Atlanta Restaurant Group: Your Guide to International Cuisine in Atlanta, GA

Atlanta’s food scene is one of the most internationally diverse in the Southeast, and “Atlanta restaurant group” is a phrase many people use when they’re looking for collections of restaurants, multi-location concepts, or clusters of eateries that offer flavors from around the world.

Whether you live in Atlanta, are planning a visit, or are trying to understand how international dining works here, this guide walks you through what “Atlanta restaurant group” can mean, where to find global cuisines, and how to navigate the city’s most internationally focused dining areas and concepts.

What People Usually Mean by “Atlanta Restaurant Group”

When someone searches for “Atlanta restaurant group” in the context of international cuisine, they are often looking for:

• Restaurant groups or companies that operate multiple international-style restaurants in Atlanta
• Neighborhood clusters of international restaurants (like Buford Highway or Duluth)
• Curated dining areas (food halls, mixed-use developments) with a variety of global options
• Consistent concepts (like multi-location sushi, taqueria, or Mediterranean spots) around the metro

In Atlanta, international cuisine is less about one single “group” and more about several major corridors, food halls, and multi-restaurant operators that collectively create a global dining network.

Major International Dining Corridors in Metro Atlanta

If you’re trying to experience international food in Atlanta, start with the city’s best-known global food corridors.

Buford Highway: Atlanta’s International Spine

Buford Highway is often considered Atlanta’s core international restaurant strip, running through parts of Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville.

You’ll find long stretches of:

• Chinese (Cantonese, Sichuan, Taiwanese)
• Korean (BBQ, fried chicken, bakeries)
• Vietnamese (pho, banh mi, noodle houses)
• Mexican and Central American
• Latin American bakeries and markets
• Indian and South Asian spots
• Ethiopian and other African cuisines

Many restaurants along Buford Highway are family-run rather than part of a corporate “group,” but because they’re clustered so tightly, diners often treat the area like a giant, informal international restaurant group spread across a single corridor.

📝 Tip: Parking is usually free but can be tight in smaller strip centers. Many restaurants are casual, counter-service, or hole-in-the-wall style—perfect for exploring without reservations.

Duluth / Gwinnett County: Korean, Asian, and Fusion Hubs

Northeast of Atlanta, areas around Duluth, Suwanee, and Peachtree Corners have grown into major centers for Korean and pan-Asian cuisine.

Expect to find:

• Korean BBQ groups with multiple locations in malls and standalone plazas
• Korean bakeries, dessert cafes, and bingsoo (shaved ice) shops
• Hot pot and Chinese regional specialties
• Bubble tea chains and dessert bars

Many Korean and Asian restaurant brands repeat across Gwinnett County, functioning like an informal restaurant group spread across different plazas.

Midtown, Buckhead, and In-Town Atlanta

If you prefer staying closer to Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, you’ll find more polished, sit-down international concepts, often run by local restaurant groups or multi-unit owners.

Common international cuisines in these central neighborhoods include:

• Italian trattorias and osterias
• High-end Japanese and sushi bars
• Modern Mexican and Latin-inspired spots
• Greek and Mediterranean restaurants
• Indian, Thai, and pan-Asian bistros

Many of these restaurants are part of small local groups that operate multiple concepts, each with a different international focus, but under the same ownership or chef team.

Food Halls and Mixed-Use Developments with Global Options

Another way Atlanta functions like a “restaurant group” for international food is through its food halls and live-work-play developments, where many small operators share one space.

Key Atlanta Food Halls with International Choices

While exact tenants change occasionally, food halls in Atlanta commonly include ramen stands, Latin street food, Mediterranean stalls, Caribbean specialties, and more. Some well-known examples around the metro area include:

• Central and Midtown-area food halls – Often feature rotating global vendors: Asian noodles, empanadas, taquerias, or Middle Eastern bites.
• Westside-area developments – Frequently host international sandwich shops, Italian-inspired counters, and global fusion stands.
• Suburban food halls (Alpharetta, Dunwoody, etc.) – Typically include one or more international concepts such as poke, sushi, Indian street food, or Latin comfort food.

Because stalls in these halls are often run by small restaurant groups or chef teams, they can be a great way to sample multiple international cuisines in one visit.

Types of International Restaurant Groups You’ll Find in Atlanta

Instead of one monolithic “Atlanta Restaurant Group,” the city has many categories of multi-location or multi-concept operators.

1. Multi-Location Ethnic Chains (Local or Regional)

These are restaurants that may have two or more locations across metro Atlanta, sometimes expanding to nearby cities. Common examples include:

• Taqueria chains with locations in-town and in the suburbs
• Sushi and hibachi concepts operating in multiple shopping centers
• Mediterranean / Middle Eastern fast-casual spots with several storefronts
• Bubble tea, poke, or noodle shops repeated across the metro area

These chains often offer consistent menus, pricing, and style, which can be appealing if you want reliability across different neighborhoods.

