UPDATED: June 2018
Ask any frequent traveler about their favorite place to eat at an airport, and the answer likely will be, “Anywhere else.” And while ATL does have its share of forgettable and regrettable airport food court offerings, there really are some good dining choices scattered from the main terminal to the international terminal, and at stops in-between.
The key to dining at ATL is how much time you have. To help you choose from the options, we’ve organized this ATL dining guide based on how long you can linger, with a bias against the usual airport chain suspects.
ATL Linger Longer Eating Locations
If you’ve skipped a flight cycle (by your choice or the choice of your airline), or if you have 2 hours or more, consider one of the upscale restaurant options. In the restaurant biz, we’d call these “polished casual” options, featuring excellent bar choices, multiple dining courses, and attentive table service.
- Ecco, Concourse F. Situated on the second level of the international terminal, it’s almost possible to forget you’re in an airport. A small and comfortable dark-wood trimmed bar, an open display kitchen and “patio” dining give Ecco the feeling of a comfortable favorite haunt. As in most airports, a generic catering company controls the lease on the space. But hometown Fifth Restaurant Group retains the flair and flavor – literally – of the midtown original location by controlling the hiring, training, menu and service standards. On my most recent visit, I had the squid ink linguine with calamari, Calabrian chiles, anchovy sofrito and sun-dried tomatoes. (Is it weird if I admit to arriving at ATL early on occasion just to dine here?) One caution: all dine-in checks include an 18% gratuity, so beware before you finalize your payment.
Everything from the locally-sourced food, to the decor, and including the concept is unique at One Flew South. Its ATL airport-only restaurant, consistently rated among the best in the US. - One Flew South, Concourse E. While most high-end airport restaurants are remote versions of local favorites or well-known chains, One Flew South has only one location, and it’s in ATL Concourse E. Recognized by a number of sources as one of the best airport restaurants in the US, the restaurant describes its menu as Southern-national, a cross-over inspired by local foods prepared with international flair. Other than the sushi, the pimento cheese plate and salmon hot pot are among some of our favorites. But our hands-down-slap-your-mama-tell-everybody-about-it top choice is the OFS Dirty South, a meatloaf sandwich with pimento cheese, sauteed spinach, barbeque sauce and bacon topped with a fried egg. The décor is as delectable and authentic as the menu, featuring locally-sourced Cherokee marble and heart pine.
- The Rest of the Best. Well-known casual chains Carrabba’s and Long Horn Steak House also operate in ATL, and you can enjoy a selection of their famous favorites for prices just slightly higher than their non-airport locations.
Faster, but Not Fast ATL Food
- Pappi’s, Concourse T. This can be fast, or slow. For those in a hurry, a buffet line and fast dining menu deliver airport standards. If you want that kind of food, just eat anywhere. The Regaldo family owners are Cuban, and that’s the reason to dine at Papi’s, in the airport or the city. After living in Florida for 10 years, I didn’t think I could be impressed by a pressed Cuban sandwich elsewhere. Papi’s proved me wrong. Empanadas, fish tacos, croquetas, pastelitos, and Cuban coffee round out the short list of crowd favorites.
Atlanta’s Chris “Ludacris” Bridges gives Chicken and Beer its inspiration, name and hip-hop cred. Luda’s Chicken and Waffles feature fried chicken and a pecan waffle. The cube-lets of andouille sausage plus the whiskey maple syrup and cinnamon butter make this a foodie’s delight. - Chicken + Beer, Concourse D. Way out in the hinterlands served by the “other” airlines that are not Delta or Southwest is where you’ll find Chicken + Beer. The establishment takes its name and sponsorship from Atlanta homey Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. I dropped in one early afternoon and enjoyed Luda’s Chicken and & Pecan Waffles, which would be a foodie’s destination dish in any city – with its hint-of-spiced-batter fried chicken, pecan waffle cinnamon butter, whiskey maple syrup and bits of spicy andouille hidden behind a bed of spinach. I’d love to hear from other ATL flyers on additional menu items.
- Intermezzo, Concourse B. A restaurant combined with a bookstore, this Concourse B location is a long-time ATL favorite with frequent travelers and airline crews alike. Inspired by European coffee houses and modeled after it’s in-town siblings, the airport location perfectly fits the concept’s web-based self-description: “It’s a vacation, a holiday, an “intermezzo” (intermission) between the busy acts of your life: in musical terms, it’s your rest between allegro and adagio.” And while the airport location has a more limited menu that other locations, you’ll feel just as relaxed and comfortable sitting on the faux-patio and enjoying a coffee and pastries as you would in an small café in Europe. This is often one of the least-crowded sit-down options.
- Best of the Rest. For high-end burgers, both Grindhouse on Concourse T and Flyburger on Concourse B are excellent choices. Yelpers rate both at 3-Stars, which may be right when compared against the universe of burgers, but low if you’re limited to ATL. Varasano’s is the best pizza in the city, and the far-and-away best in ATL.
Fast (and Southern) Like Nascar
- The Varsity, Concourse F. There’s darned little that UGA and Georgia Tech alumni agree on – except for The Varsity. In midtown Atlanta and college-town, Athens, The Varsity is legendary with generations of students, locals and visitors. When greeted with the trademarked welcome, “What’ll Y’all Have?,” real and transplanted Georgians answer with things like, “Ring one, Heavy weight sideways,” (hot dog with extra chili, onions on the side, with a side order of onion rings.) or “walk a naked dog with a bag of rags,” (one plain hot dog to go, with a side of potato chips.) Worry not if you don’t know the lingo; the menu is printed in good, old-fashioned fast-food English.
- Chick Fila-A. From humble beginnings near Atlanta, home-town Chick Fil-A is now a 3,000+ store chain famous for its chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, thick milk shakes and funny commercials. A few years ago, the company reinvented its grilled chicken sandwich, successfully emulating the flavor of a back-yard grill. But if you’re passing through on Sunday, you can’t eat at Chick Fil-A. None of the company’s restaurants is open on Sunday – and that includes the NFL home to the Atlanta Falcons and ATL.
- Lotta Frutta, Concourse B. Founder Myrna Perez describes it at “Pan-Latin.” We claim it as genuinely Atlantean and the healthiest option at ATL. Fruit cups and smoothies are the heart of the menu, with some sandwiches as well. However, inconsistency in the smoothies is a problem at the ATL location.
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The renovation of centerpoint in Concourse D added Food Network Kitchen and Terrapin tap, both good choices for very different reasons.
ATL Second and Third Opinions
Food taste varies, literally and figuratively. We’ve personally experienced all the ATL choices listed here – and many others. But we haven’t visited all 150+ eating locations listed on the official ATL web site. Here are a few links to what others have said recently:
Trip Savvy, June 2017. Writer Akila McConnell says ATL “has some of the best airport dining you’ll find in the country.” https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-restaurants-hartsfield-jackson-international-airport-1328891
Thrill List, February 2017. Their claim: “We went concourse by concourse and picked out the places you need to hit.” https://www.thrillist.com/eat/atlanta/best-atlanta-airport-restaurants-food-hartsfield-jackson
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 2016. We read the AJC for local news, community events and political cartoons. We offer its ATL restaurant listing from late 2016 without an endorsement. http://atlantarestaurants.blog.ajc.com/2016/11/22/where-to-eat-at-hartsfield-jackson-international-airport/
