Where to Find Great Colombian Food in Atlanta

Looking for a Colombian restaurant in Atlanta or craving a plate of bandeja paisa, empanadas, or a good Colombian-style coffee? Atlanta may be better known for Southern cooking, but there’s a growing number of spots—especially around Doraville, Norcross, and the Northeast suburbs—where you can find authentic Colombian flavors.

This guide walks you through:

• Popular areas to find Colombian restaurants in Atlanta
• Classic Colombian dishes to look for on menus
• Tips for choosing where to go (dine-in, takeout, late-night, family-friendly)
• What to know if you’re new to Colombian food

Key Areas for Colombian Restaurants in the Atlanta Metro

While you can find Colombian dishes scattered across the city, most dedicated Colombian restaurants are concentrated in a few main areas:

Doraville & Chamblee (Buford Highway Corridor)

If you’re serious about exploring Latin American food in Atlanta, Buford Highway is usually the first stop. You’ll find:

• Colombian bakeries and cafes with pandebono, almojábanas, and Colombian-style coffee
• Casual restaurants offering bandeja paisa, sopa de mondongo, and other traditional plates
• Spots that combine Colombian, Venezuelan, and other Latin cuisines on one menu

Many places here are small, family-run, and focused on hearty, homestyle cooking. Parking is typically in shared shopping center lots right along Buford Highway.

Norcross, Lilburn, and Tucker

Along Pleasant Hill Road, Jimmy Carter Boulevard, and nearby corridors, you’ll see a strong Latin American presence, including Colombian restaurants and bakeries. Common features:

• All-day menus with breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Weekend sancocho (hearty soup) or ajiaco (traditional chicken and potato soup)
• Family-friendly dining rooms and large portions suited for sharing

These suburbs are especially convenient if you live or are staying in the Gwinnett County area.

North Atlanta & Roswell/Alpharetta

In Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta, Colombian food often appears as:

• Bakeries or cafes that serve Colombian pastries and snacks alongside coffee
• Mixed Latin restaurants (e.g., labeled as “Latin American” or “South American”) that feature Colombian dishes on the menu

If you’re OTP on the north side, this can be the easiest way to get Colombian flavors without driving toward Buford Highway or Norcross.

Common Colombian Dishes You’ll See in Atlanta

Most Colombian restaurants in Atlanta offer a core set of classics. When you’re browsing menus, you’ll often see:

Bandeja Paisa

One of the most iconic Colombian dishes, usually a loaded platter that can be enough for two people:

• Grilled steak or ground beef
• Chicharrón (fried pork belly or pork rind)
• Red beans
• White rice
• Fried egg
• Sweet plantains
• Avocado
• Arepa

If you’re visiting a Colombian restaurant for the first time, this is often the go-to order.

Arepas

Arepas are grilled or fried corn cakes, sometimes plain and sometimes stuffed or topped. In Atlanta, you’ll usually find:

• Plain arepa served as a side with meat dishes
• Stuffed arepas with cheese, chicken, or steak
• Breakfast arepas with eggs and cheese

Colombian arepas differ from Venezuelan ones, but many local spots offer both styles.

Empanadas

Colombian empanadas are often fried and made with corn dough, filled with:

• Shredded beef or ground beef
• Chicken
• Potatoes
• Cheese

They’re usually served with ají, a fresh, slightly spicy Colombian sauce made with cilantro, onions, and vinegar.

Sancocho & Ajiaco

Many Colombian restaurants in Atlanta offer soups and stews, especially on weekends:

• Sancocho: Thick soup made with meat (often chicken, beef, or pork), plantain, yucca, and potatoes
• Ajiaco: Chicken and potato soup, sometimes with corn on the cob and a side of rice and avocado

Ask if they have weekend specials; traditional soups often rotate.

Colombian Breakfast Options

If you’re out early or want a weekend brunch that’s different from the usual Atlanta biscuit circuit, look for:

• Calentado (rice and beans “reheated” and mixed, often served with eggs and meat)
• Arepa con queso (arepa with cheese)
• Huevos pericos (scrambled eggs with tomato and onion)
• Colombian-style hot chocolate, sometimes served with cheese

Quick Reference: What to Expect at a Colombian Restaurant in Atlanta

How to Choose a Colombian Restaurant in Atlanta

When you search for “Colombian restaurant Atlanta”, you’ll see a mix of fully Colombian spots and general Latin restaurants. Here are a few ways to narrow down your options.

1. Decide What Kind of Experience You Want

Ask yourself:

• Lunch near work or school in the city?
  Look around Midtown, Downtown, and Buckhead for Latin or South American restaurants that feature Colombian items on the menu. Full-on Colombian places are a bit rarer in the core city, but they do appear as part of mixed-Latin concepts.

• Weekend family meal or big platter dishes?
  Try Doraville, Chamblee, or Norcross, where many restaurants are set up for larger groups and hearty, shareable entrees.

• Quick snack or coffee stop?
  Colombian bakeries and cafes along Buford Highway or in Gwinnett often serve fast items like empanadas, pandebono, arepas, and pastries with Colombian coffee.

