32 Rap Lyrics About Iconic Atlanta Food

Happy 404 Day! Does it have any real significance? Not really! Unless, that is, you’re an ATL-loving weirdo like me and looking for excuses to celebrate all things Atlanta. Do we include all of the other area codes? 770? 678? 470? Or is this going to open up another Omeretta sized argument about what qualifies a true ATLien?

Whether or not you consider 404 the one true ATL area code, or if you gag at OTP people claiming Atlanta as home, we can all agree – there are a number of of iconic restaurants in the city that only those who understand the culture of Atlanta can truly appreciate. What is Atlanta culture? It’s not strip clubs, even though they do boast some iconic culinary endeavors. It’s rap, and more specifically it’s Atlanta Trap music.

Because this writer can both rap the entire Lil Baby interlude in Chanel Go Get It and house a plate of lemon pepper wings in under 10 minutes, I feel more than qualified to share some of the most memorable rap lyrics about Atlanta restaurants. Despite those talents, I know I’m not going to remember to include every lyric and that some of these will be controversial inclusions. But let’s focus on what’s most important and that is the holy trinity of Atlanta dining: seafood, soul food, and chicken.

PSA: I am not the artist – just an observer and enjoyer of beautifully crafted lyrics. Some of these lyrical geniuses felt so passionate about these places and dishes that they included explicit language. So, this serves as your official warning that some of the songs quoted below contain NSFW language.

Let’s get into it.

ANN’S SNACK BAR

“I used to walk around that corner, right in Kirkwood. Ann’s Snack Bar where the food real good” – ATL Freestyle – 6LACK

Maybe I put this first because he’s my favorite artist right now or because his album just dropped. Either way, as 6lack continues his reign, one of my favorite things about his music is the continuous nods to the city of Atlanta, many of which are things you could only understand if you truly get the culture. His last album was named East Atlanta Love Letter and his current album includes a song called “Decatur” but my personal favorite is “ATL Freestyle” where he starts off by proudly recalling “I grew up eating hot wings and bumping Gucci”. While there can never be enough talk about wings, his particular call out later in the song to Ann’s Snack Bar cements his knowledge of iconic restaurants specifically in East Atlanta.

While it’s unfortunately no longer open, if you have ever been through Kirkwood in the past couple of decades you couldn’t miss Ann’s Snack Bar. Most well known for their “Ghetto Burger” the restaurant was owned and solely operated by the absolute queen, Miss Ann, from 1971 until 2015 then later closed in 2022. There was nothing pretentious about the food or experience at Ann’s Snack Bar and for that very reason she caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal which dubbed the Ghetto Burger the best burger in America. No one can argue this against the simple fact that it is a double bacon chili cheeseburger. No explanation necessary.

HOOTERS

“Courtney from Hooters on Peachtree” – From Time – DRAKE

Okay so yes this one might be a stretch but, in my defense, Hooters global headquarters are based in Atlanta, it is one of a kind, and I’m absolutely not missing an opportunity to include Drake (I’ve been dubbed Champagne Meg for many years now). Yes every street, alley, road, nook and cranny in Atlanta is named Peachtree but it just hit different hearing everyones’ papi shout out the iconic street in his 2013 hit, “From Time”. This call out in fact sent the internet into a tailspin to figure out who exactly this Courtney was and what led her getting a name drop. I like to imagine that it was love at first sight over a platter of 50 piece wings.

MOJO’S MOTOWN EATERY

“Never eatin’ chicken thighs, only a 20-piece Mojo’s” – Wailin – OUTKAST

It would be a crime to celebrate this day and not mention anything from lyrical geniuses Andre 3000 and Big Boi. The voices behind the now iconic expression, “The South Got Somethin’ to Say”, Outkast carried the hometown music scene on their backs for many years, and some of the most iconic lyrics of all time across all genres were crafted during this time. Big Boi paid homage to the classic intersection of soul food and meat and three restaurants when he shouted out the 20-piece at the no-longer-open Mojo’s Motown Eatery. Check out our interview with Big Boi, where he talks about some of his favorite restaurants growing up in Atlanta.

SPONDIVITS

“I used to jugg at Spondivits, Diamonds for wife and the children, This is my life I’mma live it” – Here We Go Again – 2CHAINZ

Alright this one is a real test of having your ears to the Atlanta (probably named Peachtree) streets. After almost 40 years in the city, generations of Atlantans have had their own Spondivits experience at one time or another. While we are a mostly landlocked state, aside from soul food and wings, seafood has absolutely dominated our city’s cuisine and in the more recent years there has been an influx of “seafood-in-a-bag” style restaurants.

