Atlanta is a city known for its food scene, but where do teens actually like to eat? To help answer that question, Discover Atlanta’s teen contributor Grant Merkel shares some of his favorite spots around the city.
Here are his recommendations for teen-friendly dining in Atlanta.
Grant Merkel is a high school student who also writes for Discover Atlanta Now magazine. He currently studies film making and audio-video production and has contributed content for both films and video games. He manages sound and video at his church in Midtown and at other in-town venues. Grant enjoys visiting local movie theaters for all-night marathons, discovering the city’s best BBQ and chicken wings, and attending shows at Atlanta’s many live music spots.
Wings and Other Chicken Parts
The Bando
The Bando has delicious wings and other tasty foods like hot dogs, fried Oreos and Crack Juice, a colorful mixture tasting like Kool-Aid. Wings come in flavors such as Honey Butter, “Lemn Peppa” or my favorite, Strawberry Hot, made even more unique, dusted with “crack,” a sugary blend of seasonings.
Where: 3050 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW
J.R. Crickets
Cricket’s is another great place for wings. Make sure to order the flavor it is most known for: lemon pepper wet. The show “Atlanta” filmed a scene here where characters Paper Boi and Darius made this flavor popular.
Where: 129 North Ave. NE (and other locations)
American Deli
Even though Crickets is famous for the lemon pepper wet wings, American Deli is the place that originally made them popular. Some of my favorite flavors here include sweet chili and Family Gold.
Where: 1715 Howell Mill Road NW (and other locations)
Little Rey Pollo ‘al Carbon‘
Little Rey offers Tex-Mex food such as tacos, breakfast, quesadillas and chicken, marinated and cooked over a grill. I really like the smoked chicken wings with peanuts. The pollo “al carbon” offers a whole or half bird with tortillas, beans and rice. Save room for soft serve ice cream from a walk-up window.
Where: 1878 Piedmont Ave. NE (and other locations)
Buford Highway International Corridor
Buford Highway is iconic to Atlanta, known for representing many international cultures through delicious restaurants, markets and shopping areas.
Arepa Grill
On Buford Highway, you can find Arepa Grill, a place dedicated to, well, arepas (cornmeal griddle cakes stuffed with fillings) and other Venezuelan foods. I tried a ham and cheese arepa, and it was delicious.
Where: 5302 Buford Highway NE (and more locations)
El Rey Del Taco
El Rey Del Taco has amazing tacos, tortas and drinks, such as Horchata, a cinnamon and rice water drink. One standout is parrilladas featuring grilled meats, which is enough food to feed several people.
Where: 5288 Buford Highway
Lanzhou Ramen
Stop in for a bowl of hand-pulled noodles or soup dumplings, or get both. This is a MICHELIN Recommended place serving traditional Chinese appetizers and specialty dishes.
Where: 5231 Buford Highway NE
Food Terminal
Food Terminal has a giant menu including many Asian street food choices. Order something new to try plus a milk tea and maybe one of the friendly robots will deliver it to your table.
Where: 5000 Buford Highway (and more locations)
White Windmill Bakery & Cafe
The White Windmill is a cafe with assorted drinks and coffee, and also a case full of Asian-inspired baked goods and a sandwich bar.
Where: 5881 Buford Highway NE (and more locations)
BBQ to Try
Fox Bros Bar-B-Q
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q has several locations around town and offers a large assortment of Texas-style barbecue meats, including smoked brisket, wings and jalapeño cheddar sausage. Some other popular items that I love are the Frito Pie, tater tots smothered in Brunswick stew and brisket chili.
Where: 1238 DeKalb Ave. NE (and more locations)
Sweet Auburn BBQ
With a combination of Asian and Southern roots, Sweet Auburn BBQ has delicious items such as pimento cheese wontons, smoked fried rice and the baby-back plate featuring a half rack of tasty ribs.
Where: 656 North Highland Ave. NE
Fat Matt’s Rib Shack
On Piedmont Avenue, find the legendary Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, known for pork ribs, rum baked beans and live blues in the evening.
Where: 1811 Piedmont Ave .NE
Heirloom Market BBQ
Combining both Southern barbecue and Korean flavors, Heirloom Market creates amazing tastes with menu selections like spicy Korean pork, brisket, homemade kimchi, peach cobbler and smoked wings.
Where: 2243 Akers Mill Road SE
Pizza
Fellini’s Pizza
Fellini’s is a local favorite, known for customizable pizza with giant slices. I personally like ordering a slice or two then sitting and watching the cars go by.
Where: 2809 Peachtree Road (and other locations)
Glide Pizza
On the Eastside Atlanta Beltline, you can find Glide Pizza. As you’re walking, take a side quest and stop to get a big, foldable slice from the pizza window.
Where: 659 Auburn Ave. NE
Pizza by Yandy’s
Yandy’s is located inside Carniceria Los Pinos in Sandy Springs, and it is one of Atlanta’s most popular pizza places, with its iconic 48-hour pizza crust. The New York style pizzas include Buffalo chicken and hot honey pepperoni.
