These 11 Georgia Soul Food Buffets Bring Back Sunday Dinner Memories
Sunday dinners have always held a special place in Southern culture, serving as a time to slow down, reconnect, and gather around the table. In Georgia, this tradition lives on through soul food buffets that capture the same warmth found in grandma’s kitchen. These meals are not rushed or complicated.
They are built around comfort, generosity, and flavors that feel like home. Plates are piled high with crispy fried chicken, tender collard greens, creamy mac and cheese, and other classics that never go out of style. The atmosphere is just as important as the food, filled with laughter, conversation, and the familiar hum of people enjoying a good meal together.
These buffets welcome everyone, whether you are a longtime local or a first time visitor. They offer more than food. They offer nostalgia, connection, and a reminder of why Sunday dinners matter.
These 15 spots keep that tradition alive and invite you to experience it any day of the week.
1. Ole Times Country Buffet
Comfort food lovers will find their happy place here. Located at 3635 Braselton Hwy, Dacula, GA 30019, this family-run establishment has been feeding hungry Georgians for decades. The buffet line stretches long with Southern classics that remind you of home-cooked meals.
I love how the fried chicken stays crispy even after sitting under the heat lamps. The yeast rolls come out fresh every 20 minutes, and you’ll want to grab at least three. Collard greens simmer with just the right amount of smokiness, while the mac and cheese gets baked until golden brown on top.
Weekend crowds pack the dining room, but the line moves quickly. Families with kids appreciate the reasonable prices and the fact that picky eaters can find something they’ll actually eat. The peach cobbler at the dessert station deserves its own paragraph, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top.
2. Mrs Wilkes Dining Room
Walking into this Savannah institution feels like stepping into your grandmother’s dining room from 1943. You’ll find it at 107 W Jones St, Savannah, GA 31401, where strangers become friends around communal tables. The boarding house style of serving means everyone shares platters of food passed family-style.
No buffet line exists here, but the servers bring out enough food to feed an army. Fried chicken, beef stew, rice and gravy, okra gumbo, and sweet potato souffle all arrive at once. You sit elbow-to-elbow with tourists and locals alike, swapping stories between bites of cornbread.
The restaurant only serves lunch, and you’ll need to arrive early because the line forms before the doors open. Cash or check only, so leave your credit cards at home. Every dish tastes like it was made with love and decades of perfected recipes passed down through generations.
3. Dillard House
Mountain air and soul food make a perfect combination at this North Georgia gem. The address is 768 Franklin St, Dillard, GA 30537, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains where the scenery rivals the food. Family-style dining has been their trademark since 1917, making this one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the state.
Servers keep bringing food until you wave the white flag of surrender. Fried chicken, country ham, roast beef, and fried catfish all make appearances on your table. The vegetables come straight from their garden during summer months, adding freshness you can taste in every bite.
I recommend arriving hungry because you’ll want to try everything. The blackberry cobbler and apple pie provide the perfect ending to your feast. Families often make this a destination stop when visiting the mountains, combining great food with beautiful scenery and nearby hiking trails.
4. Matthew’s Cafeteria
Tucker residents have kept this cafeteria-style favorite busy since 1955. Located at 2299 Main St, Tucker, GA 30084, the setup lets you see exactly what you’re getting before it lands on your tray. The sliding tray along the metal rails brings back memories of school lunches, but the food quality surpasses anything from your childhood cafeteria.
Meatloaf Monday draws regulars who plan their week around it. The steam table keeps everything at the perfect temperature while you make your selections. Green beans cooked with bacon, squash casserole, and turnip greens all compete for space on your plate.
Prices remain reasonable even as everything else gets more expensive. You pay by the item rather than by weight, so pile your plate high with your favorites. The banana pudding disappears quickly, so grab a bowl before it’s gone for the day.
5. Piccadilly Cafeteria
Another cafeteria chain that Georgians swear by for reliable soul food sits at various locations, including 2969 N Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. The tray-and-slide method of service lets you eyeball portions before committing. You control exactly what ends up on your plate and how much you spend.
Their fried chicken recipe has remained unchanged for decades, creating a loyal following of customers who visit weekly. The sides change daily, giving you variety if you’re a regular. Liver and onions appear on Thursdays, drawing fans of this old-school favorite.
Kids eat free on certain nights, making this a budget-friendly option for families. The dessert case at the end of the line tempts you with pies, cakes, and puddings. I always save room for the lemon icebox pie, which tastes exactly like my aunt used to make for summer gatherings.
