Where to Find the Best Mediterranean Food in Atlanta

Mediterranean food fits Atlanta perfectly: it’s fresh, flavorful, and works for everything from a quick lunch to a long family-style dinner. Whether you live in the city or you’re just here for a few days, Atlanta has excellent Mediterranean, Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Israeli, and broader Middle Eastern spots spread across in-town neighborhoods and the suburbs.

This guide walks through where to find some of the best Mediterranean food in Atlanta, what to order, and how to choose the right place based on your taste, budget, and location.

What “Mediterranean Food” Means in Atlanta

Around Atlanta, “Mediterranean” usually covers several regional cuisines, including:

• Greek – gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, Greek salads, grilled fish
• Turkish – kebabs, pide (Turkish flatbreads), meze, baklava
• Lebanese / Levantine – shawarma, falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, fattoush
• Israeli / Modern Middle Eastern – hummus bowls, shakshuka, fresh salads, grilled meats
• North African–influenced – couscous, tagine-inspired dishes, harissa

In Atlanta, you’ll see all of these mixed under the “Mediterranean” label, especially on casual menus in areas like Midtown, Buckhead, and along Buford Highway.

Quick Overview: Best Mediterranean Food by Area

Classic Atlanta Neighborhoods for Mediterranean Food

Midtown and Downtown Atlanta

If you’re near Georgia Tech, Georgia State, or the major office towers, Midtown and Downtown are convenient places to find Mediterranean meals.

You’ll commonly see:

• Fast-casual Mediterranean bowls and wraps close to Peachtree Street and the major office complexes
• Greek and Turkish-inspired menus near hotels and arts venues (Fox Theatre, Woodruff Arts Center)
• Vegetarian-friendly cafés with hummus, falafel, and mezze plates

These spots work well for:

• Lunch breaks if you’re working or attending a conference
• Pre-concert or pre-game meals before events at State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or the Fox
• Walkable dinners if you’re staying in a Midtown or Downtown hotel and don’t want to drive

💡 Tip: In Midtown, look near Peachtree St NE, 10th St, and West Peachtree for several Mediterranean-friendly options in walking distance of MARTA’s Arts Center and Midtown stations.

Buckhead

Buckhead leans toward polished Mediterranean and Greek-inspired restaurants with:

• Sit-down service and full bars
• Plenty of seafood, grilled lamb, and shareable appetizers
• Comfortable settings for date nights, business dinners, or celebrations

You’ll find many of these:

• Around Peachtree Road NE near Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza
• In and around Buckhead Village District
• In hotel-adjacent developments along Piedmont Rd and Lenox Rd

These Buckhead Mediterranean spots tend to:

• Offer stronger wine lists and cocktails
• Feature charcoal-grilled meats, whole fish, and classic Greek dishes
• Be busier on weekend evenings, so reservations are often useful

Decatur

Decatur’s downtown square and nearby streets offer relaxed, locally focused Mediterranean options. This part of Atlanta is popular with:

• Vegetarians and vegans, thanks to customizable bowls and mezze
• Families looking for casual, kid-friendly meals
• Locals who like walkable, neighborhood dining

In Decatur, you can often find:

• Falafel, shawarma, and build-your-own grain or salad bowls
• Mediterranean-inspired brunch dishes like shakshuka or eggs with pita
• Cozy restaurants near E Court Sq, Ponce de Leon Ave, and Church St

Parking is usually manageable in the DeKalb County Courthouse decks and city lots, and many Mediterranean spots sit within a short walk of the Decatur MARTA station.

Buford Highway and Doraville

For many locals, Buford Highway is where you go when you care more about flavor than décor.

