40 cheap eats rooms in Atlanta, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Atlanta: the places editors actually return to. All Atlanta food.
Holeman and Finch Bread ★ 4.8
buckhead · 2277 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Linton Hopkins' Holeman and Finch Bread bakery in Buckhead, Atlanta runs naturally leavened sourdough, viennoiserie and a pastry programme attached.
Tip: Wholesale-leaning; the public retail counter runs Wed to Sat. Phone ahead for whole loaves on Friday and Saturday morning.
Little Tart Bakeshop ★ 4.7
grant-park · 1186A North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Sarah Dodge's Little Tart Bakeshop in Atlanta opened 2010 and runs a French-leaning pastry programme with bostocks, kouign-amann and naturally leavened bread.
Tip: Krog Street Market and Decatur sister stalls run the same morning bake. The bostock with bitter orange marmalade is the move.
The General Muir ★ 4.6
emory · 1540 Avenue Pl B-230, Atlanta, GA 30329
The General Muir at Emory Point in Atlanta opened 2013 with hand-rolled, kettle-boiled New York bagels and a full Jewish deli menu under chef Todd Ginsberg.
Tip: Bagels often sell out by 13:00. Reuben and pastrami sandwiches anchor the lunch counter. Buckhead sister location runs same hours.
Lee's Bakery ★ 4.6
buford-highway · 4005 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345
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. Family-friendly.
Tip: Order the BBQ pork combo with a coconut bubble tea. Cash works fastest at the counter.
LanZhou Ramen ★ 4.6
buford-highway · 5231 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340
LanZhou Ramen on Atlanta's Buford Highway hand-pulls noodles to order: classic Lanzhou beef noodle soup, knife-cut variations, Michelin recognition.
Tip: Watch the noodle-puller through the window. Order the classic Lanzhou beef noodle soup; it's why the line exists.
Alon's Bakery and Market ★ 4.5
morningside · 1394 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Alon Balshan's bakery in Morningside, Atlanta opened 1992 and runs European-style breads, viennoiserie and a prepared-foods counter. Booking recommended.
Tip: The almond croissant is the canonical morning order. Prepared-foods counter does Friday-night roast chicken and sides.
Brash Coffee ★ 4.5
buckhead · 3275 Peachtree Rd NE Suite C5, Atlanta, GA 30305
Brash Coffee's Buckhead location in Atlanta opened 2018 with a precise espresso programme and house-roasted beans. Order the espresso macchiato.
Tip: Limited seating; built for grab-and-go. The Westside Paper location keeps the same standards with more tables.
PERC Coffee Virginia Highland ★ 4.5
virginia-highland · 1046 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
PERC Coffee opened the Virginia Highland cafe in 2021 with its in-house Savannah-roasted beans, a custom pink espresso machine and a precise pourover bar.
Tip: Open 07:00-18:00 daily. Whole bean retail; ask staff about the seasonal single-origins coming off the Probat.
Methodical Coffee at Westside Paper ★ 4.5
west-midtown · 950 W Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Methodical Coffee opened the Atlanta cafe at Westside Paper in 2022 with their Greenville-roasted beans, espresso programme and a precisely modernist.
Tip: Open mornings only on weekends. The Westside Paper complex has co-working and retail; bring a laptop on weekdays.
Bellwood Coffee East Atlanta Village ★ 4.5
east-atlanta-village · 1336 Glenwood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Bellwood Coffee in East Atlanta Village, Atlanta runs a third-wave cafe inside The Victorian plant shop with house-roasted beans, espresso. Family-friendly.
Tip: Open 07:00 weekdays, 08:00 weekends. Limited counter seating; the shared plant-shop space is the move on weekday mornings.
El Rey del Taco ★ 4.5
buford-highway · 5288 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340
El Rey del Taco in Doraville, Atlanta runs Mexican tacos, tortas and aguas frescas out of a 24-hour Buford Highway counter since 2002. Open daily 09:00-02:00.
Tip: Tacos al pastor with a side of grilled onions is the canonical first order. The horchata is fresh-made daily.
Taqueria del Sol ★ 4.5
west-midtown · 1200B Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Eddie Hernandez's Taqueria del Sol in Atlanta runs Southern-Mexican tacos and chiles rellenos at counter speeds. The West Midtown location opened 2003.
Tip: The fried-chicken taco with peach salsa and the chiles rellenos with corn pudding are the cult orders. Counter ordering; no reservations.
Mamak Doraville ★ 4.5
buford-highway · 5150 Buford Hwy NE A-170, Doraville, GA 30340
Mamak in Doraville, Atlanta runs Malaysian-Chinese street food inside Asian Square on Buford Highway: nasi lemak, roti canai, curry laksa and Hainanese.
