Unearth The Voyage
Georgia knows comfort food, and nothing proves it better than the mac and cheese served across the state. From Atlanta’s bustling neighborhoods to Savannah’s historic streets, restaurants are dishing out creamy, cheesy bowls that have locals and visitors waiting in line. Whether you prefer yours baked with a crispy top, loaded with lobster, or served alongside smoky barbecue, these spots deliver the kind of mac and cheese that makes you forget everything else on the menu.
1. Community Q BBQ (Decatur)
When Atlanta Magazine dedicates an entire feature to a single side dish, you know it’s legendary. Community Q BBQ in Decatur serves a three-cheese mac that has achieved cult status among locals who consider it the gold standard.
The secret lies in the perfect cheese blend that creates a sauce so smooth and rich, it clings to every elbow. People order extra portions to take home, and first-timers are often shocked by how something so simple can taste so incredible.
Pair it with their award-winning barbecue, and you’ve got a meal worth the drive to Decatur.
2. Busy Bee Cafe (Atlanta, West End)
Busy Bee Cafe earned an American Classic award for good reason. This West End institution has been serving soul food since 1947, and their creamy mac and cheese remains a cornerstone of every plate.
The texture hits that sweet spot between silky and substantial, making it the perfect companion to their famous fried chicken. Regulars know to arrive early because the lunch rush can mean long waits, but nobody complains when the food is this good.
The mac and cheese here tastes like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house, rich with tradition and made with genuine care.
3. Mary Mac’s Tea Room (Midtown Atlanta)
Known affectionately as Atlanta’s dining room, Mary Mac’s Tea Room has been a Midtown fixture since 1945. Their oven-baked mac and cheese represents Southern cooking at its finest, with a golden crust that gives way to creamy goodness underneath.
After recent renovations, this icon reopened with the same beloved recipes that made it famous. The mac arrives piping hot in individual portions, each one perfectly browned on top.
Generations of Atlantans have grown up eating this mac and cheese, and it continues to win over newcomers with every single bite.
4. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q (multiple ATL locations)
Most barbecue joints are known for their meats, but Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q has a side dish that steals the spotlight. Their mac and cheese appears on nearly every local best-of list, earning praise that rivals the brisket and ribs.
The cheese sauce is impossibly creamy, coating each noodle in a blanket of rich flavor that complements the smoky barbecue perfectly. With multiple Atlanta locations, you’re never far from a fix when the craving hits.
Regulars often order it as a main dish rather than a side because one taste is never quite enough.
5. 9 Mile Station (Ponce City Market, Atlanta)
Perched at Ponce City Market, 9 Mile Station serves rooftop comfort food with stunning views. Their mac and cheese has people gushing in online reviews, with many claiming it’s the best they’ve ever tasted.
What makes it special is the balance between indulgent richness and surprising lightness. The cheese flavor shines through without feeling heavy, making it easy to finish an entire bowl even after exploring the food hall.
Grab a spot on the rooftop, order the mac, and watch the Atlanta skyline while enjoying one of the city’s most talked-about comfort dishes.
6. HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern (multiple ATL)
HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern serves their mac and cheese in a cast-iron skillet, baked until the top forms a crispy, golden crust. Locals describe it with phrases like chef’s kiss, and the three-cheese blend delivers on every level.
The contrast between the crunchy topping and the creamy interior creates an addictive texture that keeps people coming back. Each skillet arrives bubbling hot, filling your table with the irresistible aroma of melted cheese.
With multiple Atlanta locations, HOBNOB makes it easy to satisfy your mac and cheese cravings no matter which neighborhood you’re in today.
7. Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles (College Park/ATL area)
Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles in the College Park area serves something called the Royal Treatment mac-n-cheese skillet, and the name doesn’t exaggerate. This version delivers serious cheese-pull energy, with strands of melted cheese stretching from fork to bowl in social-media-worthy fashion.
The skillet presentation keeps everything hot from first bite to last, and the cheese blend creates that perfect gooey consistency everyone craves. It pairs beautifully with their signature chicken and waffles, though many customers order it as a standalone indulgence.
