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

Atlanta’s food scene is a mix of Deep South comfort, Black culinary traditions, immigrant flavors, and modern restaurant culture. If you’re wondering “Atlanta is known for what food?”, the real answer is a whole table full of dishes rather than just one.

Below is a clear guide to the iconic foods Atlanta is known for, plus how and where they fit into everyday life when you live in or visit the city.

The Essential Atlanta Food Shortlist

Atlanta is especially known for:

• Fried chicken
• Soul food and Southern sides
• Barbecue (especially pork, ribs, and pulled pork)
• Shrimp and grits
• Hot chicken wings and lemon pepper wings
• Peach desserts (peach cobbler, peach ice cream)
• Chicken and waffles
• Biscuits and breakfast plates
• Pecan pie and Southern desserts
• Global cuisine, especially Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, and Mexican around the metro area

Here’s a quick overview:

Fried Chicken: A True Atlanta Staple

Fried chicken is one of the foods most closely associated with Atlanta. You’ll find:

• Traditional bone-in fried chicken at soul food spots
• Spicy versions at hot chicken–influenced restaurants
• Fried chicken sandwiches at fast-casual and chef-driven places

In Atlanta, fried chicken shows up:

• On meat-and-three plates (one meat, three sides)
• At Sunday dinners and church gatherings
• On brunch menus with waffles or biscuits

If you’re new to the city, looking for fried chicken is an easy way to experience classic Southern cooking done the Atlanta way—generous portions, lots of flavor, and plenty of sides.

Soul Food and Southern Classics

Atlanta is a major center of soul food, shaped by Black cooks and families over generations. When people talk about what food Atlanta is known for, this is usually what they mean.

Common plates include:

• Meats
  • Fried chicken
  • Smothered pork chops
  • Oxtails
  • Meatloaf
• Sides
  • Collard greens
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Candied yams
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Cornbread
  • Green beans and field peas
• Extras
  • Cornbread muffins
  • Yeast rolls
  • Chow-chow or hot sauce on the side

You’ll find soul food:

• In historic neighborhoods like the West End and parts of Southwest Atlanta
• Around Downtown and the Westside, often near major streets and MARTA lines
• In family-run restaurants that have been open for decades

For locals, soul food is often tied to holidays, after-church meals, and family celebrations, not just everyday lunches.

Barbecue: Smoke, Pork, and Ribs Across the Metro

Georgia isn’t always the first state people name for barbecue, but Atlanta’s BBQ scene is big and varied. The city pulls influences from several regions, but you’ll often see:

• Pulled pork sandwiches and plates
• Ribs (spare ribs and baby back)
• Smoked chicken and turkey
• Brisket at some spots
• Sides like baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and Brunswick stew

In Atlanta, barbecue is often:

• A weekend family meal (large takeout trays or catering pans)
• A game-day choice before or after Falcons, Hawks, or college games
• A common pick for office lunches and neighborhood get-togethers

Sauces vary from tomato-based and sweet to more tangy or spicy, depending on the restaurant.

Wings and Lemon Pepper: A True Atlanta Signature

Ask many locals what food Atlanta is known for today, and you’ll hear one answer immediately: wings—especially lemon pepper wings.

Why wings matter in Atlanta

• Wing spots and “lemon pepper wet” have become woven into Atlanta’s music, nightlife, and sports culture.
• Wings are a go-to for:
  • Late-night meals after clubs or shows
  • Watching games at home
  • Quick counter-service lunches

Common Atlanta wing flavors:

• Lemon pepper (dry rub or “wet” with extra sauce)
• Hot, mild, and honey hot
• BBQ and honey BBQ
• Teriyaki and garlic parmesan

You’ll find wings:

• At dedicated wing joints across the city and suburbs
• In sports bars near Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead
• On takeout menus almost everywhere in the metro area

If you want to understand modern Atlanta food culture, trying lemon pepper wings is almost required.

Shrimp and Grits: Coastal Flavors in a City Setting

While Atlanta isn’t on the coast, it sits in a state with strong coastal and Lowcountry influences. That shows up clearly in shrimp and grits, which is:

• A brunch favorite in Midtown, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, and beyond
• A dinner option at many Southern and contemporary restaurants

Atlanta-style shrimp and grits often feature:

• Creamy stone-ground grits
• Shrimp sautéed with:
  • Bacon or andouille sausage
  • Garlic and scallions
  • A rich butter or tomato-based sauce

You’ll see versions ranging from simple and home-style to elevated restaurant plates, but it’s widely recognized as a core Southern dish that Atlanta has embraced.

Peaches and Peach Cobbler: Georgia Pride on the Plate

Georgia is called the “Peach State,” and Atlanta carries that theme into its food and desserts.

