Take them where Atlanta actually eats: Buford Highway, the South's famous international food corridor. It's the meal visitors talk about after they go home. And if your timing is right, end the night at Master Pho in Doraville for the monthly Pho Challenge - 99 contestants racing giant bowls of pho, free to watch. Next contest: Sunday, August 2, 2026, 8:00 PM.
Why Buford Highway beats the tourist list
Anyone can look up the famous spots downtown. What visitors can't get at home is a corridor of first-generation kitchens - Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Mexican - stacked one strip mall after another. It's the thing Buford Highway is known for, and it's fifteen minutes from most of the metro.
The itinerary that always works
- Do a mini food crawl - two or three stops, share everything. Here's how to pick.
- End with pho - a giant bowl at Master Pho is the corridor's signature finish. First-timers, order this.
- Time it to contest night - once a month the dining room becomes an arena: 99 contestants, giant bowls, a 200+ crowd cheering. Free for spectators, unforgettable for guests.
- Jet lag? No problem - Master Pho is open 24/7, so the 5 AM arrival crowd eats as well as the 8 PM crowd.
The practical bits
5145 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville - just inside I-285, free parking, menu at masterphoga.com. Bringing a crowd? The room seats 200+; call +1 (678) 743-9999 ahead for large parties.
Join the Pho Challenge - $35
Only 99 seats · every contestant outside the top 5 gets a $25 gift card