10 Best Casual Restaurants in Atlanta

Casual restaurants in Atlanta are famous for their deep connection to Southern history, their role as neighborhood institutions, and their focus on authentic comforting food. Many of these establishments, like The Busy Bee Café and Mary Mac’s Tea Room, are famous not just for their food but for their history, having served the community for over 70 years and playing a part in the city's cultural development. They are celebrated for perfecting classic Southern dishes, from soul food to pizza, and for maintaining a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere that has kept locals and visitors returning for generations.

The most common types of casual restaurants in Atlanta are Southern and Soul Food kitchens and neighborhood pizzerias. These Atlanta restaurants offer a range of accessible and flavorful dining experiences. The different types of casual restaurants commonly found here are listed below.

• Southern and Soul Food Restaurants: This is the core of Atlanta's casual food identity. Historic establishments like The Busy Bee Café and K & K Soul Food are known for classic dishes like fried chicken, collard greens, and mac & cheese.
• Pizzerias: Atlanta has many long-standing, neighborhood-focused pizzerias. Fellini's Pizza is a well-known example, famous for its New York-style pizza and popular patios.
• Hot Chicken Joints: A very popular category in the city, these fast-casual spots specialize in Nashville-style hot chicken. Hattie B's is a prime example, known for its various heat levels and long lines.
• Diners: Classic American diners, some with a 24/7 schedule, are a staple. The Marietta Diner, though in a suburb, is a famous landmark known for its huge menu and oversized desserts.
• Mexican and Taquerias: The city has a strong and growing scene for casual Mexican food, from traditional taquerias to modern, chef-driven concepts like Little Rey.
• Barbecue Restaurants: While not a primary barbecue city, Atlanta has a solid offering of casual barbecue spots serving slow-smoked meats and classic Southern sides.

Yes, Atlanta has many authentic casual restaurants, a status proven by their deep historical roots, their adherence to traditional recipes, and their national recognition. The Busy Bee Café is a prime example of an authentic soul food restaurant; operating since 1947, it has preserved classic Southern recipes, served as a meeting place during the Civil Rights Movement, and earned a James Beard America's Classics Award for its cultural significance. Mary Mac's Tea Room is another authentic institution, serving as "Atlanta's Dining Room" since 1945 and continuing the Southern tradition of offering complimentary pot likker to first-time guests.

The signature dishes at the best casual restaurants in Atlanta are a showcase of comforting Southern and American classics, from world-famous fried chicken to creative wood-roasted chicken. The food in Atlanta is known for being flavorful, satisfying, and deeply connected to the city's heritage. The most notable signature dishes are listed below.

• Fried Chicken: This is arguably Atlanta's most famous dish, with the crispy, perfectly seasoned fried chicken from The Busy Bee Café being a nationally acclaimed example.
• Nashville Hot Chicken: The spicy, cayenne-pepper-based fried chicken served on white bread with pickles is the signature item at the very popular Hattie B's Hot Chicken.
• Pollo Al Carbon: The wood-roasted chicken from Little Rey is its central menu item, known for its smoky flavor and juicy texture.
• New York-Style Pizza: A classic thin-crust pizza with a cornmeal-dusted crust, such as the Fellini's Special from Fellini's Pizza, is a long-standing Atlanta favorite.
• Macaroni and Cheese: A quintessential soul food side dish, the rich, baked macaroni and cheese from places like K & K Soul Food and Mary Mac's is a signature item in its own right.
• Chicken and Dumplings: A classic Southern comfort food dish, this is a signature entree at the historic Mary Mac's Tea Room.

Yes, Atlanta enjoys casual food immensely; it forms the backbone of the city's everyday dining culture. This is demonstrated by the long-lasting success of historic institutions like Mary Mac’s and The Busy Bee, the constant crowds at neighborhood favorites like Fellini's Pizza, and the consistent lines at trendy fast-casual spots like Hattie B's. Casual restaurants are central to daily life in Atlanta, serving as go-to spots for work lunches, family dinners, and relaxed weekend outings, proving that unpretentious, high-quality food is deeply valued.

The average meal price for casual restaurants in Atlanta ranges from $15 to $35 per person. A full meal at a fast-casual establishment like Hattie B's or a classic soul food spot like K & K Soul Food will often cost between $15 and $25. At a more substantial sit-down casual restaurant like Mary Mac's Tea Room or a popular pizzeria, the price for a meal with a drink or appetizer might be closer to the $25 to $35 range.

Yes, there are many vegan options in casual restaurants in Atlanta, including at several dedicated plant-based establishments like SluttyVegan and Plant Based Pizzeria. SluttyVegan is a nationally famous fast-casual spot known for its indulgent, over-the-top vegan burgers. Plant Based Pizzeria offers a full menu of vegan pizzas with creative toppings. Beyond these, many other casual spots are accommodating; for example, soul food restaurants often have a wide selection of vegetable sides, many of which can be confirmed as vegan, and pizzerias can make cheeseless vegetable pizzas.

Yes, many casual restaurants in Atlanta offer gluten-free options. Several modern fast-casual spots are designed with dietary needs in mind. For a dedicated experience, Arepa Mia is a popular casual restaurant with two locations that serves a naturally gluten-free menu of Venezuelan arepas. Many barbecue or Southern "meat-and-three" restaurants offer grilled or baked meats and many vegetable sides that do not contain gluten. Some pizzerias, including Fellini's Pizza, also now offer gluten-free crusts as an option for their customers.