Southern-style collard greens slow-braised with smoked pork (ham hock, turkey wing or bacon), onion, garlic, vinegar and red-pepper flakes. The defining Atlanta soul-food vegetable.

Collard greens were brought to the American South by enslaved West Africans, who adapted the West African leaf-vegetable tradition (egusi, kontomire) to the European Brassica varieties grown in the Carolinas and Georgia. The slow-braise with smoked pork and the resulting 'pot liquor' became the canonical Southern preparation. Busy Bee Cafe (open since 1947), Paschal's and Mary Mac's Tea Room serve the reference Atlanta versions. The dish is the heart of every soul-food meat-and-three plate.

4 editor picks for Collard greens in Atlanta, ranked by editorial score. All Atlanta signature dishes · Collard greens across every city.