Atlanta Good Food category interest

Published July 2, 2024

Warning: Do not read this article on an empty stomach, may cause extreme hunger.

Fried chicken is undeniably Southern, and Atlanta’s love for this hot and tasty legacy is experienced best at these restaurants.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Gus’s hails from Memphis. Lucky for Atlantans, Gus’s Fried Chicken decided to open up in Atlanta with crispy, spicy and juicy fried chicken. Find it downtown in the Peachtree Center Mall food court.

Where: 231 Peachtree Street

Paschal’s

What began as a small 30-seat lunch restaurant has transformed into a beautiful restaurant with a rich history, making its home in Castleberry Hill. Its signature dish, available since 1947, and the most popular comes with a leg, wing and chicken breast. You can also enjoy traditional southern cuisine with sides like mac and cheese, collard greens and black eyed peas.

Where: 180 Northside Drive SW

The Busy Bee

Self-taught cook Lucy Jackson opened the restaurant that became the Busy Bee 1947. Civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr ate there along with President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris. Owned today by Tracy Gates, the Busy Bee is known for its fried chicken, among other Southern staples. The restaurant is a 2023 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Award Winner and 2022 James Beard Award Winner.

Where: 810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW

Sway

Unlike many Southern restaurants that serve fried chicken, the version at Sway at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta comes with a breast, leg and thigh. The dish is so big that it is served in its own skillet. Brined for 24 hours, it is a customer favorite.

Where: 265 Peachtree Street

Twisted Soul Cookhouse andamp; Pours

A MICHELIN Guide recommended restaurant, Twisted Soul has Southern Marinated Fried Chicken that is a must-try. On top of the delicious chicken, it comes with three cheese mac, sweet potato apple chutney and a braised collard roll with pot liquor. Can you say yum?

Where: 1133 Huff Road NW

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Hop’s Chicken

This Ponce City Market stall is easily noticeable from the long line of people wrapped around to get a bite of this tasty inclusion into the Atlanta fried chicken scene. Hop’s Chicken, from James Beard Award-winning chef Linton Hopkins, was one of the first Atlanta restaurants to dabble in the hot chicken craze, and it’s paid off heavily with droves of hungry patrons wanting the hot and spicy fried chicken iteration.

Where: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

Mary Mac’s Tea Room

Known as “Atlanta’s dining room”, you’ll enjoy Southern cuisine made-from-scratch. Super friendly service is one of the reasons that Mary Mac’s has remained popular for so many years. Fried chicken is one of the customer favorites.

Where: 224 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

South City Kitchen

With locations in Buckhead and Midtown, add South City Kitchen to your fried chicken itinerary. The Springer Mountain Farms Fried Chicken comes with garlic collards, mashed yukon gold potatoes and honey-thyme jus.

Where: 1144 Crescent Ave. NE (Midtown) and 3350 Peachtree Road NE Suite 175 (Buckhead)

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

Believe the hype – Hattie B’s is just that good. You’ll find two locations in Atlanta: Little Five Points and West Midtown. Heat levels range from Southern (No Heat) to Shut the Cluck Up!!! (Enthusiasts Only!). While the chicken shack started in Midtown Nashville, the flavors are just as hot in the A.

Where: 711 10th Street NW (West Midtown) and 299 Moreland Ave. NE (Little Five Points)

Delilah’s Everyday Soul

It’s no secret that Delilah’s Everyday Soul has fried chicken you need to try. Grab one of their whole plates — try the white meat plate (breast and wing) or a dark meat plate (thigh and leg). You can’t go wrong with their Southern-style sides including collard greens, fried green tomatoes, candied yams and much more. Check them out at Chattahoochee Food Works.

Where: 1235 Chattahoochee Ave. NW

How Crispy Express

Their fried chicken sandwiches are the staple of their menu. You can’t go wrong with their classic sandwich, but their menu also offers a variety of options like the Tikka Boi (Tikka seasoning, smokey-lime mayo, crispy lettuce, sweet pickles and a good bun) or the Honey Boi (garlic-honey butter, smokey-lime mayo, sesame slaw, sweet pickles and a good bun).

Where: 71 Georgia Ave. SE Unit B

Malika Bowling is the author of Culinary Atlanta: Guide to the Best Restaurants, Markets, Breweries and More!, and founder of Atlanta Restaurant Blog. Malika also has served as a judge at various culinary competitions and food festivals, including Taste of Atlanta.