Where locals eat in Atlanta

The neighborhood places residents go back to, with what to order at each.

12 places in Atlanta · by Chef Amazing · updated October 20, 2026
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

1. 1

   Busy Bee Cafe

   Southern soul food · Vine City

   Get: the fried chicken with collards and mac and cheese

   Soul food since 1947.

   810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, 30314 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
2. 2

   Home Grown

   Southern comfort food · Reynoldstown

   Get: the Comfy Chicken biscuit

   The diner that feels like the heart of the neighborhood.

   968 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
3. 3

   The Colonnade

   Southern classic · Cheshire Bridge

   Get: the fried chicken and a martini

   An old-school Atlanta supper club.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
4. 4

   Manuel's Tavern

   American pub · Poncey-Highland

   Get: a burger and a beer at the bar

   The city's neighborhood tavern since 1956.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
5. 5

   Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

   Texas barbecue · Candler Park

   Get: the brisket and the Texas fries

   Texas-style barbecue in a busy local room.

   1238 Dekalb Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
6. 6

   Heirloom Market BBQ

   Korean-Southern barbecue · Smyrna / Atlanta

   Get: the spicy Korean pork sandwich

   A tiny barbecue shack with a steady line.

   Critics: 79% liked it, from 5 reviews (2018 to 2025). Read Michelin Guide 2025, James Beard Foundation 2023, The Infatuation 2025, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2024.

   The crowd: 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor (276 ratings).

   2243 Akers Mill Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
7. 7

   Lee's Bakery

   Buford Highway

   Get: the grilled pork banh mi on house-baked bread

   The banh mi answer most locals give.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
8. 8

   BoccaLupo

   Italian · Inman Park

   Get: the black spaghetti with shrimp

   A small, cozy room for handmade pasta.

   Critics: 82% liked it, from 6 reviews (2016 to 2026). Read Michelin Guide, The Infatuation 2026, Time Out Atlanta, Atlanta Eats 2019.

   The crowd: 4.5 of 5 on TripAdvisor (169 ratings).

   753 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
9. 9

   Delbar

   Mediterranean, Israeli · Buckhead / multiple

   Get: the tahdig and the za'atar fries

   Persian and Middle Eastern home cooking.

   Critics: 73% liked it, from 4 reviews (2024 to 2025). Read Michelin Guide, The Infatuation, Atlanta Magazine 2025, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) 2024.

   The crowd: 4.9 of 5 on Google (via Islands.com) (13,000 ratings).

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
10. 10

    Little Bear

    American comfort food · Summerhill

    Get: the Sorta Chicken Shawarma

    A playful neighborhood spot from Jarrett Stieber.

    Critics: Read MICHELIN Guide 2025, The Infatuation 2024, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2022.

    The crowd: 4.5 of 5 on Google (via RestaurantGuru) (499 ratings).

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
11. 11

    Canton House

    Cantonese · Chamblee

    Get: har gow and barbecue pork buns from the dim sum carts

    A regular weekend stop.

    4825 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
12. 12

    Taqueria del Sol

    Tex-Mex tacos · Westside

    Get: the fried chicken taco and the shrimp corn chowder

    The line moves fast.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing