Golden Panda

In a spur of the moment NYE trip to the ever bustling Lake Oconee area, my partner in crime…read morerecommended this little spot tucked away in a business development. Expecting expensive food with small portions due to the crowd of wine moms and preppy high schoolers seated inside and out, I was greeted with the aromas of fresh coffee, a clean and well organized restaurant and a menu with numerous meals that sounded not only delicious, but affordable too! Still a little skeptical, I ordered the prime rib sandwich with homemade potato chips and my companion had the chicken avocado bacon club or something like that, paired with a nice Samoa coffee. The register worker was patient and nice despite us being there just before close (special NYE hours we thought they'd be open later our bad) and in what felt like mere seconds our sandwiches arrived! For under $10, I'm not sure you could find a fresher, faster, and more delicious meal this side of the Miss'ippi. I'll start with the sandwiches, and furthermore, the bread; not just crispy, but with that great sourdough chew as well! Really an incredible balance between crunchy and chewy. Just the right thickness, and absorbent for my prime rib's Anjou. The meat was well prepared, flavorful, fresh, and tender as could be, and that aforementioned Anjou even tasted like it wasn't made with a mix or packet (though if it was nbd). I can't emphasize enough how fresh it all tasted, truly a delightful meal. The old lady's chicken avocado bacon club (maybe) performed equally well or even better. The bacon was perfectly cooked in my humble opinion, and the chicken was far from dry or tasteless. Even the avocado, not typically a favorite of mine on a sandwich, I thought was a great addition for the bite or two that I stole. Moving on to the sides, which were maybe not as filling as a scoop of mac and cheese or a bowl of chili (which I think we could have ordered had we coughed up a couple more bucks), but were not forgettable either. The salad, like EVERYTHING else, was as fresh as possible, and the vinaigrette was sweet and tangy. My homemade (cool right?) potato chips had a lovely funk almost like an aged cheese along with a great crack and nutty flavor. Not one bite of our lunches made it past 2024, as we spared not one leaf of lettuce or a single chip. Even the coffee (Samoa with some kind of syrup and milk) was delicious, just a tad sweet for my liking but tasting quite legit, not like one you'd get from a gas station cappuccino machine. I would be remiss if I did not mention the people. For 2pm, this place was HOPPING. And every worker there had a smile on their face! Not only this, but they happily brought our food to us outside. I was lucky enough to briefly chat with the owner, Lane, as he casually checked on the tables outside. He came across as authentic, cheerful, and involved, and explained he planned to keep the prices low and the food fresh and fast just as it was in our experience. Genuinely can't recommend this place enough, I will 100% be back if I don't die in a freak accident. Made our day trip to the area worth it. Cafe 44 was the perfect place to have lunch on the beautiful day we were blessed with to finish off the year! Thanks Cafe 44! p.s. I seriously can't emphasize enough how fresh this food was, like they made every portion size one at a time for each meal (though I am fairly certain this is not the case it was that good, think artisan farmers market ingredients). Thinking about eating at Subway now that I've eaten here just about makes me sick!

I really liked the tomato basil soup and the blackened chicken wrap. The avocado was perfect. My bf…read moresad his california club wasn't great because the chicken was a little cold and he didn't like the "canned chicken" texture. Otherwise though very pleasant. Very busy on Saturdays.

Place your order.

Sausage egg and cheese biscuit sandwich

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Entrance

Marti's At Midday

4.5(123 reviews)

4.3 mi

Restaurant Week was a great time to check out some new restaurants. Staff was super busy but…read morehandled the crowds efficiently. These people know what they are doing in a crunch. I got my curry chicken salad sandwich to go with a brownie and drink. The food was great and you can't beat the prices. Go and support local.

Nice little sandwich lunch stop for sure…read more Enjoyable outside seating. It's that Athens feeling of enjoying outdoor dining for sure. Service was good. They bring your meal out to you, you are responsible for getting your drink there. Definitely be back for sure.

