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15 restaurants vital to Atlanta
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by Su-Jit Lin
Updated March 27, 2023
Atlanta’s restaurant scene is kaleidoscopic. The city’s greatest dining destinations represent the many histories and cultures of the Big A. Many have long histories of their own, and they all shine with the street cred they’ve scooped up no matter how long they’ve been around.
An iconic luncheonette downtown dishes up some of Atlanta’s best fried chicken. In Buckhead, the city’s oldest Japanese restaurant gets fish flown in from Japan multiple times a week. A former post office and general store in Vinings dazzles with sophisticated spins on Southern classics.
What makes a great restaurant in Atlanta changes depending on mood, budget, occasion, and palate. Read on for a guide to 15 spots that have stood the test of time and critique.
![A photo of Canoe restaurant](https://images.otstatic.com/prod/26412892/3/medium.jpg)
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JoeVIP
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Rosie
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Andrew
Dined 1 day ago
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Angela
Dined 4 days ago
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OpenTable DinerVIP
Dined 3 days ago
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Bob
Dined 6 days ago
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Frank
Dined on Feb 5, 2025
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MeredithMVIP
Dined 3 days ago
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Lorena
Dined 4 days ago
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Kevin
Dined 5 days ago
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Gwendolyn
Dined 5 days ago
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PhilVIP
Dined 3 days ago
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Tiffany
Dined today
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OpenTable Diner
Dined 1 day ago
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