What Food Is Atlanta Known For? A Local’s Guide to the City’s Signature Eats

Atlanta’s food scene blends Southern comfort, Black culinary traditions, immigrant cuisines, and modern creativity. If you live here, are visiting, or are just curious, there are a few foods that come up again and again when people ask: “What food is Atlanta known for?”

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to the dishes, snacks, and flavors that really define the city.

Atlanta’s Most Iconic Foods at a Glance

1. Fried Chicken: A True Atlanta Staple

If there’s one answer to “What food is Atlanta known for?” it’s fried chicken.

In Atlanta, fried chicken is:

• Extra crisp on the outside
• Juicy and well-seasoned on the inside
• Often served with collard greens, mac and cheese, yams, and cornbread

You’ll find versions ranging from family-run soul food spots to modern chef-driven restaurants that play with flavors and hot sauces. For locals, fried chicken is a go-to for Sunday dinner, after-church meals, and special occasions.

When you’re in Atlanta, expect fried chicken to show up at:

• Soul food buffets and cafés
• Meat-and-three restaurants (pick a meat, choose three sides)
• Brunch spots that serve chicken and waffles

2. Lemon Pepper Wings: An Atlanta Obsession

Outside the city, wings are just wings. In Atlanta, lemon pepper wings are practically a cultural icon.

You’ll see two main types:

1. Dry lemon pepper – Fried wings tossed in a tangy, peppery seasoning
2. Lemon pepper wet – Wings coated in a buttery lemon-pepper sauce

Locals order wings:

• Late at night after concerts, clubs, or games
• With fries and a drink, often from small wing stands or takeout spots
• While watching sports, especially the Falcons, Hawks, or college football

If you’re visiting, ordering lemon pepper wet with extra napkins is about as “Atlanta” as it gets.

3. Soul Food and Meat-and-Three Plates

Atlanta is widely known for soul food, rooted in African American culinary traditions and Southern home cooking.

Typical soul food / meat-and-three plates might include:

• A main: fried chicken, baked chicken, pork chops, turkey wings, oxtails, or meatloaf
• Sides such as:
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Collard greens (usually cooked with smoked meat)
  • Candied yams
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Green beans
  • Cornbread or a roll

In Atlanta, these restaurants are often:

• Casual, counter-service spots with daily specials
• Popular for lunch, Sunday meals, and takeout for family dinners

If you’re new to town, soul food is one of the best ways to taste Atlanta’s history and community on a plate.

4. Barbecue: Smoked Meats, Southern Style

Atlanta might not be the only barbecue hub in the South, but BBQ is still a big part of the city’s identity.

Common Atlanta-style barbecue offerings:

• Pork ribs
• Pulled pork
• Smoked chicken
• Beef brisket (more common now with modern BBQ spots)
• Sides like:
  • Baked beans
  • Slaw
  • Potato salad
  • Brunswick stew (a smoky stew often with meat and vegetables)

Sauce styles in Atlanta vary, but you’ll often see tomato-based, slightly sweet sauces with tangy notes. Many locals also have strong opinions about which BBQ spot is “the best,” so don’t be surprised if you hear a debate.

5. Peaches and Peach Desserts

Georgia is the Peach State, and Atlanta proudly leans into that identity.

In and around the city, you’ll often find:

• Peach cobbler – baked peaches with a rich crust or biscuit topping
• Peach pie – flaky crust, spiced peach filling
• Peach ice cream or peach milkshakes
• Seasonal peach pastries in local bakeries

If you’re here in the summer, you may also find:

• Fresh Georgia peaches at local farmers markets such as those operated by the Atlanta State Farmers Market in nearby Forest Park (Governor’s Hwy, Forest Park, GA).

Ordering a warm peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream is one of the most classic Atlanta dessert experiences.

6. Shrimp and Grits and Coastal-Influenced Dishes

Atlanta may be inland, but it draws heavily from the Georgia coast and Lowcountry cooking, especially at brunch and Southern restaurants.

Shrimp and grits is especially popular:

• Creamy or stone-ground grits
• Sautéed shrimp
• A savory sauce, often with:
  • Onions, peppers, and garlic
  • Sometimes bacon, sausage, or ham

You’ll also see:

• Fried catfish
• Fried green tomatoes
• Crab cakes at some spots

If you love brunch, Atlanta’s shrimp and grits is a must-try.

7. Biscuits, Breakfast, and Brunch Culture

Atlanta takes breakfast and brunch very seriously, and biscuits are at the center of it.

