My friends and I came here for a week day dinner. You order first and then you find seats. The seats are first come first serve. It can get packed later at night so I recommend coming earlier in the evening. The inside was pretty cozy but there are seats outside as well. Soon after we sat down, there was a live performer that played guitar and sang songs, she was so good! For the food, the ribs were delicious. The ribs fell right off the bone. 1/2 slab of ribs were more than enough for a meal. The rum baked beans and the collard greens were my personal favorite sides. This is a great neighborhood bbq place and I would def come back again! read more

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This review is for delivery ordered via their website and fulfilled by DoorDash. In a word: underwhelming. Quarter Chicken: fine, I guess. Tender but lacking in flavor. If there was a rub, it was subtle to the point of being almost untasteable. Quarter rack of Ribs: poor. Meaty, but far too tough, definitely not fall off the bone. Again lacking in flavor, and burnt in spots. Side of Mac n Cheese: easily the start of the show. Very flavorful, baked and not swimming in cheese sauce, possible notes of ritz crackers detected. I'd have eaten a main course sized portion, and imagine it could mix well with pulled pork or chopped brisket, should Matt's ever consider expanding their repertoire of meats. Side of potato salad: also very solid. Simple but nicely flavored, just creamy enough. Side of collards: fine but unremarkable. Bbq sauce: decent-ish, more tangy than sweet. Very thick. Packaging : Matt's really could improve here. The ribs and chicken, piled together between two slices of white bread, was wrapped in white paper which was in turn stuffed into a paper bag with the containers of sides. This was messy- yes, bbq is by nature a messy undertaking, but a clamshell container would've made the whole fiasco a lot easier to deal with. A fork and spoon were included, no knife... and no napkins. Really? For a paper wrapped oversauced pile of meat... not even a single napkin? I honestly would've been fine paying an extra buck or so for some better packaging and, IDK, maybe a wetnap. Overall, this bbq lover was unimpressed. Perhaps the rave reviews made my expectations too high. I've honestly had better bbq at multiple places in my relative bbq desert hometown of Boston. I was hoping for a real treat during my business trip to Atlanta; instead, I'm yearning for the joint near my suburban New England home... read more

I ordered through Uber Eats and really wasn't expecting the packaging i received. At the same time i was expecting it to be REALLY GOOD after seeing how it was packaged. The price for me was a bit much considering you get NO SIDES, so I wonder how much the up charge is in comparison to ordering online. I was hoping these WERE NOT SMOKED, and joyed to learn they aren't. I want to say this is more of a rotisserie style rib which I love. Meat fell off the bone as all the over reviews say and the sauce wasn't bad at all either. I would certainly order again when I'm back in town. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - 1/2 Slab of Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Got ribs, pulled pork, and sausage. Sausage was more like a hotdog style one. The ribs were ok, not as soft as I expected. Cole slaw was delicious. Pulled pork was just ok as well read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

always a amazing experience don't come here if you want a white tablecloth feel this ain't it. However the food hasn't changed fall off the bone meat and amazing feel good sides read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Best lemonade in town - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Found myself in Atlanta . Listened to the locals and ended up at Fat Matt's You have to stop here ! It is an Atlanta staple Full rack of Ribs and the BEST Mac n cheese I have ever had The whole thing was fine in minutes. Whole family loved it Yummy ribs ! And max n cheese read more

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Great BBQ and sides, strongly recommend the ribs, potato salad, mac and cheese and beans. Also saw a great live band called Sonic Lust who,apart from this review, you should check out read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Great BBQ and sides. Strongly reccomend everything pictured here - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I live on the West Coast. Whenever my travels takes me to ATL, Fat Matt's is ALWAYS a must stop for dinner. Nobody likes lines, there's usually a line - but it's WELL WORTH the wait. This place beats Texas BBQ. It matters not what you order! "Eenee-Meenee-Miney-Moe" with the menu is what I do now. EVERYTHING they bring to the table is THE BOMB. I never cared for collared greens. I now CRAVE Fat Matt's, they're to die for. Great selection of beers, and a cool blues band playing. I shot a TV series here in LA with Ty Peninngton a few years back. He agreed with me, and said Fat Matt's is a regular for him as well... read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This is an Atlanta staple that it has taken me far too long to try. Service is counter order and they give you a number to deliver the food to your table. The food came out quickly but it wasn't very busy for Sunday lunchtime. The vibe inside gives old hole in the wall energy with a stage for live music that would be so fun to experience while chowing down on some ribs. We got the full slab of ribs with baked beans and Mac n cheese as our sides. The ribs have been hyped up around Atlanta, but they still exceeded my expectations. They fall off the bone and have so much good flavor. The meat is tender and their bbq sauce is perfectly spicy and flavorful. The ribs don't need the extra sauce but it was so good I found myself continuing to dip the meat. The slab also came with some very large rib pieces so it was more than enough meat for lunch and leftovers. The sides blew me away too. The Mac n cheese was thick and perfectly seasoned. The beans had a sweetness and vinegar taste to them that was excellent. I am so glad I finally tried this place because I will be returning frequently from now on. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Baked beans and Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Chile I ate this food in 3.5 seconds. That's how good it is! The service is a vibe music isn't too loud . I definitely recommend eating here read more

