We love lemon pepper wings and a chili dog from the Varsity as much as the next person, but Atlanta’s most iconic foods aren’t exactly known for leaving the stomach in stellar shape the next day. Fortunately, the city’s healthy food scene is thriving, made up of both long-standing, locally-owned institutions and national chains.
Most are fast-casual concepts serving quick bowls and wraps, but standout menu items—cauliflower cheesesteaks, Caribbean-infused entrees, and more—prove that “good for you” isn’t synonymous with “bland.”
Here are some of our favorite spots around the city for nutritious meals that still feel like a treat.
MetroFresh
Before Trader Joe’s came to Midtown, and before West Midtown became a de facto healthy-restaurant heaven, there was MetroFresh on Monroe. Since 2005, it’s been Atlanta’s go-to for hearty-yet-healthy salads, sandwiches, and soups. A new location at One Midtown Plaza offers the OG’s breakfast and lunch menu, plus small plate specials and a cocktail bar for the after-work crowd. Pro tip: Check the menu online before ordering, as it’s updated daily by 9 a.m. 931 Monroe Dr. NE, Ste. A106, Atlanta, metrofreshatl.com
E+ROSE Wellness Cafe
Founded by a registered dietitian, Nashville-based E+ROSE landed in West Midtown last January with a robust menu of superfood smoothies, juices, toasts, and wraps—all free of gums, preservatives, and artificial flavorings. The coffees, too, are made with organic house cashew milk and responsibly sourced beans. Additional locations in Old Fourth Ward and Midtown are especially popular among Beltline walkers and 9-5 officegoers. 1100 Howell Mill Rd. NW, Ste. A05, Atlanta, eandrose.com
The Local Green
Husband-and-wife duo Zak and Robyn Wallace founded the Local Green in hopes of providing affordable, nutritious food to the Westside while reducing health disparities in historic food deserts. Named among Oprah’s favorite health restaurants in 2020, the Vine City location serves wraps, sandwiches, and bowls that never sacrifice flavor for whole, healthy ingredients—we’re especially big fans of the cauliflower cheesesteaks. Heading on vacation soon? Check out their food truck in Orlando’s Disney Springs. 19 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. NW, Atlanta, localgreenatlanta.com
LaRayia’s Bodega
Proudly Boricua-owned, this vegan grab-and-go eatery inside Ponce City Market serves up fresh salads, cold-pressed juices, and hot dishes with Caribbean flair. There are even ginger shots and seamoss capsules available for those who want to take home more health benefits. But the real menu standout is the lineup of celeb-inspired smoothies. Many of them pay tribute to Atlanta icons, like the “Tyler Berry” and an apple-pie smoothie named for a line from OutKast’s “Gasoline Dreams”. 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, order.toasttab.com/online/larayiasbodega
Slutty Vegan
Founder and CEO Pinky Cole sold the first Slutty Vegan burgers via Instagram in 2018 and has since scaled her business across Florida, Maryland, New York, and Alabama. Often topped with vegan bacon, cheese, and signature Slut Sauce, the cheekily-named plant-based burgers—One Night Stand, Sloppy Toppy—prove that even vegan food can feel indulgent and fun. (In one word: slutty.) 476 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, sluttyveganatl.com
Flower Child
The Cheesecake Factory’s fast-casual health food concept is popping up nationwide, and Atlantans can now order in West Midtown, at the Shops Around Lenox, and up in Sandy Springs. Whether enjoying a signature bowl like the chicken yakisoba noodles as-is, or mixing and matching your protein and veggies, every dish is handmade from scratch daily with locally-sourced ingredients. 1170 Howell Mill Rd., Bldg. C, Atlanta, iamaflowerchild.com
Upbeet
Upbeet goes the extra mile to keep their menu clean. The West Midtown fast-casual joint’s signature salads and grain bowls consist of organic vegetables and grass-fed, humanely-raised animal proteins that are antibiotic, pesticide, and hormone-free; if an organic option can’t be sourced, the restaurant opts for non-GMO, local ingredients. Everything is, of course, topped with clean oils and housed in PFAS-free packaging. 1071 Howell Mill Rd. NW, Ste. A, Atlanta, upbeet.com
Maepole
When choosing the plant-based ingredients that make up your customizable Maepole bowl, opt for Southern-inspired seasonal offerings that pay homage to the restaurant’s roots—think Vidalia onions and collard greens. UGA students can enjoy Maepole at two Athens outposts, but Atlanta’s Summerhill location boasts an outdoor patio just steps away from Halfway Crooks, which made the cut among our favorite breweries. 72 Georgia Ave. SE, Ste. 500, Atlanta, maepole.com
gusto! – healthy bowls & wraps
This Atlanta-only chain proudly proclaims that they’re “ATLiens, y’all” on their website, and with 13 locations across the metro, you’re truly never far from a warm, nutrient-loaded bowl or wrap. To create your own, choose a base, protein, and “gusto” flavor, from chipotle mango avocado to an Atlanta-classic lemon pepper ranch. Make sure to pair with the chain’s signature sweet potato chips. Multiple locations, whatsyourgusto.com
Stir House Atlanta
Every dish on Stir Fry’s Asian fusion menu is vegan and gluten-free—from takeout classics like General Tso’s chicken and pineapple fried rice to more experimental dishes like jasmine rice with chorizo and jambalaya sauce, ensuring that those with diverse dietary needs don’t have to give up a delicious dining experience. Its Downtown location makes it extra convenient for Georgia State students seeking options beyond the dining hall. 61 Broad St. NW, Atlanta, stirhouse.appfront.app
Tassili’s Raw Reality Cafe
In 2011, founder Tassili Ma’at set out on a mission to bring a raw vegan kale-based restaurant to the West End. Today, kale still makes up much of the menu—the OG Original Kale might be Atlanta’s best wrap, period—but other superfood-rich dishes like mango mushroom stew and curried plantains are worth trying, too. For dessert, try African carob cake, a fresh take on German chocolate cake that mixes carob powder with organic almond butter. 1059 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, tassilisrawreality.com
True Food Kitchen
A day of shopping at Lenox Square doesn’t have to end with choosing between stalls at the mall food court. This nationwide chain’s Buckhead location offers bowls, burgers, pizzas and more all informed by founder Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid. And it tastes good, too: a True Crisp’d chicken sandwich just might put Chick-fil-A to shame. 3393 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. 3058B, Atlanta, truefoodkitchen.com
