The taste bud tour of Atlanta

By RYAN LEE

It’s a shame that Atlanta’s most iconic eateries are The Varsity, Chick-Fil-A and Waffle House, as the metro area has a buffet of more appetizing options. And the ATL’s culinary cred is on the upswing now as the city emerges from the burger and cupcake fads of the past few years, with new concepts and recipes to serve and satisfy a modern Southern palate.

There are neighborhood favorites and hidden gems across the city, re-imagined food courts in trendy intown areas, and LGBT owners, chefs, staff and clientele throughout Atlanta’s restaurant industry. We’ll start our tour of the city’s taste buds with the most notable trend of 2015: the creation of chic food oases along the northeast Beltline. Ponce City Market aims to become the city’s premier culinary emporium. The Central Food Court is a hip, open-dining atmosphere that brings together James Beard Award-winning chefs with the guys who created Atlanta’s favorite popsicles.

Whaddya have? Maybe vegan kimchee and Korean BBQ from fried chicken from or Mediterranean favorites from A couple of Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs serve up their latest offerings at Ponce City Market, with Anne Quatrono’s

and Sean Brock’s while “Top Chef” alumnus Hector Santiago revives his bistro, which was one of Atlanta’s true secret treasures in its old basement location in Poncey Highland.

The lesbian-owned brings spirit to any meal with its Prohibition-inspired bitters and craft cocktails, and dessert options abound at Ponce City Market:

Camp

Simply Seoul, Hop’s Chicken,

Marrakesh.

El Super Pan W.H. Stile’s Fish

Minero,

18.21 Bitters

Honeysuckle Gelato, Collier Candy Company

King of Pops Bar & Good Grub.

and

Among the most mouth-watering Clockwise fron top: Ponce City Market aims to become the city’s premier culinary emporium. Korean Oxtail Stew from Simply Seoul. The lesbian-owned 18.21 Bitters brings spirit to any meal. Fried chicken from Hop’s Chicken. (Photos via Facebook) arrivals at Ponce City Market is

which democratizes one of Atlanta’s most nationally known foodie traditions. The burger that was formerly only available to the first 24 customers to order after 10 p.m. at Holeman & Finch in Buckhead now has a permanent home on the H&F Burger menu.

Burger,

H&F

more press and hype, hipsters can still snicker about how they remember when upscale food courts were new and cool, as Krog Street Market established the