MICHELIN’s Bib Gourmand program is designed to spotlight establishments that offer mouthwatering cuisine at an affordable price — and Atlanta is now the proud home to 14 spots with this distinction!
From Sichuan specialties to classic soul food, the MICHELIN Guide inspectors combed through the city, curating a list of Atlanta’s best bites. Here are the restaurants that made the list, including four brand new additions for 2024 — Masterpiece, Superica, Table & Main, and Whoopsies.
Antico Pizza Napoletana
Neighborhood: West Midtown
More info: littleitalia.com
Top-notch pizza joints are an excellent example of Bib Gourmand dining — completely unforgettable flavors in an affordable, no-fuss atmosphere. At Antico Pizza Napoletana, there are no frills, just delicious pizza. Order at the counter and decide between the Rosso (red sauce-based) and Bianche (white sauce-based) pies. After you order, find a seat in the communal dining room, which shares space with the restaurant’s prep kitchen.
Watch as the dough is shaped and baked in one of three wood-burning ovens, then quickly served to your table on a metal tray with parchment paper. Popular choices include the San Gennaro, adorned with Italian sausage, sweet red peppers, Bufala mozzarella, and cipollini onions.
Arepa Mia
Neighborhood: Avondale Estates
More info: arepamiaatlanta.com
Founder and Owner Lis Hernandez proudly spearheads Venezuelan eatery Arepa Mia. She’s known primarily for her beloved arepas, which consist of crunchy cornmeal flour-grilled patties sliced in half and stuffed with flavorful fillings such as grass-fed beef slow-roasted with red wine and sugar cane, plantain flour-encrusted chicken, and locally sourced seasonal vegetables.
Pair your arepa with one of the eatery’s fresh juices, or indulge in a cocktail — there’s an impressive selection of rums!
Banshee
Neighborhood: East Atlanta Village
More info: banshee-atl.com
Banshee boasts an experiential New American menu inside a hip space. The menu is abbreviated, offering a variety of small plates and main dishes focused on seasonality. The fry bread is a must, served steaming hot with a side of the restaurant’s famous pepperoni butter, which you can purchase by the pint.
Other notable mentions include the “Growing Now” section of the menu, featuring simply prepared local produce that allows the ingredients to shine. Our current favorite is the roasted carrots with sherry-miso glaze.
Bomb Biscuit Co.
Neighborhood: Inman Park
More info: bombbiscuitatl.com
Since 2016, Erika Council has been widely recognized as Atlanta’s biscuit queen. She’s done biscuit delivery, biscuit pop-ups, and biscuit breakfast collabs with star chefs. Today, Bomb Biscuit Co.’s brick-and-mortar location serves up the finest version of what a buttermilk biscuit should be — flaky and tender, with a buttery, slightly tangy taste.
Her menu features biscuit sandwiches dressed with Southern favorites like buttermilk-fried chicken, country ham, sausage gravy, and pimento cheese. But don’t limit yourself to just biscuits. Try one of the cinnamon rolls topped with a thick cream cheese glaze, too.
Estrellita
Neighborhood: Grant Park
More info: estrellitafilipino.com
Fondly referred to as “The Little Star of Grant Park,” Estrellita shines a much-deserved spotlight on the tasty intricacies of Filipino cuisine. Menu items include sweet and savory barbecued chicken skewers and comforting classics such as rich and creamy pork adobo.
We’d be remiss not to mention Estrella’s lumpia, a spring roll-adjacent treat filled with Angus beef, sautéed green beans, bean sprouts, celery, and onions, then tightly rolled and deep-fried to golden perfection.
Fishmonger
Neighborhoods: Poncey-Highland, Kirkwood, & West Midtown
More info: fishmongergroup.com
A seafood market, cafe, and raw bar, Fishmonger brings its buzz-worthy food to the bustling Atlanta restaurant scene. The blackened grouper sandwich has quickly become the eatery’s signature dish, embellished with pickled peppers and herb salad on a butter-toasted bun.
Other notable mentions include the perfectly seasoned peel-and-eat shrimp and the rotating daily crudo, which patrons have described as “stupid good.” After enjoying your seafood bounty on the patio, buy whatever fresh catch is available that day to bring a taste of Fishmonger home.
