Atlanta doesn’t have one unique dish that defines it, but what the city and surrounding metropolitan area do offer are myriad examples of foodways from around the South and the world, reflected in many restaurants found in this food guide to ATL. Atlanta features some of the South’s finest barbecue, fried chicken, and biscuits. And don’t get folks started here on which Atlanta restaurants serve the best wings, because that’s a topic often causing fierce debate among locals. There’s also the vast variety of cuisines filling Atlanta’s global pantry, which ranges from restaurants serving Korean, Sichuan, and Laotian fare to foods from Colombia, Guatemala, and various regions throughout Mexico.
The following food guide is built for visitors to Atlanta in mind, offering up essential dining and drinking establishments to check out, must-try cuisines, and dining guides to neighborhoods near hotels and attractions.
Welcome to Atlanta — aka ATL — the gateway city to the South.
For a more in-depth and local look into the restaurants and food offered around metro Atlanta, check out An Eater’s Guide to Atlanta.