Common Atlanta breakfast and brunch favorites:

• Buttermilk biscuits – plain with butter and jam, or:
  • Chicken biscuits
  • Bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits
  • Biscuits with sausage gravy
• Chicken and waffles – fried chicken with Belgian or classic waffles
• Grits – plain, cheesy, or as a base for shrimp and grits

What makes this “Atlanta”?

• Long weekend brunch lines
• Many restaurants offering Southern spins on classic brunch dishes
• Neighborhood spots where biscuits are made fresh every morning

If you live in Atlanta, you’ll quickly discover your “regular” biscuit or brunch spot.

8. Sweet Tea and Classic Southern Drinks

Everywhere you go in Atlanta, if you ask for tea, you’ll likely be asked: “Sweet or unsweet?”

Sweet tea is:

• Strongly brewed black tea
• Sweetened while hot with sugar
• Chilled and served over ice

Other typical Atlanta drink staples:

• Lemonade and Arnold Palmers (half lemonade, half tea)
• Peach-flavored teas and lemonades
• Locally roasted coffee at neighborhood cafés

In many casual restaurants, sweet tea is the default drink, especially if you’re ordering soul food or BBQ.

9. Atlanta-Style Hot Dogs and Burgers

Atlanta has its own traditional takes on hot dogs and burgers that show up at old-school diners and grills.

Common local styles include:

• Chili dogs – hot dogs topped with chili, often with cheese and onions
• Slaw dogs – hot dog with chili and a scoop of coleslaw
• “All the way” burgers or dogs – typically includes chili, onions, mustard, and sometimes slaw

These are often found at:

• Counter-service diners
• Grills near downtown or older neighborhoods
• Stadium-style concessions around major sports venues

If you want something quick and very “local,” a chili-slaw dog and fries is a classic Atlanta move.

10. Global Flavors That Help Define Modern Atlanta

While people often think “Southern” first, Atlanta is also known for its diverse immigrant cuisines, especially along major corridors like Buford Highway and in neighborhoods across the metro area.

Some global foods that locals strongly associate with the Atlanta area:

• Tacos, tortas, and Mexican street food
• Korean BBQ and Korean fried chicken
• Vietnamese pho and banh mi
• Chinese hot pot and regional Chinese cuisines
• Ethiopian injera platters
• Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken, oxtail, and patties
• Indian curries, dosas, and chaat

For many residents, these foods are as much “Atlanta” as fried chicken or peach cobbler, especially if you live near Buford Highway, Doraville, Chamblee, Decatur, or Clarkston.

11. Game Day and Late-Night Eating in Atlanta

Food in Atlanta is tightly linked to sports, music, and nightlife.

Game Day Favorites

When the Falcons, Hawks, Atlanta United, or local colleges are playing, you’ll see:

• Wings (especially lemon pepper)
• Barbecue plates and sandwiches
• Burgers and hot dogs
• Chips and dips, nachos, and tailgate-style food

Sports bars and neighborhood spots often build menus around these staples.

Late-Night Foods

Atlanta is also known for late-night eating, especially in and around:

• Downtown
• Midtown
• College areas
• Music and nightlife districts

Common late-night go-tos:

• Wings and fries
• Burgers and chili dogs
• Tacos and burritos
• Quick soul food plates or breakfast-all-day spots

If you’re out late, don’t be surprised if your friends suggest “getting wings” as an automatic next step.

12. Farmers Markets and Local Ingredients

While specific restaurant trends change, fresh, local ingredients remain an important part of the Atlanta food story.

You’ll regularly see:

• Local Georgia produce, especially peaches in season
• Greens, sweet potatoes, and field peas in Southern cooking
• Seasonal menus at some restaurants that highlight nearby farms

Major, long-standing markets like the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park supply many Atlanta-area businesses and shoppers with:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Georgia-grown specialties (including peaches in season)
• Wholesale and retail options for local ingredients

For residents who cook at home, these markets are a way to bring the flavors of Atlanta into your own kitchen.

13. How to Eat Like an Atlantan

If you want to experience the foods Atlanta is known for in a real, everyday way:

• Order lemon pepper wings (dry or wet) with fries from a local wing spot 🍗
• Have a soul food plate with fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread
• Try shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles at a brunch restaurant
• Visit a BBQ joint for smoked ribs or pulled pork with Brunswick stew
• Share a peach cobbler or peach dessert, especially in summer
• Drink sweet tea with your meal if you enjoy sugary drinks
• Explore Buford Highway or other diverse neighborhoods for tacos, pho, Ethiopian, or Korean BBQ

All of these are part of what food Atlanta is known for: a mix of classic Southern dishes, Black culinary traditions, and diverse global flavors, all adapted to the pace and personality of the city.