The classic Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich with waffle fries is nothing short of its own food group in Atlanta, not to mention the hand-spun milkshakes and the array of sauces perfect for pairing with Chick-fil-A nuggets. The original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House in Hapeville features menu items not seen elsewhere, like the Hot Brown: a hash of chicken, chicken gravy, cheese, and bacon served with two slices of bread. [Photo]

A large sign along Peachtree Road in Buckhead identifies a small yellow building as the home of “The Very First Moe’s on Earth.” Chips and salsa come complimentary, and Mondays make Moe’s especially popular when a burrito meal at many locations is priced between 5 and 6 dollars. [Photo]

An indisputable Atlanta icon since 1955, Waffle House traces its roots to a modest storefront in Avondale Estates that is now the Waffle House Museum. Road trip fuel or recovery aid, every Waffle House but the outpost in Turner Field is open 24 hours a day to satisfy that craving for hashbrowns, cheese n’ eggs, or waffles. [Photo]

A staple of mall food courts across the country, Great American Cookies’s first shop opened in Atlanta’s own Perimeter Mall, offering a chocolate chip cookie based on an old family recipe. Cookies, cookie cakes, and brownies are baked fresh daily in almost 300 stores. [Photo]

An old liquor store in Downtown Atlanta became the first Mellow Mushroom, a joint venture between three college students, in 1974. A wide selection of craft and local beers complements specialty pizzas like the Magical Mystery Tour, featuring mushrooms and jalapenos, and the Mellowterranean, with feta cheese, black olives, and tzatziki sauce. [Photo]

Founded by and named for Atlanta media mogul Ted Turner, a bison is not only the full-service chain’s logo, but also the backbone of its menu. Bison nachos, bison meatloaf, bison steaks, bison chili, and, of course, bison burgers showcase the restaurant’s signature item. [Photo]

Opened in 1980 as T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs, an Applebee’s still stands— albeit in a new building— on the site of the original Memorial Drive location in Decatur. There are now over 2,000 Applebee’s restaurants worldwide, each billing itself as a “neighborhood bar & grill” and serving up specials like the 2 for $20 appetizer and entrée deal. [Photo]

Not surprisingly, biscuits take center stage here, with each location churning out an average of 5,000 every week. Breakfast is on the menu all day, including at the Candler Park original, which has expanded three times since its 1993 debut. [Photo]

The newest addition to this list of Atlanta chains, Uncle Maddio’s is also one of the fastest growing, with plans in development to open over 130 additional stores. The create-your-own pizza shop that calls itself the “Chipotle of pizza” got its start in a Toco Hills strip mall in 2009. [Photo]

Founded in Statesboro in 1991 and now based just outside of Athens, Texas Toast, Chicken Fingerz, Birthday Cake Milkshakes, and the “indescribably good” Zax Sauce stand out on the menu at this Georgia original. [Photo]

Krystal isn’t a true Atlanta product, but made headlines when it announced in late 2012 it would move its headquarters from Chattanooga to Dunwoody. The classic, slider-style Krystal burger dominates the fast food chain’s menu, but chicken and breakfast sausages also top the bite-size buns. [Photo]