Ria Pell's Memorial Drive diner in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta opened 2000 across from Oakland Cemetery with the city's cult buttermilk pancakes and Southern brunch plates.
Signature dishes: Buttermilk pancakes, Shrimp and grits
Must order: Buttermilk pancakes with a side of bacon, then shrimp and grits the second visit.
Tip: No reservations; line forms by 09:00 on weekends. Walking distance from Oakland Cemetery and Cabbagetown.
Address: 421 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
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.
Home Grown on Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown, Atlanta runs a Southern diner with the cult Comfy Chicken Biscuit and country-fried steak since 2011.
Signature: Comfy chicken biscuit, Country fried steak
Order: The Comfy Chicken Biscuit (fried chicken on a biscuit with sausage gravy).
Tip: No reservations; the line builds by 09:30 weekends. Cash and card.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
