Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kenley's

    4.2 (50 reviews)
    InexpensiveNew American
    Open 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Kenley's Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Kenley's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Some (but not nearly all) of their offerings. Lots of different sides to offer in addition to the fries.
    Stacy F.

    Awww! Y'all, this place is adorable. Stumbled upon its existence thanks to a Groupon deal; realized it was right just about a mile from the office. So for lunch today, walked on over and joined a friend here. It's so sweet. And the people here are so nice! First: it's in a Georgia State University building - the old Citizens Trust Building - at the corner of John Wesley Dobbs & Piedmont Ave. I just mention this because it's easy to miss otherwise; you have to go into the building first and the cafe's off the lobby (it does not direct street entrance). Entrance to the lobby is on Piedmont Rd. Today there was a sign out front which made it a heckovalot easier to find too. ;-) Second: I went at lunch, so that's what this is about. [I hear they have lovely breakfast too!] Cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, hot meats + sides (think "meat & 3") are the name of the game here. Plus all sorts of canned and bottled beverages, homemade punch and lemonade and sweet desserts. I had the Philly cheese steak, mashed potatoes (instead of fries) and an extra side of mac-n-cheese. The cheese steak was wonderful. My friend got the club (which was huge) with the same potatoes and corn. Corn and mashed potatoes were standard kind of cafeteria fare - nothing bad, but nothing to write home about. I'd go ahead and give them a pass next time. That mac-n-cheese though? I could have ate two helpings. But, seriously, the people are so nice and sweet. They must've known we were newbies (especially with our Groupon offer) but they didn't act all snooty or anything like some places do when you come in for the first time using those sorts of things. [y'all know what I'm talking about!] For that alone, I'd be back. Maybe to try that breakfast next time. FYI: There are also a bunch of snacks and stuff you can purchase here - bags of chips, bottles of sodas, etc. So if you're just walking around and looking for something like that, you can come grab something and pay for it at the cashier counter instead of going to the food counter.

    Chopped BBQ sandwich deal $5
    Katie M.

    This place is very good and inexpensive! They have many options to choose from. I ordered the chicken tenders and fries (basic, I know haha) but it was really good! Many people were ordering wings, so I assume that the wings are also really good! Also, the service is excellent! Everyone here is so nice and willing to help you with your order. It was my first time eating here and I will definitely be back again.

    Shebrelle H.

    I had breakfast at the famous Kenley's in Atlanta, GA. The aroma of good southern food grabs you from around the corner, so I knew I was in for a treat. The restaurant is a small unpretentious place and the food is Big on flavor! My order was simple, bacon, eggs, & of course grits. There was plenty more to choose from but I'll get more when I go back. Yes I'm going back! There are photos on the wall of everyone who's been there from Luther Vandross to Ludacris. And then Mr. Kenley steps out and took my order, yesssss. I mean he's a celebrity in the A! The staff was busy getting orders to us quickly but they greeted most of the folks by name. That was really cool and says a lot about them. I am looking forward to my next visit. If you're in town make sure to stop by.

    Wings (10 pc)
    Mia C.

    They have the best wings!!! & the sweet tea is great! Customer service is always good

    Jerk wings  sweet potatoes, black eyed peas, cornbread
    Shawn W.

    I'm definitely a partial regular at Kenley's. I think they have good hearty food for reasonable prices. There are good choices, so anyone can find something they'll like. I've never had a chance to try out their breakfast, but I heard it was good.

    Red Punch is yummy
    Sharon T.

    So, I come here frequently. Mostly in the morning on my way into work. It's nestled on Ga. States campus behind slice. There is limited free parking, if you go left when pulling into the drive way. I got fried chicken, which is always good. The often have fried pork chops which are always good. I got cornbread dressing today, which I pulverized. The cabbage is great with hot sauce. I've had their hot wing which are good too.They have red punch that I find myself needing. Everything is pleasant. Melissa at the register is Awesome. She's sweet and full of personality. This is my go to place for soul food. Prices are affordable. I've been a different times through out the day and they've never been overwhelmed.

    Baked chicken, macaroni, and green beans. Under $7 if you have a Georgia State card
    LaShonda H.

