Visitors and new Atlantans alike may be surprised to find that Atlanta has some of the best exotic eating around. Buford Highway is known as the center of international food culture in Atlanta – and for good reason: the arterial is lined with hundreds of authentic and budget-friendly Asian and Latin American restaurants. Whether it’s your first time heading there or you’re looking for a new restaurant to try, allow this roundup of my top Buford Highway restaurant picks to be your guide:

Pho Dai Loi 2

Type: Vietnamese
What’s to love: Steaming bowls of pho with all the proper dressings on the side; blended bubble tea to beat the Atlanta heat
Try: Pho tai chin

 4186 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345

Ming’s Barbecue

Type: Chinese (Cantonese barbecue)
What’s to love: No frills authentic Cantonese restaurant with roast duck hanging in the window
Try: Beef chow fung dry; garlic eggplant; salt and pepper squid; honey barbecue pork; barbecue duck

 5150 Buford Hwy NE, Ste 300, Doraville, GA 30340

Lee’s Bakery

Type: Vietnamese
What’s to love: Cheap and delicious baguettes
Try: Banh mi #2 (roast pork); homemade kimchi

 4005 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345

Sokongdong Tofu House

Type: Korean
What’s to love: A million side dishes (banchan) of things you’ve never seen or tasted before that come with your meal
Try: Spicy tofu soup; Korean barbecue ribs; seafood pancake

 5280 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340

Man Chun Hong

Type: Korean-style Chinese food and Sichuan-style Chinese food
What’s to love: The Sichuan peppercorn-adorned dishes can do some strange things to your mouth (described as a “tingly numbness” by some) that makes eating spicy food pretty exciting/weird!
Try: spicy fried eggplant; black bean noodles; sour pork

 5953 Buford Hwy NE, Ste 105, Atlanta, GA 30340

El Rey del Taco

Type: Mexican
What’s to love: Homemade corn tortillas, excellent table salsa, and unusual meats like cow cheek (cabeza) and tongue (lengua)
Try: The tacos; the “el rey del taco”; the michelada (like a bloody Mary made with beer)

 5288 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

Bo Bo Garden

Type: Chinese Cantonese
What’s to love: Family-style lunches and dinners open until 2 am. Really cool mushroom options.
Try: Sauteed string beans; garlic snow pea tips; salt and pepper squid; three dumpling soup; Malaysian curry chicken; garlic eggplant; mushroom sliced chicken

 Pinetree Shopping Center, 5181 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340

Don’t forget to check for any Atlanta restaurant deals on Groupon before you go!

*Bonus*

There are a number of other international products and services sold on Buford Highway. The $30 hour-long foot massages at Treat Your Feet Massage are a personal favorite. The ambiance is super relaxing (just try not to fall asleep!) and you get a brief neck and head massage included at the end.

What’s your favorite restaurant on Buford Highway?? Always taking recommendations 😉

More on Atlanta:

13 Things You Need to Know About Atlanta

All about Atlanta’s Stone Mountain

Exploring Atlanta: The Hindu temple in Lilburn and Buford Highway Farmer’s Market

21 Restaurants to Try Along Atlanta’s Buford Highway – Eater Atlanta

24 Hours on Buford Highway – Atlanta Magazine