Opening Hours

Matthew's Favorite - Turkey & Garlic Aioli

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Tarragon Chicken Salad Nibble

Big City Bread Cafe

4.0(290 reviews)

3.7 mi

Amazing. The Greek omelet was something special. Not one bit watery. Packed with Greek flavors…read morewith a spice dusting that really impressed. The latte was perfect. The apple tart was delicious. I would suggest heating it up a bit. Service was friendly and prompt. Lovely ambiance. In a residential looking area off a main road.

This place is awesome! They have such a diverse menu and the ambiance is lovely. Great place to eat…read moreoutside. I had the Mozzarella Tomato Basil sandwich with a cup of Tomato Soup and it was all so flavorful and fresh! The BLT looked amazing and I definitely want to try that next time!

Front counter space

French toast (full, way too full) & quiche.

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Lindsey's Culinary Market

4.6(20 reviews)

3.2 mi

Cute and quiet inside with outdoor seating available. Very relaxing space and the employees are all…read moreso kind and helpful. The food was amazing and flavorful. I don't visit Athens often but will definitely keep this place on my must visit list.

I was staying in the Hyatt Place and wanted a quick and healthy bite to eat for lunch since it was…read moreraining out. I actually attended UGA but I had never heard of this place before - perhaps because the prices aren't super college student-friendly, but I thought it was a nice local restaurant. They have several different kinds of chicken salad prepared, and I got the grape chicken salad in a sandwich. I don't think the bread is freshly-made but it was really good toasted. I selected a side of noodles which were also really tasty, which you can add peanuts to if you'd like but I opted not to. I also heard them talking about all sorts of desserts that they had made fresh that day. The entrance is really small so it might be easy to miss. They have tons of seating available so I'm sure you'd be fine if you brought a large group. They do also have internet but you have to ask them for the password. Note that I don't think this would be a good place to eat right now if you're trying to be cautious about COVID - no one's wearing masks and the food is out in the open.

Brunch!!

Desserts!

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My favorite noodles!

The Place

4.4(556 reviews)

3.4 mi

Super awesome chicken sandwich and fried okra!!!!! Excellent…read moreservice!!!! What PLACE am I at? Ohhhh The PLACE is the excellent!

Not a long wait on a Saturday night, drinks were good and service was good. Not too big or loud but…read moreloud enough where you can talk to your friends and have a good time. Dim lighting but games still on. Only reason we didn't do 5 stars is because his steak was over cooked but it happens! Would go back.

Upstairs

Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich

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Southern Bruschetta

Marcy's Soup Shop

5.0(1 review)

65.3 mi•Oakland City

The Trinidadian soup is so good. I have never had this soup before. You taste the sweet of coconut…read moremilk mixed with the richness of the both. The veggies are fresh. I loved it!!

From the owner: We make soup with love. Our focus is always on nutrition and health. Adding soup to your diet…read moreprovides a high source of fluids and healthy fibers while preserving nutritional value—and every ingredient in our soups carries its own pot of gold. This month, we are also offering a special tea blend, with a bulk discount available when you order 5 teas or more. Each cup blends Burdock for deep cleansing and grounding, Fennel to soothe digestion and restore balance, and Clove for a warming, protective touch. Rosemary brings clarity and supports circulation, while Hibiscus offers cooling refreshment, heart nourishment, and pure joy. Together, these herbs create a tea that harmonizes body, mind, and spirit. Fresh juices are available upon request—options include beet, celery, and green apple. We also recommend ginger, cucumber, and lemon for added detox support and refreshment.

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Bebop's Bakery

4.4(32 reviews)

23.9 mi

Trivia on Thursdays is fun and all the food is always delicious! Kind staff and a sweet place.read more

The service was fun and thoughtful. I enjoyed my time at this bakery. My food selections were…read moredelicious, and I left satisfied. You will enjoy your time here.

Iced vanilla oat milk latte Cream cheese danish Marble cake in a cup

Steak burger with pasta salad

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Mr K BBQ

4.5(41 reviews)

16.4 mi

Food was amazing! The only thing didn't eat was the bowl lol. If you are craving authentic Korean…read morefood come here and support the family owned business. Next time I will try the AYCE bbq.

