| Did a friend forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here to receive it in your inbox every Thursday. |  | | | By Henri Hollis | | Food & Dining Reporter | | | | | | | | | Hi, food friends, In this week’s restaurant review of So. Fox in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood, I wrote about the disparity between the intense hype around the new hot spot and the reality of dining there. Before I could review it, So. Fox felt unavoidable. It was all over my social media feeds and people in both my professional and personal lives gushed about their experiences at the restaurant. In my experience, anything that develops this much buzz tends to have broad appeal and an obvious hook. Hype is often based on having the biggest, most expensive or most exclusive thing — I’m thinking about viral sensations like Salt Bae, caviar bumps or steaks served in golden suitcases. So, I was a bit taken aback by the subtlety on display at So. Fox. Since when did the masses like nuance and ambiguity? My colleague Kelly Yamanouchi, who helped with this review, had an interesting thought: Could the enthusiasm around So. Fox be a sign that the Atlanta dining scene has reached a new level of maturity and sophistication? Are local diners becoming more interested in depth and complexity over flash and simple pleasures? Or is So. Fox a special case, a unique restaurant that sprouted organically in unusually perfect conditions? I’d love to hear your take — did you buy into the So. Fox hype? If so, why? What makes you excited to visit a new restaurant? You can reach out to me directly at henri.hollis@ajc.com with tips, thoughts or questions for the AJC’s food and dining team. | Atlanta’s best fried chicken? It’s a tie. |  | | Daniela Cintron, editor at Discover Atlanta, center, reacts as she tastes a piece of fried chicken alongside Justin Brown, ATL50 expert panelist, during a contest to find Atlanta's best fried chicken, held on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at the AJC office in Midtown. (Miguel Martinez/AJC) | | Who has the best fried chicken in Atlanta? We started with 12 semifinalists, asked Atlanta to help us narrow the field and brought the reader favorites to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s offices for a blind taste test with local food experts and journalists. We cast a wide net because Atlanta’s love of fried chicken isn’t limited to the iconic Southern style. Our contenders included Korean, Thai and Peruvian fried chicken alongside soul food institutions, Southern restaurants and Publix. Yes, Publix. Leaving it out of a fried chicken conversation felt … dishonest. Five restaurants survived the reader vote, and five chickens were ordered. But only four chickens made it to the judging table. We’ll get to that in a minute. How did we choose Atlanta’s best fried chicken? - We built our original list using restaurant reviews, reader recommendations and our own experience eating around Atlanta. Because our taste tests happen during business hours at the AJC’s Midtown office, restaurants also had to be open during our tasting window and available for pickup or delivery inside the Perimeter.
- Our 12 semifinalists were bb.q Chicken, Buttermilk Kitchen, CM Chicken, Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar, K & K Soul Food, Las Brasas, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Pelicana Chicken, Pink Lotus Thai Restaurant, Publix, South City Kitchen and The Busy Bee.
- Then we put the list on Instagram and asked readers to vote. They chose bb.q Chicken, Pelicana Chicken, Pink Lotus Thai Restaurant, Publix and The Busy Bee for the final round.
