We’d splurge on sushi and dine at steakhouses every night if we could. But most of us can’t, and for the casual lunch or dinner, we’re more likely to chow down on these singular stars, where cost and quality are far from equals.
$6
Banh Mi
We Suki Suki
Best in class, chef-owner Q Trinh marinates her griddled pork with extra soy before slathering on a rich French aioli. 479-B Flat Shoals Avenue
$7
Gyro
Nick’s Food to Go
Slabs of gyro meat dressed with an herby tzatziki sauce and raw onions mingle gloriously in a grilled pita. 240 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
$4-$9
Bao
Miso Izakaya
Fluffy steamed buns are filled with layers of crisp duck skin and slow-braised pork belly. 619 Edgewood Avenue
$2.39
Memphis Taco
Taqueria del Sol
Tennessee meets Mexico in this taco featuring smoked pork, jalapeño coleslaw, and a tequila barbecue sauce. Multiple locations
$6.25
Fried Catfish
Harold’s Fried Chicken & Ice Bar
Fluffy, lightly battered, and, on weekends, served until 3 a.m. 349 Edgewood Avenue
$6
Burrito
Bell Street Burritos
Chicken, green chiles, and buttery pinto beans bring on the burrito love. Get it griddled for a light outer crust. Multiple locations
$4.75
Waffle Fries
Flip Burger Boutique
Meet the fries that launched an online petition. Dunk these crispy crunchers in a sweet, maple-based sauce. Multiple locations
Check out more of the year’s best dining picks in our annual Best of Atlanta list
Photographs by Caroline C. Kilgore
This article originally appeared in our December 2014 issue.
