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Baby let me tell you The Busy Bee is definitely busy and delicious. My man and I came here on a Sunday afternoon for a plate before getting back on the road and were so pleased. He had been here before. The food was SO good! Dressing was delicious as well as the broccoli casserole and green beans. Baked chicken was good too but baby them porkchops were the star of the show because honey!!!!! So flavorful and fried to perfection. This place is worth every minute you have to wait. Service was good and they moved pretty smooth. We will be back!
TAKE-OUT ONLY! They do have benches for people to sit outside on while they wait for their orders which is nice. Service was friendly and quick, but especially if you order ahead of time online. Overall, the food was delicious and I was so happy that I got to try The Busy Bee. The only thing I wouldn't be eager to get again would be the corn muffins. Other than that, everything else was a 10/10. I do wish that the two piece fried chicken meal came with more than just the chicken breast and a wing, but that might be something that they just regularly do at take-out places so that's just a personal preference. I highly recommend trying their catfish though!
Today and tomorrow, we celebrate our nation's birth. The Busy Bee in Atlanta, was just a youngster when the civil rights movement grew to be an integral part of America's identity. The award winning Busy Bee is a part of that ever-evolving culture of food and community. It's definitely a local's place. The fried chicken, sweet potatoes and collards really were worth my one day in Atlanta. I saw the Atlanta Aquarium and The Busy Bee. That's it but I don't regret a thing. I can't say I ate in a booth that Dr. King sat in because it's take out only. You order on their app. It's 2026 and we are celebrating that great experiment called the United States of America. This place is one of the successes of that experiment. Happy Birthday America (and order the chicken).
I read the reviews and accolades about this place, so I wanted to see what the hype was all about. Seems to be take-out only. I ordered take-out online and it said the order would take 45 minutes. Our order ended up taking more like one hour plus. I ordered the two-piece fried chicken platter, and the food runner told me the kitchen originally was going to give me only two drumsticks, but she told the kitchen to make me another order because two drumsticks was too little meat. I appreciated that gesture. Unfortunately, I didn't think their fried chicken lived up to the hype. I thought the skin was nicely crisp, but the flavor was simple and not impressive for the price and long wait. Also, they completely missed one of my side orders, and I didn't realize it until we had already left. I've eaten fried chicken from all kinds of different cuisines, so I found the fried chicken here a bit lackluster. Maybe their other food is better, but I don't think the fried chicken is worth the price or the wait. Also, be careful of missing food in your order because from reading some reviews, it seems that it happens too often.
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.
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.
So today I had a REAL taste for some good soul food... you know the kind that just hits your spirit But I was not about to make that drive all the way to Atlanta, so I decided to order through Uber Eats from Busy Bee Let me tell y'all... that was one of the BEST decisions I've made in a minute! I ordered for my whole crew -- my mom, my sister, my brother-in-law, my nephew, and myself -- and we went ALL IN. We had smothered pork chops, buy one get one free smothered chicken wings AND fried chicken wings (because why not! ), plus broccoli & cheese casserole, turnip greens, mashed potatoes, and that cornbread stuffing... BABYYYYY... when I say every single bite was GOOD... I mean GOOD GOOD Everything was seasoned just right, cooked with love, and giving real, authentic, down-home soul food. You can tell this is the kind of food that's been perfected over time -- not rushed, not watered down... just straight comfort on a plate. We were literally sitting there eating and just looking at each other like "yeah... this is it right here" That's when you KNOW the food hit! I'm already planning my next order -- whether it's for my family again or just me having a "treat myself" day. Because yes... it's THAT serious. And listen... I'm just gonna be honest... in MY humble opinion this right here is better than Paschal's. I said what I said! Don't come for me But for real, thank you Busy Bee for coming THROUGH with some amazing, authentic soul food that really fed the soul today If you haven't tried it yet... what are you waiting on?! Go get you some! Trust me... you're gonna be thinking about that next plate before you even finish the first one