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Perfect hole in the wall vibe. Food is amazing, service is friendly. What more could you ask for? I'll leave you with this. I've never found a baked bean that I would eat. I detest them. These? I'd take an order to go. Enjoy! read more

The customer service was good. The ambiance was very relaxed and historic. The potato salad and mac and cheese were good. The ribs tasted like they were baked then grilled, which is just not my preference. The sauce, greens, and beans are very vinegar-y. My fiancé's chicken was caked in sauce, yet the meat wasn't flavorful. I would not recommend at all. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Ribs, Greens, Beans, Mac, Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Excellent ribs! Looks like a dive but we trusted yelp and huge win! Super nice folks and fast service. Swung by on our way to Buckhead Theater for a concert. read more

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Full rack, beans and Mac & cheese was BOMB! Bathrooms were cleans and the foot was solid! Worth the trip! read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Full rack DESTROYED - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I was told by a few people this was a great place to try and they were absolutely right. I did the half slab with a side of Mac n cheese and rum baked beans. The rubs were fall of the bone tender and the Mac n cheese was so, so good. The place itself is very much "hole in the wall" which right off the bat, knew this place would be great. I was blown away by how good everything was and will absolutely be back. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I'm always driving by this place so I decided to finally stop by to see what Fat Matt is cooking up. You've essentially have two options Ribs obviously and chicken-- 1/4 bird, 1/2 bird, and a breast sandwich. I was telling the host I was thinking of doing the breast sandwich and maybe some ribs but lo and behold they have a combo of exactly what I wanted conveniently named "combo" on the menu. I got home, opened up my back and saw chicken and ribs slapped between too pieces of bread. I didn't think the combo would be served that way but I'll take it! It's a nice, almost standard style of barbecue. Nothing overly jazzy, really a no-frills type of eatery. Real straight to the point. The rum baked beans were great so definitely get that as a side. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Quarter Slab and Quarter Bird combo - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I've been searching high and low for a good BBQ restaurant! I think I've found it! Our orders were taken quickly! I like that the menu is small! It was a beautiful day, so we sat outside. Our food came out hot and quick! Just how I like it. The ribs were tender and delicious! Don't let me get started on the sides!! The greens, Mac, potato salad and baked beans were sooo good! This is rare! Good BBQ and sides?!! We will definitely be back. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I ordered the half rack of ribs with baked beans and macaroni and cheese, and it was absolutely delicious. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with flavor. They even provided extra homemade BBQ sauce, which I added some hot sauce to for an extra kick that was incredible. The restaurant has a cozy, dive-like atmosphere that creates a very relaxed vibe. The service was great because it's an order-at-the-counter system, and the food is brought to you quickly. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I have been patronizing Fat Matt's for years. But today I placed a to-go order and ordered a half a slab of ribs among other things. While they stress 6 ribs per half a slap on every menu (online, on the wall, etc.) I only received 5 ribs. I have never experienced this at Fat Matt's. I'm not trying to be petty but times are hard and I work hard for my money. I just want to get what I paid for. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - 5 ribs and a tiny tip - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Amazing barbecue & homemade macaroni and cheese. 10/10 I recommend Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Best barbecue in Atlanta. Thanks, Jennifer K read more

I am torn between giving this place 3 stars or 4 stars. I am giving them four because they deserve 4 stars more than 3 stars. Easily see this place from the main street. Plenty of parking for how big the establishment is. I assume most people order for pick-up. I got half a slab of ribs, brunswick stew, and sweet potato pie. The half a slab came with two slices of bread. Grease turned the paper. Decent taste and better than most. I don't know what was in the brunswick stew but it is thick and almost a meal in itself. Sweet potato pie tasted great. Very soft and mushy. read more

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I came back a second time after coming here some years ago and the BBQ is definitely first class. The ribs were still fall off the bone and the dark meat chicken was perfectly done. I had their sweet potatoe pie and it was something special without a doubt the best sweet potatoe pie I've found in Atlanta. And the lemonade was on point. The staff was very nice and the food came out in a short period of time. This is not a white table cloth type of venue but you should come here if you want good food at exceptionality amazing prices. I'm still not a fan of the sauce but it is great bbq without the sauce. This is fat kid at heart approved! read more

