The Best Dishes at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Georgia

Beth McKibben is the editor and staff reporter for Eater Atlanta and has been covering food and cocktails locally and regionally for 12 years.

Part of The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide to Eating in Atlanta

Ponce City Market dominates the landscape along this portion of the Eastside Beltline trail between Ponce De Leon and North avenues in the Old Fourth Ward. The historic factory and warehouse was once home to Sears, Roebuck and Co., and later the headquarters for City Hall East. In 2011, Jamestown Properties purchased the 2.1 million-square-foot building for a cool $27 million in order to transform it into the largest adaptive-reuse complex in the Southeast. Over a decade later, Ponce City Market now includes pricy apartments, creative and tech studios, and a number of retail shops surrounding a large central food hall offering restaurants and stalls from some of Atlanta’s most well-known chefs. It’s also one of the most popular food-driven tourist attractions in the city.

The dining and retail complex and its sprawling property are currently undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion, adding a new apartment tower, new food stalls to the central food hall, and buildings featuring more offices, restaurants, and retail spaces. A location of salad and grain bowl chain SweetGreen opened in 2021 next to SoulCycle on the North Avenue side of the complex.

The central food hall at Ponce City Market features multiple stalls and full-service restaurants that can be expensive and overwhelming to navigate. It’s best to come prepared with a firm budget and eating plan in mind. Eater Atlanta compiled a quick guide to some of the best dishes to try right now at the central food hall stalls and restaurants inside Ponce City Market.

Click here for the full list of restaurants and food stalls open at Ponce City Market.

Best Bites at the Central Food Hall

Rapini at Bellina Alimentari — $19

Rapini lumache tossed with savory ground pork, broccoli rabe, crushed chili from Bellina Alimentari at Ponce City Market, Atlanta.

With the opening of her beautifully appointed restaurant and parlor bar Atrium in 2022, Tal Baum (Aziza) now owns two restaurants inside the central food hall, including Italian market Bellina Alimentari with its petite wine bar and osteria in back. But Baum’s tiny Italian tavern continues to draw crowds nightly for wine and fresh pasta dishes behind Bellina’s market. Try the rapini lumache tossed with chunks of savory ground pork, broccoli rabe, crushed chili, and parmesan with a side of marinated artichokes and pane e olive (freshly baked schiacciata bread with marinated olives baked into the dough.)

Adana pide at Bibi — $16

Delbar Middle Eastern chef and owner Fares Kargar opened this Persian restaurant stall at Ponce City Market in 2022. The menu serves dishes paying homage to his grandmother and family gatherings growing up in Iran. The adana pide (a type of flatbread) is a must at Bibi, topped with minced lamb and beef, harissa, and a sumac onion salad. Pair it with a tahini date coffee shake or an Almaza pilsner.

Popcorn with shaved biltong and an Old Fashioned at Biltong Bar — $9

This South African restaurant and cocktail bar specializes in biltong (thinly sliced, air-dried beef.) The best way to enjoy biltong is shaved over Biltong Bar’s signature popcorn. The butter-soaked popcorn comes sprinkled with peri peri salt and the option to add shaved biltong on top, which is a must. Order the Old Fashioned for a fantastic happy hour pairing.

Tamarind -glazed spare ribs at Botiwalla — $22

Chai Pani chef Meherwan Irani’s grilled Indian street food and kebab stall Botiwalla is one of the market’s most popular stalls. Try the tamarind-glazed pork spare ribs braised with ginger, garlic, soy, and star anise. It’s served with desi slaw, raita, and hot buttered naan. Also try the “SPDP” (sev potato dahi puri) — savory puffed flour crisps filled with sweet yogurt, green and tamarind chutneys, potatoes, onions, and cilantro and topped with crunchy chickpea noodle bits.

Matcha green tea mille crepe cake at Cake Culture — $7.75/slice

Located between King of Pops and Honeysuckle Gelato, Cake Culture specializes in mille crepe cakes — 20-layer confections served by the slice or whole cake. The move here is the matcha green tea mille crepe cake topped with a coating of matcha green tea. The matcha gives this delicately sweet cake subtle notes of nutty bitterness and pairs really well with a hot or iced latte from Spiller Park Coffee nearby at the food hall. Also try the strawberry mille crepe cake with bits of fresh strawberries stuffed between layers and notes of almond and cherry liqueur.

Medianoche at El Super Pan — $17

There’s no wrong sandwich order at chef Hector Santiago’s counter stall at the market, but the medianoche is always a solid choice. The sandwich comes stuffed with Cuban roast pork, ham, and chicharron topped with Swiss cheese, pickles, and zippy yellow mustard served on pressed brioche bread. Sandwiches come with a choice of side, including tostones and fried sweet plantains (maduros). Also try the mofongo at El Super Pan topped with slow-roasted olive sofrito chicken.

Salted caramel nibby brownie at French Broad Chocolates — $5

Celebrated Asheville, North Carolina, chocolate shop French Broad Chocolate opened at Ponce City Market in 2022. And it sells more than just bonbons and chocolate bars, as it also serves both its popular sipping chocolate and fudgy salted caramel brownies laced with cacao nibs.

Double cheeseburger at H&F Burger - $16.95

The H&F double stack cheeseburger and fries from Holeman and Finch Public House in Atlanta.

Once a limited late-night menu item at Holeman and Finch Public House, the double cheeseburger is now readily available to all who want to indulge in it no matter the time of day. Stick to the original at the stall — a double beef patty topped with bread and butter pickles, shaved red onions, and a Kraft American single. Grab a fried apple hand pie for dessert.

