Restaurant News

PHOTOS: More than 40 of our favorite dishes from metro Atlanta restaurants in 2020

The Crawfish Po'boy from Crawfish Shack on Buford Highway. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Apple pancake from the Original Pancake House. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Spicy and Numbing Chicken Hot Pot from Urban Wu. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Two tarts from Saint Germain French Bakery in Ponce City Market: mixed fruit (left) and apple and almond (right). Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Fish Sauce Chicken Wings from Anh's Kitchen in Midtown. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Get Him to the Greek is a "deconstructed Gyro bowl" from Fit Foodies Bistro in Austell. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Caribbean Chicken and Shrimp from Caribbean Fiesta may not look glamorous, but the tropical flavors sing. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Spaghetti and meatballs from Ruby Chow's. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Crispy pimenton chicken from Buena Vida Tapas & Sol in Midtown. Henri Hollis for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Banh mi bo kho, or Vietnamese beef stew with French bread, from Pho Dai Loi 2 on Buford Highway. Henri Hollis for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A familiar format - grilled meat, bread and toppings - sings with unique Balkan flavors during Chef Adi Komic's Bosnian Grill Saturdays at Best End Brewing. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Consititution

Wild mushroom ravioli with Checca Fiorentina, a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil and mozzarella, from Figo. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lamb madras curry from Touch Indian in midtown is the perfect dish for that transitional time between summer and fall. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Butter & Cream is offering the flavor Good Trouble through October in tribute to the late congressman John Lewis. The ice cream shop is donating proceeds to the voting rights organization Fair Fight. Green Olive Media

The heat variety pack from Joella's Hot Chicken allows you to try out each of the chain's levels of spiciness. Emily Koschnick/Porch Light PR

The potato pizza from Grana. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The beauty and the beet bowl from Sama: Food for Balance in Buckhead.

The chicken katsu sando from Momonoki in Midtown with cucumber wakame salad.

Two crispy bao from Food Terminal: lemongrass pork (left) and unagi (right). CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The S&H Hot Chicken pizza from Slim & Husky's tastes authentic thanks to the chain's Nashville roots. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Fried green tomatoes at Sprig. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Meatloaf with collard greens and mac & cheese from K&K Soul Food in Bankhead. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The kitfo wrap with ayib and peppers from Desta Ethiopian Kitchen. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Buffalo chicken totchos from the Nook. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The breakfast Amber biscuit with beef kielbasa from Sean's Harvest Market. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The family-style pollo a la brasa from Las Brasas in Decatur includes a Peruvian-spiced rotisserie-cooked chicken (center) with a house salad and a hearty serving of french of fries. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Cooks & Soldiers, which came up with the Iberico Ham and Black Truffle and American White Cheddar Bikini, will be at the 2020 Atlanta Grilled Cheese Festival, whose date was moved to Sept. 12. CONTRIBUTED BY HEIDI GELDHAUSER

Lyla Lila's braised beef and black truffle ravioli dish (foreground) is beautifully simple to finish at home, but the experience of cooking it is fun and empowering. The ravioli is flanked by Lyla Lila's crispy duck lasagna which is also finished at home. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The McDowell burger from Local Three. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Entree Option #1 from Lazy Betty includes bacon-crusted pork tenderloin stuffed with apple-mushroom dressing, collard greens, roasted potatoes and Madeira pork jus. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Entrees from El Ponce are prepped and ready for the oven at home, including chicken enchiladas (left) and chiles rellenos (bottom right). CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Two bentos from Sushi Hayakawa: beef donburi (left) and sake ikura don (right), or salmon with salmon roe. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Loaded Shrimp Fries from A Little Nauti food truck. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Steamed dumplings from Northern China Eatery, which can be bought frozen in bulk orders of 60. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Rama Curry from Malaya in Underwood Hills. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Cream tomato fennel soup at True Food Kitchen. COURTESY OF TRUE FOOD KITCHEN.

The MacDougal pita sandwich at Mamoun's Falafel contains both lamb shawarma and falafel. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

New Orleans Spicy Shrimp at Joey D's Oak Room in Dunwoody. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The CBDaiquiri at Watchman's is made with rum infused in-house with CBD bud. COURTESY OF WATCHMAN'S

The pastrami hash at Coalition Food and Beverage in Alpharetta. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The sushi and sashimi moriwasa at O-Ku includes 12 chef-selected sushi pieces. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The Cajun Killer burrito at Raging Burrito on Decatur Square is great because it melds flavors according to an actual culinary theme. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

At Home Grown, Cranes Southern Fun Dip combines pimento cheese, chorizo and grits into a party-worthy appetizer. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The Thai Express Bowl with chicken at R. Thomas. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

The Tuna Marrow Diamonds on the special Tuna Thursday at Hopstix are among the most interesting dishes you'll ever find for less than $10. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

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Credit: Henri Hollis

The Crawfish Po'boy from Crawfish Shack on Buford Highway. Henri Hollis for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Dec 30, 2020

Metro Atlanta restaurants weathered multiple storms in 2020, but chefs still managed to go above and beyond in their kitchens, putting out food that made a dark year a little bit brighter. Here, more than 40 dishes that ranked among our favorites, from fish sauce chicken wings at Anh’s Kitchen to meatloaf at K&K Soul Food.

Read more about our favorite dishes of 2020 here.

Meatloaf with collard greens and mac & cheese from K&K Soul Food in Bankhead. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

Meatloaf with collard greens and mac & cheese from K&K Soul Food in Bankhead. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

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