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Best Soul Food in Atlanta: 10 Black-Owned Restaurants (2026)
By Online African Shop Team · Updated September 2026
Looking for the best soul food in Atlanta? These 10 Black-owned restaurants cover everything from fried chicken, catfish and smothered chops to brunch spots and modern Southern kitchens. You'll find them in West Midtown, Vine City, Castleberry Hill and Cascade Heights. Our top picks are The Busy Bee Cafe, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours and Paschal's Restaurant & Bar.
Every business here was named as Black-owned by a trusted local source (listed at the bottom). Hours and locations change, so call or check the website before you go.
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Black-owned soul food restaurants in Atlanta
10 places-
Soul food
Top pick
Vine City / West End
1.The Busy Bee Cafe
Must tryFried chicken with mac and cheeseLucy Jackson opened this soul food restaurant in 1947, and Tracy Gates has run it since 1987. It has a James Beard America's Classics award and...
810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
Top pick
West Midtown / Blandtown
2.Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
Must tryHoisin-glazed oxtails or fried chicken with three-cheese macChef Deborah VanTrece serves soul food with global flavors at this Michelin-recommended restaurant. Reserve ahead for dinner or weekend brunch.
1133 Huff Rd NW, Ste D, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
Top pick
Castleberry Hill
3.Paschal's Restaurant & Bar
Must tryThe 1947 fried chickenThis restaurant has served fried chicken since 1947 and was a meeting place for civil rights leaders. It is cashless and a short walk from Mercedes-Benz...
180 Northside Dr SW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
Cascade Heights
4.Oreatha's at the Point
Must tryOxtail lasagnaChef Deborah VanTrece's second restaurant is named for her mother and serves soul food with global influences. It serves dinner Wednesday through Saturday and brunch on...
2287 Cascade Rd SW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
English Avenue / Westside
5.K&K Soul Food
Must trySmothered pork chops with collards and cornbreadThis counter-service spot has served home-style soul food for more than four decades from a building that used to be a pool hall. It has rotating...
881 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
West Midtown
6.Virgil's Gullah Kitchen & Bar
Must tryShrimp and grits with crabJuan and Gregory "Gee" Smalls cook Gullah Geechee dishes from the Carolina and Georgia coast. There are also locations in College Park and Conyers.
822 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
West End
7.Q-Time Restaurant
Must tryPork chops and turnip greensFred and Christine Crenshaw run this West End restaurant, which serves soul food staples including fried whiting and turnip greens.
1120 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
Cascade Road
8.The Beautiful Restaurant
Must tryOxtails and rice, then a fried pieA longtime Cascade Road restaurant serving Southern comfort food such as Cornish hens, oxtails and fried pies.
2260 Cascade Rd SW, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
Poncey-Highland
9.Soul Vegetarian No. 2
Must tryKalebone sandwichThe Hebrew Israelite community runs this vegan soul food restaurant, which has served Atlanta for decades. Try the tofu sticks and Jerusalem rice.
652 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA
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Soul food
Brookhaven (Buford Hwy)
10.Roc South Cuisine
Must tryOxtails with mac and cheeseAn upscale soul food restaurant on Buford Highway serving classics such as oxtails, catfish, grits and collards.
3009 Buford Hwy NE, Brookhaven, GA
FAQ
What is the best soul food restaurant in Atlanta?
The Busy Bee Cafe in Vine City is the classic pick for fried chicken. For a special dinner, book Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in West Midtown, and for history with your meal, visit Paschal's in Castleberry Hill.
Which Atlanta neighborhoods have the most spots on this list?
West Midtown, Vine City, Castleberry Hill and Cascade Heights each have places on this list.
How was this list made?
We only include businesses named as Black-owned by trusted local sources, such as city tourism boards, local news and food writers. The sources are listed below. We check the list regularly, but always confirm hours before you go.
Can I suggest a business?
Yes. Email youronlineafricanshop@gmail.com with the business name, address and a link.
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