Atlanta is the capital of Georgia, it’s also known as a hub of gospel music and has produced notable figures in the hip-hop world. Beyond its musical heritage, the city boasts a rich history and offers delightful cuisine.
Barbecue
Just like in many cities across America, barbecue is a big deal in Atlanta! You’ll find numerous barbecue restaurants worth visiting, such as these:
LAKE & OAK NEIGHBORHOOD BBQ
If chef and restaurateur Todd Richards didn’t open a barbecue restaurant in Atlanta, it was going to be a problem. Patrons have waited for years with bated breath for the two-time James Beard Award-nominated chef and celebrated author of “SOUL: A Chef’s Culinary Evolution in 150 Recipes” to open his barbecue magnum opus. And it happened with Lake & Oak Neighborhood BBQ. Richards and chef and partner Josh Lee are changing the BBQ game in Atlanta, serving up slabs of slow-smoked ribs, wings, pulled pork and more, pop-up style in East Lake.
What You Should Order: It’s all about the rib tips, which, after hours of being smoked to perfection, become juicy, meaty flavor nuggets. Dip in Carolina mustard if you feeling saucy.
DADDY D’Z BBQ JOYNT
When it comes to barbecue goodness, it’s best to never judge a book by its cover. What may seem like a hole in the wall from the outside may be housing a delicious experience inside. Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt, which has been serving up slabs of juicy ribs for more than 20 years, is a prime example and has garnered a cult following and international acclaim from the likes of BBC, Food Network and Travel Channel.
What You Should Order: Daddy D’z ribs are a house specialty and bad to the bone, but don’t forget to try the Famous Que Wraps of BBQ pork wrapped in dough and fried golden brown.
B POPS UP
The famed barbecue of James Beard-nominated pit master Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue has guided Atlantans to meaty glory since opening in 2016. After a fire effectively shut down his remaining locations in 2019, the celebrated chef didn’t let that stop him. He pivoted to highly sought-after ‘cue meet-ups called “B POPS UP.” As the name says, Furman drops a date and location on his social media where customers can preorder pounds of brisket, ribs and whole hog smoked to perfection.
What You Should Order: Whatever you can get your hands on before various spontaneous meat drops sell out.
Best Delis in Atlanta
Bagelicious
Anybody in East Cobb knows this is one of the New York delis with true bona fides. In addition to their best-in-show bagels, they serve up some mean chicken salad, pasta salad, black and white cookies, kugel, and more.
Anytime you go, you’ll find plenty of old New Yorkers there, which is all you need to know about the quality. Heads up: it’s still somehow cash-only, even in the age of COVID, so make sure you have some dollar bills on you. They also don’t exactly have a website or… any sort of online presence, so please excuse the link to their Yelp page and my mediocre picture from a year or two ago. They’re probably too busy counting cash to run an Instagram.
Goldberg’s Fine Foods
Goldberg’s is one of the most famous food brands in ATL. Some of this popularity is due to its sheer geographic coverage, with 9 locations all over the metro-Atlanta area, including two at the airport and one at The Battery that’s open late (which is just 9 PM, but still!) Much more of the Goldberg’s dominance is because of their delicious food.
While the bagels are certainly worth ordering, the sandwiches are what sets this place apart. It’s all the reubens, whether you’re getting the Brooklyn Reuben (a classic with corned beef), the Georgia Reuben (with turkey), or the Fried Chicken Reuben. I also have a soft spot for the Reuben Egg Rolls, stuffed with corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese, a delicious appetizer likely to irk a deli purist.
Brooklyn Bagel & Deli
These bagels are some of the best in town: thick but not too dense. Each flavor of bagel is worth ordering (even the sweet ones, if you’re into that kind of thing…) but the breakfast wraps are just as satisfying and more nutritionally balanced. They also make their own pickles and the usual deli “salads” (chicken, egg, tuna).
It’s a breeze to order online and beat the line, so if you’re on the go, definitely check out their Ansley Mall or Johns Creek locations.
