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    The Busy Bee Cafe

    3.8 (1.3k reviews)
    ModerateSoul Food, Southern
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Order The Busy Bee Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Busy Bee Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE BUSY BEE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Busy Bee Cafe

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    Outside
    Selina C.

    Best fried chicken in Atlanta! The chicken was brined in salt water. Crispy skin yet not greasy. Chicken is juicy and tender! It's only go to available. The have two benches to sit and eat. Tight and small parking lot. I had to wait 20 mins once the order was placed.

    Fried catfish with green beans and fried okra
    Olivia T.

    10/10 this place lived up to the hype. We ordered ahead online. When we showed up, there was parking out front, and we went inside to grab our order. We got: - fried catfish + green beans + fried okra - fried chicken + broccoli and cheese + baked beans - carrot soufflé The catfish was AMAZING, it was actually the best fried catfish I've ever had. All sides were good but the broccoli + cheese was the standout. The carrot souffle was so tasty, but VERY sweet so almost better as a dessert?! I'd definitely come back. My only complaint is the lack of dine-in. Even if there were just picnic tables outside, it would be awesome. It would be a hard place to come with a group because of that.

    Baked Chicken
    Shannon S.

    We wanted soul food so I suggested the busy bee cafe. They are consistent, they don't miss to me. I ordered the baked chicken with cornbread dressing and fried okra. The baked chicken was good, it was very flavorful and it went well with the cornbread dressing. The fried okra was very crunchy and delicious. We ordered outside and waited for our food. The waitress was very kind. Parking can be kind of sketch, we parked at the Wal- Mart and walked over.

    Oxtails and gravy. The collards were a little tough but the flavor saved the day.
    Candace M.

    Oh my word!!! This was the absolute best food I've had in Atlanta. PERIODT!! I had oxtails with rice and gravy, baked mac and cheese and collard greens. And for dessert, peach cobbler. This is the kinda meal that makes you wanna clean your plate. I had to do take out because we arrived about an hour before they were going to close but I didn't mind that. The service was great at the curbside. The Sistah taking the orders was so kind and friendly. I can see what all the accolades are for and they are well deserved. I will not return to ATL without stopping here again.

    Half chicken with mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese
    Felix S.

    ORDER BEFORE YOU GET THERE!!! Wow! This place is hands down the BEST fried chicken place I've ever been to. All the fake and praise this place gets is absolutely worth it! The food is pricey but every bite is well worth it. The wait was fairly long, we ordered and got our food ~45 minutes later. We split a half chicken meal with Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. The sides were fantastic, just like the chicken! Unfortunately there wasn't any indoor seating, you order outside and all the food is to-go. The waitress however was incredibly nice and this places is a pillar of the community.

    half chicken meal with Broccoli Cheese Casserole and Steamed Cabbage
    Kimberly H.

    Probably the best fried chicken I've had the pleasure of ingesting! The chicken wasn't overly cooked or greasy, was so flavorful and it was served at an enjoyable temperature. I got the broccoli casserole and steamed cabbage as my sides and no regrets were made. The strawberry lemonade is a must to wash it all down! The location is a bit sketchy, but we were pretty safe. To note, there is no indoor seating, just 3 communal picnic tables outside in the lot.

    James H.

    OMG! I love this place. This has been on my list for a long time and don't know why I haven't checked it off. The chicken is phenomenal. One of the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life. It's not overly oily seasoned and cooked to perfection. I ate it so quick that I forgot to take a picture of the food. The mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese were cooked perfectly. Normally macaroni and cheese can be kind of soggy and just nasty after a while, but not this place. The strawberry lemonade is worth every penny. I give this place a five star rating all day long. People are friendly. The service is good, however there is no inside seating. So you either have to sit outside on the bench, eat in your car, or go home.

    Veggie plate
    Dawn M.

    My sister has lived in Atlanta for 10 plus years and today is the first time I've tried Busy Bee Cafe ATL! The wait was worth it. These days you can't eat in. It's all to-go and delivery. I ordered online and my food was ready when I got there. It's in the hood but it's decent inside. Those collard greens couldn't have been any fresher and the dressing was almost like my momma's. Their carrot soufflé beats Piccadilly too. Just hate my collard greens juice rain over j to my Mac and cheese. It was still good but soggy.

    Amanda C.

