Often called the American South’s new foodie capital, Atlanta is home to some of the best food in the country. Many of the restaurants are award-winning and recognized nationally by the Food Network and other establishments. While famed for their Italian food and favorites such as the Texas fries or banana pudding, it’s the Southern barbecue joints that are really worth praising. Other than burgers and fried chicken, Atlanta visitors should definitely spend some time trying the award-winning rib tips at This Is It! BBQ & Seafood, the turkey legs at Anna’s BBQ, and the slow-cooked pulled pork at the Bullpen Rib House, among other places.


Bullpen Rib House

Bullpen Rib House

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Succulent barbecue and beer comprise the heart of the Bullpen Rib House in Atlanta, Georgia. The menu offers everything from sandwiches and ribs to burgers and hot dogs. The Bar-B-Que pit plates are filled with the visitor’s choice of slow-cooked meats such as pulled pork, smoked chicken, and beef brisket. Visitors can try out a BBQ combo that puts together a rack with fried shrimp, smoked turkey, or chicken wings. The jumbo burgers are out of this world and include the classic burger, cheese burger, chili burger, and bacon and cheese burger. Visitors can pair their meals with local beer, domestic beer, premium beer, moonshine, or a range of liquors.

735 Pollard Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA, 30315, Phone: 404-577-5774


Community Q BBQ

Community Q BBQ

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For years, Community Q BBQ has been serving heavenly barbecue in a community-style setting that makes the entire dining experience fun and friendly – just like barbecues should be! The meats are prepared fresh each day to guarantee the most flavorful experience for visitors. Some of the more popular items on the menu are the pulled pork, mild smoked sausage, the St. Louis style ribs, the sloppy Joe, and the Redneck chicken salad sandwich. Entrees can be accompanied with coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac n cheese, collards, fries, baked potatoes, or a side salad. No meal is complete without a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade to wash it all down.

1361 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA, 30033, Phone: 404-633-2080


D.B.A. Barbecue

D.B.A. Barbecue

© D.B.A. Barbecue

D.B.A. Barbecue is a family-owned restaurant that offers food inspired by Southern comfort and mixed with a twinge of Creole flair. The menu has a range of meats, sides, and drinks to satisfy any barbecue craving visitors may have. Sausages and burgers are made from meats grinded in-house, while meats are smoked and cured in-house on a regular basis as well. The restaurant uses the highest quality ingredients and the freshest flavors to season the meats, and staff members have spent years perfecting their methods and measurements. Visitors can really indulge in the delicious meals during weekend brunch, which also has $15 bottomless mimosas!

1190 North Highland Ave NE, Ste B, Atlanta, GA 30306, Phone: 404-249-5010


Daddy D'z BBQ Joynt

Daddy D'z BBQ Joynt

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Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt, an Atlanta staple, has won many awards and titles over the years, including “The Best BBQ in Atlanta” and USA Today’s “Best Place To Eat,” and it was rated “Number One” by the New York Times. The restaurant was one of the only barbecue restaurants to be featured on the Food Network, and rightly so, as they’re one of the only ones to cook their meats by hand on a hickory and oak pit. The restaurant has some unique items on the menu such as Daddy D’z Famous Que Wraps, which is BBQ pork wrapped in bite-sized down and fried till it’s crispy. Things to Do in Atlanta

264 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312, Phone: 404-222-0206


DAS BBQ

DAS BBQ

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DAS BBQ invites visitors to gather around their fires and enjoy barbecue that is slow-smoked and succulent. The sounds and smells of the interactive experience offer the closest family barbecue experience that one can get in a paid establishment. In addition to the delicious dining, visitors can also request a tour of the smoke shed so they can see where all the magic happens. The meats and sandwiches range from beef brisket and sausage by the link to pulled pork sandwiches and barbecue meat plates. The spicy elote creamed corn is a great side to the meal. There’s even a special kiddie’s menu for younger diners and desserts that vary week to week.

1203 Collier Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318, Phone: 404-850-7373


Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Fat Matt's Rib Shack

© Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Visitors can head to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for tender, juicy barbecue ribs that fall off the bone and are packed with authentic smoky undertones and tangy flavored sauce. Visitors can put together the perfect meal, choosing from slabs of ribs and portions of chicken cooked to perfection and served with rum-baked beans, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, or one of the many other sides. The restaurant has tons of merchandise that they started offering after popular demand. Visitors can go home with beer cozies, bumper stickers, and t-shirts to remember their time at Fat Matt’s! Even better, visitors can purchase bottles of the secret sauce to add a little Fat Matt’s flavor to their own home barbecues.

