People Cross County Lines In Georgia Just To Have A Bite At These Soul Food Icons
Georgia’s soul food scene isn’t just good—it’s worth-every-mile good. I’ve clocked countless hours on the road, chasing down crispy fried chicken, tender collard greens, and cornbread that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen.
There’s something special about these hidden gems—often off the beaten path—that keeps folks coming back, GPS locked in and appetites ready. The magic isn’t just in the food; it’s in the warmth, tradition, and stories behind every bite.
Whether you’re a lifelong Georgian or a hungry traveler passing through, these five soul food spots are absolutely worth the detour—and every drop of gas it takes.
1. The Busy Bee Café’s Legendary Fried Chicken
Holy crispy goodness! The first time I bit into Busy Bee’s fried chicken, I nearly wept with joy. This Atlanta institution has been serving up golden-brown perfection since 1947, with a secret recipe that’s survived wars, recessions, and countless food trends.
Folks drive in from Macon, Athens, and beyond just for that audible crunch followed by juicy, perfectly seasoned meat. The chicken marinates for a full 12 hours before meeting the fryer, creating flavor that seeps into every fiber.
On Sundays, you’ll find multi-generational families waiting patiently in line, many who’ve been making the pilgrimage for decades. Their sides are no afterthought either – those candied yams might change your life!
2. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room’s Family-Style Feast
Strangers become friends around the tables at Mrs. Wilkes. I’ve shared more than one meal with folks from three counties over, all of us drawn to Savannah for this Southern communion. The concept is brilliantly simple: communal tables loaded with bowls of homestyle cooking passed hand-to-hand.
What began as a boarding house in 1943 has evolved into a pilgrimage site for soul food enthusiasts. The fried chicken achieves that mythical balance of crisp exterior and moist interior, while the butter beans might make you reconsider your life choices.
Presidents and celebrities have waited in the famous line snaking down Jones Street. Cash only, no reservations – just honest food that tastes like your grandmother’s kitchen on Sunday afternoon.
3. The Beautiful Restaurant’s Heavenly Oxtails
Tucked away in Southwest Atlanta sits a church-turned-eatery that’s been my salvation on many a rough day. The Beautiful Restaurant serves oxtails so tender they practically dissolve on contact with your tongue – no knife required!
Last winter, I watched a family from Valdosta who’d driven three hours specifically for these slow-cooked beauties. They weren’t disappointed. The meat, bathed in a rich gravy that begs to be sopped up with cornbread, falls effortlessly from the bone.
The no-frills interior might surprise first-timers expecting something matching the grand name. But regulars know the focus here is squarely on the plate. Their banana pudding – served warm with those vanilla wafers that maintain just the right amount of crunch – provides the perfect finale.
4. Mama E’s Kitchen’s Mouthwatering Smothered Pork Chops
Gravy so good you could bathe in it! That’s what keeps cars with license plates from Fulton, DeKalb, and Cobb counties filling the parking lot at this unassuming Augusta roadside spot. My cousin dragged me here on a road trip, promising it would change my life. He wasn’t exaggerating.
Mama E’s pork chops spend quality time with onions in a cast iron skillet before being smothered in that infamous gravy. The result? Fork-tender meat that makes you close your eyes involuntarily with each bite. The restaurant itself feels like walking into someone’s home – because essentially, it is.
Emma (the eponymous Mama E) still oversees the kitchen at 78 years young. Her special touch includes a pinch of something she refuses to reveal, taking the secret ingredient to legendary status among locals.
5. H&H Soul Food’s Unforgettable Macaroni and Cheese
Rock and soul collide at this Macon institution! When I mentioned visiting H&H to my Athens friends, three of them immediately invited themselves along for the ride. The restaurant’s storied connection to the Allman Brothers Band adds a layer of musical history to your meal – photographs lining the walls tell the tale of hungry musicians fed by Mama Louise before they made it big.
But let’s talk about that mac and cheese. Creamy, gooey perfection with a crispy top that makes an audible crack when your fork breaks through. The cheese blend remains a closely guarded secret, though I’ve detected at least four varieties in the mix.
Their breakfast is equally legendary – fluffy biscuits drowning in pepper-flecked gravy have cured many a hangover. Come early on weekends or prepare to wait alongside hungry folks from every surrounding county.
6. Paschal’s Soul-Warming Chicken & Dumplings
Since 1947, Paschal’s has been serving up chicken and dumplings that could bring tears to your eyes. The pillowy dumplings float in a rich broth alongside tender chicken that practically falls apart at the touch of your fork.
During the Civil Rights Movement, this Atlanta institution served as an unofficial meeting place for leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The recipe hasn’t changed in decades – why mess with perfection?
Locals swear the secret ingredient is patience, as each batch simmers for hours before serving. The result? A bowl of comfort that’s worth every mile of your journey.
7. Miss Mary’s Peach Cobbler Paradise
Hidden down a country road in Macon sits a tiny blue house where Miss Mary, age 87, still bakes the peach cobbler that’s become stuff of legend.
Using Georgia peaches picked at perfect ripeness, her cobbler features a buttery, flaky crust that somehow stays crisp while soaking up the sweet juices. What makes this cobbler special isn’t just the recipe – it’s Miss Mary herself.