    Friend really wanted to try out this michelin guide spot! It is take out only and the parking lot is small so just FYI if you go during peak hours. There is a Walmart parking lot across the street though. The ladies working the shop were very kind and friendly! I recommend ordering ahead online. For a Sunday lunchtime, we waited about 30 minutes for our food. I thought the fried chicken was nice and crispy, but not much flavor besides salt, almost a little too salty. The sides on the other hand were quite good. Ordered the mac, cabbage, candied potatoes, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, and broccoli cheese casserole. My faves were the cabbage (so flavorful and soft) and cheese casserole. My friends thought the mashed potatoes were the best. The cornbread the meal came with was dry and not yellow which made us think there's not much corn in it, maybe they mixed reg flour with a little cornmeal. We also ordered a blackberry cobbler and the spices were a bit too strong for us, so probably wouldn't get it again. Overall worth a try if you're in the area but just a one time place for me.

    Peach Cobbler
    Benedict C.

    I went to The Busy Bee around 3:30 on a Friday afternoon. I didn't realize that they pivoted to takeout only post-COVID so I was abruptly told I needed to order on my phone. So I placed my order and waited. I ordered a chicken platter, fried okra, and peach cobbler. I didn't think I'd be waiting close to an hour for my meal. I had asked a couple of times if my food was ready to which I got a quick "No" in response. Finally I got my food and drove back to my hotel. Everything looked good and thankfully it tasted good. The chicken was seasoned well and the meat was juicy. The skin had a good crunch to it. Definitely solid. The mac and cheese could've been cheesier but it was passable. I enjoyed the broccoli and cheese casserole; maybe it could've used more broccoli. The fried okra was great. It wasn't overly greasy and it had a good crunch to it. The peach cobbler was really good for the first few bites but it was just too sweet for me. Overall the meal was ok, but I wasn't happy paying $45+ for it. The food was pretty good, 3-stars or maybe even 4-stars! But the price and slow service marred my experience.

    Derek L.

    Chicken was solid although didn't blow my mind. Limited parking and you gotta either order ahead or just order with lady at front. She's pretty nice though but just know they are takeout only.

    K. Andrew T.

    I'm usually a fan, but it's unacceptable for me to be missing so much of a single order. My order was over $100 for three meals just to come home and be missing an iced tea, gravy on "rice & gravy", and an entire side of cornbread dressing. Service has got to be better.

    Collard Greens
    Christopher B.

    -- 4 out of 5 stars Busy Bee Cafe - Atlanta, GA If you're looking for real Southern comfort food, Busy Bee Cafe delivers--especially on the fried chicken front. I ordered the two-piece fried chicken with collard greens and macaroni and cheese, and let me tell you the chicken was outstanding. Perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. You can taste the love and the time definitely feels like it's been marinated overnight. This is how fried chicken should taste. The macaroni and cheese was baked (thankfully), which is always a win in my book. Creamy with a nice crust on top--solid 4 out of 5. As for the collard greens, it's been a few weeks, but from what I remember, they were decent nothing mind-blowing, but still a respectable 3 out of 5 on flavor. Now, let's talk logistics. The food is carry-out only, and here's where Busy Bee needs to step it up. Despite having a dining room, it's been closed since COVID and that was five years ago. You have to place your order outside, which is fine on a good day, but if it's raining or the weather's bad, there's no shelter or indoor ordering option. That part really takes away from the overall experience, especially when you're trying to enjoy a legendary spot like this. Also, the wait time was about 35-40 minutes, which isn't outrageous for freshly cooked food, but still on the longer side so plan ahead if you're in a rush. That said, Busy Bee is a piece of history. Martin Luther King Jr. ate here. Jesse Jackson. So many Black icons have walked through its doors. There's something powerful about eating food that's not only made with soul but also comes from a place that's been part of the culture for decades. Would I go back? Absolutely. But I'd love to see them bring back indoor dining to truly bring the full experience home.

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    Page 1 of 33

    The Busy Bee Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Busy Bee Cafe

    Does it have a bar and serve drinks?

    Nope. This is more a family-focused restaurant. Nobody gets their buzz on at the Busy Bee.

    What? Are the heating instructions for B.B. dressing?

    I'd just suggest placing in the microwave or the oven with a few drips of water on 300. How much dressing is it?

    Is the food to spicy I can't have spicy food?

    No spicy but rich with flavor(s).