Common peach-based treats:

• Peach cobbler
• Peach ice cream
• Peach pies and peach crumbles
• Peach-topped waffles or French toast at brunch

You’re most likely to see peach desserts:

• On summer menus, when peaches are in season
• At Southern restaurants that focus heavily on traditional recipes
• At farmer’s markets and seasonal stands around the metro area

If you’re visiting in late spring or summer, asking where to get good peach cobbler is a very Atlanta-specific question with plenty of local answers.

Chicken and Waffles: Brunch and Late-Night Favorite

While chicken and waffles didn’t originate specifically in Atlanta, the city has fully adopted the dish:

• Crispy fried chicken (often bone-in or tenders)
• Served over Belgian or classic waffles
• Topped with syrup, butter, and sometimes hot sauce

You’ll find chicken and waffles:

• On many weekend brunch menus throughout the city
• At all-day breakfast spots
• In areas popular for nightlife, where late morning meals are common

In Atlanta, it’s a crossover food that fits well with both soul food traditions and modern brunch culture.

Biscuits, Breakfast Plates, and Everyday Southern Comfort

Atlanta is known for hearty Southern breakfast just as much as lunch and dinner. Expect to see:

• Buttermilk biscuits with:
  • Sausage or bacon
  • Fried chicken
  • Egg and cheese
• Breakfast plates with:
  • Grits or hash browns
  • Eggs any style
  • Bacon, sausage, or country ham
  • Toast or biscuits

You’ll find this style of breakfast:

• At diners and meat-and-three restaurants
• In neighborhood cafes across Intown and the suburbs
• Near office districts, where locals grab quick biscuit sandwiches in the morning

If you’re living in Atlanta, this kind of breakfast can easily become a weekly routine.

Pecan Pie, Cakes, and Southern Desserts

Desserts are a big part of what Atlanta is known for food-wise, especially around holidays and Sunday dinners.

Typical Southern desserts you’ll see:

• Pecan pie
• Sweet potato pie
• Red velvet cake
• Pound cake
• Banana pudding
• Carrot cake
• Cobblers (peach, blackberry, mixed fruit)

In Atlanta, these desserts often come from:

• Local bakeries and cake shops
• Soul food restaurants offering dessert by the slice
• Church and family events, especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer gatherings

Meat-and-Three: The Classic Southern Plate

Atlanta embraces the meat-and-three concept: one main meat with three sides, often plus bread.

Common combinations:

• Fried chicken with:
  • Mac and cheese
  • Collard greens
  • Candied yams
• Meatloaf with:
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Green beans
  • Corn
• Pork chops with:
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Okra and tomatoes
  • Coleslaw

This is a weekday lunch standard for many Atlantans, especially near government buildings, industrial areas, and office corridors.

Global Food in Atlanta: Beyond Traditional Southern Dishes

While Southern food defines much of what Atlanta is known for, the metro area is also recognized for its global cuisines, especially in surrounding cities and neighborhoods.

Korean Food (Especially in Duluth and Doraville)

In the northeast suburbs of the Atlanta metro, you’ll find:

• Korean BBQ
• Korean bakeries and cafes
• Comfort dishes like bibimbap, stews, and fried chicken

Vietnamese, Chinese, and Other Asian Cuisines

Along major corridors northeast and northwest of the city, there are many spots for:

• Pho and Vietnamese street food
• Regional Chinese cuisines
• Asian supermarkets with prepared foods and bakeries

Indian and South Asian Food

In certain suburban corridors, Atlanta is known for:

• North and South Indian restaurants
• Vegetarian thali, dosas, and biryani
• Sweet shops and bakeries

Mexican and Latin American Food

Around the metro, especially along some of the major highways, you’ll see:

• Taquerias
• Latin bakeries
• Central and South American restaurants offering home-style plates

These global options don’t replace classic Southern food—they sit alongside it and are part of what modern Atlanta eating actually looks like day-to-day.

Farmers Markets and Local Ingredients

If you live in or are spending time in Atlanta, you’ll notice plenty of access to regional ingredients that shape what the city is known to cook and eat:

• Georgia peaches in season
• Pecans for pies and candies
• Greens, sweet potatoes, and corn from nearby farms
• Local meats and eggs from regional producers

You can explore these ingredients at:

• Neighborhood farmers markets
• Larger regional markets serving restaurants and home cooks

Many local restaurants build their menus seasonally around what’s available from these sources, which helps keep Atlanta’s Southern dishes fresh and varied.

How Locals Actually Eat in Atlanta

To sum up what food Atlanta is known for in practical, everyday terms:

• Classic Southern & soul food for comfort meals, celebrations, and Sunday dinners
• Wings (especially lemon pepper) for late nights, game days, and quick takeout
• Barbecue for gatherings, weekends, and casual lunches
• Brunch favorites like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles for social weekends
• Peach and pecan desserts for a true Georgia touch
• Global cuisines that reflect the city’s diverse communities and suburbs

Whether you’re moving to Atlanta, visiting, or just trying to understand the city better, focusing on these dishes will give you a very clear taste of what Atlanta is truly known for when it comes to food.