Atlanta is known for its southern comfort food, fried chicken, smoky barbecue, soul food stations, and classic Georgia specialties. If you are thinking about what food is Atlanta known for, some of its most recognizable favorites include fried chicken, shrimps, barbecue, brunswick stew, grits, collard greens, and peach cobbler.
Odoms & Sons BBQ is perfect for the ones who love barbecue, their BBQ offers a taste of smoky, bold flavors that will make Southern BBQ a popular part of Atlanta’s culinary experience. Here we have a list of 10 local dishes along with the BBQ favorites.
What Food Is Atlanta Known For?
Atlanta is best known for its southern dishes including barbecue, shrimp, grits, fried chicken, collard green, brunswick stew, peach cobbler, and many other comfort foods. The most essential part of Atlanta’s food culture is Georgia’s famous peaches.
Instead of Atlanta’s so many restaurants that are serving cuisines from all over the world, Southern food is still the essential part of the city’s culinary experience, especially barbecue.
If you are looking for great food in Atlanta, explore the dishes that represent the city’s southern roots.
Quick Comparison: Atlanta’s Most Popular Local Foods & BBQ Favorites
| Atlanta’s Food | What It Is | Best For |
| Pulled Pork Beef | Slow smoked pork served shredded with traditional BBQ sauces | A classic Atlanta’s BBQ experience |
| BBQ Ribs | Pork ribs cooked slowly and served with sauces and seasonings | BBQ lovers and hearty meals |
| Brunswick Stew | Thick stew which is traditionally cooked with meat, vegetables, and seasonings | A traditional Southern side dish |
| Fried Chicken | Seasoned flavorful chicken coated and fried until crunchy and crispy | Classic Southern comfort food |
| Shrimps & Grits | Flavorful shrimps served with creamy grits | A Southern style comfort food |
| Collard Green | Slowly cooked greens seasoned with bold traditional flavors | A traditional BBQ side dish |
| Cornbread | Southern style bread made with cornmeal | Pair it with BBQ, greens, and stew |
| Mac n Cheese | Creamy baked macaroni with cheeses | Comfort food lovers |
| Peach Cobbler | Baked peaches served with a sweet pastry or biscuits topping | Georgia-inspired dessert |
| Peach Desserts | Cakes, pies, cobblers, and other treats that features Georgia’s peaches | Dessert after Southern meal |
10 Local Dishes Atlanta Is Known For
Atlanta has much more to offer rather than the one signature dish. Here we have the 10 local foods of Atlanta that are worth trying.
1. Southern BBQ
Barbecue is the first food that comes to mind while discussing Atlanta’s culinary culture. In BBQ we have pulled pork beef, smoked chicken, and many other meats that are slowly smoked until become tender, juicy, and flavorful.
The meat can be served with barbecue sauce, plates, sandwiches, and traditional southern sides. Sauces can be sweet, tangy, smoky, or savory depending on the famous restaurants in downtown Atlanta.
2. Pulled Pork
Another most popular choice in Atlanta is pulled pork which is a classic southern BBQ. The restaurants cook pork slowly until it becomes tender enough to easily pull apart and then it is served with barbecue sauces and traditional southern sides.
To design a classic southern meal, make a plate of pulled pork with coleslaw, baked beans, brunswick stew, or cornbread. At BBQ smoque restaurants, pulled pork can be served on a sandwich as a casual meal to enjoy.
3. Brunswick Stew
Brunswick stew is a traditional southern dish made with meat, vegetables, tomatoes, and seasonings. Many restaurants cook it differently in their own way, but it is associated with BBQ restaurants throughout Atlanta.
If you are making a list of best places to eat in Atlanta, consider adding Odoms & Sons BBQ as it is one of the best restaurants in Atlanta where you can have BBQ along with traditional southern side dishes which include Brunswick stew.
4. Fried Chicken
Another most important favorite of Atlanta is fried chicken. In fried chicken, chicken is seasoned with bold ingredients, coated for crisp, and fried until it turns golden brown and crunchy while the inside becomes soft, juicy and tender.
