Food is a great way to introduce children to different cultures, and having new foods can help children better develop their palate. That’s why we at Crème de la Crème of Alpharetta on Nesbit Ferry Road incorporate food and cooking into our culture-rich curriculum. You can see what your child likes and dislikes by visiting trying any of these six ethnic restaurants to try Alpharetta’s best internationally inspired foods.

Dos Margaritas

Dos Margaritas serves some of the best Mexican food around, including vegetarian dishes and brunch-ready platters. Introduce your kids to Mexican cuisine by way of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or a combo platter with one of each and rice and beans. Or, if you have a particularly adventurous kiddo, share some fajitas with them or have them try a house special like a chimichanga or the mini version called “chimis.” This restaurant also serves fresh guacamole and house salsa, and for brunch options, you can choose huevos rancheros, huevos con chorizo, or the breakfast burrito.

You can find this delicious Mexican restaurant at 12460 Crabapple Road. They’re open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Bezoria

Falafel from an ethnic restaurant in Alpharetta, GA

falafel” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by apasciuto

Fall in love with the flavors of the Middle East and the Mediterranean at Bezoria in Alpharetta. This local chain specializes in simple bowls, pitas, and flatbreads topped with deliciously spiced proteins, vegetables, and sauces. You can order a pita or flatbread or a bowl with a rice, salad, or hummus base. Then, choose chicken or steak shawarma, lamb, falafel, or grilled veggies. Finish it off with cabbage, tomato and cucumber, spiced onions, pickles, pickled turnips, and sauces like tahini or hot Sahara sauce. 

Kids will love that they get to choose the toppings and make a dish that is as unique as them. And they get to mix and match to try new flavors and veggies. Plus, they can also order french fries as the side for a little taste of something familiar.

Visit Bezoria’s Alpharetta location at 2685 Old Milton Parkway #150. They’re open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Café Efendi

Another Mediterranean restaurant on the list, Café Efendi serves lunch, dinner, and desserts. Need a place for lunch? Stop by every weekday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for their lunch specials, including wraps, salads, and a starter, entree, and dessert combination special for under $12. Dinner is a bit more expensive, but you get larger portions of favorites like kebabs, kofte, sautees, Turkish pizza, and moussaka. And while Café Efendi’s kids menu has some American staples like chicken fingers, your children can also order kofte, which is ground beef patties and rice, or Turkish-seasoned chicken with rice.

Finish your meal with homemade baklava, kunefe (shredded phyllo dough and Turkish cheese), or five-layer chocolate cake. Parents can come back by themselves to enjoy the hookah bar and massive drinks list, too, which includes wine, beer, and house cocktails. Find Café Efendi at 488 N. Main St. in Alpharetta. They’re open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Natsu Sushi Bar & Ocean Grill

Craving sushi? Head over to the Terraces at Windward for Natsu Sushi Bar & Ocean Grill. This restaurant has about three dozen appetizers, including dumplings, poke, tartare, spring rolls, and egg rolls. They also have just as many, if not more, specialty sushi roll options, and plenty of fresh sashimi (just fish) and nigiri (fish over rice) to choose from.

Sushi can be a great treat for older children, but if you have kids 5 years old and under, consider ordering one of Natsu’s amazing noodle dishes for them instead. Yakisoba, which is pan-fried egg noodles with pork or chicken and veggies, and tonkatsu, ramen served in a pork broth with pork, veggies, and boiled egg, are two yummy options. 

You can find Natsu Sushi Bar at 3070 Windward Plaza X1 in Alpharetta. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Hai Chinese Restaurant

Have some of the most delicious, authentic Chinese dishes without ever leaving North Georgia. Many kids love the starchy rice, fresh veggies, and seasoned protein like chicken, beef, or tofu that makes up many of this place’s dishes.

Hai serves up dim sum and small plates of scallion pancakes, spring rolls, wontons, and steamed pork buns in addition to cold appetizers like cucumber salad and chilled spicy beef tenderloin. Then, taste your way through freshly steamed vegetables, stone pot dishes, marinated chicken, pork, beef, or fish served over rice, and noodle dishes like lo mein. They also serve many of their dishes in lunch-sized portions with a side of soup earlier in the day, too. 

This authentic Chinese restaurant is located in the Plaza at Windward at 5530 Windward Parkway, Suite 440, in Alpharetta. You can visit every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Caribbean Fiesta

Get a little bit of everything from Caribbean Fiesta, including staples like jerk chicken, fresh seafood, and beef patty pastries. You can also taste the wonderful flavors of Caribbean curry, stewed oxtail, and all kinds of roti (a type of wrap) filled with goat, chicken, and vegetables. Grab a side of macaroni and cheese or french fries for a taste of the familiar, or have some fried plantains. 

You can find Caribbean Fiesta at 4000 North Point Parkway in Alpharetta. They’re open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.So there you have it, our favorite ethnic cuisines in Alpharetta. From Mediterranean to Japanese to Caribbean and more, there is so much to love about the area’s international food scene. Did we miss your favorite go-to spot for delicious ethnic food? Let Crème de la Crème of Alpharetta know, and we’ll be sure to add it to our list!