I've been going to Fat Matt's for ribs for over 25 years! It's very much a "hole in the wall" place, but they are still my favorite. Get the rib sandwich for 3 on-the-bone ribs or the half-slab with a side of mac n'cheese. Yum, yum, yum! read more

The service was 10/10 amazing, they were so kind and helpful and just really nice. We ran into a regular that had been eating there for over 15 years. That being said, I've had a lot of BBQ and this was just okay. I feel like there is a lack of taste and seasoning on the meat of the ribs and it's masked by sauce, I didn't finish it. I also don't know what I was expecting for a "rib sandwhich" but it was just 3 ribs (bone in) in between two pieces of white bread lol. The sweet tea was great and I felt like everything was priced nicely. Overall, it's clear people like this place, it just missed the mark for me and I would come back again just for the hospitality. It's also a good environment to watch a sports game or listen to live music. read more

I have eaten there many times over the years. My lunch earlier this week was a huge disappointment. While the ribs were tender they clearly were oven baked and not cooked in a smoker or on an outdoor grill. The service was good and the ambiance was consistent. I don't think I'll be back because there are other choices. read more

Amazing!! 10/10 ribs. Service was great! The food came out super quick. I highly recommend this place

Quick hit: this is the spot! Matt's is a wild little place. With a name like Fat Matt's, it has to be good right? Some friends in ATL welcomed me to town, and said we had to meet here. I'm usually a fox bros brisket guy, but always down to try new stuff. Glad I did. These are some of the best ribs I've ever had. So meaty and saucy and fall off the bone tender, but also a nice thick char on them. Perfection. The place is tiny. It is unassuming. You'd probably drive right by without knowing how awesome it is. Don't do that. Also, they have live blues throughout the week at 730. The sides were bomb. I had the Mac and cheese and collard greens. Both were epic. When in town, Fat Matt and his ribs will be on my grub short list. Run, don't walk to this one! read more

Our last day in Atlanta and I still gad Fat Matt's rib shack to cross of my list of places I wanted to try. We got there right before the lunch rush and we were able to order and grab seat inside. I opted for the 1/2 chicken 1/2 ribs and the food did not disappoint! My party of 3 were extremely impressed with both the chicken and ribs! 10/10 would recommend!! read more

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Wow! Food is so good! The ribs are tender as can and so tasty! The stew is on point! Mac and cheese pretty! The beans were a bit sweet to me but still very good Was feeling some barbecue tonight and this hit the spot perfectly! Service was very quick too and friendly. Very cool vibes inside too. read more

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I was really hoping that Fat Matt's would be some of the best Ribs that I have ever had - unfortunately, it was not a Ben close - actually, they were some of the worst that I've ever had. The ribs had very little meat on the bones and they were burnt as though they were cooked the day before and then thrown back on the grill to heat them up - I was extremely disappointed and will never go there again. I am from LA and I get much better BBQ on the west coast - I'm going, going, back, back to Cali - Cali!!!! read more

Barbecue sauce and baked beans tasted like ketchup and ONLY ketchup, noodles in the mac were wayyy overcooked, but the ribs were tender.

Our favorite BBQ, Rib Place in all of Atlanta. Small business, but don't let that fool you-the food is outstanding. The entertainment is fun. Any time we go to the airport (usually 5-6 times a year, we make a detour to get this yummy fare. It's so good, you might have to wait in line-so we often order ahead and do carry-out. The sides are good, but we go because the meat is tender and the sauce is the best around. Go ahead and- order two slabs because you are going to want one to take home. Service is friendly. They know how to move the crowd quickly, The ambiance is casual and friendly. The place is much smaller than Fox's so grab a seat when you can. The parking lot is small, so gather the group in one car. It's on a busy street so it's easy to find. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Delicious fall-off-the-bone-tender ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

customer service is a 5. Food is a 2. sides were good, but not a fan of the meat. We had the 6 bone ribs and there was nothing smoked about them. They tasted like they were broiled and unseasoned . Their signature sauce is taste specific, too tangy for me. They also put it in their baked beans. It wasn't for me at all. read more

