25 Iconic Atlanta Dishes

Atlanta’s food scene is ever-evolving, with new restaurants constantly adding to an already stacked roster. The city’s offerings reflect the range of cultures that call Atlanta home — from soul food beloved by Civil Rights leaders to Korean-inspired ribs served out of a shack. While there’s always more to discover, some dishes have come to define Atlanta. These are the ones that put the city on the map — and continue to shape it as it grows. Consider this a must-try list. 

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Lia Picard is a lifestyle writer who has called Atlanta home for more than a decade. Her work appears in the New York Times, Garden & Gun, and Atlanta magazine, among other national and regional publications. When she’s not writing she’s exploring Atlanta with her husband and daughter.

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Lemon Pepper Wings

Gotta try it at: JR Crickets

Lemon pepper-seasoned wings and Atlanta go hand in hand, but it all started at J.R. Crickets. Located in Midtown, J.R. Crickets serves tangy, zesty wings, wet or dry. Other lemon pepper-inspired treats — such as pizza at Phew Pies — can be found around town, but nothing beats the original. 

Mountain High Pie

Gotta try it at: Bones

Bones is a see-and-be-seen kind of place, and while the steaks are perfection, there’s one dish that stands above the rest: the Mountain High pie. The towering dessert comprises three kinds of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate and rum raisin) covered in silky French meringue and a thick chocolate sauce. If you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary, it’s complimentary.  

Shoyu Tamago

Gotta try it at: Ruby Chow

Atlanta is all about rebirth, so when Guy Wong revived one of his classic dishes at Ruby Chow’s, it made perfect sense. His shoyu tamago was a hit at the now-closed Miso Izakaya, but the beloved dish lives on at his Asian-fusion restaurant, Ruby Chow’s, in Old Fourth Ward. The dish features a soft-boiled soy sauce egg sitting atop a crispy rice cake and a sweet soy sauce vinaigrette. 

Chocolate Pistachio Croissant

Gotta try it at: Little Tart Bakeshop

Long before “Dubai Chocolate” was all the rage, Little Tart was winning over hearts with its chocolate pistachio croissant. The bakery, with locations in Grant Park, Summerhill and Inman Park, is known for its buttery, flaky croissants, but the chocolate pistachio one is next level. Pair it with a cappuccino to round out your Atlanta morning.  

Cheeseburger

Gotta try it at: Evergreen Butcher + Baker

Atlanta’s a burger town, and while Holeman & Finch may have paved the way for others that have sprung up since, there’s a new burger icon at Evergreen Butcher + Baker. Made with house-butchered beef and served on buns made by the baker, with house-made pickles and mustard, the burgers are sold only on Sundays beginning at 1 p.m. These burgers have a cult following so plan to line up early if you want to get one.

Farm Egg

Gotta try it at: Miller Union

Steven Satterfield earned a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2017 for the simple yet beautifully executed dishes at his longstanding restaurant Miller Union. The farm egg is an appetizer, but it’s not to be missed. Baked in celery cream and served with grilled bread, it’s a classic example of how Satterfield makes fresh ingredients shine with minimal fuss. 

The Avenue A

Gotta try it at: The General Muir

Atlanta has seen a bagel boom in the past year, but The General Muir’s open-faced bagel sandwiches reign supreme. The Avenue A is a beauty with Nova smoked salmon, cream cheese, avocado and grapefruit.  

New Page

Gotta try it at: Umi

Umi has been one of Buckhead’s hottest restaurants for more than a decade — you never know who might walk into that sleekly designed dining room. The real star, however, is the New Page roll. Many throughout the city have tried replicating it, but this one’s the real deal, filled with shrimp tempura and topped with salmon and thinly sliced lemon. 

Pimento Cheese Wontons

Gotta try it at: Sweet Auburn BBQ

The pimento cheese wontons at Sweet Auburn BBQ are a perfect reflection of the culinary team behind them: the Hsu siblings. Anita and Howard Hsu were born to Chinese immigrants (Lazy Betty is named after their mother, restaurateur Betty Hsu) and raised in Atlanta, where they grew up loving all things Southern. Their two cultures meld in these delectable fried treats served with a sweet chili sauce.  

Chivo Tacos

Gotta try it at: Bone Garden

You can’t go wrong with anything at Bone Garden, best known for its vibrant, Day of the Dead-inspired decor and offbeat office park location. The standout here, though, is the chivo taco made with slow braised goat and topped with avocado and salsa verde.  

Bikini

Gotta try it at: Cooks & Soldiers

We’re not talking about a two-piece bathing suit. We’re talking about the gooey grilled cheese with jamón ibérico and black truffle sandwich at Cooks & Soldiers (the name hails from Barcelona’s mid-century Sala Bikini club). This appetizer pairs nicely with one of the restaurant’s killer gin and tonics.  

