Food in Atlanta! by Michelle Huynh

What do you think of when you hear the word “Atlanta?” If “food” is not the first thing on your mind, then it should be after this!

Atlanta is known for its Southern comfort food, international cuisines, and more. Any foodie is going to love living in Atlanta! There are endless amounts of good eats in the Metro Atlanta area, ranging from Southern, Ethiopian, to Vietnamese food. Buford Highway is a stretch of road in the Metro Atlanta area that is known for its ethnic diversity and international foods. Every restaurant on that strip of road is AMAZING and I usually end up going there or Duluth to satisfy my cravings.

If you are looking for some good eats, let me put you on…..

Kamayan ATL
- Kamayan ATL is an amazing family-run restaurant that focuses on serving traditional Filipino food. Once you step inside the small yet intimate restaurant, you are surrounded by a lot of traditional cultural Filipino elements. This restaurant was my first try at Filipino food and it is now one of my favorite cuisines. I love ordering their Lechon Kawali which is a delicious crispy roast pork. Their Chicken Adobo is also amazing to eat with their rice–the flavors balance out perfectly. The Wok Fried Green Beans taste super tangy yet delicious. And their Ube Flan Cake is the perfect amount of sweetness. The food here comes out very quickly and is always sizzling hot. Along with being on the Michelin Guide in 2023, this is a restaurant that all food lovers must try! They are only open during the latter half of the week, so make sure to get in there quickly before spots are filled up!
Okiboru
- Okiboru has a few spots throughout the Metro Atlanta area, but all locations do the food justice. If you love good ramen, I would highly recommend coming here! I usually order their Tonkotsu Ramen with extra garlic for flavor and it always hits. The broth is very light and refreshing, the noodle texture is ideal for me, and the pork chashu is super meaty and delicious. Their Garlic Nori Fries are also super yummy with their special aioli sauce. If you are also interested in dipping ramen or tsukemen, this place also serves it! The inside of Okiboru is also very quaint and cute with a lot of Japanese decorations. I would highly recommend coming here at least once!
Rumi’s Kitchen
- Rumi’s Kitchen is AMAZING Persian food!!! I’ve only gone for dinner so the lighting has also been a bit dim, but I guess that makes it a good date spot–whether it is with your friends or a special someone! It is a bit on the pricier side, but the portions of the food are pretty massive. I usually order the Chicken Barg which comes with rice, chicken, and a tomato. They also give you additional seasonings if you would like. The Chicken Barg is extremely tender and juicy! The meat just cuts so easily with a knife and it pairs up really well with the rice. I also really like their hummus and pita, so you should definitely get that if possible. It is usually pretty busy so I would book a reservation if possible!
Canton House
- Dim sum!!! Who doesn’t love dim sum? There are a lot of dim sum restaurants in Atlanta, but my go to is Canton House. The parking lot is often full during peak dim sum areas (usually brunch time), but I think it is definitely worth it. I love getting the Chicken Feet just because it is marinated the way that I like it. Their Har Gow or shrimp dumplings are also another classic dim sum dish that I like to eat with soy sauce. I also really like their Beef Chow Fun, which is basically stir-fried flat rice noodles, beef, and vegetables. Canton House does have the dining carts going around at all times and they also offer desserts, such as a custard bun or egg tarts, as well as boba! This is a yummy place that I would recommend going to try dim sum if you have never had it before.
Little Bangkok
- Little Bangkok has got to be one of my favorite places in Atlanta for Thai food! There is almost zero parking because the restaurant is located on the side of a road, but if you are able to find parking nearby, I definitely recommend going here. It is kind of small inside, but I think it makes for a more cozy setting. I usually get the Chicken Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) and getting it here was amazing. I felt like the sauce was amazing and the dish itself was great. A lot of people say that this is a really good spot for Thai food and I agree. Granted, I’ve only been here once but it left such an impression on me that I rate Little Bangkok is one of the best Thai places in Atlanta!
Fire & Seoul
- Fire & Seoul is a new restaurant that opened up in Duluth, which is around a 25-30 minute drive from Atlanta (without traffic). It is a fusion of Korean and American style barbecue and it is really good. There are only a few items on the menu that are a bit pricey, which is why you should go with a group, but the food comes in large portions and is really good. All of the meat is grilled over a wood fire so there is a great depth of flavor. My group and I got the Braised Short Rib and Signature Beef Galbi Jjim. The Braised Short Ribs were marinated and cooked very well, with the meat sliding off of the bones. The Signature Beef Galbi Jjim was also super good! It is basically a beef stew with some rice cakes and cheese on top. This place offers a unique dining experience that everyone should try!
Desta
- Desta is super good Ethiopian food in Atlanta! I had never tried Ethiopian food until here and I was blown away. I got the Chicken Tibs which are a traditional Ethiopian food of spiced chicken with vegetables. I ate it with Injera, which is like an Ethiopian sourdough flatbread. The flavors of the dish worked very well together and the servers are also very knowledgeable in terms of their recommendations for food here.