Best Soul Food

The term “soul food” refers to more than just fried chicken and greens. It's the feeling behind the cooking and the pulse of the restaurant. Atlanta has loads of places that make great soul food, but there's a reason BUSY BEE CAFE is always packed with a line out the door. The place has history, heart and damn fine food. Any of the fried items — such as pork chops, chicken and fish — are crackly and full of flavor. A serving of baked chicken with hot gravy and a corn muffin exudes the coziness of your mom's cooking when you can't get the real thing. And the long, long, long list of side dishes provides more than enough choice for the pickiest of folks. Hot cobbler is made with seasonal fruit when it’s available, but the brightly colored slices of homemade cake at the register are a great takeaway for a sugary snack. 810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. 404-525-9212. www.thebusybeecafe.com. less...

The corner of Hurt Street where SON’S PLACE has stood for 12 years may have become a lot trendier over time, but Son’s still serves the best honest, old-fashioned Southern soul food in town. The cheery, yellow-checkered tablecloths and the stellar collards, mac-n-cheese and baked chicken are all reasons to be glad to live in Atlanta. If you happen in when the ethereal squash casserole or the peach cobbler (from the peach tree out front) sre being served, you’ll know once and for all that living in the South is a true blessing. less...

100 Hurt St. 404-581-0530 The corner of Hurt Street where SON'S PLACE has stood for 12 years may have become a lot trendier over time, but Son's still serves the best honest, old-fashioned Southern soul food in town. The cheery, yellow-checkered tablecloths and the stellar collards, mac-n-cheese and baked chicken are all reasons to be glad to live in Atlanta. If you happen in when the ethereal squash casserole or the peach cobbler (from the peach tree out front) sre being served, you'll know once and for all that living in the South is a true blessing. less...