Buena Gente Cuban Bakery in Decatur presses real Cuban sandwiches for $14: lechon in housemade mojo, $5 croquetas and guava pastelitos to start.
Tip: Sandwiches start at 11:00 only; before then it's pastries and Cuban coffee. Closed Mon-Wed.
Address: 1365 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033, Atlanta
Belen de la Cruz in Atlanta's Westside bakes Argentinian empanadas for $3.80 each: beef, chicken, vegetarian, gluten-free, plus dulce de leche pastries.
Try: Argentinian empanadas
Tip: Three empanadas plus a dulce de leche pastel makes a $15 lunch. The chimichurri travels well in a takeaway tub.
Maepole in Atlanta's Summerhill is the under-$15 Southern grain bowl: seared chicken or shredded pork, collards, mac, vegan and keto options on the same line.
Try: Build-your-own Southern grain bowls
Tip: Pick the shredded pork over a grain base with collards and mac and cheese. Same Summerhill block as Southern National.
Lee's Bakery on Atlanta's Buford Highway runs the city's most-argued banh mi: BBQ pork combo for $6, coconut bubble tea, generous portions.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi sandwich
Tip: Order the BBQ pork combo with a coconut bubble tea. Cash works fastest at the counter.
Quoc Huong Banh Mi on Atlanta's Buford Highway sells ten varieties at $5 each: grilled pork, combo, vegetarian, all on house-baked airy baguette.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi, 10 varieties
Tip: Cash only and closed Thursdays. The grilled pork is the most-ordered; the combo loads on three meats.
LanZhou Ramen on Atlanta's Buford Highway hand-pulls noodles to order: classic Lanzhou beef noodle soup, knife-cut variations, Michelin recognition.
Try: Hand-pulled noodles in beef broth
Tip: Watch the noodle-puller through the window. Order the classic Lanzhou beef noodle soup; it's why the line exists.
Arepa Grill on Atlanta's Buford Highway runs Venezuelan arepas under $13: pabellon with shredded beef, sweet plantain, cheese, plus deep-fried churros.
Try: Venezuelan arepas with stewed meats
Tip: Order the pabellon arepa: shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantain, cheese. The fried churros come three to an order.
