The Most Popular Biscuits in Atlanta, Georgia (and Where to Find Them)

Atlanta takes biscuits seriously. Whether you live in the city, commute in from the suburbs, or you’re here for a weekend visit, you’ll quickly see that biscuits are part of everyday life in metro Atlanta—from quick drive‑thru breakfasts to long, laid‑back brunches.

This guide walks through popular biscuit styles in Atlanta, what makes them different, and where people commonly go around the city to find them. It’s written for anyone trying to understand how biscuits fit into Atlanta’s food culture and where to start exploring.

Why Biscuits Are Such a Big Deal in Atlanta

In Atlanta, biscuits are more than just a side. They show up as:

• Grab-and-go breakfast on the way to work
• Brunch centerpiece with fried chicken, gravy, or eggs
• Comfort food at meat‑and‑three spots and Southern restaurants
• A late‑morning or weekend treat when you have time to wait in line

Because Atlanta draws people from all over the South—and from other regions—local biscuit options range from classic buttermilk biscuits to trendier stuffed biscuit sandwiches and even global‑inspired twists.

For someone new to the city (or just new to biscuits), it helps to know which styles are popular and where they tend to be served.

Popular Types of Biscuits in Atlanta

1. Classic Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

This is the biscuit style most people in Atlanta think of first: flaky, buttery, and made with buttermilk. You’ll see these:

• In breakfast spots all over the city
• On brunch menus at Southern and New American restaurants
• At meat‑and‑threes in and around metro Atlanta

Common ways Atlantans enjoy them:

• Plain with butter and jam
• With sausage, bacon, or country ham
• Split and covered in sausage gravy

You’ll find classic buttermilk biscuits in many neighborhoods, including Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward, West Midtown, Decatur, and Buckhead, as well as throughout the suburbs.

2. Biscuit Sandwiches (A Big Atlanta Favorite)

If you hear locals talking about biscuits, they’re often talking about biscuit sandwiches. These are especially popular with:

• Morning commuters heading into Downtown, Midtown, or Perimeter
• Weekend brunch crowds looking for something substantial
• Students and hospital workers near big hubs like Georgia Tech, Emory, and the Downtown medical centers

Common fillings you’ll see on Atlanta biscuit menus:

• Fried chicken (a staple here)
• Egg + cheese with bacon, sausage, or turkey
• Country ham with mustard or red-eye gravy
• Pimento cheese (very common in Atlanta)
• Hot honey or spicy sauces

Biscuit sandwiches are widely available at:

• Local breakfast cafes
• Brunch-focused restaurants
• Many fast‑casual and fast‑food chains with locations across metro Atlanta

3. Cheese Biscuits and Pimento Cheese Biscuits

Atlanta has a strong pimento cheese culture, and that shows up in biscuit form. Around the city you’ll see:

• Cheddar biscuits served as sides at Southern restaurants
• Pimento cheese biscuits or biscuit sliders, sometimes as appetizers
• Biscuit sandwiches filled with pimento cheese instead of (or in addition to) sliced cheese

These are particularly common in:

• Intown neighborhoods like Inman Park, Virginia‑Highland, Old Fourth Ward, and Westside
• Southern‑leaning restaurants and bar-and-biscuit type menus

4. Cathead Biscuits

“Cathead biscuit” is a Southern term for a biscuit that’s oversized—about the size of a cat’s head. In Atlanta, you’ll see this name used on some menus to signal:

• A very large, fluffy biscuit
• Often served with gravy, fried chicken, or eggs
• Sometimes split and used as a full meal base, not just a side

They’re especially popular at:

• Hearty breakfast spots
• Brunch places known for Southern comfort food

5. Fried Chicken Biscuits

In Atlanta, fried chicken and biscuits are a natural pair. A fried chicken biscuit is one of the city’s most beloved breakfast and brunch items.

Expect to see:

• Buttermilk fried chicken on a biscuit
• Toppings like honey, hot sauce, hot honey, pickles, or spicy mayo
• Versions with egg and cheese added on top

You can find fried chicken biscuits:

• At chicken-focused restaurants that open for breakfast or brunch
• At biscuit-centric breakfast cafes
• On weekend brunch menus at many intown restaurants

6. Biscuit and Gravy Plates

Another Atlanta staple: biscuits and gravy. Most commonly:

• Sausage gravy over open‑faced biscuits
• Sometimes sawmill gravy or red‑eye gravy
• Occasionally a vegetarian gravy option (like mushroom gravy) at more modern or health-conscious spots

You’ll see biscuits and gravy:

• At traditional Southern diners and meat‑and‑three restaurants
• On weekend brunch menus around the BeltLine, Midtown, Decatur, and Grant Park

7. Sweet Biscuits and Shortcake-Style Biscuits

While less common than savory styles, Atlanta does have sweet biscuit options:

• Strawberry shortcake–style biscuits (especially in spring and summer)
• Biscuits served with seasonal fruit, whipped cream, or honey butter
• Brunch menus that offer a biscuit-based dessert or starter for the table

You’ll typically find these at:

• Brunch‑heavy restaurants
• Some bakeries that also serve breakfast

Where Biscuits Fit Into Atlanta’s Daily Routine

Weekday Mornings

If you’re heading into offices in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or Perimeter Center, biscuits are a common quick breakfast. You’ll notice:

• Busy lines at drive‑thru locations along I‑20, I‑75/85, GA‑400, and the Perimeter
• Many people picking up biscuit sandwiches and coffee on the way to MARTA stations
• Office breakfast meetings that feature biscuits with a variety of fillings

Weekend Brunch

On Saturdays and Sundays across the metro area:

• Popular brunch spots see significant wait times
• Biscuit samplers, biscuit flights, and large biscuit sandwiches often show up as signature menu items
• Groups frequently order biscuit baskets for the table with butter, honey, and jams

Neighborhoods where biscuit-focused brunch is especially visible include:

• Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park (near the BeltLine)
• West Midtown / Westside
• Virginia‑Highland and Morningside
• Grant Park, East Atlanta, and Reynoldstown
• Downtown Decatur

Typical Places to Look for Good Biscuits in Atlanta

You won’t find a single “official” biscuit authority in Atlanta, but there are predictable types of places where biscuits tend to be strong.

1. Southern Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants

These places usually treat biscuits as a core menu item, often baked fresh throughout the morning.

Common features:

• Fresh buttermilk biscuits made in-house
• Biscuit sandwiches with multiple protein options
• Biscuits and gravy, sometimes with add‑ons like eggs or fried chicken

Look for them in walkable areas like:

• Midtown Atlanta
• Inman Park / Old Fourth Ward
• West Midtown
• Virginia‑Highland
• Downtown Decatur

2. Intown Cafes and Bakeries

Some Atlanta bakeries and cafes bake biscuits alongside pastries and breads. They may:

• Offer plain or cheese biscuits in the pastry case
• Serve breakfast biscuit sandwiches in the morning hours
• Experiment with herb, cheddar, or seasonal-flavored biscuits

These are common near:

• Emory University, Georgia Tech, and other campus areas
• Heavier foot‑traffic corridors like Ponce de Leon Avenue, Highland Avenue, and Peachtree Street through Midtown and Buckhead

3. Meat‑and‑Three and “Country Cooking” Spots

A meat‑and‑three is a Southern restaurant format where you choose one meat and three sides. In and around Atlanta, these often:

• Serve biscuits at breakfast (and sometimes at lunch)
• Offer biscuits as part of a daily special or as a bread option
• Pair biscuits with grits, eggs, and country ham

You’ll find these not just intown, but also in:

• South Atlanta and Southwest Atlanta
• Suburbs like Marietta, Smyrna, Stone Mountain, Conyers, Douglasville, and Fayetteville

4. Chicken-Focused Restaurants with Breakfast

Atlanta’s strong fried chicken culture means some chicken spots open early and serve biscuits.

Typical offerings:

• Fried chicken biscuits with honey or hot sauce
• Biscuit baskets as a starter or side
• Limited‑hours morning biscuit menus

These locations are often clustered near:

• Major retail corridors (Cumberland, Perimeter, Camp Creek, Lenox/Buckhead)
• High-traffic commuter routes leading into the city

5. Fast‑Food and Drive‑Thru Chains

Across metro Atlanta, many national and regional chains serve:

• Sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits
• Chicken biscuits
• Simple buttermilk biscuits with butter and jelly

While these aren’t unique to Atlanta, locals use them heavily for:

• Early work commutes
• Road trips starting on I‑75, I‑85, I‑20, and I‑285
• Quick breakfasts before flights out of Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Price Range and What to Expect

Here’s a general idea of what biscuit lovers in Atlanta usually encounter. Actual prices vary by neighborhood and restaurant:

*These ranges are approximate and can shift with location, ingredients, and portion size.

