Where To Find Great Colombian Food in Atlanta

Colombian food has a growing presence in metro Atlanta, with restaurants stretching from the heart of the city out into the northern suburbs. Whether you’re craving a loaded bandeja paisa, fresh arepas, or a strong tinto (Colombian coffee), you can find good options without leaving the Atlanta area.

This guide focuses on Colombian restaurants in and around Atlanta, Georgia—what to expect, where they’re concentrated, and how to choose a spot that fits what you’re looking for.

What to Expect at a Colombian Restaurant in Atlanta

Most Atlanta Colombian restaurants are casual and family-friendly, often with TV showing soccer, Latin music, and a relaxed atmosphere. You’ll usually find:

• Hearty plates with rice, beans, grilled meats, and fried sides
• Arepas (corn cakes) used as a side, sandwich base, or snack
• Colombian bakery items like pan de bono (cheese bread) and pandebono-style rolls
• Fresh juices such as maracuyá (passion fruit), mango, and lulo
• Coffee and desserts like flan, tres leches, and sometimes obleas

Vegetarian and lighter options exist, but Colombian cuisine traditionally leans meat-heavy, especially beef and pork.

Popular Colombian Dishes You’ll See in Atlanta

Knowing the basics helps you read menus more confidently.

Signature Plates

• Bandeja Paisa
  A very large platter that often includes:

  • Grilled steak or ground beef
  • Chicharrón (crispy pork belly)
  • Rice and beans
  • Fried egg
  • Sweet plantains
  • Arepa
  • Avocado

• Arepas Corn cakes that can be:

  • Plain, served as a side
  • Stuffed with cheese or meats
  • Used like a sandwich with fillings

• Empanadas Small fried corn pastries stuffed with beef, chicken, or potatoes. Often served with ají, a tangy, mildly spicy sauce.

• Sancocho A homestyle stew with meat (often chicken or beef), plantains, potatoes, and yuca. More common in home-style restaurants or weekend specials.

Breads, Snacks, and Sides

• Pan de Bono / Pan de Queso – cheesy breads, popular for breakfast or coffee breaks.
• Buñuelos – round, fried cheese dough balls, often served warm.
• Chicharrón – fried pork belly, usually with crunchy skin and a tender interior.
• Patacones / Tostones – twice-fried green plantain slices.

Drinks and Desserts

• Jugos naturales – fresh juices blended with water or milk.
• Colombian coffee (tinto) – typically strong and simple, not heavily flavored.
• Postres (desserts) – flan, tres leches cake, and sometimes arequipe (similar to dulce de leche).

Where Colombian Restaurants Tend to Be in Metro Atlanta

Colombian restaurants in the Atlanta area are more concentrated in north and northeast metro suburbs than in the dense urban core, although you can still find options closer to downtown.

Here’s a general layout of where you’re most likely to find Colombian food:

Because specific restaurant lineups change over time, it’s smart to search by neighborhood you’re already visiting—especially if you’re traveling along major corridors like I-85, Buford Highway, or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

Tips for Choosing a Colombian Restaurant in Atlanta

When you’re deciding where to go, consider:

1. Location and Traffic

Atlanta traffic can turn a short drive into a long one. When possible:

• Look for Colombian restaurants near MARTA-accessible areas if you don’t want to drive.
• If you’re staying downtown or in Midtown, you may find more options by driving north toward Doraville, Chamblee, Norcross, or Duluth.
• If you live in the northern suburbs (Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Suwanee), check nearby strip centers and mixed Latin-American plazas.

2. Type of Experience

Think about the style you want:

• Family-style restaurant: Bigger menu, full plates, often good for groups.
• Bakery / café: Best for breakfast, snacks, and coffee.
• Grill or rotisserie: Focused on grilled meats, rice, and sides.
• Pan-Latin restaurant with Colombian options: Good if different people in your group want different Latin cuisines.

