The AU Center is well-known for being the center of student life for Atlanta’s consortium of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), but it’s increasingly garnering a name for it’s food spots.
If you attend or work at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College, you know where the food restaurants are nearby.
In this article, we’ll show you the best places to eat near the AU Center in Atlanta.
Where To Eat Near the AU Center
Located just across the street from downtown Atlanta’s western border, the AU Center is where academic brilliance happens on a daily basis, but then there’s the food. Here’s where to eat nearby:
Busy Bee Cafe
810 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314 | (404) 525-9212
This popular soul food restaurant located on MLK Jr. Drive is known for its fried chicken, collard greens, and cornbread.
Tassili’s Raw Reality
1059 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, Atlanta, Ga. 30310
Tassili’s Raw Reality Café is a healthy food option in a sea of bad choices and junk food. Owned by Master Raw Chef Tassili Ma’at, this eatery subscribes to a dining experience full of nutrient-rich delectables that give your body life. Come for the food, stay for the Egyptian Yoga classes.
On the menu you’ll find “That Ish Wrap,” and some of the most beautiful and artfully crafted veggie wraps around.
This vegan and vegetarian restaurant on Westview Drive offers a variety of healthy and flavorful dishes, including wraps, salads, and smoothies.
Soul Box Soul Food Room
1017 Fair St SW, Atlanta, GA 30314 | (404) 494-5805
Located on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Soul Box Soul Food is a cozy restaurant that serves up classic Southern comfort food like shrimp and grits, fried catfish, and macaroni and cheese.
The Seafood Menu
880 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
Rapper Lil Baby opened The Seafood Menu Restaurant & Lounge in summer 2023. The eatery has some great dishes centered on seven custom sauces: Caribbean Jerk Butter, Cajun Butter, Lemon Butter, Hot, Sweet Chili Butter, Honey Hot and Garlic Butter.
Mr. Everything Cafe
882 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314 | (404) 521-9903
If you like, everything, Mr. Everything Cafe is for you. The spot serves a variety of subs, burgers, gyros, salads and an assortment of yellow rice dishes.
Atlantatucky Brewing
170 Northside Dr SW suite 96, Atlanta, GA 30313
Atlantucky Brewing has become the beer spot du jour in downtown Atlanta. The establishment is owned by the members of the Southern rap quartet Nappy Roots.
Here are the best craft breweries in Atlanta.
Final Bite
The AU Center is known for their academic excellence and cultural significance in the African American community, but also the food nearby. Its institutions, including the venerable Spelman College, offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, as well as cultural and social activities for students.
So what kind of food is Atlanta known for? Once you explore the city, you’d be surprised. It’s not all grits and sweet tea!
Atlanta is known for its vibrant and diverse food scene, making it a popular destination for food lovers. The city offers a wide range of dining options, from Southern comfort food to international cuisine. Atlanta is also home to many acclaimed chefs and restaurants, including several that have been recognized with prestigious awards.
Whether you’re looking for fine dining, casual eateries, or unique food experiences, Atlanta has something to offer for every palate.
Georgia’s largest city is a mecca when it comes to the best black restaurants in Atlanta, and there are plenty others. If you like barbecue, see our list of the Best Atlanta BBQ Restaurants.
As for eateries below I-20, these Southside Atlanta restaurants have developed quite a following.
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a bar explosion in recent years.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.