Sometimes it is those small, no-frills restaurants that serve up some of the best home cooked food around. In Georgia, there seem to be so many hidden gem restaurants, it's hard to keep up with them all! But this particular spot that we came across, has some of the freshest, tastiest food that is served up with lightning speed. Fast flavors without a wait. What more could you ask for? Take a look at A Bag to Go...
A Bag to Go is an all-American restaurant serving up fresh, fast food that will tickle your tastebuds.
I'm not always the most adventurous of eaters: I'm a vegetarian and don't care for spicy dishes. It's for this reason that I spent much of my life avoiding ramen. Like many uninformed Westerners, I thought of it as a dish that's made from colorful 99-cent packages picked up at your local grocery store. A staple of impoverished college students, perhaps, but not a classy dish enjoyed by those with more discerning palates. I recently had the oh-so-pleasant experience of realizing just how wrong I was when I tried restaurant ramen for the first time, and it's quickly become one of my favorite dishes that I seek out when traveling. In a state with as many international restaurants as Georgia, I'm sure there are plenty of really incredible ramen dishes all over the Peach State, but I've yet to find any more delicious than Okiboru Ramen & Tsukemen. You'll find four locations throughout the Atlanta area, and while I've been frequenting the newest, in Buford, there are other branches in Sandy Springs, Duluth, and Buckhead. Whichever one you go to, you're sure to find some of the best ramen near Atlanta.
advertisement
Lisa Sammons/Only In Your State
The Buford location, pictured above, is conveniently located just outside the Mall of Georgia, the largest mall in the Peach State. I first visited on a whim after stopping by for a little shopping. There's no shortage of attractions in the area if you're looking to enjoy a day trip. This is one of the busiest of Atlanta's suburbs, and you'll find tons of great shopping opportunities and delicious restaurants...though, I've got to say, Okiboru is definitely the best I've tried thus far!
The restaurant's other locations are in New York City (plus a now-shuttered branch in Los Angeles). In 2019, Okiboru was awarded the coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The Bib Gourmand Award is intended to recognize quality restaurants that serve amazing food at lower price points. The famous Michelin Star scale is typically reserved for fine dining restaurants with much higher food bills.
Lisa Sammons/Only In Your State
I highly recommend starting off your meal with an appetizer of garlic nori fries. These crispy fries were an incredible texture. I preferred them without the included garlic mayonnaise-based sauce, as I found that they were delicious enough to not need condiments.
Lisa Sammons/Only In Your State
For the main course, I ordered yasai ramen, the restaurant's only vegetarian broth. I had no idea this veggie-and-mushroom broth dish would be so delicious, but it's no exaggeration to say it's one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. I had to refrain from licking the bowl clean each time I've eaten here, because it really is that good! The homemade broth is simmered for hours each day, leading to a rich flavor full of umami and that comforting feeling that comes from eating a warm dish.
There are a lot of great restaurants in this area of the state, but I'm honestly going to have trouble visiting anywhere other than Okiboru when I'm nearby! I am not typically a fan of hot food on a warm day, but this ramen was so delicious that I am sure I'll be enjoying it year-round.
For more information about this amazing ramen restaurant near Atlanta, check out the Okiboru Ramen & Tsukeman website.
One of my favorite things about living in Georgia is just how many opportunities the state has for stupendous dining. There are countless great restaurants in the Peach State, whether you're in a metropolis like Atlanta or checking out some of our rural small towns. Those who live in Columbus, GA, are particularly fortunate because you'll find the delightful little Thai Orchid Restaurant there. This place is quite tiny and extremely unassuming. With just a few tables inside and a decided lack of pizazz, it's easy to miss this little spot heading down the highway. Skipping out would be a mistake, however, because this is one of the best hidden gems in Georgia, and it's definitely the place for Thai food when you're visiting Columbus.
Tucked away in a tiny building just off a parkway, Thai Orchid Restaurant is practically the very definition of a hidden gem. Only a handful of guests are served at a time, and you might have to wait a little while for your food to be cooked but trust us: it's definitely worth the time. Everything is made fresh to order, and the quality shines through in the dishes.
The restaurant may be small, but the portions are sizable, and it's not uncommon to bring home leftovers... if you can keep from eating all the food at once, that is!
The staff at Thai Orchid Restaurant are immensely helpful. It can be overwhelming to dine at an international restaurant if you're not a particularly adventurous eater, but it's always comforting when you dine somewhere where the employees are comfortable answering questions and making recommendations. Even when there's only one staff on shift, you can expect to receive guidance for what dishes are up your alley, whether you're hunting down the spiciest of eats or prefer something a little milder.
From Pad Thai to drunken noodles, you'll find a variety of authentic Thai dishes on the menu here, and the common thread with everything served at Thai Orchid Restaurant is that all of the food is made with passion, and you'll enjoy tons of flavor.