Tip: Closed Thursdays. The roti canai with curry dip and the nasi lemak are the canonical first orders; weekend lunches fill fast.
Lee's Bakery ★ 4.5
buford-highway · 4005 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345
Lee's Bakery on Buford Highway in Atlanta runs Vietnamese banh mi and pastries since 1996. The $6 banh mi remains one of the city's best food values.
Tip: Cash and card. The classic banh mi dac biet (special sandwich) with pate and cold cuts is the move; baguettes baked in-house daily.
Quoc Huong Banh Mi Fast Food ★ 4.5
buford-highway · 5150 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340
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.
Tip: Cash only and closed Thursdays. The grilled pork is the most-ordered; the combo loads on three meats.
Buena Gente Cuban Bakery ★ 4.5
decatur · 1365 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA 30033
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.
Henri's Bakery and Cafe ★ 4.4
buckhead · 61 Irby Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Henri's Bakery in Buckhead, Atlanta has run since 1929 with French pastries, European cakes and the po'boy sandwich that became the cult lunch order.
Tip: The po'boy with daily-baked French roll is the order; cakes book ahead for celebrations. Counter ordering.
Five Daughters Bakery ★ 4.4
old-fourth-ward · 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE Ste N143, Atlanta, GA 30308
Five Daughters Bakery at Ponce City Market in Atlanta runs the Hundred Layer Doughnut, a three-day fusion of croissant and doughnut with 144 buttery layers.
Tip: Top items often sell out by mid-morning Saturday. The classic Hundred Layer Doughnut is the marquee order; rotating seasonal fillings change weekly.
Grant Park Coffeehouse ★ 4.4
grant-park · 337 Georgia Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Grant Park Coffeehouse on Georgia Avenue in Atlanta runs a neighbourhood cafe with Ethiopian-sourced beans, breakfast plates and a wide work-friendly room.
Tip: Free WiFi and study rooms. The patio is pet-friendly; opens at 07:00 weekdays, 08:00 Sunday.
Spiller Park Coffee at Ponce City Market ★ 4.4
old-fourth-ward · 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Spiller Park Coffee at Ponce City Market in Atlanta opened 2016 from a partnership including chef Hugh Acheson. The honey latte is the cult order.
Tip: Counter ordering. The Toco Hills cafe has more seating; PCM runs the food-hall foot traffic. Try the Toco Hill beans for retail.
Chrome Yellow Trading Co. ★ 4.4
old-fourth-ward · 501 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Chrome Yellow Trading on Edgewood Avenue in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta runs a third-wave espresso bar paired with a shortlisted goods shop in a renovated 1923.
Tip: Tight space; counter and one communal table. Good for solo work in mornings, less so at peak weekend hours.
East Pole Coffee Co. ★ 4.4
morningside · 1675 Cumberland Ct NE Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30309
East Pole Coffee in Morningside, Atlanta roasts its own beans and runs a third-wave cafe with espresso, pourover and a small pastry programme since 2017.
Tip: Work-friendly mornings before 11:00; weekend service runs busier. Beans sold for retail.
The Reading Room ★ 4.4
decatur · 429 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030
The Reading Room in downtown Decatur, Atlanta opened 2024 as a writer's-nook coffee shop and afternoon wine bar with drip coffee, matcha and an afternoon.
Tip: Free WiFi and a bookish ambiance built for laptop work. Wine service kicks in late afternoon; sandwiches and pastries through the day.
American Deli ★ 4.4
downtown · 180 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
American Deli on Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta runs the city's canonical lemon pepper wings since 1989. Open daily 11:00-22:00. At 180 Auburn Ave NE.
Tip: Order 'lemon pepper wet' to upgrade to butter-tossed; the canonical Atlanta order since the Donald Glover TV episode put the city on the map.
Reuben's Deli ★ 4.4
downtown · 57 Broad St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Reuben's Deli on Broad Street in downtown Atlanta has run a NY-style counter since 1986: pastrami reubens, the Atlanta Dog with chili and slaw.
Tip: Yell your order from the doorway; only eight tables. Closed Sunday. The pastrami reuben is the first-timer order; ask staff about the secret-menu Old Tuesday.
Hankook Taqueria ★ 4.4
west-midtown · 1341 Collier Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Hankook Taqueria on Atlanta's Westside puts Korean BBQ inside taco shells: tongdak crispy chicken with spicy aioli, lettuce, Monterey Jack under $14.
Tip: Tongdak crispy chicken tacos are the move; ask for extra spicy aioli. Closed Sundays.
Belen de la Cruz ★ 4.4
west-midtown · 1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
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.
Tip: Three empanadas plus a dulce de leche pastel makes a $15 lunch. The chimichurri travels well in a takeaway tub.