She greets every customer like family, often sharing stories from her 60+ years of baking. The cobbler comes piping hot with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream that melts into the crevices. Pure heaven!
8. Gizzards & Gravy at Big Mama’s Smokehouse
Adventurous eaters drive hours for Big Mama’s perfectly prepared chicken gizzards swimming in peppery gravy. These chewy little morsels might intimidate newcomers, but regulars know they’re the ultimate Southern delicacy when done right.
Located in Brunswick near the coast, Big Mama’s transforms these humble organ meats into something extraordinary.
First, they’re slow-simmered until tender, then flash-fried for a crispy exterior while maintaining a juicy center. The gravy – thick, velvety and studded with specks of black pepper – elevates everything it touches. Even skeptics become believers after one forkful of this surprisingly addictive dish.
9. Reverend Johnson’s Sunday Smoked Turkey Wings
Every Sunday, Reverend Johnson trades his pulpit for a smoker behind his small Columbus restaurant. The smoked turkey wings he creates have developed an almost religious following across three counties!
Marinated for 24 hours in a secret blend of herbs and spices, these massive wings spend six hours in the smoker over hickory wood. The result is fall-off-the-bone meat with a pink smoke ring and flavor that penetrates to the bone.
Served with collard pot likker (the nutritious cooking liquid) for dipping, these wings represent soul food perfection. The Reverend only makes a limited batch each week, so devotees arrive early to secure their share.
10. Cathead Biscuits & Sorghum at Granny’s Table
Named for their impressive size (as big as a cat’s head!), these magnificent biscuits draw crowds to a converted farmhouse in Savannah. Hand-mixed and never touched by modern machinery, each biscuit features visible layers that pull apart to reveal a steamy, fluffy interior.
The real magic happens when they’re drizzled with house-made sorghum syrup. Unlike mass-produced sweeteners, this amber liquid offers complex flavors – hints of molasses, caramel, and even a touch of earthiness.
Granny’s granddaughter now runs the place, using the same cast-iron skillets that have been seasoning the biscuits for generations. Worth every calorie!
11. Midnight Fish Fry at Lake Oconee
This isn’t a restaurant – it’s an experience! Every Friday night, local fishermen gather at Lake Oconee to fry the day’s catch for anyone willing to make the drive. Starting at midnight and continuing until supplies run out, this underground food event has become legendary.
Freshwater catfish, bream, and crappie are dredged in cornmeal and fried in massive cast-iron cauldrons over open flames.
The fish arrives scorching hot with crackling crisp exteriors and moist, flaky centers. Bring your own chair and drinks, but they’ll provide the paper plates piled high with fish, hushpuppies, and homemade tartar sauce. Cash only – and don’t ask for receipts!
12. Purple Hull Peas & Pig Tails at Mama’s Country Kitchen
In the tiny town of Thomasville, Mama’s Country Kitchen serves purple hull peas and pig tails that have customers lining up before the doors open. These humble field peas, similar to black-eyed peas but with a sweeter flavor, simmer for hours with smoked pig tails until both reach the perfect tenderness.
The pig tails might sound unusual to outsiders, but they add incredible richness to the peas. Fatty, gelatinous, and packed with smoky flavor, they transform the humble legumes into something extraordinary.
A generous square of hot water cornbread comes alongside for sopping up the pot likker. Simple food elevated to art form!
13. Brunswick Stew from The Hunt Club
The origin of Brunswick stew might be disputed, but The Hunt Club in Brunswick, Georgia makes a version so authentic it ends all arguments. This hearty hunter’s stew combines three smoked meats – chicken, pork, and sometimes game – with lima beans, corn, tomatoes, and potatoes.
What separates their recipe from imitators is the 12-hour cooking process in cast iron pots over wood fires. The smoke infuses every spoonful, while the extended simmering creates a thick consistency – “stick-to-the-spoon thick” as locals say.
Served with a slice of buttered white bread for dipping, this stew represents Georgia’s soul food heritage in one glorious bowl.
14. Sweet Potato Sonata at Harmony House
When former opera singer Madame Jefferson opened Harmony House in Athens, she brought musical flair to soul food. Her signature dish, Sweet Potato Sonata, features candied sweet potatoes unlike any you’ve tasted before.
The secret lies in her five-spice blend and unexpected addition of orange blossom water. The potatoes are first roasted to concentrate their natural sugars, then glazed and broiled until the edges caramelize and the centers remain tender.
Madame Jefferson still sings while she cooks, claiming the vibrations add something special to the food. Whether you believe that or not, these sweet potatoes – topped with toasted pecans and a whisper of sea salt – will have you humming with pleasure.
15. Rabbit Stew & Red Rice at Hunter’s Haven
Deep in rural Georgia near Valdosta, Hunter’s Haven serves a rabbit stew that’s worth getting lost on country roads to find. This rustic dish combines locally trapped rabbits with vegetables, herbs, and a splash of sherry for unexpected sophistication.
The accompanying Lowcountry red rice – cooked with tomato paste, bacon, and bell peppers – provides the perfect complement. Owner Jackson Lee, a former hunting guide, opened the restaurant after his secret camp stews gained fame among his clients.
The rabbit meat, tender and mild, often converts first-timers into devoted fans. While not for the unadventurous eater, this authentic rural Georgia specialty represents soul food’s hunting heritage.