16 Georgia Diners Serving The Kind Of Comfort Food You Crave
Georgia knows how to feed your soul. From fluffy biscuits smothered in gravy to fried chicken that crackles with every bite, the state’s diners deliver meals that feel like a warm hug.
I’ve rounded up some of the best spots where comfort food reigns supreme and every plate tells a delicious story.
1. The Silver Skillet

Walking through the door feels like stepping into your grandmother’s kitchen on a Sunday morning. Biscuits arrive hot and flaky, begging for butter and homemade jam.
Regulars swear by the country fried steak, which comes with creamy gravy that cascades over everything on your plate. Breakfast here is an all-day affair, so you can satisfy those morning cravings anytime you want.
2. The Colonnade Restaurant

Since 1927, this Atlanta institution has been dishing out Southern classics that never go out of style. You’ll find mac and cheese so creamy it practically melts on your tongue.
Their fried chicken is perfectly seasoned with a golden crust that crunches just right. Vegetables come cooked low and slow, Southern-style, making even your greens taste like comfort.
3. Matthews Cafeteria

Cafeteria-style dining means you can see every delicious option before making your choice. Meatloaf here tastes just like Mom used to make, complete with tangy ketchup glaze on top.
Pile your tray high with cornbread dressing, collard greens, and candied yams that shine with buttery sweetness. This Tucker gem has been feeding families since 1955, and the recipes haven’t changed a bit.
4. Marlow’s Tavern

Comfort food gets a modern twist at this neighborhood favorite with locations across Georgia. Their shrimp and grits combine plump shrimp with creamy stone-ground grits that stick to your ribs.
Burgers are juicy and stacked high with toppings that drip down your hands in the best way possible. The atmosphere strikes a balance between casual and polished, perfect for any occasion.
5. Ria’s Bluebird

Pancakes here are legendary, fluffy as clouds and big enough to hang off the edge of your plate. Breakfast runs until 3 PM, giving you plenty of time to sleep in and still catch those morning favorites.
Their chicken biscuit will ruin you for all other chicken biscuits, with tender meat tucked inside a buttery, sky-high biscuit. Located in Atlanta’s Grant Park, this spot draws crowds every weekend.
6. Buckhead Diner

Art Deco glamour meets down-home cooking at this upscale twist on the classic diner. Veal and wild mushroom meatloaf elevates a humble dish to something truly special.
Their buttermilk fried chicken arrives with a side of truffle honey that adds an unexpected sweetness. Even though the setting feels fancy, the portions and flavors remain pure comfort, satisfying your deepest cravings.
7. Thumbs Up Diner

Retro vibes and neon signs set the stage for serious comfort food in Atlanta. Breakfast skillets come loaded with eggs, potatoes, cheese, and your choice of meats all scrambled together.
Their gravy is rich and peppery, perfect for drowning biscuits or smothering hash browns. Open 24 hours on weekends, this place becomes a haven for night owls and early risers alike.
8. The Flying Biscuit Cafe

Organic ingredients and Southern soul collide in this beloved Georgia mini-chain. Their signature cranberry apple butter transforms ordinary toast into something you’ll dream about for days.
Shrimp and grits here feature a spicy tomato sauce that wakes up your taste buds without overwhelming them. The biscuits are sky-high and tender, living up to the restaurant’s name with every buttery bite.
9. Home Grown GA

Farm-to-table meets meat-and-three at this Reynoldstown favorite that sources locally whenever possible. Pot roast falls apart at the touch of a fork, swimming in rich brown gravy.
Sides rotate daily, but you can always count on perfectly seasoned green beans and creamy mashed potatoes. Their commitment to fresh ingredients means every vegetable tastes like it came straight from a Georgia garden.
10. The Majestic Diner

Operating since 1929, this Ponce de Leon landmark serves comfort around the clock. Their patty melt oozes with cheese and caramelized onions between slices of griddled rye bread.
Breakfast platters arrive piled high with eggs, bacon, and hash browns that crisp up beautifully on the flat-top grill. The vintage neon sign outside has become an Atlanta icon, guiding hungry diners home for decades.
11. Highland Bakery

Freshly baked treats and hearty breakfast plates make this spot a neighborhood treasure with multiple locations. Their biscuits and gravy feature chunks of sausage in a creamy, peppery sauce.
French toast gets topped with fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar that looks almost too pretty to eat. Everything from the bread to the pastries is made in-house, filling the air with irresistible aromas.
12. Atkins Park Tavern

As Atlanta’s oldest continuously licensed tavern, this place has been pouring drinks and serving comfort since 1922. Their meatloaf sandwich comes stacked with mashed potatoes right between the bread.
Fried green tomatoes arrive golden and crispy, topped with a tangy remoulade that cuts through the richness. The bar atmosphere stays lively, but the food remains the real star of every visit here.
13. Waffle House

You can’t talk Georgia diners without mentioning this yellow-and-black icon scattered across the state. Hash browns come your way smothered, covered, chunked, or topped however your heart desires.
Watching the cooks work the grill feels like performance art, with eggs cracking and waffles sizzling in perfect rhythm. Open 24/7 and never closing, even during hurricanes, this chain represents Southern comfort at its most reliable.
14. Paschal’s Restaurant

This historic Atlanta soul food landmark played a crucial role during the Civil Rights Movement. Fried chicken here is legendary, with a crispy coating that shatters under your teeth.
Their peach cobbler arrives bubbling hot with a golden crust and sweet Georgia peaches underneath. Eating here means tasting history alongside your meal, with every bite connecting you to Atlanta’s rich cultural heritage.
15. Eats

This Grant Park gem serves up Southern comfort with creative flair and vegetarian-friendly options. Their jerk chicken plate brings Caribbean heat to Georgia soul food traditions.
Mac and cheese gets baked until the top forms a golden, crispy crust that gives way to creamy noodles below. The casual, funky vibe attracts everyone from families to hipsters, all united by their love of good food.
16. Poor Calvin’s

Hidden in a strip mall, this unassuming spot delivers knockout Thai-Southern fusion that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Their fried catfish tacos combine crispy fish with tangy slaw and unexpected spices.
Shrimp and grits get kicked up with Thai basil and chili oil, creating flavors that dance across your palate. The small space fills up fast, so arrive early or prepare to wait for these innovative comfort creations.
