If you’re looking for what makes Atlanta special, you don’t have to look farther than our HBCU’s. Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman all have roots going back to the mid 19th Century, dovetailing with the post-Civil-War-rise of the City we all call home today. HBCUs generally provide a place where young Black men and women can thrive without fear of the historic biases, microagressions and racism that can exist on other campuses. With so many years as a haven for young Black leaders of the future, it only stands to reason that ancillary business have popped up over the years to feed these hungry students. We’re covering some of our favorite restaurants near ATL’s HBCU campuses below.

SOUL FOOD

Every college students, regardless of race, income or background, craves some home cooking. When it comes to Black HBCU students in Atlanta, there’s plenty of home cooking to pick from – and three within close proximity to campus. There’s two restaurants that are essentially Atlanta historical preservation sites – the Busy Bee Cafe and Paschal’s. Both have a rich history of delicious soul food and Civil Rights, with both acting as meeting places for Atlanta’s most recognized civil rights leaders.

The Busy Bee Cafe — Instagram @thebusybeeatl

1.Busy Bee Cafe

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

In addition to the history, the food at both locations is EXCELLENT. Busy Bee Cafe has many soul food standards like Fried Catfish, Candied Yams, Collard Greens, Corn Bread and more, but they’re most famous for their Fried Chicken. Order a half a fried chicken, six wings or the most popular dish – chicken and waffles – to see what’s kept this place an institution for decades.

2.Paschal’s

180 Northside Drive SW Atlanta, Georgia 30313

Paschal’s, on the other hand, takes the Soul food meat and three approach, but throws in a BBQ option as well, with the pulled pork sandwich. They also have some great starters like the Southern Fried Green Tomatoes and Voodoo Fried Shrimp. But Paschal’s may be best known for their Peach Cobbler – always save some room for every visit.

Fried Chicken at Old Lady Gang — Old Lady Gang – Fried Chicken | Photo: Facebook/oldladygang

3.OLG

Multiple Locations

The latest entry into the Soul Food game in Southwest Atlanta is OLG or Old Lady Gang. Founded by R&B artist and Real Housewife of Atlanta Kandi Burrus, the food is inspired by the older women in Burrus’ life, whose recipes are reflected in the menu. With a more modern approach to Soul Food recipes, they make a great shrimp and grits and fried fish.

PIZZA

While Atlanta’s HBCU’s have a rich history of Black excellence, at the end of the day the students there now are just hungry college kids doing their best. And what do college kids like more than anything else? Pizza. Luckily, there’s three great options all within proximity of ATL’s HBCU campuses.

4. Phew’s Pies

695 Fraser St SE Atlanta , GA 30315

Let’s start with a place that makes the most ATL pizza you can ever imagine – the Lemon Pepper Wet pie. Atlanta’s Phew’s Pies takes a creative approach to a Neapolitan style pizza, using non traditional ingredients with the central Italian pizza making style. In addition to the Lemon Pepper Wet, the Oxtail and Ricotta are an incredible blending of Caribbean and Italian ingredients, and the S’mores Pizza might be one of the best desserts in the A.

Pizza from Slim and Husky's — Instagram/slimandhuskys

5.Slim and Husky’s

Multiple Locations

While Phew’s Pies is inspired by Naples, Slim and Husky’s is inspired by Rome. This up and coming, Nashville based pizza chain offers the long, roman style pizza al taglio or pizza by the cut, divided into squares. The pizzas are creative and inspired by Hip Hop, with names like the Cee No Green meat pizza and the Nothing But a V Thang vegan pizza. They’ve got a great relationship to their local community in Tennessee where they started and are planning events in their Atlanta restaurants to bring the community together.

CARRIBBEAN

While Soul Food covers a lot of Southern Black culinary history, Atlanta’s HBCU’s have students from around the country, including the Northeast. For a lot of those students, home cooking may look a lot closer to Jamaican, West Indian or even Dominican food than Soul Food. Luckily there’s plenty of options around campus to satisfy those cravings.

Jerk chicken from Dat Fire Jerk chicken. — Instagram/datfirejerkchicken

6.Dat Fire Jerk

226 Northside Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30313

Look for the Jamaican flags when you’re on Northside Drive in Castleberry Hill, and you’ll find Dat Fire Jerk Chicken. Like the humble roadside stops throughout the Caribbean where you can get a delicious jerk chicken, Dat Fire is humble on the outside, but all the flavor is on the inside. Try the jerk chicken tacos for something different, and don’t sleep on the oxtails.

Oxtail from Mango's Caribbean Restaurant — Instagram/b_u_thabombbarber

7.Mango’s

Multiple Locations

Jerk and Curry dominate the menu at this lovely Caribbean restaurant in the West End (and three other locations around ATL). In addition to great curry and jerk shrimp pastas, tofu, whole fish and more, their crab/callaloo patties are house made and the best in the A. They also make a great Roti Skin that goes as a great side with whatever you order.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Pupusas from La Bodega. — Instagram/buenosdiascafe

8.Buenos Dias Cafe/La Bodega – Latin

680 Murphy Ave. Suite 4158 Atlanta , Ga 30310

Buenos Dias Cafe, now inside of La Bodega, a Spanish to go and convenience shop by the same owners, may make ATL’s best pupusas.

Selection from Fellaship in Castleberry Hill — Instagram/fellaship.atl

9.Fellaship

110 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. Atlanta, GA 30313

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton is a partial owner in this cigar bar, which features standard high end gastropub fare like fish tacos, truffle fries and seafood pasta.

10.The Juicy Crab

Multiple Locations

The Juicy Crab is a multi-unit restaurant group that has exploded in the metro ATL region for the last few years for good reason – their Crab boil in a bag is mouthwatering perfection.