The food court inside Atlanta Chinatown mall serves quick, counter meals that are flavorful and affordable. Go all in on one dish or sample a few from the various food stalls, which include everything from hand-pulled noodles and barbecue duck to soup dumplings and spicy hot pots on their menus. When finished, take a stroll through the shops in the mall.

Located in Buckhead’s Lenox Mall and at Avalon in Alpharetta, True Food was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil and is backed by Oprah. Dishes here are seasonal and made with fresh ingredients and are meant to be healthy and satisfying. Order favorites like cashew pad Thai or butternut squash pizza or one of the restaurant’s daily specials for dinner.  

With flavors like coriander, green curry, Thai chili, and fresh ginger, Tuk Tuk on the border of Buckhead and Midtown takes Thai street food to the next level. Best bet here is to grab a seat at the bar, with its sweeping views of the midtown skyline in the distance. Lunch is typically quieter than dinner and offers specials like the lunch box: soup, rice, and two dishes of the day for $12. Pair it with a glass of wine or Singha Thai beer.

The secret to Taqueria del Sol’s success is the from-scratch and homey dishes by chef Eddie Hernandez served at lightning fast speed. With a fusion of Southern, Mexican, and Southwestern flavors and five locations, Taqueria del Sol is now an Atlanta institution. Bypass the daily lines and grab a seat at the bar. Order the smoked pork or brisket tacos and bowl of queso with a frozen margarita.

Antico pizza owner Giovanni Di Palma opened the no frills Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano in his “Little Italia” compound on Hemphill Avenue in Westside in 2012. No white table linens here, just fresh, fast Italian food. Inspired by the Amalfi coast region, the Sorrento lemon chicken is savory and sweet. For pasta, try the al forno — a hearty hybrid of baked ziti and lasagna. Afterwards, grab gelato across the street at Caffe Antico.

The bar at either Barcelona Wine Bar in Westside or Inman Park is a great place to sit and enjoy classic dishes and wines from the regions of Spain and the Mediterranean. Plates are served tapas style, a perfect fit for solo dining at the bar. Try the patatas bravas, spiced beef empanadas, or boquerones en vinagre.

MetroFresh, located in the Midtown Promenade complex across from Grady High School, serves freshly-made soups, salads, and sandwiches along with wine and large entrees in the evenings. Opened by former actor Mitchell Anderson, this small restaurant blends casual dining with seriously good food. The menu is seasonal and changes frequently. Order at the counter and take a seat.

Victory Sandwich Bar is just the right mix of quick, casual, and cool. With two locations in Decatur and Inman Park, it’s a great, go-to spot for an afternoon bite or a late-night snack. Try their infamous Jack and Coke slushie or a spiked soda. The tiny sandwiches here pack a powerful punch. After 10 p.m., order the Vic-fil-A, Victory’s take on the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, only better.

Hearts broke all over Atlanta when chef Guy Wong closed his beloved, first restaurant Miso Izakaya in July. It wasn’t long after, Wong announced the opening of his new sushi bar at Ponce City Market. Located adjacent to his ramen shop Ton Ton, Miso Ko is a perfect place for made-to-order sashimi, nigiri, makimono, and specialty rolls. Sit at the counter and watch the sushi chefs at work.

Whether in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner later in the week, Gato is a solid place to dine solo at the old school diner counter with a good book. This small and inviting neighborhood restaurant in Candler Park offers a Southwestern-influenced breakfast and lunch throughout the week. Dinner is served Thursday through Sunday and explores the regional food roots of southern Mexico and the Yucatán and a tight selection of natural and biodynamic wines, too.

A Mano, which translates to “by hand,” offers a menu filled with rustic Italian flavors and Southern hospitality. It’s the neighborhood bistro this area of Old Fourth Ward needed. Sit on the patio or at the bar and order burrata, served with aged balsamic, tomato jam, sea salt, and grilled sourdough and bowl of cacio e pepe. Pair it with a rosé spritz or a glass of Nebbiolo.

For a quaint and quiet experience, grab a small table in the dining room or a bar stool at Bread & Butterfly, an all-day Parisian cafe in Inman Park. Bread & Butterfly excels at the simple and savory French classics. The laid back ambiance, friendly service, and French cafe vibes make it easy to settle into a corner nook with an espresso and a freshly baked croissant or a glass of champagne and steak frites.

The dude ranch-designed Superica conquers that craving for ‘Mex-Tex’ and made-to-order margaritas. Dine solo at the bar on guacamole, tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas paired with queso and chips for one. The Krog Street location offers a covered patio and live music on the first Thursday of each month. There’s also a location in Buckhead.

Just down from Superica at Krog Street Market, is Ticonderoga Club. The bar may be small, but the T-Club is big on warm and friendly hospitality and offers some of Atlanta’s best cocktails and most underrated food. Try one of their ‘Special Cups,’ like Tiger Money, made with Oaxacan rum, lemon, blueberry, and Drambuie or the Club’s julep the Ticonderoga Club. For dinner, order the Ipswich roll, made with fresh clams flown in every week and served with tartar sauce and chips, the sweetbreads, or the vegan noodle bowl.

“Loosen up” and “drink alone” at Lloyd’s in Inman Park. At least, that’s some of the advice seen on coffee mugs, stickers, and the cheeky advertising above the bar here. Cast off the day’s worries with or a martini or old school beers like Hamm’s, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and a classic wedge salad and fried bologna sandwich. Pop in for a solo dinner and weekly specials like snow crab legs, prime rib, and fried chicken served Monday through Wednesday.

BoccaLupo is one of the best Italian restaurants in Atlanta. BoccaLupo’s roots may be Italian, but its heart sits right in Inman Park as a casual, neighborhood restaurant. Specializing in handmade pastas and seasonal ingredients, chef Bruce Logue changes up the menu throughout the year to keep it fresh. Grab a seat at the bar with a book and order the crispy white lasagna or the 20-yolk tagliatelle with a glass of barbera.

Located on the edge of Cabbagetown, Petit Chou serves up French bistro-style dishes with a Southern spin. Grab a seat at the large bar and enjoy everything from a hearty grit or potato bowl topped with sharp cheddar and a poached egg to the classic croque madame ham and cheese sandwich. At dinner, expect hearty bistro fare like beef bourguignon, seafood Newburg, and braised pork belly with a miso pear butter paired with wine, beer, or a cocktail.

We Suki Suki is the anchor of East Atlanta’s restaurant incubator the Global Grub Collective and proves there are intown options for great banh mi and pho. The tiny restaurant also serves boba tea, bun in the warmer months, and soups like pho through winter and fall. Over on the Global Collective side, peruse the various, ever-changing food stalls, which offer everything from ramen to baos on their menus. Take a seat at the small front counter or at one of the communal picnic tables.