This corridor, stretching from Brookhaven through Chamblee and Doraville, is home to independent Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants, bakeries, and markets, including:

• Shawarma and kebab grills in small strip malls
• Lebanese and Turkish bakeries with fresh pita, flatbreads, and sweets
• Markets where you can buy olives, spices, tahini, and prepared dips to take home

Buford Highway is especially good if you want:

• Authentic-style dishes without many Americanized adjustments
• Very affordable lunches and dinners
• Places where you can grab both a meal and groceries in one trip

Typical cross-streets to look around:

• Near Buford Hwy NE & Clairmont Rd
• Near Buford Hwy NE & Chamblee-Tucker Rd
• Around Doraville just outside the city limits

Parking is usually in front of each strip mall. Expect casual interiors and counter service in many spots.

Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and North Atlanta Suburbs

Along Roswell Rd, Hammond Dr, and Ashford Dunwoody Rd, you’ll find Mediterranean restaurants that work well for:

• Weeknight dinners with the family
• Larger groups that need space and easy parking
• People who prefer suburban convenience to in-town traffic

Common features include:

• Spacious dining rooms and outdoor patios
• Menus that combine Greek salads, kebabs, gyro plates, and vegetarian platters
• Often, lunch specials aimed at nearby office parks

These areas also have Mediterranean markets and bakeries, where you can get:

• Fresh pita and lavash
• Prepared hummus, labneh, and dips
• Imported cheeses, olives, and pantry items

What to Order: Essential Mediterranean Dishes in Atlanta

Wherever you go in the city, some dishes show up again and again. Knowing these makes it easier to compare spots and find your favorites.

Starters and Mezze

Common Atlanta-friendly mezze:

• Hummus – Usually served with pita; some places offer versions with roasted red pepper, spicy toppings, or ground lamb.
• Baba ghanoush – Smoky eggplant dip; great at places that grill their eggplant over open flame.
• Tzatziki – Yogurt, cucumber, garlic dip; often appears with gyros and platters.
• Dolmas / Dolmades – Stuffed grape leaves, sometimes served warm with lemon.
• Falafel – Fried chickpea balls; texture can vary, so this is often what locals use to judge a spot.
• Spanakopita – Greek spinach and feta pie in flaky phyllo pastry.

Many Atlanta restaurants offer mezze platters that let you sample several dips and small bites at once—useful if you’re trying a new place.

Mains and Grilled Specialties

You’ll see some consistent options across the city:

• Gyro plates and wraps – Typically a mix of beef and lamb or chicken, shaved from a vertical rotisserie.
• Shawarma – Marinated meats slow-roasted on a spit; common at Lebanese and Middle Eastern spots.
• Kebabs – Skewered and grilled meats (chicken, beef, lamb) and sometimes vegetables.
• Souvlaki – Greek-style grilled meat skewers, often served with lemon potatoes or rice.
• Mixed grills – Platters with several meats, ideal for sharing.
• Whole or filleted fish – Especially in more upscale Greek and Mediterranean restaurants in Buckhead and Midtown.

For something lighter, many Atlanta menus also offer Mediterranean grain bowls or big salads topped with grilled chicken, falafel, or salmon.

Vegetarian- and Vegan-Friendly Options

Mediterranean cuisine naturally supports a plant-forward diet, and many Atlanta restaurants lean into that. Common options include:

• Falafel wraps and plates
• Hummus bowls loaded with vegetables
• Tabbouleh, fattoush, and other herb-heavy salads
• Grilled vegetable platters
• Lentil soups and vegetarian stews

If you’re vegan or have dietary restrictions, it’s usually easy in Atlanta to:

• Ask for no cheese on salads and wraps
• Swap meat for falafel or extra vegetables
• Request olive oil and lemon instead of creamy dressings

How to Choose the Best Mediterranean Spot for You

Rather than focusing on a single “best” restaurant, it helps to think in terms of what you need that day—quick, fancy, group-friendly, or close to transit.

