Planning a trip to Atlanta?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
Busy Bee Cafe
Southern Food Restaurant$$$$
Atlanta University Center, Atlanta
Has a stamp of approval from Bon Appetit Magazine and Eater
"The best soul food restaurant in ATL, hands down!!"(10 Tips)
"smothered chicken and mac n' cheese"(4 Tips)
"Sweet tea and sides of collard greens and candied yams are a must."(4 Tips)
"Fried chicken, cabbage, Mac and cheese, and catfish are excellent"(38 Tips)
102 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- fried chicken
- soul food
- lively
- collard greens
- casual
- (15 more)
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Creative Loafing AtlantaMay 1, 2015This friendly café has been serving up crunchy, juicy, fried-chicken ecstasy since 1947. The birds soak in a secret marinade before getting a light toss in flour and a bath in hot peanut oil. Read more
Bon Appetit MagazineJune 3, 2016Go for oxtail, chitlins, some of the best fried chicken in Atlanta, not to mention Georgia peach cobbler. Always check out the daily vegetable specials. The fresh turnip greens are worth the trip. Read more
- Tasting TableMay 11, 2016Sink into some soul food at The Busy Bee Cafe. If you're feeling saucy, go for the smothered version, simmered in pan gravy, and wash it down with a glass of their refreshing sweet tea. Read more
MarcJanuary 11, 2021Esquire: known as the place w/best fried chicken in city. sides are exquisite renderings w/rice and gravy, collards, and mac n’ cheese shining. Don’t miss cornmeal-dusted and encrusted catfish
- Tasting TableAugust 5, 2014Fried chicken has been the star since 1947. If you're feeling saucy, get the smothered version, simmered in an addictive pan gravy. Sweet tea and sides of collard greens and candied yams are a must. Read more
Barbara FriendsDecember 5, 2018Best greens, chicken, mac n cheese I’ve ever had. All the food here is fresh and incredible. The atmosphere and the waitresses are great (friendly and helpful). I highly recommend this place.
Greg CothranFebruary 16, 2015Everything is good here! A little shady outside, but everyone is friendly inside! Staff reminds you of the good ole southern charm! Small, and often no room, so be patient. It's worth the wait!
Sonhe HottJanuary 2, 2019Everything is good here. Soul food at its best. It's a smaller places so it is always crowded which is a good thing and the staff are the best. Peach cobbler is a must.
Alecia ReederJanuary 3, 2013Loved it! A celebrity walked in while we were eating! Food was excellent. Had fried chicken, Mac and cheese, and sweet potato pie. The sweet tea was perfect! Wish we had it this good in Kansas City.
Arka MajumdarNovember 13, 2015KFC should be ashamed of themselves, this place is the best soul food in the world. Their original recipe is awesome!!!! Try the Joe Lewis Ham Hock the are a must.
Wright BraidsFebruary 4, 2013The fried chicken is good but the smothered chicken is yummy! I had purchased the high priced small banana pudding. Glad that I bought it. Broccoli and cheese casserole and the carrot souffle are yum.
Craven MooreSeptember 8, 2014#OVERRATED #OVERPRICED seasoning is decent, portions are minimal and the pork chop was NOT smothered!!! It was fried (tough) and dipped in gravy!! 😐 Poor representation of southern soul food...
Gregory CoxNovember 24, 2014An Atlanta institution. Definitely enjoyed the fried chicken, mac and cheese, and green beans. If you go during lunch, get there early or go later.
Fried chicken, green beans, fried okra. The fried catfish is delicious. The staff is AWESOME!!!.
- Barbara FriendsMay 23, 2018Their fried chicken is very good. I love the sides - I had collard greens and baked beans. Our waitress was very pleasant and knowledgeable.
- Explore GeorgiaMarch 15, 2013The smothered chicken and mac n' cheese is a must have when visiting the Busy Bee Cafe. Many visitors say it's the best meal they have ever had!
V GeorgeAugust 17, 2015Oxtails, fried chicken, Mac & cheese, pinto beans, cornbread, sweet tea all made fresh each day with love... Need I say more?
