Looking for some dining inspiration? Find out where some of the most well-respected Atlanta chefs like to chow down when they're off the clock. Read our first installment here, and find out where to eat in Atlanta around the clock by reading the AJC Fall Dining Guide.
"I go to Bo Bo Garden on Buford Highway. It's Cantonese-style Chinese. It's probably my favorite spot. I always get the clear noodle soup with fish and cilantro. They have fried smelt that still have the roe in them; that's pretty cool. They do live crab steamed over sticky rice. … I eat breakfast at Home Grown all the time. It's turning into an Atlanta institution. They do greasy spoon breakfast but they are growing their own stuff more than any restaurant in Atlanta. … When I am not doing that, I'm pretty much eating tacos. I am obsessed with Mexico. (There's) El Sol Supermercado on the beginning of Buford Highway that does a great lengua taco. Chicago Supermarket does great tripe. El Progreso off Moreland does a great menudo on weekends. Taquería Oaxaqueña in Jonesboro is awesome." – Angus Brown, Lusca and Octopus Bar
"I live in Inman Park and often try to go somewhere on foot. So I go to One Eared Stag, more for lunch than dinner. Their menu changes so frequently. They do this Dumpster salad I really like a lot. It's a catchall for odds and ends in the kitchen. A minute bone-in pork chop. They do it with grits or polenta and gravy. It's a good, comforting dish. … Bar Taco – I like the salads, the tacos. And they make a good margarita. It's just a fresh place." – Steven Satterfield, Miller Union
"Kimball House: If you are ever going to go for oysters in North America, Kimball House does a stellar job and is such a beautiful place to have a quality drink. There is a definite place in the yearly calendar to go to Bones. I take my kids. They dress up. They are 11 and 13 years old. It's a fun place to go and live the old-school experience of a steakhouse. A massive sandwich at Yalla is good and will feed the whole family. Silver Skillet is old-school greasy spoon. It's good, it's fun, it's classic. It's old-school Atlanta." – Hugh Acheson, Empire State South, Spiller Park Coffee, Five & Ten, The National, The Florence
"Las Brasas is No. 1 on my list. Peruvian roasted chicken and some of the greatest sides. They just moved to a new location in Decatur. It's a mom and pop shop. … My favorite Korean place is called Don Quixote. It's hilarious. Korean owners made a Korean restaurant out of it. No one ever thinks of it as a Korean restaurant. They've got an old-fashioned TV, Korean home-style food and the portions are incredible. It's really cheap, too. Fung Mei in Duluth. They have rarities like sea slugs, sea cucumber, old Chinese favorites. They fuse Cantonese and Korean flavors really well. … The Earl, an East Atlanta restaurant and lounge. The specials area always the best. On Friday, sometimes I get an Ugly Burger special, it changes weekly. It's sloppy but delicious. I love their patty melt, and the hamburger soup is insane." – Allen Suh, Gaja
"Lunch at Star Provisions; Annie (Quatrano) has spoiled me. Krog is up the block (from Spice to Table). I love anything from Todd Ginsberg in Krog Market. I find myself on Buford Highway quite a bit. There's a Bangladeshi restaurant called Al-Amin. Muslim cooking – it's intoxicating to me. When I want something light, a salad, I go to Souper Jenny in Buckhead. Her soups and salads just hit the spot. There is a Korean place on Buford Highway, Sokongdong Tofu House. It is so refreshing. They do a cold buckwheat noodle served in cold beef broth, finished with pickled radish and a spicy sauce. If it's tacos, there is a place called La Pastorcita that does amazing tongue tacos. Gosh, I eat out for lunch quite a lot, don't I?" – Asha Gomez, Spice to Table
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