    I love Kenley's. I frequented this place many a day while I was a graduate assistant in the citizens trust bank building. The food is a decent price and it is soooo good. The baked chicken is falling off the bone good. The macaroni is always good. You can tell it's been baked and it's not out of the box. They offer a variety of items even a dollar menu if I'm not mistaken. I always get the baked chicken, fried chicken, philly chicken, or chicken strips. The tea mixed with lemonade is the bomb! Try it! It's a Black owned family establishment so I love to support. Mr. Kenley can often be seen working behind the counter and he greets everyone with a smile. I know the employees here so we chop it up every time I come in. The pictures on the wall of Mr. Kenley and all of the celebrities that I'm assuming have either come to Kenley's or he catered food for them is astonishing. I no longer work in the building but I still drive over when I want some good southern style food.

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Phenomenal food and great prices and service! The is a historical place and the food is amazing!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The meatloaf is the best I've ever had!! All the sides were seasoned to perfection! And the staff were super friendly!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mia C.
    96
    5
    8

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Felicia G.
    89
    140
    47

    4 years ago

    This food is delicious and affordable!!!!! Their breakfast is my favorite!!!! Buttery pancakes and delicious grits and sausage!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Good food - great atmosphere. Rolled out the red carpet and made us out of towners feel like we were at home.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    i got to meet frank. he was cool. he gave me a rubber mallet

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Hands down the best breakfast I have ever had. I could eat the breakfast bowl every day for every meal and be content.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim H.
    21
    1
    0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Claude L.
    130
    110
    2

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali O.
    1
    10
    2

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kenley's

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for New American 30,087 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Optimist

    The Optimist

    4.3
    (2.4k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$

    I enjoyed this restaurant during my short trip to Atlanta so much that I had dinner here 2 nights…read morein a row. It was fairly easy to make a reservation on Open Table but they also had seats available when I arrived. The first night I sat at a table by the oyster bar. The second night I sat at the bar in the main dining room and has great experiences both times. Despite it getting busy and full after I arrived, service was quick and attentive. The dining room is large so it can get pretty loud when it's busy. They have lot of seafood options to choose from so I sampled a few different items each time. It is definitely on my list of places to return to when I'm back in town. P.S They also have a small 3 hole mini golf outside to enjoy m.

    We have been coming to the ford Frye restaurants for almost 10 years. They've had great service,…read moregreat food and a great time. Over the years we've seen things decrease especially at the optimist. The hosts were great and they always give us great service but the food had been the lacking the last couple of services where the she crab soup lacked crab, the swordfish over cooked multiple times. This time in particular we ordered the whole lobster and was offered to have it taken out of the shell for us. HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND. When we got the lobster we got a full tail but one claw and no knuckles. When we addressed with the server, she argued with us that that's how a lobster is and that there could be more meat hidden on the plate. It felt like she thought we were there to just get more food by saying "so what do you want, more meat" but if we had it in the shell we would have received our full portion. The manager on duty tried to make it up to us by comping the lobster but it was more than that. After going back and forth with the server we just wanted the check to leave. The manager on duty insisted to give us the lobster and take it home. The server wasn't very polite and argued with us about the lobster. I wish I remembered the servers name With that said, the amount of money we have spent there over the years, it's unfortunate that that will be our last time going to the Optimist.

    Photos
    Kitchen & Dining Area 12-28-2025
    Kitchen & Dining Area 12-28-2025
    Octopus
    Octopus
    Windjammer

    See all

    Windjammer
    Social Capitol

    Social Capitol

    4.2
    (20 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    Private events
    Full bar

    The restaurant is brand new and has great vibes. Service was exceptional with zero wait for my…read moreparty. The food was so good and unique, I recommend the ceasar wedge with housemate bagel chips and the biscuit battered chicken sandwich, yum. The Chef even made time to come and check on us during our lunch. Kiddos to Chef Chris and his staff. This is a hidden gem in the heart of downtown

    A breath of fresh air for the neighborhood Walked into The…read moreEmber Room* expecting the usual gastropub vibe and left actually excited about where American food is heading. The space is clean but not sterile: exposed brick, warm wood, and a bar that glows like it wants you to linger. *The food* skips the tired "burgers and mac" checklist. Think short rib agnolotti with smoked corn puree, charred broccolini with miso-garlic butter, and a fried chicken sandwich that somehow stays crisp under a jalapeño honey glaze. Portions are generous without being wasteful, and everything tastes intentional like the kitchen tested it 10 times before it hit the menu. *The cocktails are the real flex.* The menu changes seasonally, but the bar team leans into flavor over gimmicks. I tried the *Oaxacan Old Fashioned* with mezcal, mole bitters, and orange peel that's torched tableside. Smoky, slightly sweet, zero gimmick. My friend went for the *Cucumber Basil Gimlet* and said it tasted like summer in a glass. No sugary syrup bombs here. Bartenders actually explain what's in your drink if you ask, and they're good at steering you if you're unsure. Service hit the sweet spot between attentive and relaxed. Water refills showed up without hovering, and the server knew the menu well enough to call out what's spicy, what's rich, and what's worth splitting. It feels like a place locals will become regulars at, but it's good enough to bring out-of-town friends to. Creative without being precious, tasty without being safe. Sorry I didn't take pictures,

