13 Georgia Dining Spots Locals Love Visiting Again And Again

Georgia is full of dining spots that locals can’t resist returning to.

From hearty Southern classics and savory comfort food to inventive dishes bursting with flavor, these restaurants offer meals that feel both familiar and unforgettable.

Each visit delivers a combination of taste, atmosphere, and hospitality that keeps people coming back for more.

Prepare to discover why these Georgia eateries have earned loyal fans and continue to capture the hearts, and appetites, of those who know them best.

1. Busy Bee Cafe — Atlanta

Soul food royalty since 1947, Busy Bee’s fried chicken recipe hasn’t changed in over 70 years. The secret? A 12-hour marinade and peanut oil that makes each bite crackle with flavor.

While tourists snap photos, Atlanta natives know to come early on Wednesdays for the oxtails that fall off the bone.

Politicians, celebrities, and everyday folks rub elbows at the cozy counter, united by the universal language of perfect mac and cheese.

2. Mary Mac’s Tea Room — Atlanta

Pencils ready! First-timers at Mary Mac’s are handed a pencil to mark their order, a tradition since 1945 when founder Mary McKenzie opened her doors.

Regulars skip straight to the tomato pie or the peerless fried okra. The Georgia legislature officially named it “Atlanta’s Dining Room” in 2011, but locals knew that decades ago.

Don’t leave without trying the cinnamon rolls or peach cobbler – they’ll haunt your dreams for weeks.

3. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q — Atlanta

Texas meets Georgia in this smoke-scented paradise founded by twin brothers who couldn’t find proper brisket in Atlanta. Their solution? Make their own.

Lines form early for the Frito pie topped with brisket chili and jalapeños. The chicken-fried ribs – yes, that’s ribs battered and fried like chicken – represent the beautiful madness that keeps locals coming back.

Regulars know to save room for the banana pudding that your grandmother wishes she could make.

4. Heirloom Market BBQ — Atlanta

Magic happens when Korean and Southern BBQ collide in this tiny converted convenience store.

Chefs Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee created a cross-cultural masterpiece that locals will drive through Atlanta traffic to reach.

The spicy Korean pork sandwich with kimchi slaw has its own fan club. Parking is scarce and there’s barely room to stand inside, but Atlantans don’t care.

They’ll balance plates on their cars or eat standing up for a taste of the gochujang-rubbed ribs that redefine what barbecue can be.

5. The Colonnade — Atlanta

Time stands still at The Colonnade, where servers who’ve worked there for decades know exactly how you like your martini. Open since 1927, this Atlanta institution serves fried chicken so good it bridges generational divides.

Drag queens, retirees, and families sit side by side in red vinyl booths. The plastic-covered menus haven’t changed in years, and nobody wants them to.

Locals know Thursday means liver and onions, and the yeast rolls are non-negotiable regardless of what day you visit.

6. Antico Pizza Napoletana — Atlanta

Pizza pilgrims flock to this Little Italy outpost where the ovens burn at 900 degrees and pies cook in under a minute. Owner Giovanni Di Palma imports everything from Italy, down to the water used in the dough.

Locals know to bring their own wine and grab a spot at the communal tables. The San Gennaro with its sausage and roasted red peppers inspires poetry from first-timers.

Veterans come prepared with tupperware for leftovers that never actually make it home.

7. Home Grown — Atlanta

Breakfast nirvana exists in this unassuming East Atlanta spot where the Comfy Bowl reigns supreme. Picture a mountain of fluffy biscuits smothered in sausage gravy with a side of local gossip.

The vegetable plates feature produce grown in their backyard garden. Weekend warriors line up alongside night shift workers ending their day.

The quirky decor includes a “Mechanical Corn” machine instead of a bull, and the walls showcase local art that’s actually worth buying.

8. Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room — Savannah

Presidential seal of approval! Even Jimmy Carter waits in line at this Savannah landmark where lunch is served precisely at 11 a.m., family-style.

Strangers become friends around tables laden with bowls of butter beans, okra gumbo, and fried chicken. The boarding house tradition lives on as 10 strangers sit together passing platters left and right.

No reservations, cash only, and worth every minute of the inevitable wait. Locals know to bring small bills and a hearty appetite for the 20+ dishes that appear without asking.

9. The Grey — Savannah

From Greyhound station to culinary destination, The Grey transforms Southern ingredients through the brilliant lens of Chef Mashama Bailey. The art deco bus terminal now houses Savannah’s most exciting restaurant.

Locals splurge on special occasions for the foie gras and grits or chicken schnitzel. The bar room offers more casual fare like smoked oysters that pair perfectly with vintage-inspired cocktails.

History buffs appreciate how the restoration preserved segregation-era details as powerful reminders of progress made and still needed.

10. The Breakfast Club — Tybee Island

Worth the sunrise drive to Tybee Island, this beach breakfast joint has been flipping pancakes since 1976.

Owner Jodee Sadowsky creates morning masterpieces like the “Blackened Shrimp and Grits” that locals crave after long nights.

Surfers with sandy feet wait alongside families in vacation mode. The tiny kitchen somehow produces mountains of food without delay.

Smart visitors know to avoid summer tourist rushes and come during off-season when you can actually hear the ocean while devouring your “PMS Omelette” (parmesan, mushroom, spinach).

11. Southern Soul Barbeque — St. Simons Island

Housed in an old gas station, Southern Soul sends smoke signals that draw BBQ enthusiasts from across Georgia.

Pitmasters Griffin Bufkin and Harrison Sapp have created coastal BBQ heaven using local oak and pecan woods. The burnt ends sell out by noon, so locals set alarms to secure their fix.

Beach visitors detour for the Brunswick stew, a coastal Georgia specialty done right. The sauce selection ranges from tangy mustard to sweet soul, but purists know the smoked meat needs no accompaniment.

12. Mama’s Boy — Athens

University of Georgia graduates plan homecoming weekends around breakfast at Mama’s Boy. Their chocolate chip pancakes have mended broken hearts and celebrated championship wins since 2006.

The Mill Mall location offers riverside views with your salmon eggs benedict.

Football Saturdays see lines form before dawn, but regulars say the strawberry lemonade and Georgia peach French toast justify the wait.

Parents visiting college kids pretend they’re coming to see their children, but the salmon cakes with remoulade are the real draw.

13. H&H Soul Food — Macon

Rock and roll history flavors every bite at H&H, where owners Louise Hudson and Mama Hill once fed struggling musicians called The Allman Brothers Band. The band later returned as celebrities, but still got the same loving treatment.

The fried chicken livers convert even the most reluctant offal eaters. Macon locals gather for weekday breakfast to gossip over buttery biscuits and redeye gravy.

Music memorabilia covers the walls, but the food remains the headliner, especially the salmon patties that would make any Southern grandmother proud.