Fred’s Meat & Bread
Neighborhood: Inman Park
More info: fredsmeatandbread.com
Located in Krog Street Market, Fred’s Meat & Bread is the brainchild of Chef Todd Ginsberg of The General Muir, Yalla, and West Egg. He channeled his childhood when he created the old-school burger and sandwich counter concept.
The classic bacon cheeseburger with bread and butter pickles is a can’t-miss, as is the tuna melt hero with hot giardiniera, potato chips, and aioli. Enjoy your sandwich with a vintage soda and a side of hand-cut fries, preferably the barbecue version, with barbecue seasoning and a white barbecue sauce for dipping.
Heirloom Market BBQ
Neighborhood: Smyrna
More info: heirloommarketbbq.com
Co-Chefs Cody Taylor and Chef Jiyeon Lee blended their Southern and Korean heritage to create a magical barbecue mashup — Heirloom Market BBQ. The Southern-Korean fusion manifests in multiple dishes on the menu, including a 12-hour smoked Texas brisket and the signature spicy Korean diced pork. For a side, try the kimchi slaw in a sweet-and-spicy vinegar base or the Korean sweet potato chips tossed in tempura sauce and toasted sesame seeds. Sauces like the sweet heat Korean BBQ and pepper-vinegar Settler are also worth a squeeze.
Little Bear
Neighborhood: Summerhill
More info: littlebearatl.com
Little Bear, named after Chef and Owner Jarrett Stieber’s Great Pyrenees pup, boasts a diverse, ever-changing menu split into two categories — savory and sweet. Each dish draws inspiration from around the globe, with the current menu heavily influenced by Jewish cuisine and the Levant region.
Dine on creative items such as cauliflower with sage dressing, spiced labneh, and pecan chili crisp, or chicken liver custard with pepper and apple gelée. End your meal with the rotating custard topped with meringue and “pretentious flowers.”
Masterpiece
Neighborhood: Duluth
More info: masterpieceduluth.com
A new addition to the Bib Gourmand list, Masterpiece is an unassuming gem hidden in a Duluth strip mall. Authentic Sichuan and Hunan dishes are served family-style, and the restaurant has built up quite a fanbase despite its less-than-convenient location. Culinary enthusiasts are particularly fond of the eggplant matchsticks seasoned with chili powder and pepper ash, in which the creamy, tender interior beautifully contrasts with the fiery, crunchy coating.
Superica
Neighborhoods: Krog Street, Buckhead, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, and The Battery
More info: superica.com
Ford Fry’s beloved Tex-Mex restaurant is known for its cheerful ambiance, ice-cold margaritas, and top-notch food. Though there are various locations throughout Atlanta and beyond, the original at Krog Street Market remains a favorite. We often go for the tacos al carbon with smoked onions, rotating between flavorful protein selections. Another can’t-miss is the shareable queso fundido peppered with savory chorizo, accompanied by the trio of housemade salsas with fresh, paper-thin tortilla chips.
Table & Main
Neighborhood: Roswell
More info: tableandmain.com
Head to the suburbs for this one. Located inside a converted home in Roswell, Table & Main is lauded for its elevated Southern fare. Chef Woolery “Woody” Back mans the stoves, using seasonal ingredients to create dishes such as butternut squash and poblano bisque with puffed rice and country ham, and blackened North Georgia catfish with “dirty” farro, collard greens and smoked tomato gravy.
The Busy Bee
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: thebusybeecafe.com
Open since 1947, The Busy Bee is a long-standing Atlanta institution. With a line consistently out the door, it’s still making an impression on locals and visitors alike with its old-fashioned soul food. Though regular customers certainly have their favorites, we recommend that first-timers try the shatteringly crisp fried chicken alongside various sides like creamy macaroni and cheese, candied yams, and smoky vinegary collard greens. Round out your meal with a glass of sweet tea and a slice of cake.
Whoopsie’s
Neighborhood: Reynoldstown
More info: Instagram
Reynoldstown’s Whoopsie’s is playful yet serious, complete with thrifted artwork, reclaimed furniture, and assorted botanicals pressed into lacquered tabletops. The tiny menu is thoughtfully divided into “cold,” “hot,” and “proteins,” with the selection of proteins changing daily. For a perfect start to your meal, order the snack tray, served on a nostalgic cafeteria-style plate with deviled eggs, pimento cheese, pickles, and chow chow.
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