Tips for Enjoying Biscuits in Atlanta Like a Local

Here are a few practical pointers if you’re trying to make the most of the city’s biscuit scene:

1. Timing matters ⏰

   • Popular brunch spots in neighborhoods like Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, or West Midtown can have long waits between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekends.
   • If you want fresh biscuits without the crowds, arrive early—many places open around 8–9 a.m.

2. Check weekday vs. weekend menus

   • Some restaurants feature their best or most creative biscuits only on weekend brunch menus.
   • On weekdays, you might see a simpler biscuit selection offered for breakfast hours.

3. Ask how often biscuits are baked

   • At local spots, staff can usually tell you whether biscuits are baked continuously through the morning or mainly at opening.
   • If you’re picky about texture, asking whether a batch just came out of the oven can make a noticeable difference.

4. Consider traffic and parking 🚗

   • Intown areas like Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Virginia‑Highland can be busy, especially on weekends.
   • Some popular biscuit spots share parking lots with other businesses; others rely on street parking or nearby decks. Allow extra time.

5. Know that many places are casual

   • Even highly regarded biscuit breakfasts in Atlanta often have a casual dress code.
   • It’s common to see everything from office attire to gym clothes at morning cafes and biscuit counters.

6. To-go is completely normal

   • Many Atlantans grab biscuits to-go and eat at work, in the park, or back at home.
   • If you’re in a rush, check whether a place offers call‑ahead or online ordering for pickup.

Finding Biscuit Spots by Area

If you prefer to explore by neighborhood or part of town, here’s how the biscuit landscape often looks:

• Downtown & Midtown Atlanta

  • Strong on quick breakfast options, cafes, and hotel brunches.
  • Good for people staying near Peachtree Street, the Georgia World Congress Center, or major office towers.

• Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and the BeltLine Eastside Trail

  • Dense concentration of brunch destinations where biscuits are menu highlights.
  • Popular with walkers, cyclists, and weekend visitors.

• West Midtown / Westside

  • Known for trendy restaurants and modern Southern cooking.
  • Biscuit offerings here may be more creative, large-format, or shareable.

• Virginia‑Highland, Morningside, and Poncey‑Highland

  • Mix of cozy cafes and brunch spots; biscuits are common on weekend menus.
  • Nice if you want a neighborhood feel with walkable streets.

• Decatur (City of Decatur)

  • Compact downtown with multiple restaurants and cafes that incorporate biscuits into breakfast or brunch.
  • Easy to walk between several options.

• Suburban Metro Atlanta (e.g., Marietta, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, Tucker, College Park, East Point)

  • Heavier presence of drive‑thru chains, diners, and meat‑and‑three spots.
  • Reliable for classic, no-frills biscuits and big breakfast plates.

How Visitors Can Navigate Atlanta’s Biscuit Scene

If you’re visiting Atlanta and want to include biscuits in your plans:

• Near the Airport (Hartsfield‑Jackson)

  • The area has multiple breakfast and fast‑food spots that serve biscuits early in the morning, useful for pre‑ or post‑flight meals.
  • Nearby cities like College Park and East Point also have local diners offering biscuit breakfasts.

• Near Major Attractions

  • Downtown attractions (like Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, and Mercedes‑Benz Stadium) are a short ride from Midtown and the Old Fourth Ward, where you’ll find many biscuit‑heavy brunch menus.
  • Around Piedmont Park and the BeltLine, brunch restaurants with biscuits are common.

• Using MARTA

  • If you’re staying near MARTA rail stations in Midtown, Buckhead, or Decatur, you can often walk or take a short rideshare to nearby cafes and brunch spots.
  • Many biscuit-serving places cluster near Peachtree Street and major east‑west corridors like Ponce de Leon Avenue.

If You Want to Make Atlanta-Style Biscuits at Home

Many Atlantans eventually try baking biscuits at home after eating them around the city. When people aim for an “Atlanta-style” experience in their own kitchen, they often focus on:

• Buttermilk-based dough for tang and fluffiness
• Cold fat (usually butter or shortening) cut into the flour for layers
• Serving them with local-style sides, such as:
  • Fried or baked chicken
  • Pimento cheese
  • Sausage gravy
  • Peach jam or honey (Georgia peaches are a local point of pride when in season)

While there’s no single official Atlanta biscuit recipe, these choices mirror what’s commonly served in the city’s restaurants and diners.

Biscuits are deeply woven into the daily rhythm of Atlanta—from early morning commutes to lazy weekend brunches. Whether you’re looking for a quick biscuit sandwich near a MARTA station, a big cathead biscuit with gravy in a meat‑and‑three, or a creative brunch biscuit near the BeltLine, you’ll find plenty of options across the city and its suburbs.