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is a must-try spot when you're in Atlanta! The service was amazing. The staff was super nice, patient, and helpful, especially since we wanted to try everything on the menu. We ended up ordering their famous fried chicken, fried okra, broccoli cheese casserole, and cornbread. The fried chicken was definitely the star and did not disappoint! Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the sides, but again, that's just my taste and opinion. I honestly wish I had a bigger appetite because there were so many other things I wanted to try. Just a heads-up, this place is a HOT SPOT, so expect a wait. We waited about an hour for our food. I highly recommend calling and ordering ahead if you can. This is definitely a spot we'll come back to the next time we're in Atlanta. That fried chicken alone is worth another visit! read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
This place is definitely a must try! Unfortunately the inside was closed (unsure why) we ordered and just ate in our car! The customer service was very good! Southern hospitality at its finest!! Everyone we encountered was so friendly! The food OH MY it was really good! Super tasteful (for us at least) Highly recommend trying at least once read more
Baby let me tell you The Busy Bee is definitely busy and delicious. My man and I came here on a Sunday afternoon for a plate before getting back on the road and were so pleased. He had been here before. The food was SO good! Dressing was delicious as well as the broccoli casserole and green beans. Baked chicken was good too but baby them porkchops were the star of the show because honey!!!!! So flavorful and fried to perfection. This place is worth every minute you have to wait. Service was good and they moved pretty smooth. We will be back! read more
1 month ago
TAKE-OUT ONLY! They do have benches for people to sit outside on while they wait for their orders which is nice. Service was friendly and quick, but especially if you order ahead of time online. Overall, the food was delicious and I was so happy that I got to try The Busy Bee. The only thing I wouldn't be eager to get again would be the corn muffins. Other than that, everything else was a 10/10. I do wish that the two piece fried chicken meal came with more than just the chicken breast and a wing, but that might be something that they just regularly do at take-out places so that's just a personal preference. I highly recommend trying their catfish though! read more
3 months ago
Today and tomorrow, we celebrate our nation's birth. The Busy Bee in Atlanta, was just a youngster when the civil rights movement grew to be an integral part of America's identity. The award winning Busy Bee is a part of that ever-evolving culture of food and community. It's definitely a local's place. The fried chicken, sweet potatoes and collards really were worth my one day in Atlanta. I saw the Atlanta Aquarium and The Busy Bee. That's it but I don't regret a thing. I can't say I ate in a booth that Dr. King sat in because it's take out only. You order on their app. It's 2026 and we are celebrating that great experiment called the United States of America. This place is one of the successes of that experiment. Happy Birthday America (and order the chicken). read more
6 months ago
I read the reviews and accolades about this place, so I wanted to see what the hype was all about. Seems to be take-out only. I ordered take-out online and it said the order would take 45 minutes. Our order ended up taking more like one hour plus. I ordered the two-piece fried chicken platter, and the food runner told me the kitchen originally was going to give me only two drumsticks, but she told the kitchen to make me another order because two drumsticks was too little meat. I appreciated that gesture. Unfortunately, I didn't think their fried chicken lived up to the hype. I thought the skin was nicely crisp, but the flavor was simple and not impressive for the price and long wait. Also, they completely missed one of my side orders, and I didn't realize it until we had already left. I've eaten fried chicken from all kinds of different cuisines, so I found the fried chicken here a bit lackluster. Maybe their other food is better, but I don't think the fried chicken is worth the price or the wait. Also, be careful of missing food in your order because from reading some reviews, it seems that it happens too often. read more
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. read more
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. read more
6 months ago
So today I had a REAL taste for some good soul food... you know the kind that just hits your spirit But I was not about to make that drive all the way to Atlanta, so I decided to order through Uber Eats from Busy Bee Let me tell y'all... that was one of the BEST decisions I've made in a minute! I ordered for my whole crew -- my mom, my sister, my brother-in-law, my nephew, and myself -- and we went ALL IN. We had smothered pork chops, buy one get one free smothered chicken wings AND fried chicken wings (because why not! ), plus broccoli & cheese casserole, turnip greens, mashed potatoes, and that cornbread stuffing... BABYYYYY... when I say every single bite was GOOD... I mean GOOD GOOD Everything was seasoned just right, cooked with love, and giving real, authentic, down-home soul food. You can tell this is the kind of food that's been perfected over time -- not rushed, not watered down... just straight comfort on a plate. We were literally sitting there eating and just looking at each other like "yeah... this is it right here" That's when you KNOW the food hit! I'm already planning my next order -- whether it's for my family again or just me having a "treat myself" day. Because yes... it's THAT serious. And listen... I'm just gonna be honest... in MY humble opinion this right here is better than Paschal's. I said what I said! Don't come for me But for real, thank you Busy Bee for coming THROUGH with some amazing, authentic soul food that really fed the soul today If you haven't tried it yet... what are you waiting on?! Go get you some! Trust me... you're gonna be thinking about that next plate before you even finish the first one read more