It was a wonderfully weird final five, and we couldn’t have been happier about it. Chicken can cross more than one type of road on its way to crispy perfection. For our taste test, we had Southern, Korean and Thai styles. 🍗 Read more: What makes great fried chicken, and who has the best fried chicken in Atlanta? | The Week's Essential Food and Dining Stories  | | Heritage will open in Summerhill, and more from metro Atlanta’s dining scene | | | |  | | Where to eat in Atlanta: The Ultimate Food Guide | | |  | | Add Caesar dressing to chicken burgers 3 ways for a quick, tasty weeknight meal | | | |  | | Atlanta Food & Wine, a Dolly celebration and more food events this week | | | | 10 dishes around Atlanta where peak-season squash stars |  | | Decatur's the Deer and the Dove celebrates seasonal shifts with a harvest plate that features the bounty of local gardens. This month, squash is the star. (Courtesy of Morgan Campisi of Campisi Collective) | | Has your social media feed been taken over by so-called viral dumpling cooking hacks? Dumplings have become the victim of the latest round of cooking shortcuts that claim to be easier and faster than the original technique. Deconstructed dumpling lasagnas and no-fold skillet wontons are taking the place of slow-cooker barbecue and single-pan “dump” meals. At their worst, these cooking hacks produce an inferior result without being much easier than the original method. And, even at their best, most shortcuts strip the original dish of its integrity. For home cooks who want to replicate the flavors of their favorite dumplings, it’s daunting to attempt the real thing. Videos of deft hands expertly folding delicate xiao long baos with an equal and uniform number of pleats intimidate even the most experienced chefs. The best way to confront that fear is exposure therapy — in this case, eating your way through Atlanta’s diverse and abundant dumpling scene. At some of the metro area’s top spots for dumplings, diners can watch cooks make them in real time or chat directly with the chefs about their methods. Candy Hom, AJC contributor and chef of Soupbelly, writes that she makes an average of 2,000 dumplings per month and has taught dozens of dumpling classes. In her latest piece for the AJC, she offers her own dumpling-making insights gained from years of experience. 🥟 Read more: 5 lessons home cooks can learn from Atlanta’s best dumplings, along with where to get them. | Upcoming Events | | | Atlanta Food & Wine Festival | | | Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Home Depot Backyard | | | Head to the Home Depot Backyard next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for this year’s Atlanta Food & Wine Festival centered around the theme, “The City is the Story,” according to a news release. The hosts will include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s senior editor of food and dining, Monti Carlo, who will open the festival Thursday with the Atlanta Standard kickoff event, featuring live entertainment, tasting tents and beverages. Throughout the rest of the weekend, well-known chefs including Andrew Zimmern, Shawn Osbey, Ford Fry, Kardea Brown and Kelli Potter will host their own tasting tents with dedicated tasting stations, and more than 200 chefs will be handing out food.
Thursday-Sunday. Starting at $125 per person. 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta. atlfoodandwinefestival.com | | | | | | | | | Cobb Convention Center (Cobb Galleria Centre) | | | While most consumers start a home improvement project online, the show fills the niche where online research leaves off –getting specific advice and questions answered by knowledgeable, local experts when it comes to their home projects. The show’s special guests are the energetic hosts of PBS’ America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country, Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison. They’ll share inside-the-kitchen secrets for how the show works, from recipe development to ingredient testing. The real-life friends will keep audiences engaged and laughing as they talk about their own favorite recipes, kitchen gadgets they can’t live without, culinary techniques and tips for foodies and aspiring culinary connoisseurs alike. Bridget and Julia will also welcome audience questions about the show, deconstructing recipes, preparation fails and more. The duo will be live on the Main Stage on Friday, September 11 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, September 12 at Noon. Other show highlights include: *FREE* Admission Friday. Guests can enjoy a day at the Atlanta Home Show at no charge with Free Admission Friday, courtesy of Window Comfort. Flu Shots From Kroger. While guests are knocking home improvement tasks off their lists, they can mark off another thing: flu shots. Flu season starts in October and the Atlanta Home Show wants guests to get ahead of it with complementary flu shots from Kroger. Kroger is offering free flu shots, plus participants will receive a coupon valued between $5-$20 to use in-store (while supplies last). Kid’s Entrepreneur Market (Friday only). They may not be old enough to drive but these young entrepreneurs have tons of drive. On Friday only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., some of Atlanta’s aspiring kid creators will be at the show selling their goods. Come support the next generation of Atlanta’s workforce. Warrior Paws. One of the show’s community partners is Warrior Paws, dedicated to improving the quality of life for local veterans and first responders. Guests can learn about the program and meet some of the warrior dogs. “We’ve got so many new features for guests this year at the fall edition of the show. We’re really excited to offer free admission on Friday, and