3. Menu Considerations

If you’re watching what you eat or have preferences:

• Look for grilled meats with salad and arepas if you want something simpler.
• Ask whether beans are cooked with pork if you avoid pork.
• Vegetarian options may include:
  • Arepas with cheese and avocado
  • Rice, beans, and plantains
  • Salads, sometimes with avocado and queso fresco

If you’re unsure, calling ahead can clear up questions about ingredients or preparation.

How to Order Like a Local

Knowing a few common menu terms helps you feel more at ease:

• “Una bandeja paisa, por favor” – order the classic platter.
• “Una arepa con queso” – arepa with cheese.
• “Un jugo de maracuyá en agua / en leche” – passion fruit juice with water / with milk.
• “Sin cerdo, por favor” – if you want something without pork.

Servers in Atlanta-area Colombian restaurants generally speak English, but using a few Spanish words can make things quicker and more enjoyable.

Budget and Portion Size

In Atlanta, Colombian restaurants are usually affordable to moderate:

• Snacks and bakery items: Often low-cost—empanadas, pan de bono, and coffee are a budget-friendly way to try Colombian flavors.
• Meals: Hearty plates like bandeja paisa are often large enough to share or save half for later.

If you’re new to Colombian food, you can start with:

• A single main dish to share between two people plus a couple of sides, or
• Empanadas and an arepa to get a feel for flavors before committing to a big platter.

Getting There: Transportation Considerations

Depending on where you are in Atlanta, you’ll likely be driving, ridesharing, or using a mix of MARTA and walking.

• Driving:
  Most Colombian restaurants in the suburbs are in plazas with on-site parking.
• MARTA:
  • For the Buford Highway / Doraville area, the Doraville MARTA Station (6000 New Peachtree Rd, Doraville, GA 30340) is a common starting point. From there, buses and short rideshares can reach many Latin American plazas.
  • Inside the Perimeter, use MARTA rail to reach major hubs like Lindbergh Center Station or Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, then connect via bus or rideshare.
• Rideshare:
  Helpful at night or if you’re visiting areas you don’t know well, especially along busy traffic corridors.

When to Go

• Lunch (roughly 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.):
  Many Colombian restaurants offer lunch specials with a main protein, rice, beans, and salad.
• Dinner (after 5 p.m.):
  You’ll see more groups and families; service may be slower but more lively.
• Weekends:
  Some places add special soups and stews such as sancocho or mondongo on weekends only.

If you’re traveling across the metro area, checking hours before you go helps avoid showing up to find a restaurant closed between lunch and dinner.

Practical Ways to Explore Colombian Food in Atlanta

Here are simple approaches whether you live here or are visiting:

• If you live inside the Perimeter:

  • Look north along Buford Highway or around Doraville for Colombian or pan-Latin spots.
  • Combine your restaurant trip with a stop at a nearby Latin grocery store to pick up Colombian snacks and products.

• If you’re in the northern suburbs (Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Duluth):

  • Check nearby strip centers along major roads like Peachtree Industrial, I-85 frontage roads, or GA-141 (Peachtree Parkway).
  • Many Colombian eateries share plazas with Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean businesses.

• If you’re just visiting Atlanta for a few days:

  • Choose a cluster area (for example, Doraville / Buford Highway), plan a lunch or early dinner there, and explore a couple of Latin businesses in the same center.
  • Rideshare can be easier than renting a car if you’re staying downtown or in Midtown.

Key Takeaways for Finding Colombian Food in Atlanta

• You can absolutely find Colombian restaurants in and around Atlanta, especially north and northeast of the city.
• Expect hearty, meat-forward plates, arepas, empanadas, Colombian coffee, and fresh juices.
• Most spots are casual, family-friendly, and located in strip centers along major roads like I-85 and Buford Highway.
• Plan around traffic and distance; pick a Colombian restaurant in a part of metro Atlanta you’re already visiting.
• If you’re new to the cuisine, start with empanadas, an arepa with cheese, and a bandeja paisa to share for a great first taste of Colombian food in Atlanta.