1 month ago
11 months ago
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
5 months ago
1 year ago
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. read more
11 months ago
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. read more
7 months ago
3 months ago
I just wanted to try the chicken and see if the hype is real. The chicken was good. We enjoyed it the fruit punch was good as well. Service was great. Since Covid the shut the dining in down you have to get it to go. All I try'd was the chicken read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
-- 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. read more
10 months ago
Great food, seriously. Black Eyed Peas were top tier. Chicken, Mac and the Carrot Soufflé were so good. Great service. I'll be back. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Busy Bee kinda saved my Saturday. Got pretty drunk on a Friday night and woke up craving something delicious. Looked up the reviews for Busy Bee and said ok this might be the one. I made the right call no question. The Catfish platter was insane. Loved every bite of the Catfish, perfectly seasoned and fried. I couldn't get enough of that broccoli Cheese casserole though, easily one of my favorite sides and their version was absolutely fantastic. Mac & Cheese was great as well but the sweet potato pie? Had me feeling like I was back at my mom's place. Entire pie for only 18 bucks was a STEAL! Ordered the wings as well and they were delicious as well. Got that with fried okra and rice and gravy. Loved the okra but hated the rice and gravy. Had to be at least 1 thing I didn't like right? Lolol. Whenever I'm back in Atlanta I'll be back to get a tub of the broccoli Cheese casserole read more
2 years ago
I'm in Atlanta for the NRPA Conference and we Ubered to Busy Bee Cafe for some good food! They only do takeout, so that was a bummer. However, the food was on-point!! Everything was well-seasoned and tasted amazing!! Thank you for feeding a hungry woman for lunch!! read more
I read about The Busy Bee Cafe on the Michelin website and was so excited to try it while visiting Atlanta so I made it a point to come here. It has loads of accolades and reviews but I did not have the best experience. There is no indoor seating anymore as they transitioned to take out only during COVID and never opened the dining room back up. I placed my order with the QR code and my food was supposed to be ready in an hour. Is that a long time to wait for one plate of chicken? Absolutely, but I was already here and was ready to wait for the best friend chicken in Atlanta. My food was not ready until over an hour past my wait time. Thankfully there was a pop up shade, otherwise we would have burnt pretty badly. The food was very good, but I recommend ordering your food well ahead of time. I was told by a local who orders Busy Bee regularly and he said he's never seen it this busy so maybe we just had bad luck. I understand the restaurant needs to address orders as they come, but it would have been nice if they served our single plate quicker than those coming to pick up multiple bags of food. read more
2 years ago
Busy Bee needs to wash their collard greens, which were delicious, much better than they did when I ordered them!! There was a worm in my greens. I am so truly happy I saw it before I ate it. It looked like a bumble bee at first but once I put it to the side I could clearly see it was a worm that looked just like the collard greens. I was disgusted and couldn't finish my delicious meal. I ordered fried whiting, potato salad, black eyed peas, and collard greens without a worm. I had heard great things about Busy Bee Cafe, so I was excited about going there for the first time, and now unfortunately for the last time. I picked my order up because they don't allow you to eat inside. That was completely fine. The ladies who helped me and gave me my order were very nice and gave great customer service at the door. The food was really enjoyable but I can't get over the worm, so I can't recommend it to anyone else. I do understand that some times we may find a critter in our veggies, but I'm good and don't need extra protein in my food. read more
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More info about The Busy Bee
810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Directions
(404) 525-9212
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https://www.thebusybeecafe.com
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Ask the Community - The Busy Bee
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?
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