Rotisserie chicken$$morningside
Shaun Doty's rotisserie chicken counter in Morningside, Atlanta runs free-range and antibiotic-free birds with seasonal vegetable sides since 2012.
Signature: Rotisserie chicken, Roasted vegetables
Order: A quarter rotisserie chicken with two seasonal vegetable sides.
Tip: Counter ordering. The chicken-pot-pie at lunch is the under-the-radar pick. Family takeaway packs feed four.
Sandwiches$inman-park
Victory Sandwich Bar in Inman Park, Atlanta runs $4 mini sandwiches and the Jack and Coke slushy out of a Bernina Avenue bungalow since 2010.
Signature: Sliders, Jack and Coke slushy
Order: Three mini sandwiches and a frozen Jack and Coke.
Tip: Cash and card. The patio is dog-friendly. Decatur and Inman Park locations stay latest.
International food hall$$buford-highway
Buford Highway Farmers Market in Doraville, Atlanta houses an international grocery with a 12-stall food court running Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican and Chinese counters.
Signature: Pho, Bibimbap, Tacos al pastor, Empanadas
Order: A bowl of pho from the Vietnamese counter, then tacos al pastor from the Mexican stall.
Tip: Grocery and food court open daily; food stalls run cash and card. Best Saturday morning when stalls are freshest.
Soup and salad$buckhead
Jennifer Levison's Souper Jenny on East Andrews Drive in Buckhead, Atlanta opened 2002 with daily-changing scratch soups, salads and sandwiches at a lunch-only counter.
Signature: Daily soups, Sandwiches
Order: Two daily soups served sample-style and half a sandwich.
Tip: Lunch only Monday to Saturday. Order ahead online; the line moves fast.
Neapolitan pizza$$old-fourth-ward
Ammazza in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta runs wood-fired Neapolitan pizza out of an Edgewood Avenue space since 2013. The Diavola and Margherita anchor the menu.
Signature: Diavola pizza, Margherita pizza, Burrata
Order: Diavola pizza and burrata to start.
Tip: Edgewood Avenue patio in spring. Reservations on Resy; takeaway hatch on busy nights.
Pizza by the slice$midtown
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: New York-style slice, Pepperoni pizza
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.