Favorite Restaurants of Atlanta

Updated January 2013

I get asked all the time, so here is a list of my favorite places in Atlanta. I’ve grouped them into logical sections, then I list some of my favorite attributes of each. Maybe now I can send this list to all those people who email me for suggestions, but never seem to take any of them. Jerks.

These are places I’ve visited in the last year. This isn’t a “best of” list. I don’t care if you know a better pho place or don’t like a particular burger joint. It’s just a blog, I don’t make it up to Buford Highway as often as many people, I have a limited budget, and I don’t know everything (don’t tell my wife).

No whining.

Italian & Pizza
Sotto Sotto (risottos)
Varasano’s (The Nana and Nucci pizza)
La Tavola (pasta, bar, people)
STG Trattoria (pizza, cocktails, amaro)

Sushi
Sushi House Hayakawa (ikura and uni don, omakase)
Tomo Buckhead (shiso wrapped fried uni, salted Japanese mackerel)
Sushi Huku (omakase, thin sliced cooked beef tongue)

The Old South
The Colonnade
Busy Bee
Carver’s 

The New South
Empire State South (Southern food, cocktails, wine, coffee, breakfast/lunch/dinner)
Abattoir (offal, cocktails/bar, Southern food)
Holeman & Finch (cocktails/bar, veggies, burger, hot dog, small plates, wine)
Bacchanalia (the bar)
One Eared Stag (cocktails, inventive, fried chicken, fried shrimp heads)
Eugene (cocktails/bar)
JCT Bar (burger, cocktails, rooftop bar)
Miller-Union (burger, lunch, cocktails, pan cooked chicken, wine)
One Flew South (airport dining)
Park 75 (tasting menu)
Table & Main (outside the perimeter, Southern, chicken, bourbon list)
Aria (upscale Southern, wine, fancy pants, collagen)
Bocado (burger, $8 corkage fee, cauliflower sandwich, deviled eggs)
Cakes & Ale (wine, everything)
The Shed (bar, atmosphere, small portion entrees for sharing, brunch)
Woodfire Grill (cocktails, vegetarian tasting menu, Southern)
Muss & Turner (burger, brunch, beer, sandwiches)
The Spence (wine list, cocktails, small plates)
Miso Izakaya (Japanese and Korean and Southern influenced, sochu, drinks)

Late Night
The Sound Table (cocktails, small plates)
Octopus Bar (open until 3AM, lobster roll, oysters, salt and pepper shrimp)
Porter Beer Bar (beer, pub food)
Trader Vic’s (tongo hiti, mai tai’s, hangovers)
Ormsby (bar games, beer, drunk college students)

BBQ
Heirloom BBQ (brisket, Koren influenced BBQ, warm sauce)
Community BBQ (pork, mac ‘n cheese)
Fox Brothers BBQ (guilty pleasures, short rib, frito pie)

“Fast Food”
Willy’s (California style burrito)
The Varsity (FO, slaw dogs)
Taqueria del Sol (rellenos, tacos, guacamole)
Bell Street Burritos (green chile pork burrito, killer beans)
Fellini’s (slice of pizza)
Victory Sandwich Bar (drinks, sandwiches)

Japanese (non-sushi)
Yakitori Jenbei (ramen)
Haru Ichiban (ramen, not sushi)
Raku (ramen)
Umaido (ramen, actually Korean)
Shoya Izakaya (Japanese snacks)

Vietnamese
Lee’s Bakery (banh mi)
Pho Dai Loi 2 (pho)
Quan Ba 9 (porridge, soups, salads, hangovers)

Korean
So Kong Dong (Korean soup/sundubu)
Yet Tuh
Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House (soups/sundubu, tasting menu)
Cafe Todahmgol (BBQ)
Dan Moo Ji (Korean snacks)

Chinese
Gu’s Bistro (Sichuan, ma la, $10 corkage, group dining)
Chong Qing Hot Pot (Sichuan, ma la, food court, fast, cheap)
Royal China (dim sum)
Ming’s BBQ (slutty Cantonese, chow fun)
Chef Liu’s (dumplings)

Thai
Spoon
Little Bangkok

Hispanic
El Taco Veloz (cheap, quick tacos)
Nuevo Laredo (slutty Mexican food, brisket)

Indian
Chat Patti (thali, vegetarian)

Misc
Cafe Agora (Mediterranean/Greek)
The Porter (Beers, snacks)
Kyma (Greek, seafood)
Sufi’s (Persian)
Sublime Donuts (donuts, duh)
Le Caveau (retail wine shop, small labels, orange wine, the funk)
Hop City (beer – retail)
H&F Bread Co. (bread – sold at farmer’s markets)
Octane (coffee, the jitters)
Grant Park Octane/Little Tart Bake Shop (coffee, sandwiches, pastries)
Kevin Rathbun Steak (steak)
Star Provisions (cheese, sandwiches, meats, baguette)