From casual restaurants to Southern dining spots, fried chicken is the most famous dish which can be found everywhere. It is usually served with mashed potatoes
5. Shrimp & Grits
Shrimps and grits are a combination of creamy texture with flavorful sauces and toppings. This dish has its roots throughout the American South and has become a perfect dish on Southern family friendly BBQ restaurants in Atlanta.
The cuisine demonstrates how Southern cooking can be simple and still flavorful.
6. Collard Greens
Collard greens are classic traditional side dishes which are prepared through slow cooking leafy greens with seasonings, smoky, traditionally, or cured meats.
They are usually served as a side dish with barbecue, cornbread, fried chicken, and other Southern favorites. Greens are an essential part of traditional plate and mostly appear as one of the best on famous restaurants in downtown Atlanta.
7. Mac n Cheese
Mac n Cheese is a Southern style comfort food and one of the favorite side dishes at a barbecue restaurant. Instead of simple pasta dishes, the Southern way of cooking pasta is to bake them with a significant amount of cheese which makes it a rich and satisfying side paired with barbecue.
To have a perfect Southern inspired eye-catching meal add barbecue, mac n cheese, cornbread, and collard greens.
8. Peach Cobbler
Georgia is famous for its peaches, so making peach desserts is an essential part of the BBQ restaurants near me. In peach cobbler, we combine sweet peaches with baked toppings and are served warmly, sometimes with ice cream.
For the ones who are exploring what food is Atlanta known for, Georgia peach dishes should be on the top of the list. Instead of being exclusive to Atlanta, peaches are enjoyed throughout the state.
9. Cornbread
Cornbread is the most popular Southern breads and a perfect one to pair with barbecue, Brunswick stew, collard greens, and other traditional dishes.
Cornbread can be sweet, savory, moist, or crumbly. It can be served warmly and can be used especially to soak flavorful barbecue sauces and stew.
10. Soul Food
Soul food tradition has a strong connection with Atlanta. Soul food restaurants serve a combination of collard greens, fried chicken, mac n cheese, cornbread, beans, yams, and other delicious dishes.
What Time Does Restaurant Close In Colony Square Atlanta?
The closing time of restaurants in colony square Atlanta can vary by different restaurants, day, holiday, or any other special event. Instead of relying on general closing time for colony square, check the operating hours before visiting can depend on the occasion or day.
If you are planning to have dinner, visit our Atlanta BBQ restaurant and check our restaurant’s official timings on the visiting day.
What Should You Order At An Atlanta BBQ Restaurant?
If you are visiting a BBQ chicken restaurant in Atlanta for the first time, you should start with a combination of smoked meat and classic southern sides. Your typical order should include:
- Main: Pulled pork beef, ribs, or smoked chicken
- Sides: Baked beans, brunswick stew, collard greens, mac n cheese, or coleslaw
- Bread: Cornbread
- Dessert: Peach cobbler or other Southern desserts
This combination will let you experience several different flavors which are associated with Southern food in one meal. If you are planning to have an event, you can book your event with Odoms & Sons BBQ to enjoy flavorful, appetizing Southern cuisines.
Where Can You Find The Best Food In Atlanta?
You can find great food in Atlanta, along with their neighborhoods including downtown Atlanta, East Atlanta village, Midtown, Little five points, or other areas that are known for local dinings and restaurants.
While selecting where to eat, always choose what type of experience you need. A barbecue restaurant is ideal for traditional smoked meats and Southern sides. If you need traditional Southern flavors, look for the restaurants that are offering barbecue, fried chicken, traditional side dishes, soul food and peach desserts.
Final Thoughts!
So, in this guide you get to know all about what food is Atlanta known for. It is a combination of Southern cuisines including BBQ, fried chicken, mac n cheese, shrimps and grits, collard greens, baked beans, brunswick stew, peach cobbler, and soul food.
Whether you are living in Atlanta or visiting it for the very first time, exploring local Southern dishes is the easiest way to experience the city’s culinary culture. Don’t forget to taste the famous Atlanta foods for a memorable experience.