El Taco Veloz ★ 4.3
buford-highway · 5084 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340
El Taco Veloz on Buford Highway in Doraville, Atlanta has run a 24-hour taqueria since 1991 with al pastor, carne asada and lengua on hand-pressed corn.
Tip: Open 24 hours; the late-night hot sauce bar runs five salsas. The Cobb Parkway and Roswell locations close earlier than Doraville.
Southern Baked Pie Company ★ 4.3
buckhead · 3145 Peachtree Road, Suite 165, Atlanta, GA 30305
Southern Baked Pie Company in Buckhead, Atlanta runs Amanda Wilbanks's Gainesville-born pie line from a chic Peachtree counter: caramel pecan.
Tip: Reserve whole pies 48 hours ahead for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The caramel pecan and original buttermilk are the year-round picks.
Condesa Coffee ★ 4.3
old-fourth-ward · 480 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Condesa Coffee in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta runs a third-wave cafe with Counter Culture beans, breakfast burritos and a wide work-friendly room.
Tip: Patio is dog-friendly. Brunch service runs Saturday and Sunday with the cult breakfast burrito.
Muchacho ★ 4.3
reynoldstown · 904 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Muchacho on the Beltline in Reynoldstown, Atlanta runs a Mexican-leaning cafe with breakfast tacos, cafe de olla and a beer programme that switches.
Tip: Beltline patio. Breakfast tacos until 14:00; tortilla press visible from the counter.
Dancing Goats Coffee Bar ★ 4.3
old-fourth-ward · 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Dancing Goats Coffee in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward roasts Batdorf and Bronson beans across a third-wave menu. Order the single-origin pourover.
Tip: Largest seating of any third-wave cafe in O4W; the Decatur and Ponce locations match the bean program.
Pho Dai Loi 2 ★ 4.3
buford-highway · 4186 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345
Pho Dai Loi 2 on Buford Highway in Atlanta has run Vietnamese pho and bun since the 1990s. The pho tai (rare beef) is the canonical first order.
Tip: Cash and card. Open every day; lunch hours quieter than dinner. Pho dac biet (everything bowl) is the upgrade order.
Atlanta Breakfast Club ★ 4.3
downtown · 249 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30313
Atlanta Breakfast Club on Ivan Allen Jr Boulevard in downtown Atlanta runs all-day Southern breakfast: crispy chicken biscuits, chicken and waffles.
Tip: No reservations; the line builds before 09:00 weekends but moves fast. The crispy chicken biscuits with grape jelly are the canonical first order.
Arepa Grill ★ 4.3
buford-highway · 4166 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345
Arepa Grill on Atlanta's Buford Highway runs Venezuelan arepas under $13: pabellon with shredded beef, sweet plantain, cheese, plus deep-fried churros.
Tip: Order the pabellon arepa: shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantain, cheese. The fried churros come three to an order.
Yalla ★ 4.3
inman-park · 99 Krog St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Yalla at Krog Street Market in Atlanta runs Middle Eastern fast-casual: $12 shawarma pita with fried eggplant and tahini, falafel, fresh laffa bread.
Tip: Chicken shawarma pita with fried eggplant and tahini for $12 is the sleeper. Eat on the market patio.
Sublime Doughnuts ★ 4.2
west-midtown · 535 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Kamal Grant's Sublime Doughnuts in West Midtown, Atlanta opened 2008 with hand-fried, filled doughnuts. Open daily 07:00-21:00. At 535 10th St NW.
Tip: Open until 21:00 daily. The A-Town Cream is the canonical order; rotating seasonal flavours change weekly.
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee ★ 4.2
east-atlanta-village · 1322 Glenwood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Land of a Thousand Hills in East Atlanta Village, Atlanta runs a cafe and roaster sourcing Rwandan beans through a fair-trade direct programme since 2005.
Tip: The EAV patio is dog-friendly. Retail beans sold by the bag; ask about Rwandan harvest releases.
This Is It Southern Kitchen and BBQ ★ 4.2
west-end · 1043 Cascade Rd SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
This Is It Southern Kitchen in Cascade and West End, Atlanta runs takeaway-counter soul food: fried chicken, ribs, wings and Southern sides since 1985.
Tip: Drive-through and walk-up. The whole wings with a side of mac are the move. Multiple locations across Atlanta.
Pielands Sub and Slice ★ 4.2
virginia-highland · 1021 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Pielands in Atlanta's Virginia Highland does NY round slices and 16-inch square Noni pies: pesto, marinara, house-pulled fresh mozzarella, fold-friendly.
Tip: The Green Granny square slice with pesto and house-pulled mozzarella is the move; standard NY cheese is the cheap default and folds correctly.