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10 Restaurants in Henry County, GA That Locals Love

ByPaige Watts

If you’ve only stopped in Henry County, Georgia for a quick bite off I-75, you’ve barely scratched the surface of its incredible food scene. Beyond the chain restaurants, locals know this South Metro Atlanta county is bursting with creative chefs, family-run cafés, and foodie surprises you won’t want to miss.

Where else can you find a former Army grenade instructor serving up the best Southern breakfast you’ve ever had, New York bagels flown in fresh from NYC, and an award-winning baker turning out cupcakes fit for TV? Henry County’s mix of comfort food, innovation, and heartfelt local stories makes it a must-visit for any foodie.

After eating my way through McDonough, Locust Grove, Stockbridge, and Hampton, I’ve rounded up the restaurants in Henry County that locals truly love, and all the dishes you absolutely must try.

A special thanks to Visit Henry County, GA for hosting my trip! As always, all opinions are my own.

A wooden platter filled with various barbecued meats, including ribs and chicken wings, accompanied by sides like green beans, fries, pickles, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and toast at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia.

Best Restaurants in Henry County, GA

1. Sweet Auburn BBQ

BBQ, Asian Fusion

A wooden board topped with a variety of foods, including ribs, chicken, fries, green beans, pickles, slaw, mac and cheese, and brussels sprouts at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia.
A vibrant red cocktail with a sugared rim and a lemon slice garnish and two black straws siting on a wooden table at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia.
A tray of six crispy wontons garnished with green onions beside a cup of red dipping sauce at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia. Drinks and napkins are in the background on a wooden table.
Plate of crispy egg rolls filled with shredded meat and vegetables, garnished with cilantro, a side of red sauce, and pickled onions at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia.
Two cheeseburgers with pickles and onions on a tray. Served with drinks and fries in the background at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia.
A gourmet burger cut in half, with juicy beef, pink pickled onions, and crispy bacon between a golden bun, placed on a rustic plate at Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough, Georgia.

Sweet Auburn BBQ is one of the best restaurants in McDonough, offering Southern barbecue with an Asian twist.

Howard and Anita Hsu started out in the restaurant business with Gezzo’s West Coast Burritos (another great Henry County restaurant), and then started to branch out into barbecue. Their BBQ recipes won the Chomp and Stomp chili cook off, Suwanee Wing Festival, and more. That’s when the famous Sweet Auburn Market in Atlanta invited them to open a permanent restaurant within the market, and Sweet Auburn BBQ was born.

Sweet Auburn BBQ is an essential Atlanta barbecue spot. I recommend the BBQ Omakase, a sort of “chef’s choice” of their best selections with Pimento Cheese Wontons, Smoked Brisket Egg Rolls, Pulled Pork, Chopped Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, Wutang Wings, and sides like Mac & Cheese, Fires, Wok Fired Green Beans, and Tai Chile Brussel Sprouts. The Wagyu Brisket Burger is also incredible. To drink, I did their Blackberry Lemonade cocktail.

My favorite was the Smoked Brisket Egg Rolls. And you’ll start to notice an egg roll theme in Henry County; yep, they’ve put together a Henry County Egg Roll Trail!

1828 Jonesboro Rd, McDonough, GA 30253

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2. 15th Street Pizza & Pub

Pizza, Pub

A black plate holds golden-brown egg rolls filled with a savory mixture of ground beef and cheese, with a cup of marinara sauce sprinkled with parmesan cheese sitting at the center at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.
A metal plate with cheesy pizza rolls encircling a small bowl of red marinara sauce topped with grated cheese, on a wooden table at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.
A hearty meatball sub with tomato sauce and melted cheese on a toasted bun sits next to a pile of crispy fried banana peppers on a metal tray at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.
A serving of crispy garlic parmesan chicken tenders and golden French fries on branded paper with a small cup of creamy dipping sauce on the side, at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.
A close-up of a small cheese and pickle pizza on a metal tray, with a larger pepperoni pizza in the background at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.
Close-up of two pizzas on metal plates at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia. The front pizza is topped with fresh greens and shaved cheese, while the back pizza has pepperoni.
Three pizzas on metal trays sit on a wooden table: a pepperoni and mushroom, a Caesar salad-topped pizza with shavings of cheese, and a white cheese pizza pickles and herbs from 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.
Cheese pizza with pepperoni and mushroom cut into eight slices on a silver tray, surrounded by plates on a wooden table at 15th Street Pizza & Pub in McDonough, Georgia.

For the best pizza in Henry County, 15th Street Pizza & Pub is definitely the place. This family-owned pizza joint serves pizza, wings, sandwiches, and more then 65 beers on tap.

And you won’t believe some of their specialty pizza concoctions. Owner Patrick McHugh loves to experiment and come up with new things, so that’s how you get options like the Pickle Pizza and the Wine & Cheese Pizza.

