When it comes to soul food, nobody does it better than the South. And in Atlanta, Georgia, soul food restaurants are everywhere, serving favorites from recipes that have been passed down from one generation to another. Here are the top 5 soul food restaurants in Atlanta, Georg according to USA Today's Atlanta Travel Guide.
#1 - Busy Bee Cafe: This favorite eatery has been serving tasty soul food since 1947. They are known for their chitlins, ham hocks, meat loaf, and fried whiting, as well as dessert specialties like banana pudding, red velvet cake, key lime cake, and lemon pound cake. Gotta get there early because they close at 7:00 p.m.
#2 - Mary Mac's Tea Room: This restaurant remains the only tea room left in Atlanta. Since the 1940s they've been serving soul food favorites like fried okra, salmon cakes, fried shrimp, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken tenders, fried crawfish, ribs and sweet tea, or, as it is known locally, "Table Wine of the South."
#3 - Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles: Owned by, you guessed it, singer Gladys Knight, this popular soul food restaurant knows how to draw a crowd. Their dishes include collards, mac n cheese and chicken and waffles. For vegetarians, there's also a choice of 4 vegetables called Veggie Soul. Save room for dessert, too, with a slice of delicious sweet potato cheesecake!
#4 - Soul Vegetarian 2: If you are all vegetarian, there is soul food for you, too, at Soul Vegetarian 2. They serve healthy and nutritious soul food favorites like barbecue tofu and vegan ice cream. What they don't serve is alcohol or any caffeine.
#5 - Beautiful Restaurant: This south-end restaurant has been in business for more than 30 years, serving soul food favorites like fried chicken, collards, green beans, mac n cheese and cornbread. The restaurant is cafeteria-style, and they open early and close late.