1811 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324, Phone: 404-607-1622


Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

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The Fox brothers, Jonathan and Justin, are two Texas boys who taught themselves the art of a fine barbecue. The identical twins developed a passion for it at a young age, and the restaurant started as a friendly backyard gathering, complete with good music, good food, and good friends. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q opened in August 2007 and immediately became a neighborhood favorite with items such as hickory smoked jumbo wings, the smoked chicken salad sandwich, and the beef short ribs. Over the years, they’ve added a bar, upgraded their patio, and increased the indoor seating capacity to accommodate all their loyal customers. The restaurant has been featured on television numerous times, including on Good Day Atlanta, Fox News, The Food Network, TLC, and CBS Better Mornings.

1238 Dekalb Ave, NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, Phone: 404-577-4030


Heirloom Market BBQ

Heirloom Market BBQ

© Heirloom Market BBQ

Completely driven by Chefs Jiyeon and Cody, the Heirloom Market BBQ came to be when they tried to identify something they would love doing for the rest of their life. Cooking classic Southern cuisine alongside variations of things they’ve learned along the way seemed like the right thing to do. Heirloom Market pays respect to iconic BBQ foods such as beef brisket, rib racks, and pulled chicken while adding unique twists like the spicy Korean pork. Sides can be bought in individual portions, pints, and quarts, making them perfect for a family meal, and include coleslaw, collard greens, and BBQ beans. Visitors can choose a sauce perfect for their taste buds from the five variations offered, ranging from classic mild to Korean sweet heat.

2243 Akers Mill Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339, Phone: 770-612-2502


Pig-N-Chik BBQ

Pig-N-Chik BBQ

© Pig-N-Chik BBQ

One of Atlanta’s most popular barbecue restaurants, Pig-N-Chik BBQ has three locations in the Atlanta area. Offering dine in, take out, and delivery, the restaurant has a menu filled with tender ribs that are smoked just right and barbecued pork, chicken, turkey, and beef brisket. There are a number of homemade sauces that are full of flavor and stews, sides, and salads that accompany the barbecue perfectly. Other items on the menu that shouldn’t be missed are the smoked wings, fried tilapia, and the redneck nachos smothered with chunks of a meat of your choice, cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce.

5071 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341, Phone: 770-451-1112


Pit Boss BBQ

Pit Boss BBQ

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The Pit Boss BBQ is a Southern pit style restaurant owned by a couple that hail from Alabama and Michigan. Mixing their own culinary experiences from their hometowns, they have established a restaurant that is a perfect combination of tastes and styles from both the North and the South. There are so many variations of smoked and pulled meats, ribs, and brisket on the menu. Some of the most quick-selling are the smoked jumbo wings, the smothered BBQ chicken sandwich, the full rack rib platter, the sliced brisket plate, and the whole smoked chicken. The meats go great with the white cheddar cheese mashed potatoes, the skin-on French fries, or the fried green beans.

800 Doug Davis Dr, Atlanta, GA 30354, Phone: 404-768-0036


Shane's Rib Shack

Shane's Rib Shack

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Shane’s Rib Shack came to be when Founder Shane Thompson decided to quit his corporate job and accomplish what he had always been passionate about: owning a family BBQ restaurant. After adding his grandfather’s secret sauce recipe to the mix, it was only a matter of time before the restaurant grew to become a private franchise that now has over 70 locations across the United States. The sauces are what really makes the restaurants stand out: sweet, tangy, or spicy, the specialty sauces are honey BBQ, spicy BBQ, sizzlin’ hot BBQ, and Carolina mustard BBQ. The ‘Big Dad’ sandwich, smoked wings, or shack potato with barbecue pork go great with onion rings, sweet potato fries, or mac and cheese. The restaurant also offers a separate menu for gluten-free diners.

1221 Caroline St, Atlanta, GA 30307, Phone: 404-525-7427


Slope's BBQ Of Sandy Springs

Slope's BBQ Of Sandy Springs

© Slope's BBQ Of Sandy Springs

Serving the Atlanta area with finger-licking good barbecue for over thirteen years, Slope’s BBQ of Sandy Springs is open every day of the week except Sundays. The authentic Georgia-style Southern barbecue is served in a family-style setting that is perfect for lunch or dinner with friends and family. The BBQ selection combines old-school techniques with premium cut meats and signature sauces. In addition to the items on the barbecue menu, there are sandwiches, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, sweet potato fries, lima beans, black-eyed peas, corn on the cob, fried okra, garlic bread, and collard greens.

200, Johnson Ferry Rd, Atlanta, GA 30328, Phone: 404-252-3220


Sweet Auburn BBQ

Sweet Auburn BBQ

© Sweet Auburn BBQ

Sweet Auburn Barbecue is a fully functional food truck that also offers catering, pick up orders, and traditional buffet style family meals. There are two additional locations in Atlanta – a restaurant on Highland Avenue and a stall in the Sweet Auburn Curb Municipal Market. Proving that classic Southern barbecue can go hand in hand with modern influences and techniques, Sweet Auburn BBQ is known for their award-winning barbecue wings and their classic slow smoked meats. Some items on the menu that come highly recommended are the pimento cheese wontons, the fried shishito peppers, and the bucket of jalapeno cheddar cornbread drenched in sweet sorghum butter.

