The two-mile-long Buford Highway in DeKalb County, Georgia, near Atlanta is known far and wide for being a center for ethnic cuisine.
Over 1,000 different immigrant-owned businesses can be found along Buford Highway, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the United States. These include restaurants with a variety of cuisines, from Korean barbecue to Vietnamese bakeries, Mexican taco stands to Bangladeshi curry houses, Spanish tapas bars to incredible farmers’ markets. It may be challenging to know where to begin.
These eateries have primarily served adventurous diners for years. It has altered as a result of many being more well-known among regular eaters as a result of social media. Here are my recommendations for the top Asian restaurants along Buford Highway.
While many of the eateries along Buford Highway aren’t particularly fancy, when Food Terminal opened a few years ago, everything changed. The ultra-modern setting is alive with activity. You want to order everything from the extensive menu, which is as thick as a magazine! It features photographs of mouthwatering food. There isn’t one particular type of Asian food served here because the cuisine is fusion, but you can’t go wrong with anything you find appealing.
Photo Credit: Malika Bowling
This small restaurant features delicious Malaysian street food and is the place to satisfy a noodle craving. Try the Hokkien Mee noodles (pork, shrimp and squid) or the Hainanese chicken noodles. Beef Rendang is quite tasty, too.
Forget waiting a couple hours for brunch at a trendy restaurant. Instead, head to Royal Pearl and fill up on delicious dim sum dishes. Soup buns are stellar. This place can draw a crowd on weekends; arrive by 11 a.m. to avoid them. Come hungry as there are many items on carts from which to choose.
Ming’s is where to get crispy duck. As you see these hanging in the window, you can almost taste the crispy skin giving way to a juicy flesh. Staffers will cut it up for you. Enjoy the glorious mess you will make at home enjoying it.
Laotian food on your bucket list? Find it here! Try the Laap, a traditional dish made with toasted rice powder, chili pepper flakes, lime juice, fish sauce, kaffir, and herbs.
At a “hot pot” restaurant tables are equipped with cooktops so you can mix and match ingredients as you please. Choose a meat (chicken, steak, pork) and a broth. Mix in your own combo of other items such as mushrooms, watercress, tofu, tofu skin, an egg, noodles, corn on the cob, and vermicelli noodles.
Tofu may get top billing, but don’t let the name fool you: Though it has more than a dozen types of tofu soups, there is so much more here to try. My recommendation: Bibimbap of Spicy Bulgogi.
Bright, bold colors engulf this restaurant featuring Thai Street food. Pork wontons and calamari in spicy dipping sauce are a super start to any meal. The prawn and noodle dish is Instagram-worthy, but don’t miss out on the Papaya salad and save room for mango sticky rice dessert.
Photo Credit: Malika Bowling
If you’ve never had a Banh Mi, make a beeline here for a delicious lunch. Expect the best sub sandwich ever with a Vietnamese twist.
Photo Credit: Malika Bowling
Craving some tasty Vietnamese? The interior of this restaurant may not blow you away, but the food sure will. This is some of the best Pho you can find in Atlanta. Also try the shredded pork rolls.
Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House
Located in Seoul Plaza, this is known as the place for Bibimbap. Regulars also know to get the Nine Treasure plate (Gujeolpan), an assortment of small vegetable dishes. Another can’t miss dish is the steamed black pork belly with kimchi and oysters (Bo Ssam).
Photo Credit: Malika Bowling