You don’t have to leave Alpharetta, Georgia or travel far to experience new foods and cultures. Alpharetta and the North Atlanta region are teeming with amazing authentic ethnic cuisines from around the world for you and your family to try. And while we couldn’t list every great ethnic restaurant, be sure to check out some of our favorites that we’ve rounded up below. 

Experience Mediterranean Flavors at Bezoria

If you’re looking to indulge in the fantastic flavors of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, look no further than Bezoria. Bezoria was started in 2014 by three founders, and there are now three locations in Georgia. The restaurant is known for its delicious food, excellent customer service, and great management. If you’re stopping by, try some of the fan favorites, including the chicken shawarma. If you want to experiment with some shareable options, order one of the many different flavors of hummus including Spicy Hummus and Zesty Hummus. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12-8 p.m. on Sunday. 

Try New Spices at Madras Chettinaad

If you’re looking for more spice, be sure to check out Madras Chettinaad, serving authentic South Indian cuisine. Because Indian food incorporates a lot of vegetables, you can find a lot of great vegetarian dishes without compromising on taste, including delicious curries and dosai. Non-vegetarian dishes are based around seafood, chicken, and lamb. Madras focuses on cuisine from the Tamil Nadu state in India, which is at the southernmost tip of the country and has its own distinct flavors.

If you’re new to South Indian food, Madras Chettinaad suggests trying their dosai to start. It’s a South Indian delicacy that comes in many varieties and flavors, and is essentially a crepe filled with stuffing. One dosai can be a meal, or you can share it amongst friends and family. Choose from more than a dozen varieties on the menu. Madras is open daily for dinner from 5-10 p.m. They also serve a lunch buffet daily if you want to stop by during work and try a number of foods for a set price. 

Order an Authentic Cuban at Lazaro’s Cuban Cuisine

Image via Flickr by jeffreyw

You’re missing out if you have never tried authentic Cuban food, and Lazaro’s Cuban Cuisine in Roswell, Georgia, is a great place to introduce yourself. Owner and chef Lazaro’s passion is cooking and fine food, and all of the menu items feature fresh, high-quality ingredients. Everything at Lazaro’s is prepared from scratch. Popular items include the Cuban sandwich because what better place to order a Cuban sandwich than at an authentic Cuban eatery? Other fan favorites are the fried yuca, roast pork, and shredded beef. 

Beyond the food, you’ll love the intimate yet trendy atmosphere the restaurant has to offer. The eclectic decor pays homage to the motherland while helping this location stand out from other restaurants in the area. Lazaro’s is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner and closed on Mondays. 

Hit Another Stop in the Caribbean at Kool Runnings

If your palate wants to stay south of the United States, Kool Runnings in Norcross offers true home-style Jamaican dishes. Get a taste of the Caribbean with delicious entrees that are satisfying and also affordable. Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes are curried goat and rasta pasta, as well as more well-known meat dishes like jerk chicken and oxtails. They also offer dishes for customers that they call “flexitarian,” as in those who want a vegetarian dish with a dash of oxtail gravy on top.

Kool Runnings has a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere with big-screen televisions and background music to keep you entertained while you enjoy your authentic Jamaican dishes. The restaurant is open daily until late at night, so you can satisfy your Jamaican craving when you need to. 

Experience Lao Culture at Snackboxe Bistro

Located in Doraville, Georgia, Snackboxe Bistro is the go-to spot for Laotian and Asian fusion cuisine. The Atlanta-based husband and wife team founders, Vanh and Tip, have been creating unique dishes for their loved ones since 2010. Then in 2016 after a trip to Laos, they were inspired to open their own restaurant, Snackboxe, in an effort to better connect with their roots and bring their love of Lao culture and food to others. Some of the most popular dishes on the menu are the papaya salad, nam khao (crispy rice salad), and the beef jerky. Snackboxe serves generous portions, so you will never leave feeling unsatisfied. 

Find Fresh, Healthy Foods at Erawan Organic Thai 

Erawan Organic Thai serves just exactly that: authentic Thai food made with fresh, high quality, organic ingredients. Mr. Vara, the head chef and owner, has been cooking original Thai cuisine for over 15 years, and he continues to improve his recipes time after time. Erawan opened as the first organic Thai restaurant in Sandy Springs in 2004 and was a forerunner in cuisine that focused on the health of its customers. 

If you stop by, be sure to check out fan favorites like the pad thai, drunken noodles, or one of the curries like the Thai curry or yellow curry. Erawan is open Monday to Saturday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner from 5-9 p.m.. 

Try a New Side of Europe at Emidio’s

It’s very rare you stumble across a place that offers true Portuguese cuisine. That’s exactly what you will find at Emidio’s in Sandy Springs. Chef Jose Sapeta hails from the Portuguese island of Madeira, and he opened Emidio’s with the goal of bringing the best mix of Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish cuisine to North Atlanta. Make sure to taste tried-and-true dishes like the Portuguese seafood rice stew, seafood pasta, and the ratatouille. The restaurant is hidden but, once you find it, you’ll be greeted with a welcoming atmosphere paired with fine dining decor. Emidio’s is open daily during lunch and dinner hours. 

Here at Crème de la Crème of Alpharetta, we know the importance of discovering new cultures through mediums like food. Providing a well-rounded curriculum that includes Mandarin and Spanish in preschool allows our students to understand and interact with new cultures from an early age. Ethnic food is another way to begin to appreciate other cultures as well. Have a favorite ethnic restaurant that we forgot to list here? Be sure to let us know.