El Rey del Taco is a taqueria late-night spot in Buford Highway, Atlanta.
El Rey del Taco on Atlanta's Buford Highway runs until 04:30 weekends: housemade tortillas, al pastor with pineapple, agua frescas, no fuss.
Editorially verified May 19, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Order at the counter, sit in the diner booths. The al pastor with pineapple is the move; agua frescas rotate daily.
Address: 5288 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340, Atlanta
OK Yaki in Atlanta's East Atlanta Village is the late-night Osaka griddle: okonomiyaki, yakisoba, Japanese street snacks until 01:00 on weekends.
Try: Osaka-style okonomiyaki, yakisoba, Japanese street snacks
Tip: Walk-in only and the room is small. Wedge yourself in at the counter and order the pork belly okonomiyaki.
Bucket Shop Cafe in Atlanta's Buckhead has poured the late shift since 1982: lemon pepper wings, burgers, draft beer until 03:00 most nights.
Try: Lemon pepper wings, burgers, draft beer
Tip: Holding down Buckhead's late-night since 1982. Kitchen runs to 02:30; the bar carries the last half-hour.
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill in Atlanta is the Midtown organic late-night room: free-range burgers, vegan bowls, an outdoor patio of yard ornaments since 1985.
Try: Free-range burgers, vegan bowls, blue-green-algae smoothies
Tip: Cuts off at 05:00 Wednesday through Saturday now, not 24-hour anymore. Yard ornament patio is the move on warm nights.
Velvet Taco in Atlanta's Buckhead stays open until 03:00 on weekends: globally inspired tacos, weekly specials, a take-it-down-the-block walk-up window.
Try: Globally inspired tacos, rotating weekly special
Tip: Order the weekly Taco of the Week board; it's a one-week-only menu pull, often the best thing in the building.
Waffle House on Howell Mill in Atlanta runs 24/7 like the rest of the 90-plus metro locations: scattered-smothered hash browns, pecan waffles.
Try: Hash browns scattered smothered covered, pecan waffles, all-day breakfast
Tip: Order the hash browns scattered, smothered, covered; it's the local language. Tip your waitress in cash.
Octopus Bar in Atlanta is the East Atlanta after-service room: a 22:30-02:30 small-plates kitchen on the So Ba patio, So Ba owner Nhan Le's late shift.
Try: Salt and pepper Georgia shrimp, uni sashimi, lobster cream pasta
Tip: Doors open at 22:30 sharp. The industry crowd queues the patio of So Ba by 22:00 on Fridays; bring a book.
