Atlanta is full of great places to grab a quick bite. Whether the sun is rising or falling or whether you’re looking for southern classics or ethnic delights. The Constant Epicurean’s guide to quick bites in Atlanta has just what you ordered.
The Waffle House
You can’t start a quick eats category in Atlanta without beginning with the Waffle House. The original Waffle House opened just down the road in Avondale Estates in 1955. Waffle house is fast, delicious and a cultural icon of the south. With dozens of locations inside the perimeter there is sure to be a Waffle House nearby. Pick out your favorite hashbrown style, I prefer mine scattered, smothered and peppered, and slide into a booth or at the counter for a traditional southern meal. Click here for a map of Atlanta Area Waffle Houses.
Chick-fil-a
Another Atlanta original, Chick-fil-a began with the original Dwarf House in 1946 just south of Downtown. They changed their image in 1967 with the opening of the first fully branded Chick-fil-a in the food court at Greenbrier mall in metro Atlanta. The first free standing Chick-fil-a opened In April of 1986 on North Druid Hills Rd. Pioneering chicken based fast food and impeccable customer service, Chick-fil-a has grown to be the third largest restaurant chain in America. I remember as a child stopping in the North Druid location on our way to visit family as we passed through Atlanta. It was always a treat. With 212 Chick-fil-a’s statewide there’s sure to be one nearby. So stop on in for a delicious original chicken sandwich and those world famous waffle fries. Just make sure it’s not Sunday. Click here for Chick-fil-a locations in Atlanta.
Ann’s Snack Bar
Where do I begin? Miss Ann Price opened this burger shack as Tasty Dogs in 1974. Rebranding as Ann’s Snack Bar a few years later she and her ghetto burger would become the stuff of legends. Located in the historic neighborhood of Kirkwood at 1615 Memorial Drive SE, Ann’s has seen many changes in the neighborhood, but this institution remains unchanged. There is a faded sign above the grill that states the house rules. The don’ts of the establishment include laying or leaning on the counter, smoking or consuming alcohol, allowing children to slide on the rails and of course cursing. Unfortunately Miss Ann died of breast cancer in 2015, but her sister and family have come together so that the world famous ghetto burger may live on. The Wall Street Journal named it the best burger in America in 2007. So if you’re hungry and near Kirkwood go on inn to Miss Ann’s for a once in a lifetime experience. Check your calendar though, Ann’s is only open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 7pm.
Woody’s CheeseSteaks
A very bizarre location at the corners of Virginia Avenue and Monroe Drive. Woody’s sits on the island across from Grady Stadium. Unchanged for over 40 years, Woody’s is a classic late night after bar spot for Atlanta locals. Open from 11am to midnight most days, Woody’s close at 4am Friday and Saturday, It’s a wonderful place to enjoy great sandwiches, sausages and hotdogs and get to know the local ATLiens. It’s not fancy, it’s not pretentious, it’s just Woody’s. I now I’ve stumbled in Woody’s doors a few times after leaving the Highlander or the Independent after a fun filled evening, you should too.
Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand
If you’ve lived in Atlanta for any length of time you’ve probably heard of Delia Champion. In my early days out of culinary school in Atlanta I had many piers go through the kitchen’s of Delia. Opening the Flying Biscuit in 1993 at Candler Park, It has since become a staple in the Atlanta brunch scene. Spending years developing her proprietary chicken sausage recipe, Delia has in recent years opened up two sausage stands uniquely specializing in her chicken sausage on a bun. Her sausage is so well known in Atlanta, When I was Executive Chef at Sweet Auburn Seafood we used it at brunch and in our signature shrimp and grits. It was a delicious snack for me for many a hurried mornings. With many variations to choose from, my personal favorites are “the Two Timer” and “the Gunn Slinger”, There is sure to be something for you at Delia’s. With two Locations, click here, open from 7am to 10pm Monday thru Thursday and around the clock from 7am Friday until 10pm Sunday night.
The Varsity
I could write a book on this Atlanta Institution. Opened in 1928 by Frank Gordy, a Georgia Tech dropout, the Varsity has served patrons some of the best fast food delights ever since. Positioned just across the downtown connector from the Georgia Tech campus, the original location at 61 North Avenue serves up some impressive numbers. Touted as the largest drive-in in the world, the Varsity regularly serves up to 25,000 people in a single day. The Varsity also holds the record for most Coca Cola served in a single restaurant unit in the world. The Varsity sits on a 5 acre lot in the heart of Atlanta, serving up 1 ton of onion rings and 2500 pounds of french fried spuds a day. A parking lot that can host 600 cars and facilities for 800 diners. Chili is a must and always be prepared when your bellhop or cashiers yells out the signature phrase, “what’ll ya have, what’ll ya have!” Freshen up on your Varsity lingo and enjoy a great view of the city. I for one go for a regular c dog add slaw times two, an f.o. and ring one sideways. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
Taqueria Del Sol
Opened in 2000 Taqueria Del Sol has been paving the road for southern mexican fusion ever since. Coming up in the late 90’s and 2000’s in Atlanta, I had a 4 year stint at Sala-Sabor de Mexico in Virginia Highlands. We would often go to Taqueria Del Sol not only for a delicious lunch, but for inspiration worthy of an ancient muse. With delicacies like the Memphis, chopped smoked pork with a spicy jalapeno coleslaw and tequila BBQ sauce, Taqueria Del Sol has reinvented the Taco in Atlanta. In the mid 90’s Atlanta became the third largest city for Mexican immigration in the country and the benefit to us all has been establishments like Taqueria Del Sol. Currently with 5 locations, click here to find a taco near you.
