Georgia Soul Food Icons Locals Swear Are Worth The Drive
Georgia knows soul food like nobody’s business. From crispy fried chicken to collard greens simmered low and slow, the Peach State serves up comfort on every plate.
Whether you’re chasing down family recipes passed through generations or hunting for that perfect slice of sweet potato pie, these legendary spots deliver flavors that’ll make you want to come back for seconds.
1. Busy Bee Café (Atlanta)
Since 1947, this Atlanta landmark has been slinging plates piled high with fried chicken, mac and cheese, and candied yams that taste like grandma made them herself. Politicians, musicians, and regular folks line up side by side for a taste of history.
The cafeteria-style setup means you point at what looks good, and trust us, everything does. Cash only, so hit the ATM first!
2. Mary Mac’s Tea Room (Atlanta)
Open since 1945, this Atlanta institution doesn’t mess around when it comes to Southern hospitality and heaping portions. The fried chicken is legendary, but don’t sleep on the pot roast or squash casserole.
Servers wear name tags and treat you like family from the moment you sit down. Order the sweet tea—it’s sweeter than a Georgia peach in July and twice as refreshing.
3. Paschal’s (Atlanta)
A civil rights movement meeting spot turned soul food mecca, Paschal’s has fed freedom fighters and food lovers since 1947. Their fried chicken recipe remains a closely guarded secret that keeps people coming back decade after decade.
The peach cobbler here isn’t just dessert – it’s a religious experience. Wash it down with their famous sweet tea for the full Georgia treatment.
4. Weaver D’s Delicious Fine Foods (Athens)
“Automatic for the people” isn’t just their slogan – it inspired an R.E.M. album! This Athens gem serves up soul food with personality, where the owner greets you like an old friend and the vegetables taste like they came straight from the garden.
The squash casserole and rutabagas convert vegetable skeptics daily. Lines move fast, but nobody rushes the experience of good food and good vibes.
5. H&H Restaurant (Macon)
Mama Louise Hudson ran this Macon treasure for decades, feeding everyone from Allman Brothers band members to hungry locals craving her famous fried chicken and butter beans. Though Mama Louise passed, her recipes live on strong.
Breakfast here hits different – grits so creamy they don’t need butter, though you’ll add it anyway. The biscuits could make a grown person cry tears of joy.
6. A1 Soul Food (Atlanta)
No frills, no fuss, just straight-up delicious soul food that tastes like Sunday dinner at your favorite aunt’s house. The meat-and-three setup lets you mix and match sides, though choosing only three feels like cruel and unusual punishment.
Cornbread comes out warm and slightly sweet, perfect for soaking up pot likker from the collards. Cash preferred, but your taste buds won’t care about payment methods.
7. Soul Delicious (Atlanta)
The name doesn’t lie – every bite lives up to the promise of deliciousness delivered straight to your soul. Their smothered pork chops swim in onion gravy so good you’ll want to drink it, though that might raise some eyebrows.
Sides rotate daily, keeping regulars on their toes and encouraging adventurous eating. The cornbread dressing on Thursdays causes traffic jams in the parking lot, no exaggeration.
8. Old Lady Gang (Atlanta)
Kandi Burruss brought her family’s recipes to life in this restaurant named after her mother and aunts, the original “old lady gang.” Reality TV fame aside, the food stands tall on its own merits with chicken and waffles that spark debates about best-in-city status.
The salmon croquettes and red velvet cake honor Southern traditions while the atmosphere brings modern energy and style.
9. Busy Bee Café Second Location (Atlanta)
Because one Busy Bee couldn’t handle all the love, Atlanta got blessed with a second location serving the same legendary recipes that made the original famous. Same cafeteria-style service, same incredible flavors, just more opportunities to get your fix.
The fried chicken remains crispy perfection while the yams stay sweet enough to qualify as dessert. Both locations maintain quality that keeps generations coming back for more.
10. Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar (College Park)
Gullah cuisine brings coastal Lowcountry traditions to College Park with dishes that honor West African roots and Southern evolution. Shrimp and grits here taste different – better – because they follow recipes passed down through generations of Gullah families.
The she-crab soup warms you from the inside out while okra gumbo proves this misunderstood vegetable deserves respect. Authentic flavors make the drive absolutely worthwhile.
11. Bankhead Fish & Soul (Atlanta)
When the craving hits for perfectly fried catfish with a crispy coating that shatters at first bite, Bankhead delivers every single time. The fish stays moist inside while the exterior achieves golden-brown perfection that food photographers dream about.
Hushpuppies come out hot and slightly sweet, disappearing faster than you can say “more please.” The coleslaw provides cool contrast to all that fried goodness.
12. Southern Soul Barbeque (St. Simons Island)
Island living meets soul food at this St. Simons treasure where BBQ and Southern sides create perfect harmony. Pulled pork gets smoked low and slow while collard greens and baked beans simmer nearby, filling the air with aromas that make stomachs growl.
The beach location adds bonus points, though the food alone justifies the coastal drive. Sunset dining here feels like winning the Georgia lottery.
13. The Grey (Savannah)
A restored Greyhound bus terminal turned upscale restaurant, The Grey reimagines Southern soul food through a fine-dining lens without losing the comfort factor. Chef Mashama Bailey honors traditions while pushing boundaries, creating dishes that surprise and satisfy simultaneously.
The buttermilk fried chicken and port city pilau showcase Savannah’s culinary heritage with modern technique and presentation.
