Established in 1979, the Beautiful Restaurant on Cascade Road continues to be an Atlanta favorite delivering heaping plates of cafeteria-style Southern staples, including crispy fried chicken, beef tips, and fried catfish with sides of mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, and turnip greens.

Canoe in Vinings has been serving farm-to-table cuisine since before that term was first coined. The riverfront, fine dining restaurant includes on its menu everything from foie gras parfait and steak to Cornish game hen and whole-stuffed sea bass. Come here for brunch and order the pastry basket and cornmeal pancakes. Reservations highly encouraged.

Steak and seafood restaurant Ray’s on the River opened in what is now known as the city of Sandy Springs on the Chattahoochee River in 1984. The restaurant continues to be a dining destination for Southern surf and turf after over 37 years.

This soul food institution has been serving the Bankhead community for more than 40 years, and for good reason. Biscuits here can be filled with red sausage links, pork chops, chicken or beef sausage, country-fried steak, or fatback. However, this is where to come for meats like beef liver or chicken gizzards as well as stewed beef or fried whiting. The humble counter-serve restaurant, with its brick-tiled floors and 3-D mural, includes a few booths. Check out K&K’s vegetable plates, too.

The historic Paschal’s restaurant served as a meeting place for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his lieutenants during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. But long before MLK put Paschal’s on the map nationwide, the restaurant was already well-known around Atlanta for its delicious fried chicken. And, it still is today.

After more than 30 years, R. Thomas is still bringing a healthy dose of breakfast and brunch paired with strong coffee to hungry Atlantans 24-hours a day. Try an R. Thomas breakfast quesadilla in a sun-dried tomato tortilla filled with eggs, cream cheese, basil, cheddar, bacon, peppers, and onions or the breakfast stew with red potato corn chowder, quinoa, veggies, dulse, and nori. R. Thomas was one of the first establishments in the city to offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes on its menu.

This family-owned and run Chinese restaurant has been a downtown Atlanta staple since 1989. Located in bustling Peachtree Center, Hsu’s serves everything from lo mein and pan-fried noodles to spicy basil chicken and salt and pepper shrimp. But, come here for the three-course Peking duck served with soup, Chinese crepe, and the star attraction, the crispy roast duck in a sweetly salted honey soy sauce. It feeds two.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room, the beloved Southern restaurant on Ponce known for its fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and yeast rolls, underwent a change of ownership last year. Other than that, very little has changed. Mary MacKenzie first opened Mary Mac’s Tea Room in 1945. At the time, it was one of 16 tearooms in Atlanta.

In business since 1947, this Vine City staple serves some of Atlanta’s best fried chicken alongside an assortment of other meat-and-three staples. It continues to be a popular spot on Atlanta’s westside, so be prepared to rub elbows with fellow diners. And, don’t be surprised to run into a famous face or two.

It’s hard to pass up this Atlanta landmark restaurant located across from Ponce City Market and its trendy food hall. Since 1993, Eats has been a local favorite known for its hearty yet affordable meals. The most expensive option on the menu is a meat-and-three combo for around $10. Jerk chicken is the mainstay here, but there’s something for everyone on the menu. That also includes vegetarian options.

For over 70 years, Zesto has been doling out classic drive-in food served with a side of soft serve ice cream. The Atlanta institution’s first location opened in 1949 on Peachtree Street, across from Brookwood Station. That location is long gone, but the Piedmont Road shop opened in the 1950s and continues to offer up burgers, dogs, and fries alongside the shop’s real deal vanilla and chocolate soft serve. Other locations include Little Five Points (temporarily closed), East Atlanta (drive-thru), Forrest Park (drive-thru), and Tyrone.

This Cheshire Bridge Road institution is nearly 95 years old. A monumental feat for any restaurant. The Colonnade has a loyal following among the over 60 crowd, but continually attracts new generations seeking down home, Southern comfort food (and strong martinis.) Come for classics like turkey and dressing, chicken fried steak, and fried chicken. However, regulars swear by its brunch and the bloody marys, too.

Located on Cheshire Bridge Road, Nino’s is a classic red sauce restaurant that’s been serving pasta dishes in Atlanta for over 50 years now. Keep it simple with spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna or order the fettuccine with shrimp and scallops tossed in Pernod and saffron cream sauce. There’s also the classic veal parmesan.

The Majestic on Ponce de Leon has been soaking up Atlanta’s booze 24/7 since 1929. Some nights or weekend mornings simply call for comfort food. The restaurant serves up strong coffee with diner classics like steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, grilled cheese and fries, and the Ponce dog piled high with chili, cheese, and onions. Currently open 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Continue to check the restaurant’s website for hours updates.

The late Manuel Maloof opened Manuel’s Tavern along North Avenue in 1956. Over the decades, Manuel’s has become the gathering spot for neighborhood folks, political junkies, journalists, and local bigwigs swigging beer and talking about everything from sports to politics. The historic Poncey-Highland bar underwent an extensive renovation in 2016, but it still has the same charm and pretty solid food, too.

Originally opened in 1927, Atkins Park in Virginia-Highland is one of Atlanta’s oldest and continuously licensed taverns. The landmark bar is a great place to watch sports on the weekends and for Sunday supper with the family.

After almost 50 years, the Mad Italian continues to be an Atlanta favorite for those seeking hearty sandwiches and homey pasta dishes. But the cheesesteak here is the move. It’s made with sliced steak topped with griddled onions and slathered in white American cheese, all stuffed inside a toasted hoagie roll shipped straight from a bakery in Long Island. Some have dubbed this sandwich the “best cheesesteak in town” and “south of Philly.”

One of Atlanta’s oldest and most beloved marisquerias, El Veneno offers platters of mixed seafood to feed a family, soups filled with crab legs and shrimp, oysters, and plenty of micheladas to curb the kick from the hot sauce. Try the caldo de camaron or huachinango estilo Nayarit, a fried, whole red snapper topped with spicy salsa. Check out ATL’s other marisquerias, part of the thriving Mexican seafood scene here.

Matthew’s Cafeteria in Tucker has been slinging Southern favorites since 1955: that’s how folks know it’s good. The restaurant’s ownership still remains in the family, and the fried chicken tastes like granny made it. Diners travel from around Atlanta to eat at this old school cafeteria. Matthews rarely disappoints with its array of Southern comfort foods.