I've eaten hear before but dined in. I recently ordered Togo through DoorDash and when I walked in…read moreafter saying it was a pick up order they ignored me and don't even try to give me an update on the order. There's plenty of seating and Orion of doing their all you can eat cook it yourself or prepared food. It's a nice date spot or place to take young ones to get a lot of food for what you're paying.

Front

Bulgogi Bibimbap

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Sides

puma yu’s

3.7(51 reviews)

3.9 mi

Really cool place. Great seating inside and outside…read more Service was really nice and gave great recommendations as a first timer there. Got three small place to share with a friend. The chicken wings were phenomenal, it was a sweet and tangy sauce on them that was great. The beef tartare was seemingly well prepared just not fully my taste. The GUI Chai was good and had a good crisp outside to it. For dessert, we got the mango and cream. Thought it would be ice cream but it truest was just a sweet cream with mangos in it. Was good though and would get again

My compliments to the dishwasher (I believe her name is Blake). Plates were incredibly clean when…read morethey came out and hopefully didn't need too much done to them after we were finished! First time here and the food was SUPERB. I absolutely loved the decor and ambiance in here - very cool vibes and SUPER friendly staff (Oliver took care of us and he was THE BEST!) Oliver made sure we knew all about the dinner menu and everything he recommended was awesome. Absolutely loved the wings and chocolate tart - the duck and shrimp toast were amazing as well. We had to try everything since it all looked so good! This was such a great spot to have a going away party for our friend - the vibes were great, staff was awesome, and the food was flat out amazing. I can't wait to come back and can't believe how long it's taken me to try this place. Thank you for your hospitality and amazing food :)

Dining room

Chicken Wings

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Cumin lamb noodles with a soft boiled egg and cilantro. Wow, hot pepper and a lot of MaLa Schezwan pepper.

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Sophia S.

11 years ago

This place is my new favorite chinese restaurant, their prices are reasonable with the amount of food they give. Staff members were really nice and let us try food before we go it on the plate, and the place is so clean. Service was excellent too! Their cheese wontons and hot&spicy chicken are the best! Definitely recommend this chinese restaurant! I will be back when Im hungry for some chinese. read more

Jack H.

10 years ago

Ever since they opened, it's been my favorite restaurant ever. Top notch chinese food with excellent service and great prices. The chefs sure know how to cook. The people there make you feel so welcomed. You get way more than what you pay for, and it's delicious food which makes it better! Highly recommended. read more

Golden Panda - chinese - Updated September 2026

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Peking Restaurant

3.3

(149 reviews)

OK it is crazy that I can recall this building and restaurant from 1986 when I graduated UGA…read more However I have never been here before that I can remember. I wanted some Chinese food today and after a brief Yelp search we decided that today we would go to Peking! The name itself is old school, how long ago has it been since Beijing took over? The outside of the building sure looks like a 1970's - 80's Chinese restaurant. The interior continues the retro look, and is exactly what I was hoping to see. The certificate of occupancy at the entrance says 1988 but I am certain there has been a restaurant here for longer. Ok on to the food. Yelpers say there is a huge menu here. That must be for dinner. The lunch menu has all your basic and expected Chinese menu items as a lunch combo. The TLDR is the food was good but not great, everything needed more seasoning. Our combos started with hot and sour soup with the required chips. The soup was sour yes, but could have used some more spice. My general Tso chicken came out hot and crispy. Seemed to be all white meat but was cooked a little too long so not exactly tender and juicy. The sauce was red and sweet. Sometimes the General adds some vegetables, but not today. Although the menu had the hot pepper symbol by this item, no spice detected. The rice was fine, seemed to be lightly stir fried with egg bits. The egg roll was a limp instrument with some kind of meat in it. It tasted fine. Megan had the beef and broccoli. There was plenty of both beef and broccoli and other veggies included. The problem again was lack of seasoning. The meal was sauced together with a bland tan gravy like you might put on some roast beef. Even though her plate said "Peking" on it, Megan did not like her meal so we split my huge chicken plate, which she liked a lot. This lunch was a good example of the old "the food is not great but the portions are huge" saw. Service was not fast but was ok. I would give this another try for dinner, but probably not lunch.

