Inside Atlanta’s Buford Highway: What the Food Scene Is Really Like

Buford Highway is one of Atlanta’s most famous food destinations, and for many locals it’s the city’s go-to strip for global eats. Stretching northeast from the city toward Doraville, this busy corridor is less about trendy décor and more about authentic, often family-run restaurants serving food from all over the world.

If you live in Atlanta, you’ve probably heard someone say “Let’s just go to Buford Highway” when nobody can agree on a cuisine. If you’re visiting, it’s where many Atlantans will send you when you ask, “Where should I eat that feels like the real city?”

Here’s what the Buford Highway food scene is like, how to navigate it, and what to expect.

What Makes Buford Highway’s Food Scene Unique?

Buford Highway is best known for its incredible diversity:

• Regional Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai
• Mexican, Central American, and South American
• Ethiopian, West African, and Middle Eastern
• Caribbean, including Cuban and Jamaican
• Plus bakeries, dessert shops, bubble tea, and late-night spots

Instead of a polished “food hall” feel, you get strip malls packed with small, independent restaurants. Many Atlantans see it as a culinary “tour of the world” you can drive in 10–15 minutes.

Key things that stand out:

• Authenticity over aesthetics: Interiors are often simple; the focus is on the food.
• Everyday prices: Many spots are relatively affordable compared to trendier in-town neighborhoods.
• Multi-generational, immigrant-run: You’ll see families working together, long-time regulars, and menus that reflect home cooking from abroad.

Where Is Buford Highway and How Do You Get There?

In the Atlanta area, “Buford Highway” usually refers to the stretch of U.S. 23 / SR 13 running through:

• Unincorporated DeKalb County
• Brookhaven
• Chamblee
• Doraville

You’ll find a heavy concentration of restaurants roughly between:

• North Druid Hills Rd up to I‑285 / Doraville

🛣 Driving
Most people drive. Parking is usually free in the shopping centers, but lots can get crowded during peak meal times.

🚆 Transit
If you don’t want to drive the entire way:

• MARTA Gold Line: Stations at Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, Chamblee, and Doraville.
• From the station, you can walk, bike, ride-share, or use MARTA bus routes along Buford Highway. Sidewalks exist along much of the corridor, but crossing can feel busy; many locals choose short rideshare hops between clusters of restaurants.

What Types of Food Will You Find on Buford Highway?

You won’t cover everything in one trip, but these are some of the most prominent cuisines you’ll run into.

East and Southeast Asian Options

Buford Highway is especially known for:

• Chinese:
  You’ll see everything from American-style dishes to regional Chinese cuisines such as Sichuan, Cantonese, and Taiwanese. Look for:
  • Hot pot and dry pot
  • Dumpling houses
  • Noodle shops
• Korean:
  The corridor north of Chamblee toward Doraville has a strong Korean presence:
  • Korean BBQ with tabletop grills
  • Late-night soju bars
  • Korean bakeries and dessert cafes
• Vietnamese:
  • Pho shops
  • Bánh mì sandwich spots
  • Places with large menus of noodle soups, rice dishes, and family-style plates
• Thai and Other Southeast Asian:
  • Curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes
  • Some spots with Lao and Isaan-style dishes if you explore a bit

For many Atlantans, Buford Highway is where you go when you want pho on a cold day, Korean BBQ with a group, or hand-pulled noodles.

Latin American Food

The Latin American community along Buford Highway is also very visible. You’ll likely find:

• Mexican taquerias serving:
  • Street tacos
  • Fresh tortillas
  • Pozole, menudo, and other traditional dishes
• Panaderías (bakeries) with:
  • Conchas
  • Tres leches cakes
  • Fresh bolillos and sweet breads
• Central and South American spots:
  • Pupusas (Salvadoran)
  • Arepas and empanadas (Venezuelan/Colombian)
  • Rotisserie chicken and grilled meats

Many Atlanta residents use Buford Highway as their default place for tacos, pan dulce, and Latin American comfort food.

African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern Eats

You’ll also see:

• Ethiopian and other East African:
  • Injera platters with stews and vegetables
  • Communal-style dining
• West African:
  • Jollof rice
  • Suya
  • Pepper soups and stews
• Caribbean:
  • Cuban sandwiches
  • Jamaican jerk, curries, patties
• Middle Eastern and Mediterranean:
  • Shawarma, kebabs, falafel
  • Bakeries and groceries selling breads, sweets, and spices

This mix makes Buford Highway one of the broadest international food corridors in the Atlanta region.

Typical Atmosphere: What It Feels Like to Eat on Buford Highway

Dining on Buford Highway feels different from eating in Midtown or along the BeltLine.

Casual and Lively

Most places are:

• Casual, family-friendly, and come-as-you-are
• Full of local regulars as well as curious diners from all over the metro area
• Often busy at peak hours, especially nights and weekends

Dress codes are rare. You’ll see everything from families after grocery runs to groups of friends out late.

Strip Malls and Food Plazas

The visual “look” is mostly:

• Strip centers and low-rise commercial plazas
• Many restaurants clustered in the same shopping center
• Grocery stores and bakeries mixed in with clothing stores, salons, and other small businesses

From the outside, places can look plain. Some of the best meals in Atlanta are behind very simple storefronts on Buford Highway.