Where: 6342 Roswell Road NE
Savage Pizza
Known for its superhero-themed environment and exceptional specialty pizzas, Savage Pizza has pizza and other Italian food such as pasta and subs. Head to Little Five Points and check it out.
Where: 484 Moreland Ave. NE (and other locations)
Mellow Mushroom
Although Mellow Mushroom is a chain, it originated in Atlanta. While its pizza is the star item, the crust is so good that they make it into pretzel bites that you can purchase.
Where: 400 West Peachtree St. NW (and other locations)
Burgers and Hot Dogs
The Varsity
One of Atlanta’s most iconic restaurants, this Atlanta staple is famous for its food and its history as “the world’s largest drive-in. restaurant.” And, yes, there are car hops. Some of the staples include a chili dog, order of onion rings and a Frosted Orange (which Georgia Tech students call an FO).
Where: 61 North Ave. NW
Grindhouse Killer Burgers
Grindhouse is another iconic Atlanta burger place, featuring campy movies screened on the wall and delicious food items such as burgers, shakes, different types of fries and crunchy cheesy poofs.
Where: 1842 Piedmont Ave. NE (and other locations)
NFA Burger
Even though NFA Burger is inside a gas station, the smash burgers are much more than gas station quality. Order a Double and crinkle fries, then head to one of the picnic tables to enjoy your haul.
Where: Inside the Chevron, 5465 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
C. Ellet’s
Located in the Battery, this steak house is probably the most fancy place on the list, but it still has amazing food, such as steaks and the famous H&F cheeseburger.
Where: 2605 Circle 75 Parkway
Food Halls
Krog Street Market
Located in the Krog District, this food hall has many different restaurants and stalls with choices ranging from sandwiches and burgers at Fred’s Meat & Bread, to Asian cuisine at Gu’s Dumplings, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Little Tart Bakeshop for tasty treats.
Where: 99 Krog St. NE
Ponce City Market
Ponce City Market’s food hall has stalls featuring local chefs and dishes from around the world, including El Super Pan for Puerto Rican sandwiches and yucca fries. Travel up to The Roof after eating and check out the giant slide, putt-putt and carnival games.
Where: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave.
Chattahoochee Food Works
Chattahoochee Food Works features 31 different vendors offering food such as BBQ, Latin American food, giant cookies at Munster Cravings, and more. Pick a few favorites and try to catch some live music in the hall.
Where: 1235 Chattahoochee Ave. NW
Breakfast
Bomb Biscuit Co.
Bomb Biscuit Co is known for giant biscuits, each with different toppings and types. Try the hot honey chicken biscuit and order the B’onuts, fried biscuits rolled in cinnamon and sugar.
Where: 519 Memorial Drive SE
Silver Skillet
Silver Skillet is an iconic diner in Atlanta because of the number of movies and shows that have been filmed here. A couple examples are “Anchorman 2” and “Remember the Titans.” Along with being a filming hot spot, it also has great breakfast and lunch choices including chicken and waffles, burgers and sandwiches.
Where: 200 14th St. NW
Majestic Diner
The Majestic is another one of Atlanta’s most loved diners, with its old timey feel plus delicious breakfasts and lunches.
Where: 1031 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
Eat and Play
Puttshack
Puttshack is mainly known for its new take on mini-golf, but it also has a kitchen where you can get food delivered to you so that you can eat flatbreads, nachos and more while playing.
Where: 1115 Howell Mill Road NW
Beat the Bomb
While playing games and ultimately beating the bomb, it can be easy to work up an appetite. Luckily, there is a full kitchen and bar serving sandwiches, pita pizzas and hot dogs, just in case.
Where: 1483 Chattahoochee Ave. NW
Your 3rd Spot
While playing some of the many games at Your 3rd Spot, you can get hungry and tired, so take a break and get try burger sliders or mini chicken and waffles.
Where: 400 Chattahoochee Row NW
Tasty Treats
King of Pops
King of Pops is probably the most “Atlanta” treat that there is. Not only are there many flavors of frozen treats, but the company has added new pop flavors for each country playing in FIFA World Cup 2026 ™!
Where: Carts around town with the rainbow umbrella
Big Softie
Big Softie features Sammies (ice cream between two cookies) and ice cream in classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, along with seasonal flavors, which can all be customized with different toppings and hard shells.
Where: 66 Georgia Ave. SE
Find more locally-owned ice cream shops in Atlanta.
Sublime Donuts
Sublime Donuts has mouth-watering themed doughnuts throughout the seasons, with one of the most famous being in the shape of an A for Atlanta. Plus, it’s open 24 hours a day to make sure you get your doughnut fix.
Where: 535 10th St. NW
Plan the perfect day in Atlanta for teens and ‘tweens with our One Day Itinerary.
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