Love Peking since I was little. My family has always come here and never had any issues or…read morecomplaints. Authentic Chinese cuisine. The service is always good. The restaurant is very friendly and also Chinese cultural designs. Have to try it yourself ! Huge hole in the spot even though the place is literally a kingdom. 10/10

China Wok

3.5

(25 reviews)

First time ordering and the General Tso's chicken was fantastic--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly…read moresauced. Not much dine-in space, but definitely worth getting for takeout!

Been coming here for years. Nothing grand but always consistent. Good food reasonable prices and…read moregreat service.

China 1

3.6

(44 reviews)

Quality, Fast and Generous Portions This is our go to for a…read morequick, tasty meal. We live in the 5 Points neighborhood and China 1 is very convenient and friendly.

Everything was good , food and service. I recommend if you want good chinese food! Good pricesread more

Main Moon Restaurant

3.7

(39 reviews)

Always great food. Fast service. Very nice people. Plenty of seating if you don't take out.read more

We order take out from here atleast 2-3 time a month. The Mongolian chicken is our go-to. Friendly…read morestaff. Orders are typically ready in 10-15 min.

China Garden

3.5

(68 reviews)

We did a pickup order and ordered directly from their website. The order was ready exactly when…read morepromised! Everything was hot, packaged well and absolutely yummy. The pad Thai was top tier. I throughly enjoyed it. I got the medium tier of spice, it was to spicy for my husband but perfect for me. I like that they ask! The sweet and sour chicken was prepared exactly as expected and was a good comfort food. The beef fried rice was a hit with our kids. 10/10 reccomend, getting another pickup order tonight.

Gave the place another try. This time it was great. Seated fast just like the first time. But this…read moretime we were about to order in a timely manner. The waitress was friendly and very attentive. Food was hot and fresh. I think last time they may have been short handed. Hope they can find good help. Will be back again.

Wok's Up

3.1

(89 reviews)

We've been coming here for years. This place never disappoints. Piping hot food every.single.time…read more And it's SO GOOD! Highly recommend the Mongolian Stir Frye or the Woks Up Gravy Stir Frye. And try the fried dumplings!!!!!

The worst chinese food restaurant ever!!! I cook way better…read morethan this restaurant called wok's up! Basically all the food we ordered have no flavor whatsoever, i ordered rice beef bowl with kungpao sauce and it taste nothing like kungpao sauce. My friends ordered chicken curry rice bowl, no coconut sauce was used and he said my cooking is way better and I can open a restaurant if I wanted to. Its part of black list restaurants and we will never return nor recommend to anyone.

Buddhas Delight

4.7

(6 reviews)

