5 Places to Celebrate Hispanic Food Around Georgia

Hispanic Heritage Month, which ran September 15 through October 15, offers everyone a chance to celebrate the many ways Hispanic food and culture have shaped Georgia. It may be over now, but it’s never too late to delight in the delicious offerings from these cuisines. From Cuban sandwiches in Blue Ridge to Colombian bites in Savannah, there are plenty of dishes to seek out across the state. Here are five to put on your list.

Rum Cake Lady

Located near downtown Blue Ridge, Rum Cake Lady began as a way for owner Liz Correa to make money while her son was a baby. She didn’t have childcare, but she did have her mother’s rum cake recipe — and there was plenty of demand. The business grew into a brick-and-mortar shop where she sells the famed rum cakes in a variety of flavors, including limoncello. The space also has a café that sells Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, pastelitos, and more. Don’t forget a café con leche for the road.

Casa Coya

Peruvian cuisine is less common in Atlanta, and Casa Coya stands out with its high-end approach. Owned by Peruvian brothers chef Paul Rosales and Joseph Rosales, Casa Coya sits in the Madison Yards complex in Reynoldstown. The space feels upscale, with wood accents and stunning Peruvian-inspired artwork. However, the dishes are what really make the experience feel special, with standouts like the ceviche mixto, made with fresh fish, octopus, and crispy calamari; lomo saltado; and grilled octopus served with Peruvian corn.

Buena Gente

What began as a food truck that drew long lines at events around town has since evolved into a petite bakery in Decatur. Buena Gente sells killer Cuban treats, including sandwiches like the Cuban and medianoche, the latter made with mojo pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles on sweet Cuban bread. The real stars, however, are the Cuban pastries made on-site, like the guava-and-queso pastelito, empanadas with fillings like beef and chicken, and ham croquetas. The iced café con leche delivers a nice caffeine jolt, while milkshakes made with tropical fruits like mango and mamey are there when you’re in the mood for something sweet.

La Carreta

La Carreta, located in Marietta, is part restaurant, part market. The spacious dining room draws guests in with its warm atmosphere and plenty of natural light, while the Mexican and Colombian cuisine gives diners reasons to come back. Standouts on the menu include the tostones served with guacamole — the thinly smashed savory plantains are ideal scooping vessels — and tacos with proteins like carnitas and grilled steak. The cazuela de frijoles, a Colombian dish with beans, plantains, avocado, pork belly, sausage, and a fried egg, is a hearty offering that warms you from the inside out as fall weather approaches.

Antojo Latino

Antojo Latino sits off Savannah’s usual tourist path, by the Oglethorpe Mall, and serves up comforting Colombian fare and other Latin dishes. The casual spot’s standout items include empanadas prepared with Colombian corn dough with fillings like beef and chicken. The bandeja paisa is another staple, with a mountain of rice and red beans, Colombian sausage, pork belly, and a fried egg. Arepas, tostones, mofongo, and soups like ajiaco round out the menu, so there’s plenty to explore beyond the Colombian classics.

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