Comfy Chicken Biscuit

Gotta try it at: Home Grown

You can’t visit Atlanta without eating a biscuit. And while the city has plenty of delicious options, there’s nothing like the comfy chicken biscuit at Home Grown. The Reynoldstown mainstay knows how to make a mean breakfast with a fluffy biscuit topped with fried chicken hiding under a sea of sausage gravy. Don’t worry, the Beltline is close by for a post-breakfast stroll.  

Fried Chicken

Gotta try it at: The Busy Bee Café

You can’t talk about “iconic” Atlanta dishes without mentioning the fried chicken at The Busy Bee. Over the years it’s lured luminaries, including Civil Rights heroes like Martin Luther King Jr., congressman John Lewis and President Barack Obama. The fried chicken recipe has been passed down through the generations. 

Peach Slider

Gotta try it at: Revolution Doughnuts

Located in Inman Park and Decatur, Revolution Doughnuts does the Peach State proud every summer when stone fruit comes back into season. The Peach Slider is a sugar-crusted doughnut filled with peaches. It tastes like summer. 

Fried Goat Cheese

Gotta try it at: Ecco

Q: What could possibly make goat cheese more delicious? A: Frying it and then drizzling honey atop. Thanks to the folks at Ecco, with locations in Midtown and Buckhead, for bringing us this decadent creation.  

20 Yolk Tagliatelle

Gotta try it at: BoccaLupo

There’s a reason why, a decade after opening, it’s still hard to snag a table at Inman Park’s BoccaLupo — it’s the 20 yolk tagliatelle. The name doesn’t lie, chef-owner Bruce Logue uses 20 farm-fresh eggs to make the pasta ribbons and then tosses them with mushrooms and kale kimchi.  

Crispy Rice Salad

Gotta try it at: Talat Market

Talat Market grew its cult following as a pop-up, but now fans can get their fix in Summerhill. One of the dishes that put Talat on the map is the crispy rice salad made with lettuce and house-made red chili jam.  

Grilled Pork Banh Mi

Gotta try it at: Lee’s Bakery

There are several excellent banh mi in Atlanta, but the one deserving of “iconic” status is found at Lee’s Bakery. Opened in 2006 on Buford Highway (Atlanta’s international cuisine hub), the bakery makes rolls for its banh mi every day and offers a variety of combinations. The grilled pork with mayonnaise and pickled veggies is a go-to.  

Smoked Spare Ribs

Gotta try it at: Heirloom Market BBQ

We could debate the best barbecue in Atlanta all day — some will say Community Q, some will say Fox Bros., but Heirloom wins the iconic contest, no question. The MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand barbecue shack is owned by Jiyeon Lee, a Korean pop star turned chef. Does it get more iconic than that? Pit master Cody Taylor, turns out Korean-infused ‘cue. The ribs, marinated in gochujang, delight with their smoky-spicy flavor and tender meat. 

Salmon Chips

Gotta try it at: Two Urban Licks

Two Urban Licks has been keeping industrial chic cool since 2004. No meal at the BeltLine spot is complete without the salmon chips: potato chips loaded with chipotle cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers and red onions. Fortunately, you can order them at lunch or dinner. 

Tibs

Gotta try it at: Desta Ethiopian Kitchen

Desta has consistently served great Ethiopian food since 2006, and today it has multiple locations around town. The most popular dish is tibs, succulent pieces of meat (opt for lamb), sautéed with tomatoes and onions. Don’t forget the spongy injera.  

Punany Wrap

Gotta try it at: Tassili’s Raw Reality

Black-owned vegan restaurants in Westview shaped Atlanta’s plant-based dining scene, and Tassili’s is a living continuation of that legacy. The massive wraps are viral on social media, but it’s not just hype. Try the Punany wrap with your choice of kale (spicy or mild), sweet coconut corn, karamu couscous, tomatoes and avocado. 

Cuban Sandwich

Gotta try it at: Havana Sandwich Shop

If you want a taste of Florida in Atlanta, you’ll have to head to Havana Sandwich Shop. It has served one of the city’s best Cuban sandwiches since 1976 so you know it delivers. While you’re there, go ahead and enjoy an empanada and flan, too.  

Cremolatta

Gotta try it at: LottaFrutta

Atlantans flock to this walk-up counter hidden in Old Fourth Ward for a cremolatta. The tropical fruit salad layered with cool coconut cream brings instant relief on a hot day (and the cute little umbrella adorning it makes you feel like you’re on vacation). 

Cheese Cart

Gotta try it at: Atlas

Every dish that chef Freddy Money and his team put on the plate at One-MICHELIN Star Atlas is a showstopper, but they save the best for last with the cheese cart. When the glass trolley rolls up with about 15 options sourced by Capella cheese shop, it’s impossible to resist putting together the cheese plate of your dreams.  

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