Assemble the Perfect Meal at These 5 Food Halls
Atlanta is blessed with an abundance of food halls, both old and new.
Each food hall has its own story to tell, and there’s a lot to love about them, from the sheer quality to the diverse variety of the vendors. Anybody can find something they’ll enjoy, no matter how picky or hungry. The biggest benefit is that you don’t have to simply settle on one cuisine for your meal. The bonafide foodies know that the move is to mix and match to their heart’s delight, but all of those options can feel overwhelming.
Don’t worry, we have you covered and are going to help you curate the best possible meal at five of Atlanta’s biggest food halls. Consider this a guide to optimizing your meal, but if you need to make changes, you know your tastes better than we do! But this is a great starting point.
Ponce City Market
If you’re willing to brave the weekend rush of this Poncey-Highlands hotspot, your efforts will be rewarded.
Appetizer
Kick your adventure off with a Salsa Tasting from Minero, a casual Mexican eatery that elevates the typical fare. The tasting includes a bag of housemade tortilla chips as well as Roja, Benne, and Verde salsas. There are enough tough decisions to make in this meal; don’t add to your stress by eliminating salsas.
Drink
With salty chips and spicy dips, cool things down with any of the “Signature Cocktails” from Bar Vegan. This black-owned vegan spot concocts some absolutely phenomenal cocktails and serve them in a sleek and sexy environment.
Entree
The H&F Burger (rightfully) gets a lot of hype, but let’s get a little bold. Order the Media Noche from El Super Pan, with all the classic components of a Cuban sandwich – Cuban-roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard on Latin brioche bread – with the added salty crunch of chicharron.
Side
What goes better with Mexican and Cuban than… Indian street food? Even if it feels chaotic, get the Masala Smashed Potatoes from Botiwalla. These fingerlings are super crispy and tossed with salt, chaat masala, lime juice, and cilantro and served with a sweet and spicy ketchup sauce. These are a slam dunk for the taste and the texture.
Dessert
After a rich assortment of different cuisines, end your Ponce trip with a simple delight: a 100-Layer Donut from Five Daughters Bakery. Each donut flavor is a winner but if it’s your first foray, don’t overthink things: get the Purist.
Krog Street Market
A quick walk down the Beltline from Ponce takes you to Inman Park’s Krog Street Market. While Ponce dabbles in the retail side of things, Krog is all business with nothing but food stalls, so we know the options are gonna be good.
Appetizer
Get this tour off to a strong start with the Zhong Style Dumplings from Gu’s Dumplings. This heaping cup of joy gives their award-winning boiled dumplings (filled with pork, chicken, or veggies) a bath in their sweet and spicy Zhong sauce with a generous serving of garlic and green onions. These have the perfect level of heat and are jam-packed with flavor so you’ll be ravenous down to the last dumpling.
Drink
The Ticonderoga Club is one of Atlanta’s cooler spots, even if you’re only sipping on something stout. The Ticonderoga Cup from Ticonderoga Club is aged rum, cognac, sherry, lemon, pineapple, and mint served in a fun cup. Careful, even though they’re sweet and sour they’re strong.
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Entree
Let’s stay on the Asian-influenced journey we started with the dumplings and get what some (me) might say is the best sandwich in Atlanta: the Korean Philly from Fred’s Meat and Bread. It’s beef or chicken (some (again, me) might say it’s better with chicken) with Gochujang sauce, American cheese, candied jalapenos, green onions, and garlic aioli. This sandwich is a miracle, marrying sweet, spicy, and salty into one perfect union.
Side
Mapo tofu is one of the most interesting Chinese dishes, and the Mapo Chili Fries from Suzy Siu’s Baos bring that unique and exciting not-spicy-but-spicy flavor profile, along with chorizo, pork, and whipped tofu.
Dessert
After painting with such bold strokes throughout this meal, keep things simple and get a scoop or two of Jeni’s Ice Cream. Pick your poison, and don’t be afraid to take some samples. From there, just sit back and let Jeni do the work.
Chattahoochee Food Works
The Works is one of the most recent additions to West Midtown, and it’s been a smash hit, with an impressive variety of cuisines and price points.
