Best Restaurants in Tucker

Tucker, located a few miles east of Atlanta, is quickly becoming a food city to be reckoned with. It has centuries of rich history, yet it feels like much of its story is yet to be told. Since incorporating into its own city in 2015, it has been booming, with a surge of new residents, businesses, and especially restaurants.

Here are some of Tucker’s finest restaurants.

Bite of Korea

What started as an office cafeteria bloomed into a pandemic-accommodating pop-up concept and is now one of Tucker’s hottest new restaurants. Native Korean Gavin Lee brought not only the cuisine of his home country but the culture of bringing people together around the table to share a meal and make memories. Some of the must-try menu items are the sweet, spicy, crunchy, and chewy Sodduk Skewer; the Mexican-meets-Korean Bulgogi Quesadilla; and the crispy, bright, and savory Pajeon (Scallion Pancake).

Farmed Kitchen and Bar

Chef Daryl Shular is one of the most recognized Black chefs in the nation. In Farmed, he brings in culinary/hospitality students from his Shular Institute and provides them an opportunity to work in a world-class restaurant before they embark on their own adventures. The menu is tight but has a high hit rate, with impressive dishes like Seared Beef Carpaccio, Herb-Roasted Breast of Chicken, and Shellfish-Saffron Risotto. 

Shorty’s Neighborhood Eatery

Some call it Shorty’s Pizza, but that’s greatly underselling what they have to offer here at Shorty’s Neighborhood Eatery. While their dozens of different types of wood-fired pizzas are hard to beat, there’s more to this book than meets the cover. They make a phenomenally fresh Guacamole, a tart and tasty Key Lime Pie, and insanely comforting Crab Cakes. Plus, every Friday Chef Austin prepares seasonal specials that will wow you. Between these food options and a constantly-rotating list of local craft beers on tap, you’ll be thankful to have a neighborhood eatery like Shorty’s.

Ford’s BBQ

Owners Justin and Faith Bradford honeymooned in Texas and found themselves staring their future in the eye with so many delicious BBQ joints to try. Justin simply had to bring something like it to Tucker. You can find many of the BBQ staples at Ford’s – smoked wings, sliced brisket, pulled pork sandwiches – but they thrive with their taqueria twist. 

You can get the Sausage Torta, with a sliced link of jalapeno cheddar sausage, white BBQ sauce, vinegar slaw, and chimichurri on a pressed hoagie. Or maybe the BBQ Burrito: a flour tortilla stuffed with chopped pork, cowboy beans, curly fries, onion, jalapeno, shredded cheese, and BBQ sauce. But the true cream of the crop is the Birria Taco Plate: four grilled corn tortillas stuffed thick with braised brisket, chihuahua cheese, onion, and cilantro, and a heaping cup of broth for dipping.

Matthews Cafeteria 

Downtown Tucker has been exploding over the past few years, but its heart and soul has been there since 1955. Matthews Cafeteria was established by Louise and Bill Matthews and is run today by their son-in-law and grandson, and those same family recipes are still bringing the tastiest southern food to your plate. In classic cafeteria tradition, you can grab a tray and pick your meat and veggies, which vary every day.

The Local 7

The Local 7 is known as the “Town Hall of Tucker”, and with good reason. It offers a small-town feel despite being a stone’s throw from Atlanta. While bar food doesn’t typically offer much culinary prowess, this spot combines comfort with precision. The Oinker is a burger topped with plenty of pig (pulled pork and bacon), cheddar, and BBQ sauce. The Steak & Fries dish takes a tender flat iron steak and tops it with chimichurri alongside fries and a mixed green salad. Don’t miss this Main Street hangout!

Tucker Brewing Company

Tucker Brewing Company shows that the mightiest beer can come from less assuming locales. Atlanta loves a microbrewery, and Tucker especially loves TBC. Their Tucker Lager won the gold medal at the Great American Brew Festival and their kitchen serves grub that pairs perfectly with the beer. 

The Crispy Sauerkraut Bites are a unique, tart, and salty treat, the Giant Hot Pretzel with beer cheese and mustard is a classic, and the TKR Pilsner Battered Fish & Chips will warm your heart and your stomach. Plus, every menu item has a recommended beer pairing to truly elevate your dining experience.

Taqueria Los Hermanos 

Taqueria Los Hermanos is an authentic Mexican restaurant owned by three brothers (AKA los hermanos) with five locations, including this local favorite in Tucker. With Mexican fare, you don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but they still find a way to serve up your favorites with a special twist. You can enjoy nachos (topped with beef, chicken, steak, and more), tacos (with plenty of meat options), burritos, taquitos, and Brisket Enchiladas (anything with their brisket is a winner). If you want something lighter, their Shrimp Corn Chowder and Tortilla Chicken Soup are both fabulous. And it wouldn’t be a proper Mexican meal without something to drink, so check out their margaritas, mojitos, or whatever else you’re thirsty for.

Magnolia Room Cafeteria

The smell of a magnolia tree evokes thoughts of the South, but the smell of the Magnolia Room Cafeteria evokes thoughts of home, with classic Southern food served cafeteria-style yet without compromising on the freshness or the flavor. The Magnolia Plate is an entree (such as Fried Catfish, Country Style Steak, or Smothered Pork Chops) with two sides (Sweet Potato Souffle, Candied Yams, Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Okra, and more), and bread (Magnolia Room Jalapeno Corn Bread, Crackling Corn Bread, Bran Muffin, and more). The food is hot and ready for you, so come hungry!