I recommend the Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza, a classic Mushroom and Pepperoni Pizza, the Pickle Pizza if you like pickles, the Meatlover Egg Rolls, their Pepperoni Rolls that are like their version of pizza rolls, the Meatball Sub, the Fried Banana Peppers, and their garlic parmesan Boneless Bites.

1927 Jonesboro Rd, McDonough, GA 30253

3. Southern Fusion Dining

Southern, Breakfast

A plate of golden-brown fried egg rolls filled with greens, arranged on a bed of lettuce with Two small containers of sauce on the side at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.
Red velvet waffles drizzled with icing, served with crispy fried chicken and a small container of syrup on a white plate at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.
A blueberry cinnamon roll with icing drizzled on top, sprinkled with powdered sugar, sitting on a white plate against a dark background at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.
A glazed cinnamon roll on a white plate, drizzled with icing and dusted with powdered sugar at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.
A breakfast sandwich with a bun, melted cheddar cheese, bacon, and eggs sits on a white plate with red drinks and another plate visible in the background at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.
Biscuits smothered in thick, creamy sausage gravy on a beige oval plate at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.
A breakfast plate with a frittata on the left, topped with slices of sausage and cheese, and a red bowl of seasoned roasted potatoes on the right at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia. A white mug and other breakfast items on plates are blurred in the background.
A plate with crispy fried fish on creamy grits, with a small cup of tartar sauce on the side at Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove, Georgia.

Southern Fusion Dining has the best breakfast in Locust Grove. This down-to-earth cafe serves a classic Southern breakfast and lunch, including their famous Colossal Cinnamon Rolls.

Chef Paul Lewis spent 20 years as an Army grenade instructor before retiring and exploring his passion for the culinary arts. His dishes are inspired by his mother’s cooking, and each one is packed with an explosion of flavors.

I recommend the Colossal Cinnamon Roll (both the original and whatever seasonal flavor Chef Paul has whipped up — we had a berry one), the Collard Green Egg Rolls when they’re available, the Bagel Sandwich with Ham & Cheese, and the Southern Chicken & Waffles with Red Velvet Waffles (listen, Chef Paul’s fried chicken is the best in Atlanta).

Other top contenders include the Frittata, the Sausage Gravy & Biscuits, and the Catfish.

656 Peeksville Rd, Locust Grove, GA 30248

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4. Green Front Café

Soul Food, Southern

Green Front Cafe in Stockbridge, Georgia, a small, vibrant green building with large wooden windows and a brick chimney. Steps lead to the entrance, flanked by potted plants and informational signs.
A Philly cheesesteak with melted cheese and green peppers in a toasted roll, served with crinkle-cut fries on a checkered tablecloth at Green Front Cafe in Stockbridge, Georgia.
A plate of jerk chicken wings and crinkle-cut fries on a yellow tray with white paper, set on a checkered tablecloth at Green Front Cafe in Stockbridge, Georgia.
Bowl of hearty chicken soup with vegetables, placed on a checkered tablecloth, with a can of soda and glass are visible in the background, at Green Front Cafe in Stockbridge, Georgia.

Green Front Café is a historic restaurant in Stockbridge — in fact, it’s considered the city’s first restaurant. They’ve been serving Southern classics and soul food since 1947.

Original owner Carrie Mae Hambrick started serving the community out of her own home, selling hamburgers and hot dogs out of the front room. Carrie Mae served both Black and white diners, even though segregation was still heavily prevalent during the time. She continued to serve the community from her family home until the early 2000s.

After her death in 2010, the home sat vacant until the mother-daughter team of Diane and Malana Miller bought it in 2018 and brought the “Green Lady” back to life. Diane is so passionate about bringing the restaurant back to the community and honoring Carrie Mae’s legacy.

You can still find Carrie Mae’s hot dogs and hamburgers on the menu, with soul flair added by Diane. I recommend the J Milly Philly, the Chicken Soup, and the Jerk Chicken Wings.

112 2nd St, Stockbridge, GA 30281

5. SDK’s Café & Coffee

Bagels, Breakfast

A vibrant rainbow bagel filled with cream cheese held in-hand, accompanied by a refreshing iced drink in a plastic cup on a black table at SDK's Cafe & Coffee in McDonough, Georgia.
Colorful rainbow bagel sliced in half, filled with creamy white spread at SDK's Cafe & Coffee in McDonough, Georgia.

SDK’s Café & Coffee is a local cafe in McDonough that serves New York bagels that are actually flown in from NYC multiple times a week. So if you’ve been looking for that perfect NY bagel, this is it! They also have pastries, coffee, and tea.

I recommend the Rainbow Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese, plus their Tropical Sunset refresher, which is an in-house juice-and-tea blend that combines their Georgia Sunset and It’s Tropical refreshers for the perfect drink.