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    South City Kitchen Midtown - Group dining in our loft

    South City Kitchen Midtown

    4.4(3.6k reviews)
    2.8 miMidtown
    $$

    Was here on a business trip and wanted some southern food and this did not disappoint. Sat at the…read morebar and service was amazing!!! I had to taste it all: she crab soup was a 10/10 Fried green tomatoes 4/10 (but I dont really like fried things just had to try them so maybe don't go off of my recommendation) Shrimp n grits 8/10 Biscuits 12/10 Cornbread 9/10 I wish I had more time, I'd come back for the soup and biscuits and to try more of the menu! Amazing service and cute ambiance

    Such a lovely and flavorful meal! I was in a rush and only got food through pick-up. Hence, I can't…read morespeak about the dining experience here. I got the Shrimp & Grits to-go. It came with a cornbread, a buttery biscuit, and banana pudding. I was pleasantly surprised by the other items since the ordering site only listed the entree. Best Shrimp & Grits I've had to date. The shrimp was fresh and not overcooked or rubbery. The grits were smooth. The gravy was well seasoned, but not overly salty or rich. The cornbread and bread or biscuit was good, but not extraordinary. Those were quite dense and heavy paired with the other food. I loved the banana pudding. This meal jumpstarted my banana pudding hyper fixation. Very fragrant and not too thick yet still nice and creamy. It wasn't overly sweet or heavy either. It was a good dessert to round out the meal. I hope to come here again and have an actual sit down experience. Curious to see the ambiance!

    Photos
    South City Kitchen Midtown - Hot homemade biscuits

    Hot homemade biscuits

    South City Kitchen Midtown - Group dining space in the main dining room

    Group dining space in the main dining room

    South City Kitchen Midtown - Our loft space, perfect for your next event

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    Our loft space, perfect for your next event

    Delilah's Everyday Soul - Chattahoochee Food Works - My order. It looks like 1 piece of chicken.

    Delilah's Everyday Soul - Chattahoochee Food Works

    4.4(125 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Delicious in every way. I had them at Taste of Atlanta and this was my favorite of all. I loved…read moretheir Mac and cheese.! I can't wait to go in and try their full restaurant.

    I can't believe it took me so long to eat at Delilah's! I've known of this highly lauded business…read morefor years but never found the right day when I was craving soul food and in the area to order. Until recently. I decided to have a tapas-style dinner with food from The Works and just had to grab some chicken from Delilah's. The menu is plentiful without being overwhelming, except when it comes to picking a favorite between the flavorful options. I knew that I didn't want or need a full meal and opted for their 3 whole wing option that came paired with cornbread. The young man who took my order was so polite and patient, as there were a few folks in line and waiting for previously placed orders. He let me know that my order would be ready in about 15 minutes so I took the time to continue my food-finding journey around the market. When I returned later, I had lost track of time and figured I'd just poke my head around their stall to see if my chicken was ready. It wasn't at that moment but I took some time to observe the process. There was only one guy in the open kitchen and prep area creating all of the meals and he was on the move. If I could add smells to my review, this one would smell like fried chicken and cornbread. It was all so fresh! When my order was ready, I only made one other stop before heading to my car to go home to my family... but not before I tested those whole wings from Delilah's. When I say that they were fresh out of the grease? Babehhh. It's like he just threw them right into the basket only seconds before. It was sooo crunchy, so juicy, just a fantastic wing. The hot sauce was a nice pairing but some spice in the breading/meat would have taken it over the top but this chicken was delicious. No notes.