1. For a Quick Workday Lunch

Look around:

• Midtown (near Peachtree St, 10th St, and Midtown MARTA)
• Downtown (near Peachtree Center and the Government Center area)
• Perimeter Center (near the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody business districts)

What to look for:

• Counter-service or fast-casual setups
• Build-your-own pita, salad, or grain bowls
• Clear takeout and online ordering options

Mediterranean bowls are popular among Atlanta office workers because they’re:

• Easy to customize
• Relatively quick
• Usually travel well if you’re taking them back to your desk

2. For a Special Night Out

If you’re planning a date night, birthday, or celebration, focus on:

• Buckhead – around upscale shopping and major hotels
• Midtown – near arts venues and high-rise condos

What tends to stand out:

• Full-service Greek or Mediterranean restaurants with well-designed interiors
• Menus featuring seafood, lamb chops, and shareable mezze
• Patios or rooftop spaces when the weather is nice

Reservations are often recommended Thursday through Saturday, especially for prime dinner hours.

3. For Budget-Friendly, Big Flavor

When price matters more than atmosphere:

• Explore Buford Highway and nearby Doraville and Chamblee
• Look at small strip-mall restaurants advertising shawarma, kebabs, or Middle Eastern groceries

You’ll often find:

• Generous portions of rice, salad, and grilled meats
• Free or low-cost tea at some family-owned spots
• Affordable lunch specials, even on weekends

These places can be ideal if you’re:

• Feeding a larger group on a budget
• Wanting more traditional dishes with fewer “fusion” twists
• Comfortable with simple décor and counter service

4. For Takeout and Family Meals at Home

Across metro Atlanta, many Mediterranean restaurants offer:

• Family-style platters with multiple proteins, rice, salad, and pita
• Catering trays for office gatherings and parties
• Easy online ordering and curbside pickup

For the most flexible options, look in:

• Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and East Cobb
• Decatur and North Druid Hills
• Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and Roswell

If you want to stretch your budget, consider:

• Ordering extra pita or rice and supplementing with a simple salad at home
• Buying hummus, olives, and dips from a Mediterranean market and just getting grilled meats from a restaurant

Mediterranean Markets and Bakeries in the Atlanta Area

Beyond restaurants, Atlanta has Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets where you can:

• Pick up fresh pita, lavash, and flatbreads
• Buy halloumi, feta, and other cheeses
• Stock up on olives, pickles, spices, tahini, and grains
• Grab prepared foods like hummus, tabbouleh, grape leaves, and roasted eggplant dishes

Common places to look:

• Along Buford Hwy NE from Brookhaven to Doraville
• In Sandy Springs and Dunwoody near Roswell Rd and Hammond Dr
• In Tucker and Norcross along major corridors

Many markets also have a small in-house grill or deli with shawarma, kebabs, and daily specials—often a hidden-source of excellent, inexpensive Mediterranean meals.

Practical Tips for Enjoying Mediterranean Food in Atlanta

To get the most out of the city’s Mediterranean scene:

• Ask about spice levels. Some Atlanta spots dial flavors up or down based on their clientele; you can often request extra garlic, lemon, or heat.
• Share mezze. Ordering a few dips, salads, and small plates is a good way to sample a restaurant’s range, especially with a group.
• Use MARTA or rideshare in busy areas. In Midtown and Buckhead, parking can be tight; using MARTA rail or rideshare may be easier during peak times.
• Check for lunch vs. dinner menus. Some restaurants focus on gyros and bowls at lunch, then add seafood and larger entrees at dinner.
• Consider dietary needs. If you’re gluten-free, vegetarian, or dairy-avoiding, Mediterranean menus in Atlanta are usually very flexible—just ask what can be swapped or removed.

Atlanta’s Mediterranean food ranges from fast-casual lunch spots near offices to weekend-worthy Greek and Turkish restaurants, plus no-frills shawarma counters on Buford Highway. Whether you’re craving hummus and falafel, a whole grilled fish, or a big mixed grill platter for the family, you can find a Mediterranean option within a reasonable drive from almost anywhere in the metro area.