Southern Meals & Holiday Thrills in Henry County, GA

 MUST-TRY RESTAURANTS

Southern Fusion Dining

Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove dishes up a Southern breakfast you will never forget. Chef Paul Lewis, a former grenades instructor in the U.S. Army, specializes in biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, and colossal cinnamon rolls. However, his homemade frittatas are no slouches either. For the twist, try the collard green egg rolls or chicken and red velvet waffles (available on special occasions). Be sure to ask what the special cinnamon roll flavor of the day is for an extra treat.

Sweet Auburn BBQ

If you love barbeque and mac and cheese, but also love Asian food influences, Sweet Auburn BBQ in McDonough is your spot. Brother-sister duo Howard and Anita Hsu take Texas-style barbeque ribs, brisket, and pulled pork and add Asian-inspired flavors and sides like pimento cheese wantons or brisket egg rolls. Order the Bulgogi salad or the Southern Seoul sandwich for something a little different but no less delicious. Try the BBQ Omakase for a bit of everything—bring friends, because it feeds four!

Adding to their local focus, Sweet Auburn BBQ proudly serves New Creations Soda Works beverages—handcrafted sodas made right here in Georgia. Each flavor, from the Krumkae Butter Pecan Cream Soda to the Peaches Georgia Peach Soda and Savannah Banana Split Cream Soda, supports a company that blends creativity with community impact. New Creations Soda Works donates a portion of proceeds to fund youth programs and creative outreach initiatives across the state—making every sip a sweet way to give back.

Green Front Café

The Green Front Café started simply as a way for owner Carrie Mae Hambrick to feed her Stockbridge community in 1947. The quality of the food and Mrs. Hambrick’s insistence that anyone—Black or White—was welcome at her table, as long as they were respectful, meant that the restaurant soon took over the family home. Mrs. Hambrick continued to serve the community for over 50 years before her retirement in the early 2000s.

The café sat vacant for many years before the Miller Family purchased and restored the café to its former green glory. While burgers and meatloaf are still on the menu, Chef Tony showcases his Jamaican roots with items like oxtails and jerk chicken.

Rutabaga’s Market & Café

Two best friends took a family recipe for zucchini relish and grew it into a popular line of relishes, dips, and rubs. Michelle Pyrtle and Tracy North opened a market to sell their LeAnn’s Gourmet Foods products and decided to add a café for simple, but delicious, lunch options.

Rutabaga’s Market & Café is now a Downtown Hampton staple for chicken and dumplings, pea salad, and a hot ham and cheese sandwich. Enjoy a homemade pimento cheese sandwich in the café, and take a Spinach Artichoke Dip dry packet or Southern-canned Vidalia Onion Relish as a souvenir.

Drip-Thru Coffee

If you’re looking for your caffeine fix on the go, stop by Drip-Thru Coffee, a 135-foot, double-sided, drive-thru-only coffee shop that’s redefining convenience with a conscience. The business prides itself on maintaining a small footprint—both physically and environmentally. Every cup of coffee served is free trade, organic and Georgia-roasted. All the cups and straws are also compostable or biodegradable, proving that sustainability and great coffee can go hand in hand.

Welcome Home Creamery & More

It is never too cold for ice cream, and Welcome Home Creamery & More in Hampton offers award-winning flavors, like their Southern Banana Pudding. One taste and you will know that a whole, homemade banana pudding went into the ice cream maker to create this beautiful dessert.

In addition to traditional flavors, they also offer lavender, peach, and maple walnut among their 30 rotating options. While it may be chilly outdoors, the bright and inviting shop creates a warm atmosphere where you can connect with family.