’t let that fool you — what’s cooking behind that counter stands out. At the counter, order flaky scallion pancakes, Sichuan dry pot with beef, silky mapo tofu, Master Dumplings drenched in chile crisp, sweet and layered basil chicken, blistered dry-fried green beans, or the heavenly eggplant with garlic sauce.
Minhwa Spirits
2421 Van Fleet Cir, Doraville, GA, 30360, US
(470) 391-2840
At Doraville’s soju distillery, the vibe is like hanging out at your coolest friend’s house. Chef Lino Yi (formerly of TKO at Southern Feed and Lazy Betty) whips up Korean comfort bar fare like cheesy kimchi fried rice, wagyu wontons, a Korean fried chicken sandwich, and krab rangoon. One of Atlanta’s top mixologists, James Sung (previously at Umi and Palo Santo), is behind the cocktails, made with soju and gin distilled in house (get the Mom’s Backyard Garden garnished with perilla oil). For brunch, try the Korean fried chicken and waffles on a black sesame waffle with gochujang-maple syrup.
Australian Bakery Cafe
48 S Park Square NE, Marietta, GA 30060, USA
(678) 797-6222
Marietta Square is full of charming little surprises, and among the best of them is this bakery and counter service spot by Australian natives and master bakers Mark Allen and Neville Steel. Grab a seat indoors or out to enjoy breakfast quiches or a casual lunch of soup and fish and chips. Roughly 23 varieties of house-made meat pies, including steak and kidney and curried lamb, grace the display case alongside pastries like oversized pavlovas. Both are also available to go, making them easy add-ons from the market.
Circle Noodle
1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA, 30076, US
+17707783183
Tucked away in Roswell, Circle Noodle is a low-key, must-know for noodle lovers. Intimate and cozy, the space feels as if you’ve walked into a living room in Japan that also happens to have a menu specializing in both traditional and modern udon. While it’s a bit of a drive from town, it’s definitely worth it to venture outside the usual restaurant rotation for Japanese and Asian-fusion flavors. Gooey and cheesy with thick udon noodles, the carbonara is an unexpected favorite.
Morningbirds Restaurant
10930 Crabapple Rd, Roswell, GA, 30075, US
(678) 694-1137
This Roswell brunch destination’s tropical aviary and old glamour aesthetic make for a maximalist delight. High-quality ingredients shine in dishes like Angel’d Eggs whipped with a creamy blend of dill and bacon and topped with crawfish, fluffy pancakes with crispy edges, house-made corned beef hash, and icing-drenched cinnamon rolls baked to order. With 18 mimosa flavors to choose from (pineapple, blackberry, mango are just a few), trying them all is a challenge.