A New Chinese Restaurant with Real Potential--But They're Still Finding Their Footing…read more Opening a new restaurant is never easy, and it shows here. The good news is that they already have several dishes that are genuinely excellent. The less-good news is that a few recipes and the overall dining experience still need some work. The encouraging part? Most of the issues are very fixable. Let's start with the highlights. The Crab Rangoon is outstanding--crispy, creamy, and easily a 5-star appetizer. The Mongolian Beef is another winner with great flavor and generous portions. One thing I really appreciated is that most entrées include a good amount of fresh vegetables instead of just meat and sauce. Unfortunately, some of the signature dishes miss the mark. General Tso's Chicken should be a perfect balance of sweet, savory, tangy, spicy, and rich garlic-ginger flavor with a glossy glaze that clings to crispy chicken. Instead, the sauce tasted more like a generic brown sauce--almost no sweetness, very little heat, and none of the bold flavors that make General Tso's so popular. The chicken itself was also overcooked, losing the crispy-yet-juicy texture you'd expect. The House Special Egg Foo Young was another disappointment. A great Egg Foo Young should have crispy golden edges, a fluffy interior, and a thick, flavorful brown gravy. This version was simply a fluffy omelet covered in a thin brown sauce. It wasn't bad--it just wasn't really Egg Foo Young as most people know it. The Appetizer Sampler was a mixed bag: * Crab Rangoon: Excellent. * Shrimp: Crispy, crunchy, and well cooked. * Dumplings: Very good. * Chicken Wings: Nice crispy skin but almost no seasoning. * Vegetable Spring Roll: Crispy wrapper, but the vegetables inside were overcooked and mushy. * Potstickers: Too chewy--almost jerky-like. Thankfully, the sampler came with two dipping sauces that elevated several of the items. The Egg Drop Soup deserves a mention as well. It arrived piping hot, was flavorful, and earned a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The Biggest Opportunity: Service This is where management has the greatest opportunity to improve. We arrived at 7:00 PM on a Friday, and there were only four occupied tables. We were seated immediately, our drinks arrived quickly, and then...we waited. After sitting with menus for about seven minutes, our order was finally taken. The Egg Drop Soup arrived several minutes later, and because it was so hot, I ate it slowly. By the time I had finished, we were still waiting for our appetizers. Nearly 30 minutes after being seated, they finally arrived. My wife, who was facing the entrance, noticed what was happening: a constant stream of takeout orders leaving the restaurant. It felt very similar to a fast-food restaurant where the drive-thru gets priority while dine-in customers wait. After finishing our appetizers, there was another long wait before our entrées arrived. Meanwhile, two tables had already left, new guests had been seated, and one of the empty tables still hadn't been cleared nearly 30 minutes later. The restaurant appeared to have only one waitress covering the dining room. She was genuinely friendly, worked hard, and did everything she could. This didn't feel like a server problem--it felt like a management and staffing problem. A little more attention to the dining room instead of focusing almost exclusively on takeout orders would make a huge difference. Final Thoughts This restaurant is closer to being very good than you might think. They already have several dishes that I'd happily order again, and in some cases they're better than much of the Chinese food available in Athens. If management can: * Refine a few signature recipes (especially the General Tso's Chicken and Egg Foo Young), * Improve consistency on some appetizers, * Balance dine-in service with takeout orders, and * Add a little more attention to the dining room, they could easily become one of the better Chinese restaurants in town. Current rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars The food shows flashes of excellence. With a few recipe adjustments and better service management, I wouldn't be surprised to see this become a solid 4 1/2-star restaurant in the near future.

The Athens subreddit seems to like Buddhas Delight. The location was home to a couple other Asian…read morerestaurants and the Athenians like the location and new owner. Proximity to Costco is a bonus so we decided to give it a try. This is not a traditional looking Asian restaurant, it has some Asian decor but it more reminds me of a United Airlines lounge. The menu is big but not huge and has all the things you would expect. Also helpfully the menu has descriptions of what you will get when you order. Even the standards are different from restaurant to restaurant so it is good to know how a new to you restaurant interprets, say, generals chicken. Also there are daily specials, check the board. We were seated quickly and our server checked bak frequently as the the owner. Ordering was quick and soon the food arrived. We ordered lunch specials (main, fried rice, bring roll, soup) and some pot stickers. The potstickers were correctly cooked, hot, and with a good dipping sauce. I will say though we should not have ordered them because the lunch portions are huge, so we did wind up taking some food home with us. Megan had the hot and sour soup which was hot, sour, and peppery. I had the egg drop which was bright yellow and tasted like an egg. The spring rolls were well cooked and tasty. I had the generals chicken. The sauce was great because it was not too sweet. The chicken pieces could have been larger and slightly less cooked. This was a large portion with plenty of good vegetables in it too. Megan loved her Mongolian beef which was tender, well cooked, and had a light and delicious sauce. Also had plenty of vegetables. The fried rice seems like the typical lunch special fried rice from a vat, but it was good. Overall I highly recommend you give Buddhas Delight a try!

Thai Spoon

3.9

(211 reviews)

Excellent fried rice. The pad Thai was very saucy as well. Also they have amazing spring rolls,…read moreavocado rolls and Thai tee. Our server name was will and he was great. Overall would recommend and come back.

Great food, big spring rolls, to many veggies! Service was quick. Ambiance was good…read more C F C D to be the be Su

Mama Ning's Thai

4.4

(107 reviews)