10 Atlanta Cookbooks That Feature The Best In Southern Cuisine

Sometimes instead of paying for a high-prices meal, an old-fashioned cookbook can yield a wonderful meal. Want to cook like a real Atlantan? It’s in the book.

Here are the best Atlanta cookbooks you can find anywhere.

If you’re looking for tasty dishes centered on fried chicken, grits and other Southern staples, these Atlanta cookbooks won’t specialized in them — but they’re here. Mostly, you’ll find unique takes and twists on old favorites from yesteryear’s dinner table.

The Best Atlanta Cookbooks To Learn From The Pros

Check out these amazing Atlanta-centered cookbooks that you can buy right now and start to cook with:

Atlanta Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Big Peach

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Serving up an eclectic mix of foods, “Atlanta Chef’s Table” continues to showcase those who pioneer the South from casual comfort to the finer foods.

Atlanta Kitchens: Recipes from Atlanta’s Best Restaurants 

“Atlanta Kitchens” features recipes from 56 of the best restaurants, including Watershed, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Babette’s Café, Gravity Pub, Horseradish Grill, Wisteria, Busy Bee’s Café and more.

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Mary Mac’s Tea Room 75th Anniversary Cookbook: History, Hospitality, and Recipes from Atlanta’s Favorite Dining Room 

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In “Mary Mac’s Tea Room 75th Anniversary Cookbook,” author and owner John Ferrell brings together over 125 classic recipes, including several new ones, from this venerable institution of Southern comfort food. When Mary Mac’s opened in 1945, it was one of sixteen tea rooms around Atlanta, Georgia.

True Grits: Tall Tales and Recipes from the New South

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“True Grits” is a collection of regional recipes, inspired photography, and lively, charming stories by renowned southern authors – people like Anne Rivers Siddons, Lewis Grizzard, Terry Kay, and Eugenia Price.

A Culinary History of Atlanta (American Palate)

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“A Culinary History of Atlanta” traces the evolution of iconic dishes like Brunswick stew, hoecakes and peach pie while celebrating Atlanta’s noted foodies, including Henry Grady, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nathalie Dupree.

Atlanta Classic Desserts: Recipes from Favorite Restaurants

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“Atlanta Desserts” is an irresistible book showcasing the city’s sweet side. Georgia Muscadine, Hummingbird Cake, and Warm Peach Cobbler are only a few of the delectable dishes Atlantans enjoy at the close of an excellent meal.

Fried Chicken: Recipes for the Crispy, Crunchy, Comfort-Food Classic [A Cookbook]

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“Fried Chicken” is an irresistible cookbook featuring more than 50 family-friendly fried chicken recipes, including classic Southern, globally influenced, and skillet- and deep-fried variations.

Signature Tastes of Atlanta: Favorite Recipes of our Local Restaurants

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With over 130 restaurant recipes, full page photos and descriptions, Signature Tastes of Atlanta truly defines the culinary essence of the Capital City of the South.

Atlanta Cooknotes

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“Atlanta Cooknotes” is yet another great cookbook from the Junior League of Atlanta. Illustrated with prominent locations in Atlanta with historical notes.

Food Lovers’ Guide to Atlanta: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings

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“Food Lovers Guide to Atlanta” is the ultimate guide to Atlanta’s food scene provides the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy, and celebrate local culinary offerings.


Last Bite

From fried fish to authentic tacos, the best food you make in your Atlanta kitchen will often come from a cookbook. The recipes are typically time-honored and based on the seasoned heritage of the South.

At this point, Atlanta cuisine has become indispensable to the South. The largest city in Georgia’s food festivals and culinary events set the tone for the entire Southeast. 

Only in Atlanta can the casual observer find specialty food shops, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, farmers’ markets and farm stands all at an affordable price point.

But Atlanta also has trendy restaurants, pop-ups and time-tested landmarks that continue to draw big crowds.

Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?

 
Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens. Before launching the site, Johnson worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools and later in corporate roles at Home Depot’s Vinings offices. A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage. As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta. A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).

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