656 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306, Phone: 678-515-3550


The Greater Good BBQ

The Greater Good BBQ

© The Greater Good BBQ

Since 2012, Greater Good BBQ has been offering traditional Southern home cooking alongside an extensive array of beer and some great, toe-tapping live music. Visitors can have everything from delicious smoked chicken wings and baby back ribs to smoked chicken or the pound brisket. There are a number of plates on the menu as well, with the most popular being the Pitmaster, which has four meats, two sides, and an order of Texas toast for just $25.99. There are also sandwiches, salads, and appetizers such as the fried pickles, fried jalapenos, and the Pimento BBQ potato skins.

4441 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342,Phone: 404-303-8525


Thompson Brothers Barbeque

Thompson Brothers Barbeque

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The five Thompson brothers who hail from Tulsa, Oklahoma all grew up and headed in different directions but eventually came together to pursue their dream of opening a family restaurant – the Thompson Brothers Barbeque. Claiming that their “secret is in the smoke,” the food is known in Atlanta for having a unique flavor that attracts locals and visitors to come back again and again. Visitors can choose from a sandwich, plate, or platter of beef brisket, chopped pork, chicken, ribs, short end ribs, beef sausage, hot links, bologna, and much more. There are also many combos that let visitors try a little bit of everything; for example, “the whole nine” single has an order of ribs, chopped beef, bologna, beef sausage, and a side for just $10.99.

2445 Cobb Pkwy SE, Smyrna, GA 30080, Phone: 770-818-9098


Tom, Dick & Hank

Tom, Dick & Hank

© Tom, Dick & Hank

Known as “the good food guys,” Tom, Dick, & Hank (TDH) is a Southern/ fusion barbecue restaurant with an imaginative menu. The traditional smoked fare is pushed to new bounds with new dining concepts. Visitors will love the environment, which is perfect for watching sporting events on the flat screen, chilling out on the rooftop bar, or having a memorable private or corporate event. The comprehensive menu is sure to have something for everyone and includes everything from plates of dry rubbed wings and quesadillas to turkey burgers and BBQ pork spare rib plates. There are even some seafood specialties on the menu such as jumbo shrimps, crab legs, and BBQ fettuccine tossed with shrimp.

191 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA 30312, Phone: 404-343-3774


Twin Smokers BBQ

Twin Smokers BBQ

© Twin Smokers BBQ

Inspired by traditional Georgia-style barbecue, Twin Smokers BBQ has mouthwatering dishes at their Atlanta restaurant. Visitors can start with a side of smoked wings, brisket chili, corn bread, or a side salad and move on to Texas-style or Southern-style sandwiches and meats. The entree menu has beef brisket, signature sausages, beef ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken, and much more to choose from. There’s no better way to end the meal than with banana pudding, a cookie, or a rice krispie treat from the dessert menu. Younger diners will appreciate the kid’s menu which has a choice of meat, a side, drink, and dessert.

300 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, Phone: 404-698-4707


Wyatt's Country BBQ

Wyatt's Country BBQ

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Visitors looking for no fuss, no frills barbecue should head to Wyatt’s Country BBQ. The delicious takeout BBQ is perfect for down-home Sunday dinners with plenty of comfort food such as baked chicken, ribs, rib tips, potato salad, yams, cornbread, and oxtails seasoned to perfection. Even visitors who are barbecue perfectionists find that the food they have from Wyatt’s can be compared to proper home cooking in the South. A meal that shouldn’t be missed is the stuffed chopped pork sandwich along with a side of macaroni and cheese. Wyatt’s Country BBQ also has some amazing desserts and the banana pudding is fantastic.

1674 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30317, Phone: 404-371-0311


Anna's BBQ

Anna's BBQ

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Visitors in Atlanta cannot leave without trying delicious, home-style, traditional smoked barbecue, and they can be sure to get that at Anna’s BBQ. The mouth-watering flavor is present in their BBQ ribs, beef brisket, turkey legs, chicken, sausage, and much more. There are also delicious sides to choose from such as corn on the cob, mac and cheese, collard greens, baked beans, and potato salad. Visitors can complete the satisfying meal with a glass of refreshing lemonade, iced tea, or a soda. All offerings come at amazing prices, and the family-style restaurant will leave visitors coming back for as long as they’re in Atlanta!

1976 Hosea L Williams Dr NE, GA 30317, Phone: 404-963-6976


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