“I eat at Spondivit’s” – Smoke – VALEE & JUICEWORLD

“Spondivits eating calamari, I pay all” – Luv Deez Hoes – YO GOTTI

“I’m tryna go get it, Might just take your $#!@ to Spondivits, My pockets be looking like spinach” – Look Ma I did it – GUCCI MANE

“At Spondivits four times a week, Bucket of crab legs, Slick had the lobsters” – Trap Star – JEEZY

But before it was trendy to post your crab leg brunch on your Instagram story, there was a time where all you had to remember was to “Shuck and Suck”. Those aren’t my words but rather the tagline of the always iconic Spondivits that has gotten continuous shoutouts from rappers across generations from Jeezy to Lil Yachty and many more in between. Any place that can claim to have the planet’s freshest seafood – yes I said planet, not city, state, or country – and has operated for over four decades deserves our respect. We are literally going to let them cook.

“I go to Spondivits to get surf and turf, I don’t stay at Four” – Wombo – LIL YACHTY

“At Spondivits off of Virginia, Ain’t no contender” – Anyway – GUCCI MANE

MAGIC CITY

“Magic City on a Monday” – Plastic Bags – FUTURE & DRAKE

Ooops, here I am again being controversial. Who am I kidding, no i’m not…it’s 404 day and you can’t celebrate Atlanta without mentioning Magic City wings. Future might have been focused on some things other than the wings when he rapped on “Plastic Bag” but I’m here to pay some respect – not only to the wings, but also how authentically “Atlanta” Magic City is and always will be. Yes, it IS notable that so much money gets thrown around that at the end of the night the women leave with plastic bags overflowing with cash.

“Feel like a Magic City Monday” – Magic City Monday – JEEZY feat FUTURE & 2CHAINZ

The music is great, the ladies are fabulous, the drinks are flowing, but the most exciting part of the night is deeming when it’s an appropriate time to order wings. Made famous nationally by self proclaimed wing connoisseur (and local basketball legend), Lemon Pepper Lou Williams, there is magic inside that styrofoam box. Due to their recent culinary renaissance, they have even gone as far to extend their brand to “Magic City Kitchen” that is open to diners Monday through Saturday 3pm – 2am, in addition to offering local delivery and nationwide delivery through Gold Belly. I’m not sure how well wings travel but I’m not above flying out some lemon pepper flats.

GIO’S

“Hey! I’m at Gio’s cookin’ chicken” – Benihana – JEEZY

Atlanta isn’t just wings, seafood, or soul food; there are plenty of restaurants around the city that have cemented themselves as local staples. Giovanni De Palma brought a taste of Italy straight to West Midtown when he opened Antico. Known for their no frills approach to crafting the perfect pizza, Antico quickly became synonymous with greatness in Atlanta and so birthed Gio’s own little italian village including the opening of his namesake restaurant, Gio’s.

One thing about Gio is that not only is he an amazing restaurateur but he’s an even better party host and he wants each experience to feel like you’re pulling up a seat to his very own kitchen table. For this reason, he has become a local celebrity and even got his very own shoutout from Jeezy. Yes, their pizza will take your breath away but Gio’s Sorrento Lemon Chicken will make your heart skip a beat.

CHICK-FIL-A

“Okay I’m straight at you, no ricochet/That $#!@ boneless, that’s Chick-fil-A” – Curtains – LIL WAYNE

Atlanta is home to the holy trinity of brand greatness in Coke, Delta and Chick-Fil-A. People often boast that a Chick-Fil-A drive-thru is a better run operation than any company or government body ever could be. I’m not quite sure what they sprinkle into their chicken batter that has people waiting in a double drive thru at all hours of the day but they’re doing something right, and of course it’s not going unnoticed by rappers.

“I $#!@ up like when I pull up on Sunday at Chick-Fil-A” – Shine – AMINE

They boast their spirituality but it seems rather cruel to deny patrons the opportunity for a hangover curing chicken mini Sunday experience. Nonetheless, they have received shoutouts from rap greatness Lil Wayne and more recently, Amine who has also lamented the lack of a Chick-Fil-A experience on Sundays.

POPEYE’S

“Trap $#!@ with the chickens like Popeye’s (Popeye’s)” – Stir Fry – MIGOS

Did you know Popeye’s global headquarters are based in Atlanta? Well now you do, but I owe it to you to clarify that they sit approximately 100 ft OTP in Sandy Springs so I’ll let you decide if that makes them Atlanta-based or not. Either way it wasn’t an option to include them in this list as the only direct mention of Atlanta restaurants by our founding fathers, Migos (RIP Takeoff) is to Popeye’s in their song Stir Fry.

“I flipped the bird at the Bird – hey, what’s for dinner? Popeyes” – Family Feud – LIL WAYNE

While it is headquartered in Atlanta, Popeye’s brand pillar is serving the best fried chicken from their Louisiana Kitchen. Who would know Louisiane-food better than New Orleans born and bred Lil Wayne who, like Migos, is a fan of the brand.