Language and Menus

Because it’s so international, you may encounter:

• Menus with bilingual or trilingual listings
• Staff more comfortable in languages other than English, especially at smaller or older establishments

Most Atlantans find that pointing at menu items, asking brief questions, and being patient works well. Many restaurants are used to serving a mix of communities.

Price Range and Payment Basics

Buford Highway is known for being relatively affordable compared to many Atlanta neighborhoods, though prices vary.

In general:

• Casual meals (no alcohol) can often land in a budget-friendly range per person.
• Group meals at Korean BBQ or large family-style spots can be a bit more, but you often get large portions meant for sharing.
• Specialty dishes, seafood, or premium cuts of meat will naturally cost more.

💳 Payment tips:

• Most established restaurants accept major credit and debit cards.
• Some smaller bakeries, dessert shops, and food counters may prefer cash or have card minimums.
• It’s smart to carry a bit of cash, especially if you plan to graze at multiple small businesses.

How to Navigate and Plan a Food Trip on Buford Highway

If you’re in Atlanta and want to explore Buford Highway’s food scene, it helps to have a loose plan rather than just driving and hoping.

1. Pick a “Cluster” Instead of the Entire Road

Buford Highway is long. To keep it manageable:

• Focus on a specific section or shopping center for each trip.
• Many locals pick one plaza where they can:
  • Eat a main meal
  • Grab dessert or tea nearby
  • Pick up groceries or snacks to take home

This minimizes driving and makes the evening feel more relaxed.

2. Decide on a Theme for the Outing

The options can be overwhelming. Try framing the day as:

• “Korean BBQ night plus bubble tea.”
• “Vietnamese noodle tour – pho at one spot, dessert at another.”
• “Latin bakery + taco run in the same plaza.”
• “International bakery crawl: try a Korean bakery, a panadería, and a Middle Eastern pastry shop.”

This helps narrow choices and keeps you from decision fatigue.

3. Consider Timing

• Weekends: Busier, more energy, but more waiting.
• Weekday lunches: Often calmer and sometimes better for trying places that get very packed at night.
• Late night: A number of restaurants and cafes stay open late, especially Korean spots, but not all. Check hours before you head out.

Parking lots can get full during prime times. Many locals plan to arrive a little early for dinner, especially with groups.

A Quick Snapshot: What to Expect on Buford Highway

Tips for First-Time Visitors from Atlanta or Out of Town

If you’re new to the Buford Highway food scene, these small adjustments can make your visit smoother.

Be Open to Exploring

• Many of the best places aren’t heavily advertised.
• It’s common for Atlantans to:
  • Walk through a plaza
  • Look at menus posted in windows
  • Choose based on what smells and looks good

Being flexible helps, especially if a place is crowded.

Expect Generous Portions and Family-Style Eating

• Many cuisines along Buford Highway are built around sharing.
• Ordering a few dishes for the table often gives a better experience than each person getting only one entrée.
• Leftovers are common; lots of locals plan on taking some home.

Parking and Walking Safety

• Parking is usually straightforward but can be tight at peak times.
• Sidewalks exist along much of Buford Highway, but traffic moves fast.
  • Use marked crosswalks where available.
  • Many people choose to drive between plazas, even if they’re fairly close, to avoid crossing wide sections of the road.

Grocery Stores, Markets, and More

The food scene isn’t just restaurants. Buford Highway is also Atlanta’s hub for international groceries and specialty markets.

You’ll find:

• Large international supermarkets with:
  • Fresh seafood counters
  • Butchers with cuts used in specific cuisines
  • A wide range of sauces, noodles, spices, and snacks
• Smaller specialty shops:
  • Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Central American, Middle Eastern, and more
• Bakeries and dessert shops:
  • Korean cream cakes and pastries
  • Latin American breads and sweets
  • Bubble tea, shaved ice, and specialty drinks

Many Atlanta residents make regular grocery trips to Buford Highway to stock up on staples they can’t easily find in standard supermarkets.

Is Buford Highway Family-Friendly?

For most Atlanta families, the answer is yes, with a few things to keep in mind.

• Kid-friendly food: Noodles, dumplings, grilled meats, rice dishes, and breads are usually easy wins.
• Noise level: Restaurants are often lively and informal, which can be more comfortable with children.
• Strollers and space: Some smaller spots are tight, especially at peak times, so it can help to:
  • Visit during off-peak hours
  • Call ahead with very large groups or strollers

If you’re visiting Atlanta with family, Buford Highway can be an easy way to introduce kids to new flavors without a formal setting.

How Buford Highway Fits into the Larger Atlanta Food Scene

Within metro Atlanta, Buford Highway plays a specific, well-understood role:

• Contrast to “restaurant row” neighborhoods like Inman Park, West Midtown, or Buckhead, which lean more toward polished interiors and chef-driven concepts.
• Everyday, repeatable destination for locals who want:
  • Comfort food from their home country
  • An affordable group meal
  • Late-night eats
• Entry point for new residents and visitors who want a sense of Atlanta’s cultural mix beyond the more touristy areas.

If you’re trying to understand how Atlanta eats, Buford Highway shows you a side of the city that’s deeply local, immigrant-rooted, and central to how many Atlantans dine out.

In Atlanta, the Buford Highway food scene is best described as a sprawling, casual, incredibly diverse corridor of global food. It’s not fancy, it’s not curated for tourists, and that’s exactly why so many people consider it essential. Whether you live here or you’re just visiting, spending time eating your way along Buford Highway gives you a real sense of how the city comes together around food.