Appetizer
Fire up your taste buds with some Empanadas from Belen de la Cruz. They have a long list of different fillings, each of which is worth ordering (plus they have the name of the flavor pressed on the outside), but some Atlanta Eats staff favorites are Cheesy Beef, Butternut Squash, and Caprese.
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Drink
The best cocktails simply combine two different ones into one glorious drink. Meet the Margarita with Sangria Swirl from Taqueria La Luz. You don’t even have to like sangria to slurp this sucker down. Just please, please, PLEASE don’t drive if you drink a second or third of these.
Entree
After spending time in the Latin food lane, let’s swerve dramatically across six lanes to the American exit ramp (we call this maneuver “the I-20 connector”) and eat a P&F Patty from Patty & Frank’s. This burger is a demonstration of the power of simplicity: two crispy smashed beef patties topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced red onion, tomatoes, and Patty Sauce.
Side
Maybe at this point you’re done taking my advice… but what about Oprah’s? She would tell you that the Macaroni & Cheese from Delilah’s Everyday Soul is the very best (she even wrote the foreword to Delilah’s cookbook)!
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Dessert
Dessert might be the easiest decision of the day. Get a Cookie from Munster Cravings. These are the best cookies in Atlanta, bar none. Every flavor is fabulous, but it’s hard to beat the good ol’ chocolate chip.
Politan Row at Colony Square
Colony Square recently received a facelift, with the Politan Row food hall as its prized feature, adding an exciting destination to Midtown.
Appetizer
The Spiced Beef Patty from Locale Caribbean Cafe is comfort food to the max, with deeply flavorful meat and a tasty outer shell. Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.
Drink
The food hall is anchored by a bar right in the middle of the action, and it’s easy to grab a drink while you browse the vendors. You should start with the Strawberry Whiskey Collins from Bar Politan, available on draft and containing Evan Williams bourbon, house-made syrup, lemon, and soda.
Entree
There’s just something magical about a banh mi, and the Grilled Beef Special Banh Mi from Bun Mi Vietnamese Grill will scratch that sandwich itch. You can get a variety of meats, but they nail the beef, and the fixings – kale, avocado, truffle ate, garlic aioli, cucumbers, and cilantro – elevate it to something special.
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Side
With a lighter sandwich, you can afford to go a little heavier with the side. Might I suggest the Handcut Masala Fries from Tandoori Pizza and Wing Co? This spot, as the name suggests, makes some fantastic pizzas and wings in the Indian mold, but their fries are remarkable: house-made potato wedges topped with garlic, spices, and herbs and served with sriracha aioli.
Dessert
“Zaddy” is a slang term “describing a good-looking stylish guy, often self-confident, affluent, and stable.” If that term could apply to a single dessert, it’d be the Carrot Cake Bread Pudding from Zaddy’s. It combines two iconic desserts into one star, with a soft and moist interior and a crispy crunchy top.
Citizens Market at Phipps Plaza
One of the newest food halls to hit the scene is Citizens Market, attached to Phipps Mall. It is rather elegant with a higher-end collection of food stands.
Appetizer
The Sticky Ribs from Samoto are melt-in-your-mouth tender and absolutely bursting with flavor. They’re twice-cooked pork ribs topped with cilantro and served with a hoisin sweet chili sauce.
Drink
The bar is a hybrid of inside-outside seating, perfect as a happy hour destination or to whet your appetite for a food hall curation. Try the Desert Rose from Citizens Bar, made with 400 Conejos Mezcal, Prickly Pear, Lime, and Orange Bitters. It’s got a funky southwestern flair, sweet, sour, citrusy, and smokey.
Entree
Everybody loves sushi, but there’s a particular format that stuffs the usual version into a locker due to its sheer superiority. Experience it for yourself with the Spicy Tuna Krispy Rice from Krispy Rice, a crispy block of fried sushi rice topped with the spicy tuna mixture. When the name of the dish is also the name of the restaurant, you know you need to order it.
Side
Umami Burger is all about that ever-elusive umami flavor. If you want to experience umami cranked up to the maximum level, order the Truffle Fondue Fries from Umami Burger. These shoestring fries are seasoned with an umami blend and topped with truffle cheese fondue (more umami) and truffle aioli (most umami).
Dessert
The bakery here has some special baked goods. The best might just be the Brownies & Blondies from Ella Mia. They’re rich without being overpowering and will be just what you’re craving to end your meal on a high note.
