10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Atlanta

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is a cozy barbecue and beer joint north of downtown Atlanta. This no-frills spot is locally owned and is known for nightly live music performances and classic Southern comfort foods.

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack specializes in pork ribs, from rib sandwiches to full and half slabs, as well as a variety of chicken entrees. Sides include classic fare like baked beans, collards, mac 'n' cheese, and potato salad. Beer options range from domestic, premium, and craft bottles to pitchers. You'll also find sweet dessert options such as old-fashioned sweet potato pie. Locals say to be prepared to wait in line on weekends at this busy hot spot.

Krog Street Market is a mixed-use development with a variety of restaurants and cafés located off the BeltLine in Atlanta. Inside a converted 1920s warehouse, Krog Street Market is known for its West Coast-style market with a variety of vendors and goods from produce to prepared food.

Dining options include Gu’s Dumplings, Jai Ho Indian Kitchen, Suzy Siu’s Baos, and Superica. Colorful nightlife spots at Krog Street Market include Hop City Beer & Wine, Bar Mercado, and the Ticonderoga Club. Don’t forget to stop for some sweet treats at the Little Tart Bakeshop, Sweet Inman’s Candies, and Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate.

West Egg Café serves up Southern comfort breakfast and brunch fare in West Midtown. Located in the Westside Provisions District, this popular Atlanta brunch spot offers indoor and outdoor dining along with a full bar and lounge.

West Egg Café’s all-day breakfast menu ranges from classics like shrimp and grits, fried chicken biscuits, and the Georgia Benedict to playful options like banana bread, French toast, and churro waffles. The café’s Build Your Own Biscuit options are popular with locals and visitors alike. Vegetarian options are also available, as are a large variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

The Atlanta Food Truck Park and Market is a weekend vegan and vegetarian food truck market located in the Food Truck Park off Howell Mill Road. The market’s weekend events draw visitors from across the city for food, brews, and live music.

The Atlanta Food Truck Park and Market offers an ever-changing range of vendors, from Southern specialties and plant-based fare to freshly made lemonade, baked goods, and ice cream. On Friday nights, the market hosts the weekly Midnight Snack, a late-night vegan food court where locals hang out and enjoy live music and a diverse offering of fresh street-style food.

Busy Bee Cafe has been serving up fried chicken and soul food in downtown Atlanta since 1947. This restaurant is an Atlanta staple, often seeing wait times for dine in and takeout alike, but locals assure that the food is worth the wait.

Busy Bee Cafe offers Southern favorites ranging from chicken and waffles, barbecue ribs, and signature chicken dishes to fried shrimp and catfish fillets. Classic sides include baked macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing, fresh collard greens, and fried okra. You won’t want to miss their old-fashioned desserts, from banana pudding and sweet potato pie to peach and blackberry cobblers.

8ARM is an izakaya, sushi lounge, and natural wine and cocktail bar located near Ponce City Market. 8ARM offers both full-service dining and a separate sushi lounge, as well as regular pop-up events for specialty dining and drink options.

This trendy hot spot offers a variety of Japanese dishes, including vegan and vegetarian fare. 8ARM’s generous drink menus range from sake to fortified wine, cider and beer, spirits, and mixed cocktails. Reservations are accepted for full-service dining in the main dining room, while the outdoor dining and sushi lounge are first come, first served.

Elliott Street Deli and Pub is a pub and sports bar in Atlanta next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Especially popular on game days at the stadium, this restaurant is known for live music, sporting events, and a casual atmosphere.

Menu options at Elliott Street Deli and Pub range from classic sandwich options like Cubans, French dips, and turkey clubs to salads, hot dogs, and vegetarian entrees. Growler draft beers are available, as is a full bar. Some free on-street parking is available at the restaurant, and there are also nearby paid lots and garages.

Jack’s Pizza and Wings is a hip restaurant and dive bar in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. This local no-frills dive is known for its Atlanta-style pizza and wings, dollar beers, and cheap well shots.

The casual vibe at Jack’s Pizza and Wings draws an eclectic crowd of locals for inexpensive, quick bites and drinks and socializing, with the restaurant offering a variety of unique specialty pies and baked wings. A varied event calendar ranges from live music and sports events to festivals and holiday celebrations.

Elmyr is a casual Mexican restaurant and cantina in Little Five Points. This trendy dive bar offers indoor and outdoor seating as well as an indoor smoking area within the restaurant.

Elmyr’s menu includes classic Mexican fare from nachos and burritos to enchiladas, tacos, and quesadillas, with vegetarian and vegan options available. A full drink menu includes margaritas, tequila, and cocktails, along with draft and bottle beer, and wine. The restaurant offers a free parking lot behind the building, a rarity for the area.

Home Grown GA offers Southern-style breakfast and brunch fare in downtown Atlanta. What sets them apart from many other restaurants is their use of home-grown ingredients, operating their own organic garden that supplies some of the restaurant’s dishes, and sourcing additional locally grown ingredients.

Home Grown GA’s cozy atmosphere and low-priced dishes draw locals from across the city for a fresh, ever-changing menu. Past menu options have included fried pickles with spicy ranch, seasoned and grilled trout, Salisbury steak, biscuits and gravy, and classic breakfast hash.