5. Sushi Hayakawa
You don’t have to spend $185 to eat at Sushi Hayakawa, but if you can, you should.
Octopus Bar
When Nhan Le and the late Angus Brown opened Octopus Bar in 2011, they shook up Atlanta's dining scene, offering small plates rife with primo ingredients like oysters and uni but served in a loud, dark room.
Taqueria del Sol
Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank opened the first Taqueria del Sol on the Westside in 2000, cranking out crowd-pleasing $2 tacos.
One Eared Stag
When chef Robert Phalen opened One Eared Stag back in 2011, Inman Park was a far sleepier place. The neighborhood has since been transformed by an influx of restaurants, but One Eared Stag’s quiet corner retains its subdued charm.
The White Bull
It takes balls—and a stiff drink—to attempt to tell stories with food the way Hemingway did with a typewriter. Chef Pat Pascarella and beverage director Matt Scott go for it at the White Bull on Decatur Square.