I’ve never visited the South so when my friend moved to Atlanta, I was ecstatic to go visit. I thought I would be hearing trap music blaring from every storefront and I’d be eating hot wings at strip clubs. That’s the only concept I had about what to do there. I did prepare by watching ATL but it didn’t help much because then I half expected to run into Donald Glover filming. None of the things above happened, but the trip still exceeded all the expectations I never had.

The Food

Yes, I grew up on tacos, Menudo, and chilaquiles so I can handle heavy foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but this was on a completely different level. I had to swap out my lunch for salads and kombucha because the food was so decadent and rich that I needed to give my body a break by doing a ton of walking.

For breakfast, I had a variety of chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy plus some ridiculous omelet that should have been healthy but still somehow felt heavy in the delicious grandma’s cooking type of way. My favorite breakfast spot was Joy Cafe. Go there and be prepared to sit, eat and smile in contentment with each bite of whatever you choose. You cannot go wrong. When you think you reached culinary bliss, you look at the drink menu and see they have spiked breakfast drinks. For example, they have this outstanding chai latte with bourbon! I’d never heard of the mix and the more I scanned the drink menu, the more I realized that I had become complacent in LA simply sticking to mimosas and bloody marys for breakfast alcohol options. Atlanta is putting our mixologists to shame. If I wasn’t clear enough, day drinking is a must here.

Grindhouse Killer Burgers is also a must-visit. Especially for those who swear by In-N-Out burgers. I can’t compare the two because the latter is a classic but Grindhouse will be appreciated by burger aficionados. The restaurant has a death metal theme and the music matches the vibe. I’m a fan of metal so I loved it but the music wasn’t crazy loud to scare away non-metal fans. I got the classic burger and while I felt boring considering all the options like the Apache style with tortilla strips and green chiles, the classic is called Grindhouse so I felt pretty badass after ordering. Here, they also had alcoholic milkshakes and I got the Cinnamon Toast Crunk. It tasted like horchata and I definitely felt that alcohol. My next choice was Porky’s Revenge which was a maple bacon flavor with bourbon. Yes, Atlanta knows how to incorporate their bourbon.

E Ramen was a surprising spot I ended up at since I don’t think of Asian cuisine when I think of Atlanta, but I discovered pretty quickly that this is a foodie city and people know good food. I ordered lobster ramen while a bit skeptical of how much lobster I’d really have in my bowl. Short of actually eating lobster, this dish was the next best thing. The soup base complimented the classic taste and I had my fill of fresh and succulent lobster tail. This was well worth the $20 price and ramen bowls are huge so I definitely overate; I was not leaving a piece behind. This place was so good I wanted to come back before I left but I ran out of time. There is a bowl of lobster ramen with my name on it for my next visit. This place also has a very long and well-curated drink list. I stuck to the hot sake which I felt paired well with my dish but I could have sat there all night drinking everything on the menu. They had a gin and kiwi drink, something with matcha, and of course a lychee martini. Plus their list of cold sake is impressively long. You will leave this place happy that you came but sad you had to leave. I’m sad just thinking of what I’m missing out on now. 🙁

Fox Bros BBQ is so sinfully delicious that I stuffed my face and then packed up all my leftovers, ate half of it on the plane, and then the other half at my house when I got home. I had no shame because this food was so freaking outstandingly good that I was not going to waste any of it. I may have been a bit more possessive of my meal because it was my last meal in the South and I knew such tender, fall-of-the-bone BBQ would be difficult to find back in Los Angeles. I came with friends and we essentially got different piles of meat in a variety of BBQ sauces. I got spare ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. Then I ordered chicken wings, so I got to taste another variety of a pile of meat. I also got sweet tea, corn bread, banana pudding, and a cobbler. Now that I list it out, yes maybe it seems like a lot, but when you grow up hearing about all these classic American foods that just magically taste better in the South, you have to do your journalistic duty and investigate the entire menu to report to your readers. Now I can confirm that BBQ does in fact taste better in the South. I am sad to report that I didn’t try any drinks but you all saw what I ate, nothing else could fit in my stomach and I don’t feel bad sacrificing the alcohol for the dessert. We all have priorities.

Out of everything, I didn’t expect to try any type of Latin cuisine on my trip. There’s so much in Los Angeles, why get it in Atlanta? I think my friend’s goal when she brought me to Papi’s Grill was to prove that Southerners can in fact cook it all. I ordered a Pollo Vaca Frita which is grilled chicken shredded and then simmered in a stew of peppers. It hit the spot. We also got an empanada sampler, maduros, tostones, and a slew of fun, fruity drinks. This is a classically good Cuban spot that felt like it came out of Havana. I overate here and had to sit for a second before I could dance at the club we went to after.

Everything Else

Yes, there was a theme of overeating and no I don’t regret it. Especially since in between all these meals I walked way more than I ever do in Los Angeles… even counting my runs at the gym. I stayed in Midtown and there the tree-lined streets looked quaint and charming. Everything is remarkably clean but like in Japan, I kept wondering where all the trash goes because trash cans were hard to spot. I did encounter lots of nature. I learned that Atlanta is called the City in The Woods because it’s surrounded by nature and the city center is no different. I went to Olympic Park, West Side Park, and Piedmont Park. The last park was my favorite because they have a snack shack inside that sells alcoholic popsicles. You can get a mild buzz off one as you sit near the lake and admire the city skyline.

I also worked off all I ate by dancing my ass off at clubs in the city’s gay district which included a signature rainbow crosswalk. Then there was the tiki bar with four dance floors and different DJs on each one. Here is where we made friends with some women celebrating a promotion and started a salsa group.

To make sure I didn’t slip into a food coma, my friend took me on a hike to Stone Mountain. The hike was more of a very steep walk but the angle still kicked my ass. The views were gorgeous until we got to the other side and they showed me it was actually a war memorial to the confederacy. You can see the faces of the generals carved into the side of the massive mountain and, for perspective, it’s larger than Mount Rushmore. I felt a bit icky being there at the still very active tribute, but it was interesting to see locals simply enjoying the mini-golf there with their families or just hiking around this huge racist monument. My brain is still processing how to feel about it, but still, go. It’s important to see that some Americans have a very different opinion of our nation’s racist past. If anything, visit because the place also has animatronic dinosaurs that roar and that is pretty cool. Random but cool. We canceled out the racist monument by heading to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Museum and Center, his old church, a memorial center, and his childhood home. There are interactive exhibits and I cried at the hearse Dr. King was pulled in. It’s pretty powerful so be prepared for some intense emotions.

And yes, this article still goes on because there is so much to experience daily. I stayed in Midtown, took the metro to and from the airport, and walked everywhere except Stone Mountain. Even walking you can fit in three to four things a day because there is no LA traffic or crowds. Also, clubs don’t close until 3 am or 4 am so you really have all day and night to make the most of the ATL. The locals were amazingly attractive, well-dressed, and charming. I think its that Southern upbringing because everyone was always on point with their outfits and I never saw anyone in yoga pants.

Of the many many places I’ve been to, this was the one city that felt like it was more than just a tourist destination where I’m crossing a bunch of things off a list. I felt welcomed by the strangers that genuinely smiled and the city itself was vibrant and alive. I’d definitely visit again and again, and maybe even move here one day. So go visit and maybe you’ll see me.