Atlanta’s relationship with fried chicken runs deep through its culinary and cultural history, and the city has produced some of the most celebrated chicken preparations in the American South. From institutions that have served generations of Atlanta residents since the 1940s to contemporary nationally recognized hot chicken concepts and MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-honored restaurants, Atlanta’s chicken restaurant scene represents one of the most competitive and distinguished categories in the city’s dining landscape. The city is also credited as the birthplace of lemon pepper wings, a specific preparation style that has since spread nationally. Several Atlanta chicken restaurants have received James Beard Foundation recognition, MICHELIN designation, and Yelp’s statewide best-in-Georgia award, confirming that Atlanta’s chicken game is nationally significant.
When choosing a chicken restaurant in Atlanta, look for establishments that brine or marinate their chicken before cooking, as this fundamental step distinguishes genuinely juicy, well-seasoned chicken from dry, bland preparations. Proper frying technique requires holding oil at a consistent temperature of 325-350 degrees throughout the cook, and a kitchen that crowds the fryer or uses old oil will produce greasy, pale results. For hot chicken in the Nashville style, the heat paste should be applied to the chicken after frying for maximum adherence, and different heat levels should represent genuinely different preparations rather than just varying amounts of the same sauce. Skin that is crispy enough to hold its texture for several minutes without softening is a sign of proper technique.
Top Chicken Restaurant Companies in Atlanta
1. Busy Bee Cafe
Address: 810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
Phone: (404) 525-9212
Website: https://www.thebusybeecafe.com
Founded: 1947
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 AM-7 PM
Awards & Recognition: 2022 James Beard America’s Classics Award, Michelin Bib Gourmand
Services:
- Signature fried chicken (the landmark dish)
- Traditional soul food sides
- Mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams
- Daily lunch and dinner service
- Community and event catering
About: Busy Bee Cafe was founded in 1947 by self-taught cook Lucy Jackson in what was then called Hunter Street, now Martin Luther King Jr Drive, and has served Atlanta for over 77 years. The restaurant holds the 2022 James Beard America’s Classics Award and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, placing it among the most credentialed fried chicken establishments in the country. Civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dined at Busy Bee during the Civil Rights Movement, as did President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris in more recent years. Current owner Tracy Gates has preserved the original recipes while continuing to build on Lucy Jackson’s community legacy since taking over from her father Milton in 1987.
2. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Address: 711 10th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (West Midtown); 299 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (Little Five Points)
Phone: (678) 990-5100 (Little Five Points)
Website: https://www.hattieb.com
Services:
- Nashville-style hot chicken in multiple heat levels
- Heat levels from Southern (No Heat) to Shut the Cluck Up
- Classic Southern sides and accompaniments
- Homemade pimento cheese
- Banana pudding and desserts
- Two Atlanta locations
About: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken originated in Nashville and established Atlanta locations in West Midtown and Little Five Points, bringing the city’s now-famous heat levels to an Atlanta audience that has embraced them with considerable enthusiasm. The restaurant’s signature heat-level system allows diners to calibrate their experience from mild to extreme, with the highest levels legitimately challenging even experienced heat eaters. Hattie B’s has played a central role in popularizing the Nashville hot chicken format in Atlanta and has developed a passionate local following who frequent both locations regularly. The combination of properly fried chicken with well-calibrated heat paste preparations and traditional Southern sides represents the full Nashville hot chicken experience.
3. South City Kitchen
Address: 1144 Crescent Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (Midtown)
Phone: (404) 873-7358
Website: https://www.southcitykitchen.com
Founded: 1993
Services:
- Buttermilk fried chicken (Yelp Top Five nationwide)
- Springer Mountain Farms chicken with garlic collards
- Honey-thyme jus and elevated sides
- Full Southern menu
- Weekend brunch featuring fried chicken
- Multiple Atlanta locations
About: South City Kitchen’s buttermilk fried chicken has earned placement in Yelp’s Top Five Best Fried Chicken in the nation, using Springer Mountain Farms chicken, a Georgia farm-raised brand, and serving it with garlic collards, mashed Yukon gold potatoes, and honey-thyme jus. The preparation represents the elevated Southern dining approach that has distinguished South City Kitchen since its 1993 founding, offering a more refined fried chicken experience compared to casual comfort food establishments. The restaurant’s buttermilk marinade and careful frying technique produce a chicken with exceptional juiciness and flavor complexity. Available for both lunch and dinner, and featured prominently in the weekend brunch menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes Atlanta fried chicken different from other Southern chicken traditions?
A: Atlanta’s fried chicken tradition draws heavily from the African American cooking tradition that developed in the city’s historically Black neighborhoods, particularly around the Sweet Auburn and Vine City corridors where Busy Bee Cafe and other landmark restaurants were established. This tradition emphasizes deep seasoning through lengthy marination and uses cast iron or heavy-gauge pots for consistent heat. Atlanta is also credited with originating the lemon pepper wet wings preparation, a specifically Atlanta innovation that has spread nationally. The city’s chicken scene is further shaped by the Nashville hot chicken influence that arrived over the past decade.
Q: What does a chicken meal in Atlanta typically cost?
A: At Busy Bee Cafe, a fried chicken plate with sides runs $14-$20 and the restaurant’s James Beard recognition reflects value that is exceptional for the quality level. At Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, individual pieces run $5-$8 each and combination plates with sides are $15-$24. At South City Kitchen, the buttermilk fried chicken entree is priced at $28-$34 at dinner, reflecting the restaurant’s position in the refined Southern dining market. Each represents different points on the price-experience spectrum.
Q: What is Nashville hot chicken and how does it differ from standard fried chicken?
A: Nashville hot chicken is fried chicken that is coated after cooking with a paste made from cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and other spices, which adheres to the crispy exterior and creates a hot-sweet-savory flavor profile that is distinct from any other fried chicken style. The heat level system, which ranges from mild to extreme, is a defining feature of the format. Nashville hot chicken is typically served on white bread with pickles, which help moderate the heat. Atlanta’s hot chicken scene has been shaped significantly by Hattie B’s, and the format has spread to many other Atlanta restaurants as a result.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s chicken restaurant scene spans from the 77-year institution of Busy Bee Cafe with its James Beard and MICHELIN recognition to the Nashville hot chicken excellence of Hattie B’s and the refined buttermilk approach of South City Kitchen. Each represents a distinct and genuinely excellent approach to chicken cooking. Contact any of these establishments for hours, group dining arrangements, and catering availability.