Fellini's Pizza in Atlanta has run New York-style slices and 18-inch pies out of nine locations since 1985, with the original Ponce de Leon shop the cult favourite.
Signature dishes: New York-style slice, Pepperoni pizza
Must order: Two pepperoni slices and a beer; cheap, fast and good.
Tip: Open until 02:00 weekends; the Ponce location stays the latest. Cash and card.
Address: 909 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Frank Gordy's North Avenue drive-in in Atlanta opened 1928 and remains among the largest drive-in restaurants in the world by daily volume, with chili dogs and Frosted Orange.
Signature: Chili dog, Onion rings, Frosted Orange
Order: Two chili dogs (called Naked Dogs Walking), an order of onion rings and a Frosted Orange.
Tip: Walk-up counter inside; carhop service paused. Order in Varsity slang for the full experience: 'two dogs walking' = two hot dogs to go.
Bartaco's Inman Park location in Atlanta runs taco-and-cocktail service with a Resy ordering tablet. Coastal Latin-American tacos and a serious tequila list.
Signature: Baja fish taco, Pork belly taco, Crispy chicken taco
Order: Baja fish, pork belly and crispy chicken tacos with a paloma.
Tip: Order off the paper menu with a pencil; the tablet works only for the bill. Reservations on Resy.
Fox Bros Bar-B-Q on DeKalb Avenue in Atlanta has run Texas-style smoked brisket and pork since 2007. Texas-fries (chili-cheese fries topped with brisket) the cult order.
Signature: Brisket, Texas-fries, Brunswick stew
Order: Sliced brisket plate with Brunswick stew and a side of Texas-fries.
Tip: Counter ordering; the Beltline-adjacent patio runs dog-friendly. Closed Mondays.
Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta merges Korean and Southern BBQ since 2010: gochujang-marinated pulled pork, brisket and the Korean pork sandwich on a steamed bun.
Signature: Korean pork sandwich, Spicy Korean pork, Brisket
Order: The Spicy Korean Pork sandwich; the brisket Brunswick stew is the secondary play.
Tip: Cash and card. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Get there early; the brisket runs out by 14:00 most weekends.
Community Q BBQ in Decatur, Atlanta runs Southern-style smoked pork, brisket and ribs since 2010 with mac and cheese that became a local cult side.
Signature: Pulled pork, Mac and cheese, Brunswick stew
Order: Pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and Brunswick stew.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Cash and card. Family meals scale to feed six and travel well.
Frank Gordy's North Avenue drive-in in Atlanta opened 1928 and remains among the largest drive-in restaurants in the world by daily volume, with chili dogs and Frosted Orange.
Signature: Chili dog, Onion rings, Frosted Orange
Order: Two chili dogs (called Naked Dogs Walking), an order of onion rings and a Frosted Orange.
Tip: Walk-up counter inside; carhop service paused. Order in Varsity slang for the full experience: 'two dogs walking' = two hot dogs to go.
Fred's Meat and Bread at Krog Street Market in Atlanta opened 2014 with chef Todd Ginsberg's burger and sandwich counter. The double cheeseburger anchors the city's burger debate.
Signature: Cheeseburger, Cuban sandwich, Fried chicken sandwich
Order: The double cheeseburger or the Cubano sandwich.
Tip: Counter ordering; pickup at the window. The Bocado burger across town is the spiritual prequel; both run by Ginsberg.
