When you think of “Atlanta” and “food,” juicy peaches, ice-cold Coca-Cola, and even a certain promiscuously named burger joint may come to mind. But a culinary trip here will reveal so much more. From the city’s legendary Black food culture to can’t-miss Malaysian fare, there’s something delectable for everyone in the ATL.
Madelynne Boykin
1 Don’t slut shame, slut celebrate
If you take a trip to Atlanta without stopping by Slutty Vegan, get another trip on the books. This is the birthplace of vegan entrepreneur Pinky Cole Hayes’ viral and provocative burger chain, where you can score classics like the bacon-loaded One Night Stand and the jerk-spiced plantain-stuffed Dancehall Queen. But make the most of your tryst with a few limited-time offerings like the beefy, cheesy Hooker Fries and deep-fried Oreos.
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Tassili’s Raw Reality
2 (Don’t) let ‘em cook
Serving Atlanta’s historic West End since 2011, Tassili’s Raw Reality has become a beacon of vitality in the community. This Black-owned gem offers raw wraps, kale salads, sweets, and snacks that make eating healthy a treat. Grab a group of friends and split the Mandingo Wrap—a gargantuan spinach tortilla packed with marinated and massaged kale, avocado, tomato, agave, hemp seeds, and almonds. And be sure to save space for some moringa-dusted popcorn washed down with a bottle of sorrel.
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Bad Gyal Vegan
3 So bad, so good
Caribbean food fans, rejoice—Bad Gyal Vegan is satisfying all your cravings. What started as a home kitchen pop-up in Brooklyn, NY has been reborn as a year-round location inside the Marietta Square Market. Here, Chef Chyna Love churns out ackee spring rolls, brown stew oyster mushrooms, and her famous vegan oxtails in gravy—along with a few Southern comfort favorites like mac and cheese-topped burgers, homestyle potato salad, and banana pudding.
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Planta
4 When in Atlanta, Planta
Born in Toronto in 2016 before blossoming across the US, Planta has found the recipe for success with its upscale vegan bites and drop-dead gorgeous restaurants. And one of its newest locations in Atlanta’s eclectic Krog Street Market is planting the flag for stellar plant-based food in the South. Start with a few melt-in-your-mouth unagi eggplant nigiri and the crowd-favorite bang bang broccoli, warm up with a ginger mezcal cocktail, then dive into a brick oven-fired vodka-tomato cream pizza with Calabrian chili bomba.
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Mamak Vegan Kitchen
5 From Malaysia with love
For a taste of something truly unique, just 15 minutes outside of city limits in Chamblee and tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, lies Mamak Vegan Kitchen, bringing the flavors of Malaysia to Georgia. Start with the potato curry hand pies and mushroom soup with lotus root, peanuts, and dates. For your main, indulge in the rendang curry with Beyond Beef or, another favorite: the wok-tossed okra with homemade sambal. The okra is slightly crisp, tender on the inside, not at all slimy, and completely worth the detour.
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6 Bare your soul
Make your way to either one of Soul Vegetarian’s two locations, order anything with the signature “kalebone” (the restaurant’s bestselling succulent seitan rib meat), and know you’re a part of history. Operating since 1979, Soul Vegetarian is largely credited with bringing the Black vegan movement to Atlanta, and 45 years later, it’s still nourishing locals with plant-based food made with love. Look out for their indulgent weekly specials like homestyle lasagna or fully loaded cheesesteaks.
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7 Sow the seed
The unfamiliar may be surprised by Atlanta’s vibrant Hispanic population. But vegan kitchen La Semilla is putting its distinctively Latin stamp on the ATL’s food scene, and after just one croqueta de jamón, you won’t be able to imagine the city without it. Take your pick of Mayan, Spanish, Mexican, or Cuban bites (or go for the Cubarrito fusion with picadillo, maduros, avocado, and mojo crema), and toast with an ancho chili-lime pisco cocktail. Buen provecho!
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Cafe Sunflower
8 The Sunflower’s secret
Cafe Sunflower has been the go-to, upscale date-night destination for Atlanta vegans for three decades, thanks to stellar dishes like the tofu ricotta-stuffed Orzo Eggplant Lasagna, the crowd-favorite Spicy Pad Thai Noodles, and the signature Sunflower Loaf with garlic mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy. But here’s a pro tip: make sure to show up for Saturday brunch. The Chicken Biscuit—featuring a crispy seitan fillet slathered in orange-jalapeño marmalade in a flaky house biscuit and served with home fries, kale salad, and tofu scramble—is the best breakfast in town.
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Dulce Vegan Bakery
9 Treat yourself
A little something sweet—it’s what we’re all in the mood for after a big meal. Or when we want to reward ourselves. Or anytime really. And when the craving hits, Atlantans turn to Dulce Vegan Bakery. Skip the standard chocolate chip and try the gluten-free ginger cookie sandwiches with matcha cream. Or for a real Southern staple, a slice of hummingbird cake (made with pineapple, banana, cinnamon, and cream cheese frosting) will do the trick. But the most popular bite is easily the squishy-sweet cinnamon roll. Order one for now and one for later—you deserve it.
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Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar
10 Shop good, do good
Atlanta’s first Black woman-owned vegan market isn’t just a grocery spot, it’s a community space in the truest sense. Sister Nilajah Ma’at and her store Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar not only work to tackle the health problems faced by the Black community, they build Black community—creating space for small-business owners and their pop-ups, stocking locally made artisanal products, and hosting events. Close out your Atlanta trip with a sea moss smoothie or chocolate chaga latte for the road.
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