Ryan MatznerOctober 19, 2017Regular fried chicken is great, but the smothered fried chicken is magical!
Rejeannda HicksJanuary 23, 2015Everything was amazing! I will for sure go back there. Our waitress was super cool and the food was nice and hot.
VivJune 9, 2014The fried chicken is some of the best I've ever had. Greens & Yams were great as well. Skip the Peach Cobbler-it's disappointing.- EaterOctober 4, 2011Crackly fried chicken, pork chop, and homespun sides are delivered non-stop by no nonsense servers who call every one “baby.” [Eater 38 Member]
Sabreen JaiJune 5, 2018Love the Food! But the service leaves much to be desired. They MUST adjust to their level of business! I waited in a line for take-out on this past Sunday for one hour and 30 mins. Had to leave.
everything on the menu is consistently good and seasoned to perfection! If you're in Atlanta and have no satisfied this epicurus dive then sorry for you.com!
Tracy GatesOctober 1, 2015Fried Chicken mac & cheese broccoli casserole, carrot soufflé, candied yams, squash, cabbage- Creative Loafing AtlantaJanuary 30, 2012Busy Bee lets you know that it holds a hallowed place in Atlanta dining history, and fried chicken is a big part of that history. Read more
- Creative Loafing AtlantaFebruary 2, 2012A crackly and simple breading coats each piece of uncomplicated fried chicken. Not a trace of grease in sight, every juicy, salty bite will fulfill your Southern-fried food dreams. Read more
Carlton FJune 20, 2017Food is good. Not happy that there is a surcharge for takeout. For a small business setup, staff is very uncoordinated.
Reg HDecember 9, 2013Cute small place. Very intimate. Gives you mamas kitchen. Food was delicious...
La CalleJanuary 9, 2013Order an Uptown (sweet tea & lemonade) to go with your food. You won't be disappointed.
Britta SmithJuly 10, 2013I ordered the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and green beans...delicious!
Charles GregoryFebruary 28, 2012Food is good but outrageously priced. My wallet felt like I had just done at a 5 star restaurant. Fried chicken dinner 20 bucks. Wow
Jennifer BoardmanOctober 21, 2009Great place to take out-of-towners. Not to be missed: the "beelicious" fried chicken and banana pudding. I'm still dreaming about it. Get there early or be prepared to wait.
E PurdyMarch 5, 2017I was there at 10:50 am, so I waited as this was my 1st visit. Well at 11:10 they still had not opened. I was disappointed as their sign states they open @ 11. I left prior to eating.
Carl BlackMarch 17, 2014They charge a 4% fee for take-out orders, and the food is served in polystyrene boxes with plasticware. I understand a surcharge for compostables, but for styrofoam...?!
TV Food MapsSeptember 29, 2015Check out Busy Bee Cafe as it was featured on Food Paradise for Fried Chicken Read more
184 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Open until 7:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Fri
- 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Sun
- Noon–7:00 PM
(404) 525-9212
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. MasterCard)
Outdoor Seating
No
Music
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch
See More
You might also like
- 7.6
"They have the best homestyle Mac n Cheese outside of your grandma!"
Eric Hilton - 7.0
"Yes, we enjoy our own breakfast! Today we enjoyed salmon croquettes, potatoes, grits and a butter biscuit! Yummy!"
Q Time Restaurant
- 7.0
"The Crispy Calamari is scrumptiously delicious and fried crispy to my liking!!! Two Thumbs Up!!!"
Vincent Coakley Jr.
Places people like to go after Busy Bee Cafe
- 5.1
"Small and Compact but has everything you need and they are helpful"
Henry West Cantrell III - 8.5
"Best place in Atlanta all around shopping and relaxation."
Adebayo Agbabiaka - 8.7
"The homemade 20 yolk tagliatelle with mushrooms and butter sauce was amazing. Nix the kimchi if you're vegetarian. And get The Confessor to drink-- delish."
Deepa Subramanian