2. Check Menus Before You Go

Because Google or app labels like “Latin American” can be broad, it helps to:

• Look for specific Colombian terms on menus: bandeja paisa, sancocho, ajiaco, pandebono, arepas, empanadas colombianas.
• Confirm whether they serve full meals vs. mostly snacks and bakery items.
• See if there are kid-friendly options such as simple grilled meats, rice, fries, or arepas with cheese.

Many Atlanta restaurants post menus on ordering platforms or social pages, so you can preview before driving across town.

3. Consider Travel & Parking

Atlanta traffic and parking can change a quick meal into a long outing. Generally:

• Buford Highway / Doraville: Mostly shopping-center parking, usually free and straightforward.
• Norcross / Lilburn / Tucker: Similar strip-center setups with free parking.
• In-town (Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead):
  • Check for validated parking, private lots, or nearby public garages.
  • MARTA rail can be useful if you want to avoid driving into crowded areas.

If you’re coming from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Colombian-heavy corridors like Buford Highway and Norcross are usually a drive of 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Tips for Ordering if You’re New to Colombian Food

If this is your first Colombian restaurant visit in Atlanta, you can still order confidently:

Start with a Combo Plate

Look for:

• Bandeja paisa
• A “Parrillada” or mixed-grill plate
• Any dish described as a “typical Colombian” or “plato típico”

These plates usually include:

• A grilled protein (steak, chicken, or pork)
• Rice and beans
• Plantains
• Arepa
• Sometimes salad or avocado

They give you a broad introduction in one order.

Try a Snack and a Drink

If you’re just curious or not very hungry:

• Order empanadas or pandebono (cheesy bread) as a snack.
• Pair with Colombian soda (like a fruit-flavored drink), fresh juice, or Colombian coffee.

This can be a quick stop after work or while running errands along Buford Highway or in Norcross.

Ask About Spice Levels

Colombian food is generally not very spicy by default. Heat usually comes from sauces like ají that you add yourself.

If you prefer mild food:

• Mention that you’d like it “not spicy” and go light on sauces.

If you like spice:

• Ask if they have ají, hot sauce, or house-made spicy condiments.

Dietary Considerations at Colombian Restaurants in Atlanta

Vegetarian or Mostly Plant-Based

Colombian cuisine traditionally relies on meat, but many Atlanta spots can accommodate:

• Plantains, rice, beans, arepas, yuca, and salads are common sides.
• You can often design a plate out of sides-only.
• Ask if dishes like sancocho are made with meat stock if you’re avoiding animal products.

It’s helpful to call ahead if you need strict vegetarian or vegan options, especially outside of more flexible in-town restaurants.

Gluten Sensitivities

Some natural fits:

• Arepas and many empanadas are made from corn dough.
• Plantains, rice, beans, yuca, and salads are typically gluten-free.

However:

• Cross-contact in shared fryers or grills is possible.
• Sauces or seasonings may have gluten-containing ingredients.

If gluten is a medical concern, it’s wise to ask specific questions about preparation.

Halal, Kosher, and Other Needs

Traditional Colombian restaurants in Atlanta are rarely specifically halal or kosher, though general Latin restaurants with broader menus may suit some needs better.

• If you avoid pork, you can often choose chicken or beef dishes and request no chicharrón.
• When in doubt, clarifying ingredients with staff is usually welcomed.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

If You Live in Atlanta

• Explore Buford Highway on weekends when you have time to try new spots.
• Keep an eye on local social media groups or neighborhood boards; many people share recent experiences and new openings.
• If you find a Colombian bakery you like, consider ordering ahead for parties or celebrations; many offer platters of empanadas and baked goods.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta

• Plan Colombian food stops around your broader itinerary:
  • Visiting Downtown or Midtown? Look for Latin/South American restaurants nearby that feature Colombian-inspired dishes.
  • Staying in Gwinnett, Doraville, or Norcross? You’re in one of the easiest areas to access fully Colombian spots.
• Build in extra travel time for traffic, especially during weekday rush hours on I-85, I-285, and GA-400.

How to Find a Colombian Restaurant Near You in Atlanta

When searching on your phone or navigation system in Atlanta, try phrases like:

• “Colombian restaurant near me”
• “Colombian bakery Buford Highway”
• “Comida colombiana Norcross”

Then:

1. Check distance and traffic from your location.
2. Look at recent photos of dishes to confirm they offer the Colombian meals you’re craving.
3. Verify hours of operation, especially on Sundays and late evenings.
4. For large groups, consider calling ahead to ask about seating and wait times.

This approach works whether you’re in Downtown Atlanta, Buckhead, Doraville, Norcross, or the northern suburbs.

With a bit of planning, Atlanta offers a solid selection of places to enjoy authentic Colombian food, from full platters of bandeja paisa to a quick coffee and empanada stop. Focusing your search on the right neighborhoods—especially Buford Highway and the northeast metro—will give you the best chance of finding a Colombian restaurant that fits your taste, schedule, and budget.