    Photos
    Social Capitol
    Social Capitol
    Social Capitol

    See all

    Whiskey Bird

    Whiskey Bird

    4.4
    (767 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Locally owned & operated

    Service is amazing. The manager and hostess Maya was kind from the beginning. My husband and I…read moreoriginally arrived 20 minutes late for our dinner appointment which happened to be 40 minutes before they close but she had such a very good attitude from the beginning! Our server was Robin. He was pleasant and had really good service. He told us to relax and not worry about the restaurant closing. That made us feel better. Maya and Robin told us to come back for brunch so we did. The food during during was amazing. We got the ahi tuna tacos and the edamame and shared the burger and the salad. Everything was colorful and full of flavor. There isn't one item that left us disappointed. For brunch we came back and had the tuna tacos again. My husband loved them so much he ordered them two more times. We also had the bao Benedict and the tuna toast, which came recommended by Maya. All amazing. Also try the fruit salad and the nachos! For drinks we had the cold brew martini and the Caribbean Coffee made by Jess who was also very kind. I told my husband that the good, colorful food combined with the ambience and amazing service made me feel like I was on a vacation. I love this place and have added to one of my favorites. Cheers!

    We were in town for the World Cup and booked a reservation at Whiskey Bird for Thursday night at…read more6:30. We took an uber but there was a parking lot across the street and plenty of street parking. What a fun place! We had the following dishes: Ahi tuna gyoza tacos - my favorite dish of the night Crispy brussels Thai steak & noodle salad Bourbon roasted salmon Everything was delicious! We shared all the dishes. My daughter had the buttered noodles off the kids menu. Plenty of options on the kids menu! Service was friendly and our server helped us choose options. There are great cocktail options. We had an aviation and midnight margarita. The vibe and ambiance are perfect for a fun GNO or date night. I appreciated the robust kids menu so we could go out as a family and I would be able to have a great meal at a local spot!

    Photos
    Brunch
    Brunch
    Covered patio
    Covered patio
    Zero proof cocktails

    See all

    Zero proof cocktails
    Saints + Council

    Saints + Council

    4.3
    (556 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    I came here to meet up with my coworker while in Atlanta for a convention, and it turned out to be…read moreone of the highlights of my trip. It's true what they say: you have to ask the locals if you want to find a truly scrumptious meal! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was absolutely stunning. The restaurant is elegant, refined, and beautifully designed, creating the perfect setting for a memorable evening. Our server, LeNarus, provided impeccable service throughout the meal. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and made excellent recommendations that elevated the entire experience. The food was outstanding. Every dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor. My favorites were the fried green tomatoes, the tomato basil bruschetta, the whipped formaggio, and the lemon miso salmon, which was cooked to perfection. Everything was thoughtfully prepared and paired perfectly. The Hugo cocktails were also exceptional: refreshing, well-balanced, and the perfect complement to the meal. I honestly wish I could come here every day! If you're looking for outstanding food, exceptional service, and a sophisticated atmosphere, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Highly recommended!

    Great spot! Went with a group and the service was great. Starts with an Old Fashioned, excellent…read morejob with the cocktail. There were a couple of Apps ordered for the table and both were very good. We had the Whipper Formaggio and the Spicy Shrimp Crunch. Really liked the shrimp, but I didn't find it spicy at all. There were a number of good options for the main. A number of people got the Lemon Miso Salmon and everyone thought it was good. I was leaning to the Braised Short Ribs but pivoted to the Roasted Pappardelle Pasta. The fresh pasta was excellent. The tomato cream sauce worked great with the shrimp and chorizo. This was a very cool place and there is little doubt that I will return.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Crispy Chicken + Dutch Baby
    Crispy Chicken + Dutch Baby
    Salted Caramel Cappuccino

    See all

    Salted Caramel Cappuccino

    Kenley's - newamerican - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...