to partner with Kroger to offer free flu shots for guests. On top of that, we’ve gathered local experts who are the next step to pay off all the online research they’ve done with practical, real-world advice,” said Ryan Lynd, Show Manager with Marketplace Events. To recognize local frontline heroes, the show celebrates Hero Day on Saturday and Sunday. All active military personnel, veterans, police, fire, first responders and teachers plus one companion are invited to attend the show free of charge. Simply present valid ID at the box office. For your service and sacrifice, we thank you. Seniors aged 60+ are also recognized with complimentary admission every day (must present valid ID at box office). In addition, the show hosts Trade Day on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13. All home-related tradespeople and members of these organizations: NARI, Realtors, HBA, NKBA, NADRA, GaREIA, AIA, NAIPC, Atlanta Area Chapter Appraisal Institute, and ASID receive complimentary admission Saturday and Sunday with valid ID. Show hours are Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets at the box office are $10 for adults age 13+, admission is free for children 13 and under. Advance $8 tickets are available Fall Atlanta Home Show 2026, For more show information, please visit Official Atlanta Home Show | September 11-13, 2026 | Cobb Convention Center. | | | | | | | Shop Local, Savor the Season: Farmers Market Series Returns to The Battery Atlanta | | | | | The Battery Atlanta invites guests to shop, stroll and savor the season at the Farmers Market, presented by Kaiser Permanente. Returning to the Plaza Green on select Sundays beginning April 19, this fan-favorite series features a curated mix of local farmers, artisans and specialty vendors offering fresh produce, handcrafted goods and unique finds in a vibrant outdoor setting. Blending community charm with signature The Battery Atlanta energy, the market offers more than just shopping. Guests can enjoy a petting zoo, explore the Bark Market with their four-legged companions and catch the Atlanta Braves away games on the Georgia Power Pavilion screen. Whether guests are discovering new flavors, supporting local businesses or enjoying a laid-back Sunday outing, the Farmers Market at The Battery Atlanta delivers something for everyone all season long. WHAT: Farmers Market Series at The Battery Atlanta Presented by Kaiser Permanente WHEN Select Sundays, April 19–Sept. 27 1 – 4 p.m. WHERE The Battery Atlanta The Plaza Green 800 Battery Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30339 MORE INFO This event is free and open to the public. Complimentary parking is available for the first two hours on non-event days. For more information and the full lineup of events, please visit batteryatl.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. | | | | | | More From Food and Dining  | | Ground pork gets quick carnitas on the table in 15 minutes | | | |  | | 10 Georgia county and state fairs to check out this fall | | |  | | 3 things to know about Keisha Lance Bottoms’ plan to cut grocery costs | | | |  | | Waffle House rarely talks. A union push has it speaking out. | | | | Make this easy overnight chia pudding at home |  | | Chia pudding with summer fruit from a new cookbook by Suzanne Vizethann, chef and founder of Buttermilk Kitchen. (Kelly Berry, courtesy of chef Suzanne Vizethann) | | Buttermilk Kitchen chef and founder Suzanne Vizethann knows a thing or two about breakfast. At her Buckhead restaurant, it’s been the main event for more than a decade, serving popular takes on everything from buttermilk biscuits and pancakes to fried chicken. For Better Breakfast Month, Vizethann shares a decidedly less buttery way to start the day: an easy chia pudding made with almond milk, vanilla, cardamom and maple syrup, then loaded with seasonal fruit and granola. The best part may be that breakfast makes itself while you sleep. Vizethann’s recipe is from her “Brunch Season” cookbook. It needs at least two hours in the refrigerator, but she recommends leaving it overnight. Chia seeds slowly absorb the almond milk, swelling and thickening it into a creamy pudding without any cooking required. Make a bowl before bed, and tomorrow morning’s biggest culinary undertaking is opening the refrigerator. 💡 What is the best chia seed-to-milk ratio for chia pudding? Chia pudding has very few rules, but this one matters. Vizethann uses one half-cup chia seeds for two cups almond milk, or one part chia seeds to four parts liquid. It produces a thick pudding that can still be loosened if necessary. 💡 How do you keep chia pudding from getting lumpy? Chia seeds are tiny, but given the opportunity, they will band together. To prevent a clumpy mess, whisk the seeds thoroughly into the almond milk when making the pudding, paying particular attention to the bottom and sides of the bowl. Giving everything another good stir about 10 minutes later helps break apart seeds that have started clumping as they hydrate. Then cover the bowl and let the refrigerator take over. 💡 What are the best toppings for chia pudding? Vizethann suggests peaches, blackberries and blueberries, but feel free to use any fruit you have on hand when you’re making it. Early September in Georgia gives you an especially nice changing of the guard: the last of summer’s peaches and berries can make way for pears, apples, figs or whatever looks best at the market. Vizethann reaches for granola, hemp seeds and raw cacao nibs. Toasted nuts, seeds or coconut would work, too. The chia pudding is creamy, and the fruit is soft, so something crunchy makes the bowl far more interesting. 🥣 Get the full recipe for Suzanne Vizethann’s chia pudding bowl with seasonal fruit. |  Follow us on Instagram | | | |
