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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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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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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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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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 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'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 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 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 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

Very, very bad experience. My friends and I went to the restaurant to do a birthday lunch on Saturday. We ordered ribs, chicken, and several sides. Sadly, the meats were stiff, no juicy, crackling substance you would expect from freshly grilled cuisine. It was obvious the food sat around since earlier in the a.m. or even the day before, leftovers that should have been discarded instead of sold to customers. The mac and cheese was horrible, and I am shocked this restaurant didn't just discard what amounted to garbage instead of sell it to us and ruin our dining experience. I did write to the management but never heard back from them. My advice is to never go in the afternoon, and maybe the food is better in the evening if there are long lines of customers. I lost a good sum of money on food that should have been discarded. 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'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

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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Love the vibe here and the fact it's open late. Highly recommend the ribs, which goes perfect with the white bread.

Great food great service great music when you go at night on the nights that they're playing

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

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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It was just ok, nothing to write home about. They didn't pack some of my food. Ribs are the best thing here. Rum bake beans are good but you get flavor fatigue quick. read more

As much as I love Fat Matt's , I had the worst encounter with the woman at the front counter . She is rude and impatient . Rushing me out of her face . I will not return to this establishment as long as she is at the front counter. read more

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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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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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

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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Do y'all know I've never reviewed Fat Matt's? I've lived here a long time now and it never crossed my mind to review it. What a big mistake that was. First, you've gotta darn near stalk somebody for a parking spot but once you get one, you'll find it was worth the stalk because the food is delicious. Now normally I love to order a good pulled pork sandwich, but today it's all about the ribs. Stacked between two slices of light bread, so all the juices get sopped up! They aren't a rib shack for no reason. Their ribs are so good! The mac and cheese (I'm super picky) was good even with the pepper jack cheese in it! The beans were okay. The tanginess was cool but I prefer a sweeter sauce. It's just good messy, stick to your ribs....ribs. The service is friendly and quick and it's completely no frills. read more

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

Very kind service and ribs were amazing. Cleaned my table quickly after finishing and there was live music which was very relaxing read more

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

Every time we're in Atlanta, our first stop is always Fat Matt's. This place has truly become a staple for us when visiting. The food is consistently delicious, full of flavor, and always hits the spot. The atmosphere is welcoming and laid-back, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy a great meal. No matter how many times we come back, it never disappoints if you're in Atlanta, this is a must visit spot. read more

Best ribs ever to exist. We don't live in GA anymore, but whenever we fly in ATL we make sure to schedule around a visit to Fat Matt's.

We heard of this place from the movie "up in the air". We're on a flight to Atlanta... I'm watching that movie and the lady asked George Clooney. Where would she go to get good barbecue and Atlanta and he said "mats rib shack". We took an Uber and here we are. The ribs are what you're here for... The chicken was OK. The sides are all homemade and very good. The collard greens and the potato salad are excellent. I love all the pictures and stickers on the wall... Definitely a local place. Which is exactly what we look for. Worth the trip. read more

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After all the years of coming to this BBQ joint it's still the very best in Atlanta. The same amazing bluesy ambiance. I love the chill vibe here and the service is top notch with a smile and greeting making you feel welcome. I am finally able to review the place I have frequented since living in the area back in 2004. For more than 20 years it has delivered the very best ribs and chicken. If ever in Atlanta, it is an absolute must!!!! read more

Fat Matt's Rib Shack - 1/4 slab/1/4 bird combo with collards and Rum Baked Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I don't know the hype on this place honestly, it is not that great! I will give the brunswick stew a 4/5. very good! an actual stew! ribs come dressed with bbq already so you don't know what or how the meat was smoked before.. you don't know if there's any flavor to the ribs. they also taste microwaved. which is weird in itself. i know it's been around a long time but to me, tastes like cafeteria bbq that was on special for the week. there are better places that have popped up and do it the right way. i think if they were to revamp the ribs, it'd be a different story. read more

My husband ordered the grilled 1/4 chicken with mashed potatoes and beans on the side; while I ordered half slabs of rib with collard greens as a side. Both chicken and ribs were tender - you can effortlessly pull the meat off the bones. They marinated the meat good, that's why they are tasty - you don't need any bbq sauce. I also love their homemade Iced tea! The staff were friendly! We were there a few minutes before they closed, but the staff found time to chat with us. It is nice that they have a jazz live band playing at night, but it's too bad we missed it! When I visit Atlanta again, I will definitely go back. Like what my husband said, "If we go back, we will definitely order half or whole chicken!" -- the chicken was very, very tasty! read more

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Best ribs in Atlanta are right here and it's not even close. I love getting a full rack (so I have a few left to take home) and eating them on the patio if it's a sunny day or inside if they have a blues singer performing. This place is very popular so it's not unusual to see the order line reach out the door but don't let this scare you away. They move people through the line very efficiently and most importantly, the ribs are worth the wait. read more