General Muir
The General Muir took Atlanta by storm in 2013, serving up a wide array of deli staples. They sling plenty of the usual favorites, like pastrami on rye and matzo ball soup, as well as some wilder items, like the poutine, topped with cheese curds and gravy. It’s not something you’d find at many New York delis, but that doesn’t make it any less delicious.
You could hardly call yourself a kosher deli without a strong bagel, and The General Muir has just about perfected theirs, with a few classic open-faced sandwich options, like the Avenue A: smoked salmon, grapefruit, avocado, red onion, cucumber, dill, and schmear. If you like what’s going on with the baked goods, they also have TGM Bread, which bakes for The General Muir as well as Fred’s Meat & Bread, Yalla, West Egg, and plenty of other Atlanta icons.
Jack’s New Yorker Deli
Jack’s opened up in 2002 with the vision of a New York deli with a Southern twist. They’ve come a long way from a few reubens and phillies, now serving dozens of sandwiches as well as breakfast options. Their breakfast sandwiches display that perfect marriage of north and south, especially the aptly-named Heart Attack: fried pork roll, eggs, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a kaiser roll.
The lunch sandwiches are, of course, delicious as well. They have all your favorite reubens, clubs, and subs, but some of the most popular orders are the Turkey Rachel (turkey, swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on rye), Al’s Big Roast Beef (roast beef, swiss, lettuce, tomato, and Russian dressing on a kaiser roll), and Jack’s Outlaw (steak, pepperoni, salami, red onions, and banana peppers with hot sauce and provolone).
They also sell their all-purpose seasoning blend called Deli Dust, which has been a fixture in my kitchen since college. It works on literally everything.
The Savory Gourmet Market
Up in Alpharetta there lies a deli unlike any you’ve seen around Georgia. The Savory Gourmet Market not only serves tremendously authentic and devastatingly delicious deli fare, but they also have a massive market with a slew of offerings, including (but not limited to) premade sauces, salads, ready-to-heat dishes, meats, charcuterie, fish, wine, coffee, and even serveware. You may come for one meal and leave with five more.
This place just has that classic deli energy. While waiting for my order, I overheard a customer with a thick New Jersey accent say, “this is the only real New York deli in town.” Praise doesn’t get much higher than that! Chef Adam is from Long Island and it shows with every dish he serves (thanks in large part to his CEO, CFO, and wife Carrie). You can go in countless different directions with your order, but the Reuben and Roast Beef sandwiches are piled high with fresh meats, the Italian Combo is locked and loaded with all your favorite cold cuts, and the Prosciutto Di Parma is a salty, creamy, and flavorful blend of toppings (prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and an aged balsamic vinegar drizzle). They also have the thickest yet crunchiest latke you’ll ever try as well as rainbow cookies (the greatest of all deli desserts) imported straight from a New York bakery.
Gruby’s Deli
Gruby’s Deli has brought the classic deli flavors down south, with locations in Atlanta and Hilton Head (who doesn’t love bringing a pastrami sandwich on rye to the beach?) No matter the time of day, Gruby’s has a broad menu of winning options.
If you’re starting your day with a bang, check out the Pastrami Omelet or the Lox, Eggs, & Onions. You may not think of ordering pancakes at a deli (besides potato pancakes maybe), but theirs can’t be beat, especially the Pecan ones.
If it’s later in the day, trust your instincts with the deli classics. The Bronx Bomber is an all-of-the-above concoction: a corned beef, roast beef, and turkey triple decker with cole slaw and Russian dressing. If you’re feeling more conservative, the Reuben (topped with corned beef or turkey) is always a winner. The Homemade Chicken Soup always hits the spot, but why not swing for the fences like Babe Ruth and add a fluffy matzo ball into the mix?
Craft Beer and Ice Pops
In addition to typical Atlanta dishes, you can also find various international cuisines in the city. Craft beer brewed by small breweries is hugely popular, and don’t miss out on Ice Pops, especially on a warm day in Atlanta. These colorful ice cream carts can be found throughout the city.