2106 Jodeco Rd, McDonough, GA 30253

6. Crumbles by Nicole

Bakery, Cupcakes

Display case with three shelves of cupcakes, including red velvet, cookies and cream, and chocolate varieties at Crumbles by Nicole in Locust Grove, Georgia.

Crumbles by Nicole is an adorable Locust Grove bakery from baker Nicole Silva who has competed and won many TV baking challenges like ABC’s Great American Baking Show, Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge, Food Network’s Haunted Gingerbread Showdown, and Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge Allstars.

They offer cupcakes with a rotating 12 different flavors, cakes, artisan cookies, and sourdough breads. I recommend the Cookie Dough Cupcake, the Plain Sourdough, and the Bacon Cheddar Sourdough.

3988 GA-42, Locust Grove, GA 30248

7. Drip-Thru Coffee

Coffee, Drive-Thru

A hand holds a plastic cup filled with iced matcha latte, labeled "World Centric For A Better World" from Drip-Thru Coffee in Stockbridge, Georgia. The background shows the interior of a car.

Drip-Thru Coffee is the smallest coffee shop you’ve ever seen. It’s drive-thru only with two lanes. They specialize in serving gourmet coffee fast, and they use vendors that are local to Georgia; their coffee supplier is Cafe Campesino from Americus, GA.

I’m not a coffee drinker, so I went for their Iced Matcha.

50 Hwy 138 W, Stockbridge, GA 30281

8. Rutabaga’s Market & Cafe

Cafe, Local Goods

A vibrant charcuterie board with sliced bread, cured meats, cheeses, olives, fresh vegetables, fruits, and dips from Rutabaga's Market & Cafe in Hampton, Georgia arranged on a table by a brick wall.

Rutabaga’s Market & Cafe in Hampton started with two friends, Tracy North and Michelle Pyrtle, and a line of gourmet foods inspired by an old family recipe. In the eatery, you’ll find salads, sandwiches, and soups; in the market, you’ll find LeAnn’s Gourmet Foods, the line of relishes, jams, jellies, butters, dressings, sauces, and pickled products that started it all.

They also do catering with their elaborate charcuterie boards, which is what we got to try out when we did candle making next door at The Maker on Main, one of the unexpected Henry County experiences I got to try!

1 Cherry St, Hampton, GA 30228

9. Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast

Special Occasions, Lakeside

A fresh salad of mixed greens, cranberries, and seeds is served in a red, leaf-shaped dish on a silver platter for dinner served at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia.
A plate with roasted chicken, seasoned potatoes, and sautéed zucchini with onions for dinner served at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia. A glass of iced tea is in the background, set on a textured tablecloth.
A table setting with a glass of water and iced tea in a mason jar on stems, atop a black tablecloth with a flower centerpiece and people in the background at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia.
A white ceramic dish with saucy meatballs on a silver plate at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia. Behind are water and an orange drink in glasses.
Cup of creamy soup on a textured plate, topped with a shrimp at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia.
A jar with creamy banana pudding is topped with a square biscuit featuring a crown design, set on a textured black tablecloth at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia.
Elegant outdoor dining setup under a gazebo by a serene lake, with cozy seating at Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge, Georgia. Sunlight filters through the trees.

Stockbridge Lakes Bed & Breakfast is a quaint little B&B in Henry County, and even if you aren’t staying the night there, you can still book a private lakeside dinner. They do dinners for special occasions, or just because, and you get to sit at their lakeside pavilion with a beautiful view.

We had a 5-course meal with BBQ Hawaiian meatballs, chayote squash soup, a spring salad, mango chutney chicken, and banana pudding. Also, their homemade sweet tea is addictive!

112 Old Conyers Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281

10. Knights Market

Produce, Local Goods

Knights Market in McDonough, Georgia, a vibrant garden center with colorful flowers in pots arranged on the sidewalk. A wooden cart stands nearby on a bright, sunny day with trees in the background.
Farm market interior of Knights Market in McDonough, Georgia with a checkered table displaying fresh produce like tomatoes and peaches, jars of honey, and preserves with hanging goods above.

Not actually a restaurant but still a good place for local food, Knights Market is a plant nursery and local goods market. You can find local produce, preserves, jams, fresh-made chicken salad, sweet breads, and boiled peanuts.

I recommend grabbing some goodies and putting together a picnic — Panola Mountain State Park is a great place for a picnic in Henry County!

917 Hwy 81, McDonough, GA 30253

Henry County Restaurants Map

Ready to eat your way around these restaurants in Stockbridge, McDonough, Hampton, and Locust Grove? Use the map below to find all the Henry County restaurants listed in this post.

I hope you have a great time visiting Henry County, Georgia!

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Where to Stay in Henry County, GA

More Things to Do South of Atlanta

Ready to visit Henry County, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
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Cheers!

Paige

10 Restaurants in Henry County, GA That Locals Love

What are your favorite restaurants in Henry County, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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