2. Chef-Driven Restaurant Groups with Global Concepts

Some Atlanta chefs and restaurateurs run multiple restaurants, each with a distinct international focus. In practice, that means one ownership group might operate:

• A Spanish-inspired tapas bar
• A modern Italian pasta restaurant
• A Latin American or Caribbean concept
• A fusion or internationally influenced brunch spot

These groups typically concentrate their restaurants in high-traffic areas like Midtown, Inman Park, West Midtown, or Buckhead.

3. Community-Based Restaurant Clusters

In certain neighborhoods, international restaurants aren’t formally connected but behave like a loose restaurant group because they serve the same community and are located close together:

• Cheshire Bridge Road: Historically known for a mix of Thai, Mexican, and other international eateries
• Clarkston area: Noted for East African, Middle Eastern, and refugee-owned restaurants
• Tucker / Chamblee pocket plazas: Small strips where you’ll find multiple global options in one plaza

These areas are ideal if you want an authentic, community-driven international food experience.

How to Choose the Right International Restaurant in Atlanta

Because there are so many options, it helps to think in terms of experience, budget, and location.

Decide What Kind of Experience You Want

Ask yourself:

• Casual or special occasion?

  • Buford Highway and many Duluth spots lean casual.
  • Midtown, Buckhead, and some in-town neighborhoods lean upscale or date-night-friendly.

• Fast-casual vs. full service?

  • Food halls, taquerias, and poke shops are often order-at-the-counter.
  • Many Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, and Italian spots are full-service sit-down.

• Traditional or modern fusion?

  • Buford Highway, Clarkston, and many family-run spots emphasize traditional flavors.
  • West Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and some BeltLine-adjacent venues lean fusion and modern twists.

Match Your Budget to the Area

As a general pattern:

These ranges can vary by restaurant, but they’re a helpful starting point for planning.

Practical Tips for Enjoying International Cuisine in Atlanta

Use these local-focused tips to make the most of Atlanta’s international dining scene:

1. Plan Around Traffic and Transit

• I-85, GA-400, and I-285 can be congested during rush hours, which affects trips to Buford Highway, Duluth, or Gwinnett.
• If you’re staying near MARTA rail stations (Midtown, Buckhead, Doraville), consider combining rail with short ride-shares to nearby restaurant clusters.

2. Parking Expectations

• Buford Highway & suburban plazas: Mostly free surface lots, though some get crowded at peak dining times.
• Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead: More likely to involve paid decks, valet, or street meters.
• Food halls and mixed-use centers: Often provide structured parking with validation or hourly rates.

3. Reservations vs. Walk-Ins

• Many strip-mall international restaurants are walk-in friendly and don’t take reservations.
• Popular Midtown and Buckhead international spots may require or strongly encourage reservations on weekends or for large groups.
• Food halls are typically first-come, first-served for both stalls and communal seating.

4. Group Dining and Large Parties

If you’re bringing a large group to an international restaurant in Atlanta:

• Call ahead and ask about:
  • Set menus or family-style options
  • Private rooms or semi-private spaces
  • Corkage policies if you plan to bring your own wine (where permitted)

Buford Highway and Duluth have many large-table, family-style restaurants, especially Korean BBQ and Chinese banquet-style spots, which work well for celebrations.

How to Discover Specific International Restaurant Groups in Atlanta

If you’re trying to identify or compare actual restaurant groups that operate internationally themed restaurants across Atlanta, here are practical ways to do it:

• Check restaurant websites or menus – Many will list “sister restaurants” or mention being part of a hospitality group.
• Look for branding similarities – Repeated logo styles, design themes, or menu layouts can indicate a shared owner.
• Ask staff directly – Servers and managers often know whether their location is part of a broader group.
• Search by cuisine + “Atlanta” – For example, “Mediterranean restaurant Atlanta” or “Korean BBQ Atlanta” often reveals multi-location operators.

This approach is especially helpful if you’re planning an event series, corporate outings, or multi-night itineraries and want consistency between different nights or locations.

Helpful Atlanta-Area Information for Visitors

If you’re visiting Atlanta and planning to explore its international restaurant landscape:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers some international-style options, but the most authentic experiences are in the city and suburbs.
• Staying near Midtown, Buckhead, or Perimeter Center makes it easier to reach both in-town international restaurants and suburban corridors like Buford Highway via car or ride-share.
• If you’re attending events at major venues (Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium), you’ll be closest to Downtown and Midtown, where you can easily pair events with nearby global cuisines.

Atlanta doesn’t have just one “Atlanta Restaurant Group” for international cuisine. Instead, it offers a network of corridors, food halls, and multi-concept operators that, together, create one of the most globally diverse dining scenes in the South. By focusing on where you’ll be staying, what kind of experience you want, and how far you’re willing to travel, you can easily build your own personal “Atlanta restaurant group” itinerary—sampling flavors from around the world without ever leaving metro Atlanta.