Athens, Georgia · United States
The Athens, Georgia food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
Tall, flaky biscuits made with cold butter and buttermilk, split for jam, gravy or fried chicken.
Best at Mama's Boy, Oak Street. Get: Biscuits with the house jam, or biscuits and gravy
Five places, and what to order
- Cali-N-Tito'sclassic · South Lumpkin StreetGet: Cuban sandwich, empanadas or fish tacos
- Mannaweentafamily-run · Eastside (Gaines School Road)Get: A combination platter with injera
- Puma Yu'sbar · AthensGet: Mushroom pad see ew or the fried whole branzino
- Five & Tenfor fried chicken · Five PointsGet: Sunday Supper fried chicken breast
- ZZ & Simone'sfor fresh pasta and focaccia · South Lumpkin StreetGet: Focaccia, then a pasta
The market
Farmers market. Georgia produce, baked goods, prepared food and live music
The line worth it
Mama's BoyOak Street
Get: Biscuits and Southern brunch
In season this November
Biscuits and brunch
How it works here
Tip: Tip 18-22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two a drink at the bar.
Book: Book the hot places on Resy or OpenTable, often the day tables drop (2-4 weeks out); counters and slices are walk-in.
When locals eat: Lunch noon-2pm, dinner 6-9pm; it gets late only in the big cities.