Cumin duck at Jia by Tasty China — $26.95

Grab a seat at Jia in the food hall for a spicy Szechuan meal. Folks in search of the richness of duck meat paired with heat should order the cumin duck topped with dried chilis and served with a side of white rice. And the spice level is according to preference, from no spice at all to extra hot. There’s Peking duck at Jia served with all the traditional trimmings. Start the meal with soup dumplings or the scallion bubble pancake.

Cold-pressed juices and Moon Tea at LaRayia’s Bodega — $ to $$

A location of LA-based vegan market LaRayia’s Bodega resides next to Saint-Germain Bakery at the food hall. Expect the takeout menu to include vegan dishes like Jamaican jerk jackfruit tacos, vegan nachos, and hearty superfood salads. But it’s the cold-pressed juices and organic teas that have folks talking about this vegan spot at PCM, including the Moon Tea (a take on Thai tea) and the ginger/apple/orange/turmeric and the sea moss superfood cold-pressed juices. Try the iced rose cortado and the Tyler Berry smoothie.

Hot wings at Minero — $16

Sure, people head to Minero for the tacos and overstuffed burritos, but don’t skip the hot wings here. These wings are dry rubbed and then charcoal grilled before being dropped into a paper bag and tossed with Valentina hot sauce. Also worth ordering are the fried catfish tacos topped with tartar sauce, shredded cabbage, radishes, and red onions.

Giant mall slice at Pizza Jeans — $5/slice

A giant cheese pizza mall slice from pizza jeans at ponce city market in Atlanta.

A person grates fresh parmesan on a giant pepperoni mall slice from Pizza Jean’s at Ponce City Market in Atlanta.

Owned by baker Chris Wilkins (formerly Root Baking Co.), Atlanta restaurateur Billy Streck (Hampton + Hudson, Nina & Rafi, Lyla Lila, Pielands), and Jeremy Gatto, Pizza Jeans has been slinging pies at the market since 2020. Recently relocated to the first floor of the central food hall, the lone pizzeria at Ponce City Market now serves giant mall slices for just $5 each (Think two slices in one.) Pair the slice with a frozen drink like the Jack and Coke.

Invincible dan dan mazemen at Ton Ton — $14

Owned by Ruby Chow’s and Big Boss Chinese chef Guy Wong, the order at this Ponce City Market food stall is the Invincible dan dan mazemen ramen. The brothless ramen comes topped with minced pork, a soft boiled egg, and Szechuan oil. Add the butter garlic corn bomb for extra flavor.

Half and half Korean corn dog at Umbrella Bar — $11

Poke Burri co-founder Seven Chan opened this Korean food kiosk in 2022. It’s inspired by Korea’s night markets and serves kimbob, bibimbap, meat skewers, and Korean corn dogs paired with Korean beers, soju, cocktails, and slushies. The must-order from this stall is the half and half Kdog — a combination beef hot dog and mozzarella cheese on a stick — that can also come coated in sugar. Opt for the wasabi mayo or sweet and spicy sauce for dipping, and make sure to order a fish-shaped Samanco ice cream bar for dessert.

Crispy clam strip po’boy and lobster bisque at W.H. Stiles Fish Camp — $14/$8

A cup of the creamy lobster bisque with a side of four saltines at W.H. Stiles Fish Camp at Ponce City Market in Atlanta. — Lobster bisque.

Atlanta chef and restaurateur Anne Quatrano struck gold at the market with the debut of her New England-style seafood establishment “Dubs” Fish Camp in 2015. It even includes table service, patio seating, and an oyster bar. Kick off a meal with some daily oysters. Next, dive into the crispy fried goodness of the clam strip po’boy topped with house-made remoulade. Be sure to order a side of parmesan and garlic grits or the corn muffins with honey butter. On a cool day in the A, nothing beats a cup of the lobster bisque here.

Phở dặc biệt at Vietvana — $15.95

Owners Dinh Tran and Khanh Dang opened a location of their popular Vietnamese restaurant and pho shop Vietvana in the expanded portion of the food hall in 2022. Dishes on the menu reflect those found in the couple’s childhood cities of Hue and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The Ponce City Market food stall includes ten bar seats and a menu centered on phở and bánh mì. The phở dặc biệt on the menu is the move here. The hearty and filling noodle soup contains rare steak, flank, brisket, tendon, tripe, and meatballs swimming in flavorful, hot broth. Pair with a pineapple coconut smoothie or Vietnamese coffee.

THE ROOFTOP

Shrimp and grits at 9 Mile Station — $32

The entrance to Nine Mile Station on top of Ponce City Market

There’s typically only one reason people opt to dine at 9 Mile Station on the rooftop of Ponce City Market and that’s for the stunning skyline views it offers. The restaurant is definitely one of the priciest places to dine at the market. Dishes on the menu include pork belly sliders, duck confit croquettes, a burger, and a New York strip steak. But try the shrimp and grits, which comes topped with andouille sausage stew and a poached egg. For cocktails, 9 Mile Station offers three variations on the Old Fashioned made with bourbon, cognac, or Irish whiskey.

OUTSIDE THE FOOD HALL

Lemon ricotta pancakes at Pancake Social — $14

Pancake Social is located outside the food hall on the North Avenue side of Ponce City Market. Serving breakfast all day, head in for stacks of pancakes and waffles and other morning favorites, like the open-faced bagel sandwich with smoked salmon and a BEC topped with a fried egg on an English muffin. Order the lemon and ricotta pancakes from this restaurant. The stack of three pancakes comes layered with fresh lemon curd and whipped ricotta sprinkled with powdered sugar. Cut the sweetness of the stack with a side of savory grits or pork or chicken sausage links. Pair it with a French 75 or a chai latte.