One taste explains why people make special trips just for this mac.
8. Marlow’s Tavern (various GA locations)
Marlow’s Tavern has become a perennial go-to across Georgia, with locations throughout the state serving consistently excellent food. Their mac and cheese appears on multiple local recommendation roundups, earning its place through reliable quality and crowd-pleasing flavor.
The recipe strikes a perfect balance that appeals to both kids and adults, making it a family favorite. Whether you’re stopping by after work or bringing the whole family for dinner, the mac delivers exactly what you’re hoping for.
Sometimes the best dishes are the ones you can count on, meal after meal, visit after visit.
9. Pampas Steakhouse (Johns Creek)
Pampas Steakhouse in Johns Creek takes mac and cheese into luxurious territory with their lobster mac-n-cheese. This isn’t your everyday comfort food; it’s an indulgent creation that combines tender lobster chunks with a decadent cheese sauce.
The upscale North Fulton location provides the perfect setting for this elevated dish, where the sweetness of the lobster plays beautifully against the rich, savory cheese. It’s the kind of side dish that often becomes the star of the meal.
If you’re celebrating something special or just treating yourself, this lobster mac delivers restaurant-quality luxury in every forkful.
10. Roc South Cuisine (Brookhaven/Buford Hwy, Atlanta)
Roc South Cuisine on Buford Highway serves their mac and cheese baked in cast iron, creating a lightly crisped exterior that regulars absolutely swear by. The Brookhaven location has built a loyal following thanks to dishes like this one.
Baking in cast iron gives the mac an even, consistent texture throughout while developing those coveted crispy edges. The cheese blend leans toward sharp and flavorful rather than mild, giving it a more complex taste profile.
Once you try the cast-iron method, it’s hard to go back to regular mac and cheese that lacks that perfect textural contrast.
11. New Realm Brewing Company (Eastside BeltLine, Atlanta)
New Realm Brewing Company along the Eastside BeltLine offers something special for plant-based eaters: a notable cheddar-crusted vegan mac that rivals traditional versions. This isn’t a consolation prize; it’s genuinely delicious comfort food that happens to be vegan.
The cheddar crust adds a satisfying crunch, while the dairy-free cheese sauce provides surprising creaminess and flavor. Pair it with one of their craft beers for a perfect BeltLine lunch or dinner.
Even non-vegans find themselves ordering this mac and cheese, proving that great flavor transcends dietary categories when done right.
12. Mac Boyz (Midtown Atlanta)
Mac Boyz in Midtown Atlanta built their entire concept around mac and cheese, offering a rotating lineup of flavor-packed weekly riffs on the classic. Each visit brings new combinations that push the boundaries of what mac and cheese can be.
From loaded versions with bacon and jalapeños to unexpected flavor profiles that surprise even adventurous eaters, the creativity never stops. The weekly rotation means you’ll never get bored, and regulars love trying each new creation.
When a restaurant specializes in just one thing, you know they’ve perfected it in ways general menus simply cannot match.
13. Ray’s on the River (Sandy Springs/Chattahoochee)
Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs serves steakhouse fare along the Chattahoochee, but their lobster mac and cheese regularly steals the show from the premium cuts of beef. This side dish has become so popular that many diners build their entire meal around it.
Sitting by the water while enjoying creamy mac studded with sweet lobster meat creates an experience that feels both special and comforting. The riverside setting elevates the entire dining experience beyond just great food.
Sometimes a side dish deserves the spotlight, especially when it’s this memorable and delicious.
14. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room (Savannah)
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room in Savannah is a family-style legend where strangers become friends over shared tables loaded with Southern classics. The mac and cheese serves as a centerpiece of the spread, holding its own among fried chicken, collard greens, and cornbread.
Eating here feels like being invited to a family reunion where everyone’s welcome. The mac arrives in big serving bowls that get passed around the table, encouraging seconds and thirds.
This is Southern hospitality and Southern cooking at their finest, where the mac and cheese tastes like home no matter where you’re actually from.