6. Niki’s West
Birmingham might claim this spot, but the Georgia connection runs deep through its soul food roots. Actually, I need to correct myself because Niki’s West operates at 233 Finley Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204, just across the state line. However, many Georgians make the short drive for the legendary meat-and-three setup that defines Southern cafeteria dining.
The steam table stretches forever with options that change daily. You pick your meat, then add three vegetables from the dozens available. Cornbread dressing, fried green tomatoes, and butter beans all deserve spots on your plate.
Breakfast draws crowds for their enormous biscuits and gravy. Lunch sees business people in suits sitting next to construction workers in boots, all united by their love of good food. The portions could feed two people, but you’ll want every bite for yourself.
7. Paschal’s
History and soul food intersect at this Atlanta landmark located at 180 Northside Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Civil rights leaders gathered here during the 1960s, planning movements over plates of fried chicken and collard greens. The restaurant has moved locations but maintained its commitment to authentic Southern cooking.
Sunday brunch brings out the full buffet spread with everything from fried catfish to smothered pork chops. The banana pudding tastes exactly like it should, with vanilla wafers softened just right. Candied yams arrive sweet enough to be dessert but somehow work perfectly as a side dish.
Live music often accompanies weekend meals, adding entertainment to your dining experience. The space feels modern now, but the recipes remain rooted in tradition. I always order the fried chicken, which stays juicy inside while maintaining a perfectly seasoned crispy coating that crunches with every bite.
8. Busy Bee Cafe
This Atlanta institution has been frying chicken since 1947 at 810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314. The cafe doesn’t run a traditional buffet, but the daily specials come out in portions that rival any all-you-can-eat spread. You order at the counter and wait for your name to be called.
The fried chicken wings have achieved legendary status among Atlanta locals. They arrive perfectly seasoned with a coating that shatters when you bite into it. The sides include classics like collard greens cooked low and slow, mac and cheese that stretches when you scoop it, and cornbread that’s slightly sweet.
Lunch crowds pack the small dining room, so arrive early or late to avoid the rush. The walls display photos of famous visitors who’ve stopped by for a taste. Cash only, so hit the ATM before you go.
Every bite tastes like someone’s grandmother made it with love.
9. Green Manor
Forest Park locals have kept this secret spot thriving for years at 1108 Main St, Forest Park, GA 30297. The buffet runs daily with a rotation of soul food favorites that change based on what’s fresh. You pay one price and can return to the buffet line as many times as your stomach allows.
Fried fish appears every Friday, drawing crowds who plan their week around it. The greens get cooked with smoked turkey instead of pork, offering a lighter option that still packs flavor. Potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw round out the sides.
The dining room stays busy during lunch hours when workers from nearby businesses stop in for a quick meal. I recommend the meatloaf when it’s available because it comes out moist and covered in a tangy tomato glaze. The bread pudding at the dessert station provides a sweet ending to your meal.
10. Magnolia’s Grill
Small town soul food gets served right at 3915 Forsyth Rd, Macon, GA 31210, where the buffet changes daily based on what the cooks feel like making. This unpredictability adds to the charm because you never know exactly what you’ll find. The regulars don’t seem to mind since everything tastes homemade.
Oxtails appear on the menu occasionally, becoming the star of the buffet when they do. The meat falls off the bone after hours of slow cooking in rich gravy. Rice and gravy soak up all those delicious juices.
The cabbage gets cooked until tender but not mushy.
Locals treat this place like their personal dining room, stopping by multiple times per week. The staff remembers your name and your usual order. I love the relaxed atmosphere where nobody rushes you through your meal.
The sweet potato pie disappears quickly, so grab a slice early before it’s gone.
11. Fresh Air Bar-B-Que
Barbecue and soul food merge perfectly at this Jackson institution located at 1164 GA-42, Jackson, GA 30233. The buffet includes smoked meats alongside traditional soul food sides that complement the barbecue perfectly. You can smell the smoke from the parking lot, making your mouth water before you even walk inside.
Brunswick stew simmers in huge pots, thick with vegetables and pulled pork. The ribs fall off the bone without any effort. Traditional sides like baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad balance out the smoky flavors.
The cornbread comes out slightly sweet, perfect for soaking up sauce.
Families often stop here when traveling between Atlanta and Macon on Highway 42. The dining room can seat large groups, making it popular for reunions and celebrations. I always get the combo plate with ribs, pulled pork, and chicken, then pile on the sides until my plate overflows with deliciousness.