I saw a write up in the local Atlanta Fall 2025 about Fat Matt's Rib Shack! We were immediately intrigued...excellent BBQ combined with the Blues! WOW!!! We went there late afternoon after a long day touring! Talking about hitting the jackpot! It turned out that it was their 35th Anniversary and they had blues musicians belting it out all day long,...all weekend long to celebrate. We enjoyed our BBQ sandwiches, beer, the laid back atmosphere and the blues groups we witnessed! We only left bc we didn't want to monopolize our seats when we finished bc the place inside is small. The BBQ is so good that most of the orders were takeout! Don't dress up but Do Go There! What a BLAST! read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Their memorabilia inside the restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Came here on a Saturday for lunch. Most of the tables inside were already occupied but there were all the seats outside up for grabs. Orders are placed at the register and they bring it directly out to you when ready. Between three people, we split a full rack of ribs with sides of mac n cheese, collard greens, and baked beans. The ribs were tender and fall off the bone as hoped for. I also enjoyed the BBQ sauce since it was sweet and not as tangy as some of the others I've had around here. Still can't quite wrap my head around the untoasted slices of bread though. I liked the flavor of the collard greens. It found the texture of the baked beans to be overcooked. Mac n cheese didn't really taste cheesy and was quick to congeal as if it was barely kept warm in the kitchen. Overall, we had a solid experience with the ribs but the sides were very mid in my opinion. The food came out in under 5 minutes but the portions are pretty small even though "sides" usually are. It was a casual and comfortable environment to hangout at. I'd come back if given the opportunity but not sure if I'd go out of my way to return. Staff were super friendly and quick to complete requests. read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Full rack of ribs with sides of mac n cheese, collard greens, and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Delicious, Cool, and Different If you're in Atlanta, this is one of my favorite places to eat. I've planned entire family road trips around fitting in a way to get to this place. Quick counter service ordering but then they treat you like a sit down place for the food. Servers are quick to take care of you and keep people moving through. I've never been there late enough for the live music, but they specialize in the blues. Ribs were fall off the bone tender although not smoky. Had a sweet tomato based bbq sauce that was also good. The ribs here are Mississippi style. More grilled than smoked, so delicious. Tip: Brunswick Stew, get it! Best BBQ place in Atlanta, period. Add some cute dogs around and some interesting live music and we have a major hit. Rare 5 Star review for a reason, those RIBS!!! I want them right now. Thanks read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Delicious ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The name says it all: Fat Matt's Rib Shack is a legendary Morningside fast-casual eatery with some of the best ribs in metro Atlanta. Fat Matt's is located near the intersection of Piedmont and Rock Springs Roads. The eatery has a tight parking lot. It is MARTA accessible via the 27 and 809 buses. Fat Matt's is as simple and straightforward as an Atlanta establishment can be. Its charm lies in its simplicity, a hole-in-the-wall with a no-frills menu. Enjoy the ribs while listening to live music, mostly blues, on most evenings beginning at 7pm. The line at the counter can extend out the door; however, the line flows pretty quickly. The charcoal-grilled ribs are nicely blackened and fall-off-the-bone tender. The main barbecue sauce is vinegar-based, but the ribs are tasty by themselves. The collard greens are, by far, my favorite side. The sweet potato pie is pretty solid if you have a sweet tooth after eating a half rack of ribs. And you're in luck if you're a beer drinker! read more

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My mom use to bring me to this place back in the days and it was never any complaints. The service is fast and the food is not cooked with perfection. The ambiance is for anyone and the music is versatile. This is kit the original place it used to be and I can say these people are just here for the money. The taste is not there and the quality isn't worth it. Everything is al a carte and too expensive for what you get. I wish we can go back into the past on the early 90's when the food was loved. read more

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I give 9/10... I had the bbq rib sandwich, collard greens, & Brunswick stew... I didn't really care for the collard greens but the ribs were AMAZING!!! The meat literally fell off of the bone & they had just enough sauce. The Brunswick stew was the best I've ever had!!!! I was in and out within 5 minutes.. This is my new favorite restaurant!!! read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - Brunswick Stew (The real one lol) - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Been coming here for years just never reviewed- not sure why. BBQ Ribs and Chicken here are always on point. Tender and delicious. Their sauce is good too - nice amount of heat and sweetness. Service is counter "stop order and go" someone will bring your stuff out when it's ready. Self service soft drinks - and some good cold beer on tap- they serve those . The sides are totally a matter of what you may or may not like. I'm not a lover of their baked beans - they have a tomato based sauce I just happen to prefer a brown sugar, bbq sauce base- I love Cole slaw and have had a love hate relationship with theirs it's changed a bit over the years. I tend to stick to the collard greens and potato salad. Totally a matter of taste and personal preference. They have live blues most nights which can be fun - and the overall ambiance is fun - it's incredibly casual and they have a nice outdoors seating option too. Solid and dependable. Worth a stop sometime if you haven't been - kind of an ATL must do if you're visiting. Enjoy!!!! The Ribs are my fave read more

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