OK Yaki in Atlanta's East Atlanta Village is the late-night Osaka griddle: okonomiyaki, yakisoba, Japanese street snacks until 01:00 on weekends.
Tip: Walk-in only and the room is small. Wedge yourself in at the counter and order the pork belly okonomiyaki.
Address: 714 Moreland Ave SE Ste D, Atlanta, GA 30316
Octopus Bar in Atlanta is the East Atlanta after-service room: a 22:30 to 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.
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, born here in 1955.
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 to 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.
Landmark Diner in Atlanta's Buckhead has run a 24/7 New York diner menu since 1994: pancakes, Greek classics, milkshakes, a side comedy lounge.
Try: Pancake stacks, Greek omelettes, 24-hour breakfast
Tip: Full bar runs until 02:00; after that it's coffee and pancakes. Comedy in the side lounge Wed-Sat evenings.