CHICKEN-N-BEER

“And I got restaurants inside Atlanta’s airport” – In My Life – LUDACRIS

Okay so he doesn’t mention his restaurant by name, but the restaurant is named after a previous album, Chicken-n-Beer. Aside from our fantastic restaurants, we also get to claim the world’s busiest, most efficient and – dare I say – iconic airport. I owe it to 404 Day to shout out the magical operation that goes on at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport day in and day out. I’m sure there are plenty of accolades that stand out in Ludacris’ career but having an acclaimed restaurant in Concourse D(D5) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport cements his role in all aspects of Atlanta culture. Now let’s just hope travelers can get through the TSA line in time to grab some Chicken and Waffles before their flight.

JR CRICKETS

“I get J.R. Crickets some Spelman girls” – Dream / Southern Hospitality / Partna Dem – CHILDISH GAMBINO

Oh you think you love Atlanta? Well why haven’t you created a show about it? Childish Gambino, or Donald Glover if you’re feeling formal, already did it, so don’t worry about it. He has found a way to bring Atlanta nuances to life in a satirical way on his show called, guess the name, yep Atlanta. Before the birth of the show Childish Gambino was crafting some of the most unique sounds and his mixtapes became works of art themselves. On the intro of his STN MTN, Dream / Southern Hospitality / Partna Dem, he spits through a three part story where he lays out how he would run Atlanta if he could, then raps over 2 of beats used by another previously mentioned Atlanta legend, Ludacris.

The most notable restaurant name drop in this song comes after Gambino takes a walk down memory lane lyrically of what used to be in Atlanta. A time when 97.5 was still a rap station, the Brave’s home was Turner Field, and Freaknik was going strong. He mentions one of the most iconic, if not the most iconic, wing spots in Atlanta, JR Crickets. After being open 30+ years their team proudly claims that they have served over 60 million wings. I’m not sure who did that math or how they came to that number, but from the wing bones littering parking lots and streets all over the city, I’m not second guessing that fact for one second.

WINGSTOP

​​She thinking Phillipe’s, I’m thinking Wingstop/ Fiending lemon pepper – MC Hammer – RICK ROSS

I know I mentioned that there is more to Atlanta than wings which is true but it is also the backbone of our cuisine so of course there have to be multiple places shouted out in songs. Just as there is a debate between blue cheese or ranch, flat versus drums, there is also an endless debate on the best place for wings.

“When I hit a lick it I bought a Wingstop (twenty of em)/ I sprinkle lemon pepper in that re-up” – Trap Boomin – RICK ROSS

While Wingstop doesn’t serve the most iconic wings in my humble opinion, the best thing they have going for them is accessiblity – there are 6 Wingstops, from Piedmont Rd to Cascade to Old National to Howell Mill and more. Wingstop’s biggest fan is Rick Ross – probably because he owns over 20 of them, and because he thinks their wings are the best. He shamelessly plugs the brand any chance he can on features with other Atlanta legends, Ludacris and Gucci.

“She super sexy so I treat her to my Wingstop” – Do Sumthing Strange – RICK ROSS

WAFFLE HOUSE

“Favorite spot was the Waffle House, Patty melt with the hash browns” – Big Amount – 2 CHAINZ

“Our first date was the Waffle House, Different day, different escapades” – Extremely Blessed – 2 CHAINZ

What is more iconic than Atlanta rap? Obviously Waffle House. Just as there is magic in lyrics there is magic in every single experience at Waffle House. Whether you’re being wholesome and eating it for breakfast, as it was intended, or you’re eating it in the early hours of the morning under the fluorescent lights, hearing that angel yell out “2 scrambled eggs with cheese, crispy hashbrowns and crispy bacon” will bring a tear to even the least sober eye. For this reason, rappers have continuously mentioned Waffle House year over year. Here are some of the most iconic mentions of the Waffle…Home.

“”After the party, it’s the Waffle House, If you’ve ever been here, you know what I’m talkin’ about.” – Welcome to Atlanta (Coast 2 Coast Remix) – JERMAINE DUPRI, DIDDY, SNOOP DOGG, MURPHY LEE

“That’s syrup gang, Waffle House” – Cashed Out – LIL WAYNE

“Had a drunken mind, club wobbled out / Next stop: Start trouble inside the Waffle House.” – Wet Wipes – CAM’RON

“Eastside Atlanta, flyest $#!@ in a Waffle House, If it ain’t money, man, we ain’t got $#!@ to talk about” – Arrangement – CHILDISH GAMBINO

“I got ’em scattered, covered, smothered like hash browns / See I’m the best just ask around.” – Take Ya Home – BOW WOW

“3 a.m. now I’m splittin’ with her, 4 a.m. at the Waffle House, 5 a.m. now we at my house” — Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up) – JAY-Z

“Gator Belts and Patty Melts” – So Fresh, So Clean – OUTKAST

“Breakfast at the Waffle House, / 20 sausage biscuits. / Hold on, ‘scuse me, ma’am, what come on a sausage biscuit?” – Waffle House – TRAVIS PORTER feat. WAKA FLOCKA FLAME

With Love,

– Champagne Meg