Mary Mac’s Tea Room has delivered on serving up down-home faves like fried green tomatoes, fried chicken and copious amounts of sweet tea (never order unsweet here; it’s blasphemy) since opening its doors in 1945. Yes, for 75 years, it’s been a legend in Atlanta’s culinary story, and if you ask anyone where to go for a healthy dose of proper Southern cooking, this Ponce de Leon icon will be first on the list.

The Busy Bee Cafe is essential ATL dining. No pretense. Just great food and a history that spans more than 70 years in serving up consistent, time-tested recipes you won’t soon forget. A favorite of celebrities and politicians alike over the years, the West End soul food diner is a necessary stop to explore for their signature fried chicken, vegetables and other Southern delicacies.

With a storied history going back to 1947, Paschal’s has cemented a legacy in Castleberry Hill as one of Atlanta’s foremost destinations for fall-out-of-your-seat fried chicken. After you pick yourself up off the floor and calm your nerves with their award-winning peach cobbler, immerse yourself in the restaurant’s civil rights heritage where it served as the central meeting place for the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Andrew Young, Maynard Jackson and more leaders of the movement.

Manuel’s Tavern has always been a destination for beers and bright conversations. After opening in 1956, it became the foremost neighborhood bar and meeting spot for politicians, journalists and locals to either catch a sports game or debate the latest politics. Even former President Jimmy Carter was a regular, and if you take a look around at the slices of nostalgia adorning the walls, you’ll see why this it is so highly revered. It now sits on the National Register of Historic Places.

Serving up “food that pleases,” Majestic Diner has been a long-standing fixture in Poncey-Highland since 1929. As one of Atlanta’s oldest restaurants, the time-tested greasy spoon brings many quality breakfast and lunch options daily. You’ll find everything from burgers and sandwiches to omelets, pancakes and waffles.

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is an ATL icon through and through, and a consistent player on residents’ lists of their favorite barbecue spots. Whether it’s racks upon racks of saucy, savory ribs, pulled pork sandwiches or comforting sides, you know you’re in for a treat when you pull up to the neon-lit Morningside ‘cue house.

You’ve heard the rally cry from eager carhops ready to serve. “What’ll ya have?” isn’t an easy question to answer when there’s so much to choose from at the world’s largest drive-in restaurant. This downtown Atlanta institution has been keeping college students, sports revelers and locals fed with coma-inducing chili-cheese dogs, onion rings and more fabulous fast food since 1928. And don’t get us started on the Frosted Orange shake. The Varsity is an Atlanta icon like no other.

Atlanta loves a good diner, especially for breakfast, and The Silver Skillet has been the go-to since 1956. Its vintage decor has made it a top filming location for many tv shows and movies. The Silver Skillet can be seen in “Traveling Man,” “Remember the Titans” and “I’ll Fly Away,” plus many more movies, TV shows and music videos. For folks looking for an essential Southern breakfast, you can’t go wrong with their famous country ham with red-eye gravy, country-fried steak and cheese eggs.

From the outside, The Colonnade may not be much to look at with its vintage wood paneling and retirement community vibes, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And inside the Atlanta institution that’s been around since 1927 is a lively and loyal crowd of regulars that live by Cheshire Bridge Road restaurant’s penchant for stellar fried chicken and comforting nightly specials.

Set atop the towering disco ball that is Westin Peachtree Plaza, the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View is an essential fixture of downtown Atlanta’s sprawling skyline. Since its inception, Sun Dial has garnered praise as one of the most romantic restaurants in the city and serves as the litmus test for bucket list experiences that every visitor and local must try. Brilliant brunch and contemporary American dining combine with the most breathtaking views the city has to offer.

Chops Lobster Bar is the quintessential steakhouse driving the ATL’s ultimate fine dining experience for over 30 years. We’re talking the finest cuts of USDA prime steaks, A5 wagyu and all the fixings you’d expect from a Buckhead icon that continues to garner awards to this day. Whether it’s celebrating a birthday, business deal or you want to be pampered with pristine service; you’ve gotta add Chops to your must-try list.