Unearth The Voyage
There’s something special about soul food that warms both your belly and your heart. Georgia is home to some of the best soul food restaurants in the country, where traditional recipes have been passed down through generations. These eight spots serve up comforting classics with a side of Southern hospitality that will make you feel like you’ve just sat down at grandma’s Sunday dinner table.
The Busy Bee Café — Atlanta’s Historic Treasure
Step through the doors of this Atlanta institution and breathe in history along with the aroma of crispy fried chicken. Since 1947, The Busy Bee has been serving soul-satisfying plates to everyone from civil rights leaders to hungry locals.
Their recipe for success hasn’t changed much over seven decades – perfectly seasoned collard greens, mac and cheese that defines creamy comfort, and cornbread that crumbles just right between your fingers. The James Beard Foundation didn’t make a mistake when they named this spot an “America’s Classic.”
Regulars recommend the fried chicken that’s somehow both juicy and crispy, paired with yams sweet enough to double as dessert. When you’re at Busy Bee, you’re not just eating – you’re participating in a delicious piece of Atlanta’s story.
Mary Mac’s Tea Room — Atlanta’s Dining Room Since 1945
The pencils at each table aren’t decoration – they’re for filling out your order form, a charming tradition that’s continued since Mary Mac’s opened its doors. This Atlanta landmark has earned its reputation as the city’s dining room through decades of consistent, heartwarming food.
Governors, celebrities, and everyday folks sit elbow-to-elbow here, all drawn by the promise of perfectly executed Southern classics. The complimentary pot likker (the savory broth from cooking collard greens) with cornbread arrives before your meal, a hospitable touch that sets the tone.
Don’t miss their fried chicken, which manages to stay moist beneath a perfectly seasoned crust. Their tomato pie is legendary, and the sweet tea flows like water – sweet enough to make your teeth hurt in the best possible way.
H&H Soul Food — Macon’s Musical Connection
“Meat and three” takes on spiritual meaning at H&H, where music history and soul food intersect in downtown Macon. The humble spot that once fed hungry members of the Allman Brothers Band when they couldn’t afford to pay continues to dish out unpretentious Southern comfort.
Reopened under new ownership after briefly closing, H&H maintains the spirit that made it a local landmark since 1959. The walls tell stories of musical legends who found inspiration between bites of fried chicken and spoonfuls of buttery grits.
Locals swear by the crispy fried chicken that shatters beneath your teeth, revealing juicy meat seasoned to perfection. The collard greens strike that perfect balance between bitter and sweet, while the mac and cheese achieves that coveted crusty-top-creamy-middle combination that defines Southern excellence.
Weaver D’s Delicious Fine Foods — Athens’ Automatic Classic
“Automatic for the People” isn’t just an R.E.M. album title – it’s the promise owner Dexter Weaver has made to customers since 1986. When you order food here, his response is always “automatic,” meaning you’ll get exactly what you want, made with care, no questions asked.
This lime-green cinderblock building houses more flavor than seems physically possible. The no-frills interior lets the food take center stage – exactly as it should be. Athens locals, college students, and music pilgrims all queue up for plates that deliver comfort with every bite.
The fried chicken achieves that golden-brown perfection that makes you close your eyes on the first bite. Sides like squash casserole and field peas transport you straight to a family reunion picnic table. Weaver’s cornbread muffins? They’re the perfect tool for sopping up every last bit of goodness on your plate.
Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room — Savannah’s Communal Table
The line forming outside this unassuming Savannah townhouse by 10 AM tells you everything you need to know. Since 1943, Mrs. Wilkes’ has turned strangers into friends around large communal tables where elbows touch and platters never stop moving.
Cash only and closed weekends, this beloved institution operates on its own delicious terms. You’ll be seated with fellow diners at tables for ten, immediately surrounded by over twenty dishes that appear without ordering – from fried chicken to black-eyed peas, candied yams to collard greens.
The biscuits deserve their own fan club – cloud-like and buttery, they’ve converted many a non-believer to the Southern way. When you’re done, you carry your plate to the kitchen, just like at grandma’s house. It’s not just a meal; it’s a genuine Southern experience that leaves you full of food and new connections.
Sisters of the New South — Savannah’s Soulful Simplicity
When sisters Vicky and Brenda opened their modest spot in Savannah, they weren’t aiming for fame – just to serve food that reminded people of home. Their no-frills approach has earned them devoted fans who don’t mind the occasional wait for food this authentic.
The cafeteria-style service keeps things moving, but there’s nothing rushed about the cooking. Smothered pork chops fall apart under your fork after hours of slow cooking. Their oxtails, a weekend special, cause near-riots when they sell out.
The mac and cheese achieves that perfect crusty top while staying creamy underneath – a culinary magic trick few master. Don’t skip the cornbread, which strikes the ideal balance between sweet and savory. For dessert, the banana pudding disappears so quickly that regulars know to request it when they first walk in.
Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours — Atlanta’s Modern Interpretation
Chef Deborah VanTrece doesn’t believe soul food should be trapped in amber. At Twisted Soul, tradition meets innovation in ways that honor the past while creating something entirely new. The stylish space in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood feels contemporary, but the flavors remain deeply rooted.
VanTrece’s global travels influence dishes like oxtails braised with lemongrass or collards finished with coconut milk. Yet her famous fried chicken – brined, double-dredged, and perfectly seasoned – would make any grandmother proud. The restaurant’s cocktail program deserves special mention – bourbon-forward drinks complement the robust flavors.
Weekend brunch brings out neighborhood regulars for chicken and sweet potato waffles drizzled with bourbon-pecan syrup. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between special occasion and comfortable enough for a Wednesday night dinner when cooking at home feels impossible.
K & K Soul Food — Atlanta’s Westside Institution
Fluorescent lights and cafeteria trays might not scream “fine dining,” but K & K has been showing Atlanta what matters since 1968 – food that feeds your soul. This Westside landmark doesn’t waste time on frills when there are hungry people to feed.
The steam table stretches long, filled with daily specials alongside permanent fixtures like smothered pork chops and oxtails. Regulars know to ask what’s fresh that day, though you can’t go wrong with classics like the turkey wings that fall off the bone after hours of slow cooking.
Their mac and cheese has converted dairy-intolerant diners into risk-takers – “worth every moment of discomfort” as one regular puts it. Cash only and closed on Mondays, K & K operates by its own rules, as institutions earned the right to do. When your food is this good, people adapt to you, not the other way around.
