The Best Dishes at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Georgia

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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, a number of retail shops, and a large central food hall offering restaurants and stalls from some of Atlanta’s most well-known chefs.

The market and its surrounding 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 restaurant SweetGreen opened in 2021 next to SoulCycle on the North Avenue side of the complex and several new stalls have already opened in the expanded food hall.

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.

FIRST FLOOR

Fancy burger at Atrium — $23

With the opening of her beautifully appointed bistro and parlor bar Atrium, 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. Try the shrimp tagliatelle tossed in lemon juice, fresh herbs, parmesan, and breadcrumbs at Bellina. Baum’s newest restaurant, Atrium, is currently the hottest reservation at the market. The menu changes frequently here, but solid bets have included the endive and celery salad, wagyu beef tartare, farro risotto and prawns with black garlic and preserved lemon, and the Bang Island mussels. The perennial favorite on the menu is the restaurant’s namesake cheeseburger. It’s topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, and “fancy” sauce and served with salt and vinegar fries. Pair it with the Chasing Summer martini, a mix of gin, peach and rosemary vodka, and herbal liqueur.

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

A location of LA-based vegan market LaRayia’s Bodega opened in the fall of 2021 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 market, including the Moon Tea (a vegan 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, too.

Crispy clam strip po’boy at W.H. Stiles Fish Camp — $12

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 a half or whole dozen of the daily oysters on the menu. Next, dive into the crispy fried goodness of the clam strip po’boy topped with remoulade. Be sure to order a side of parmesan and garlic grits or the corn muffins with honey butter. The lobster bisque here is also top-notch.

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.

Cumin duck at Jia by Tasty China — $22

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. People can even choose their preferred spice level, ranging from no spice at all to extra hot. There’s Peking duck here, too, in both half and whole portions served with all the traditional trimmings. Start the meal with soup dumplings or the scallion bubble pancake. Seating is available inside or at the small front bar just outside the entrance to the restaurant.

Matcha green tea mille crepe cake at Cake Culture — $7.50/slice

Founded by Sujith Ratnayake Cake Culture specializes in mille crepe cakes.

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 at this stall 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. Double up on slices or save a slice for later and order the strawberry mille crepe cake. It features bits of fresh strawberries stuffed between layers with notes of almond and cherry liqueur.

Chicken burger at Nani’s Piri Piri Chicken — $11

Nani’s Piri Piri Chicken joins chef Meherwan Irani’s grilled Indian street food and kebab stall Botiwalla at Ponce City Market. Try the tamarind-glazed spare ribs at Botiwalla. As for Nani’s, it features rotisserie chicken on the menu rubbed with piri piri from Irani’s spice company Spicewalla. While most people head to this stall for the white or dark meat chicken plates, the chicken burger at Nani’s is not to be missed. The piri piri-seasoned chicken patty is topped with havarti cheese, Duke’s mayo, lettuce, tomato, and red onions and is served on a brioche bun. Toss a little of Nani’s piri piri hot sauce on that burger, too. Pair the burger with the chicken fat confit potato salad or the piri piri potato chips.

Medianoche at El Super Pan — $17

There’s no wrong sandwich order at chef Hector Santiago’s El Super Pan counter stall at the market, but the medianoche on the menu 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). Try the mofongo at El Super Pan topped with slow-roasted olive sofrito chicken, too.

Popcorn with shaved biltong and an Old Fashioned at Biltong Bar — $9/$12

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 with the option to add shaved biltong on top, which is a must here. Order the Old Fashioned for a fantastic happy hour pairing.

Invincible dan dan mazemen at Ton Ton — $13.50

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.

Chicken biscuit at Hop’s Chicken — $8

A line formed outside the order counter at Hop’s Chicken inside Ponce City Market

There’s a reason why Hop’s frequently includes a long line to order: the chicken is fried to perfection and happens to be a pretty good value for Ponce City Market. Fried chicken here comes served as individual and family-sized meal portions, as tenders, in sandwiches, and even as salads. But to delight in the stall’s juicy fried chicken and its buttermilk biscuits, order the fried chicken biscuit. While good on its own, opt to dress it with a fried egg and bacon.

Double cheeseburger at H&F Burger - $16.95

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, bread and butter pickles, shaved red onions, and Kraft American cheese (yes, the processed kind.) Grab a fried apple hand pie for dessert.

Phở dặc biệt at Vietvana — $15.95

Owners Dinh Tran and Khanh Dang opened a third location of their popular Vietnamese restaurant and pho shop Vietvana in the expanded portion of the food hall last year. 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.

SECOND FLOOR

Irie chicken and waffles at Bar Vegan — $18

A smiling woman drops an ice cube into a large margarita glass with a pineapple wedge garnish. As the cube hits the the margarita it dramatically splashes out

Atlanta restaurateur Aisha “Pinky” Cole (Slutty Vegan) opened this stylish vegan restaurant and bar at the market in 2021. Billed as an “experiential” restaurant and cocktail bar, expect riffs on classic cocktails here, like the boozy Texas margarita, cognac sidecar, and lemon drop martini, along with some wildly over-the-top drinks. There’s also non-alcoholic cocktails on the menu. While Bar Vegan serves meatless comfort food dishes daily, brunch is where this vegan menu really shines. Try the Irie chicken and flax seed waffles. It comes topped with breaded Daring chicken, sriracha agave, and pineapple, mango, and guava fruit salsa.

Red on White pizza at Pizza Jean’s — $22.50 per pizza

Owned by baker Chris Wilkins and Nicole Lewis (formerly of Root Baking Co.), Pizza Jeans brought its pies to the market in 2020. There’s a traditional margherita pizza on the menu that’s absolutely worth ordering, but do try the Red on White pizza at this Ponce City Market food hall restaurant. It comes topped with tomato sauce, whipped ricotta, grana padano, and drizzles of olive oil. Add some fresh garlic and basil to the Red on White to give the pizza a little extra oomph. The beef and lamb meatball sub at Pizza Jeans is also a must order. Pair the pizza (or the sub) with a frozen Jack and Coke or Italian margarita mixed with with tequila, limoncello, and amaretto.

THE ROOFTOP

Shrimp and grits at 9 Mile Station — $30

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. Try the shrimp and grits here, 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 — $13

Another restaurant from Atlanta chef Anne Quatrano, 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.