    Photos
    Delilah's Everyday Soul - Chattahoochee Food Works - Inside

    Inside

    Delilah's Everyday Soul - Chattahoochee Food Works - Swai, Mac n' Cheese, Yams

    Swai, Mac n' Cheese, Yams

    Delilah's Everyday Soul - Chattahoochee Food Works - Amazing

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    Amazing

    Buttermilk Kitchen - Buttermilk Pancakes

    Buttermilk Kitchen

    4.4(2.5k reviews)
    8.2 miBuckhead
    $$

    We were in town for a concert and my birthday, and decided to go for a nice breakfast for my…read morebirthday. Did some online research and kept coming back to Buttermilk Kitchen. Couldn't have been happier with our choice. Reviews I'd seen online mentioned parking is a bit limited and that the restaurant is frequently busy. So we were prepared for that even though we were going on a Thursday mid morning. I think there was an influx of people celebrating graduations because it was in fact very busy. However we got very lucky with parking and happened to come in right as someone was leaving. I was sure we would have a wait for a table, which of course would have been fine, but actually we were seated immediately! Which was super nice and unexpected. The atmosphere is bustling but not in a bad way. The restaurant itself is adorable and has a lot of character. It feels like you're having breakfast at an old friend's house. The service was great and our food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. I ordered a specialty coffee, I believe it was the almond joy cold brew, and it was delicious. Strong, which is how I like it and not overly sweet. I ordered the chicken biscuit on the waiter's recommendation and it was absolutely the best fried chicken I've ever had. Juicy and crispy. My husband ordered the pimento cheese omelette and was very happy with it, the bacon was thick cut and smoky and flavorful. The pimento cheese grits that came on the side for me were also a stand out, such great flavor. The biscuits are fantastic and the blueberry basil jam that came with my husband's meal was such a nice touch. We will absolutely make a point to come back to Buttermilk Kitchen next time we visit the Atlanta area.

    TL;DR: Super cute spot with decent breakfast offerings and great staff. Don't go out of your way to…read morecome, but worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. First things first: the Chicken Biscuit. Buttermilk Kitchen's biscuit is on the crunchy, honey-flavored side. I personally prefer fluffier, more buttery biscuits, so this one wasn't my favorite. That aside, the chicken was crispy and well-seasoned and paired well with the cheese grits. If you ever wanted a dry, crunchy version of Homegrown's Comfy Chicken Biscuit, come give this a shot. I also tried the Hash Bowl, which was a bit underwhelming. It was a *lot* of potatoes compared to the eggs and bacon bits, and there wasn't a lot of seasoning other than the bacon. Would rather recommend one of the other options if you end up visiting. The drinks are good as well, would recommend the matcha latte (not too sweet!) and the French Press coffee.

    Photos
    Buttermilk Kitchen - Bar area

    Bar area

    Buttermilk Kitchen - Biscuit Basket (3)

    Biscuit Basket (3)

    Buttermilk Kitchen - I forget the dish's name but fried egg hash with red potatoes. Wife's order.

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    I forget the dish's name but fried egg hash with red potatoes. Wife's order.

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - 2fried chicken dark plate with cole slaw and seasoned fries

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    1.6 miDowntown
    $$

    What a great experience sitting at the bar for dinner…read more I was quickly greeted and got my drink order taken care of. I ordered a two piece white with slaw and greens. Awesome flavor! The staff let me sample the potato salad which was amazing. Was told the story about the lady that makes the pies and had a slice of pecan. Very good. I recommend you give them a try, because I will be back on my next visit to downtown. Enjoy!

    For a place that boldly claims to have world-famous fried chicken in its name, I really expected to…read morehave a better experience. The chicken was alright, but I wouldn't say it was the best I ever had, let alone consider it the world's best. This joint is located in the lower hub, but I believe there's also an outside street entrance. Upon entering, we were told to sit anywhere. The interior is rather dim, and it wasn't super clean as there were still some crumbs on our table from the last people who dined there. There is also a very casual feel to the place, exemplified by the fact that food is served on styrofoam plates and paper trays. FOOD: 2-Piece Dark (Thigh & Leg) (4/5) - Chicken was nice and crispy, but nothing crazy special to me. I was expecting it to be spicier. Liked it more with the Louisiana hot sauce on the table. The chicken rests on a slab of white bread and is served with average slaw and sweet baked beans. Fried Okra (3.5/5) - First time having fried okra. Not bad, and I guess frying it eliminates the slimy texture associated with okra. SERVICE: I am not usually one to complain about service. The person who served us was sweet when we did interact, but it was so hard to get their attention to order and get the bill. But beyond that, the kitchen was noticeably SLOW. My brother and I literally only ordered one plate/portion to share since we wanted to try more places, but it took over half an hour to receive our food. They do emphasize that food is cooked to order, but I still found the wait to be baffling. TLDR// Come here or don't, but if you do, make sure you are not on a time crunch. Maybe I am just being harsh because I was expecting more from a place claiming to have the world's best.

    Photos
    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - November 14, 2023

    November 14, 2023

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - Chicken thigh + sides

    Chicken thigh + sides

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - Chicken, collard greens

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    Chicken, collard greens

    The Busy Bee Cafe - soulfood - Updated May 2026

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