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In 2017, city dwellers witnessed (or heard) the spectacular implosion of the quarter-century-old Georgia Dome. The implosion that day also birthed one of Atlanta’s greatest memes, the interrupting MARTA bus, when a city bus pulled up and blocked the live stream set up by the Weather Channel of the Dome right as the detonators were set off. Only in Atlanta, right?
What rose from the rubble of the Georgia Dome was the transformer that is Mercedes-Benz Stadium with its retractable roof, now home to the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team and soccer club Atlanta United FC. The stadium hosts concerts, championship sporting events, served as both an early voting spot and a COVID-19 vaccination and testing center, and even played host to a famous houseguest in rapper Kanye West, who lived there for two weeks while recording an album in Atlanta.
Beyond the football games, soccer matches, epic concerts, and bizarre goings-on, the Benz features some top-notch stadium dining. Find stalls from local Atlanta restaurateurs like Top Chef alum Kevin Gillespie and Derrick Hayes of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks.
Familiar local restaurants and chefs are but a small sampling of what sports fans and concert goers can expect at this stadium, which includes both pricey premium food and drink items and some standard fare that’s actually affordable, and even a food truck parked right outside the Benz.
All listings below are open to the public. Private club/suite amenities are not included.
Best Food Bets
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Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks
What started off as a small operation run out of Chevron station in Doraville has turned into an Atlanta cheesesteak empire for West Philadelphia native Derrick Hayes. Big Dave’s serves up messy and meaty cheesesteaks like the beef or salmon cheesesteak stuffed with three types of cheese, sweet peppers and banana peppers, mushrooms, and onions. What to order: There’s no wrong cheesesteak order here. Try one of Big Dave’s popular cheesesteak egg rolls. Sections 117, 226, 349.
Farm Burger
This thriving local chain focuses on organic burgers, fries, and ingredients. The MBS stand also offers fresh-brewed sweet tea, beer, sodas, and bottled water. What to order: One can’t go wrong with a classic. The No. 1 Farm Burger comes with grass-fed beef, aged white cheddar, caramelized onions, and Farm Burger sauce. Section 245.
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H&F Burger and Hop’s Chicken
Chef Linton Hopkins brings both his popular double-stack cheeseburger and fried chicken sandwich to the Benz. The H&F burger was first made famous as a limited, late-night menu item at Holeman and Finch Public House. Now, Hopkins offers the double-stack at H&F Burger spots at Ponce City Market and Truist Park, home to Braves baseball. In 2015, Hopkins also debuted Hop Chicken, which serves up crispy fried chicken in buckets, boxes, and as sandwiches. What to order: The classic H&F burger and fried chicken sandwich with frim fram sauce. Section Fl.
Kevin Gillespie’s Gamechanger
Top Chef alum and restaurateur Kevin Gillespie is a lifelong Falcons fan, so it was a no-brainer for him when the Benz came calling to serve his food at the stadium. At Gamechanger, Gillespie’s team serve what he describes as “junk food of a higher quality, featuring big, bold flavors.” What to order: The Closed-on-Sunday (COS) chicken sandwich, made of a seasoned, fried chicken breast, hot sauce, and pickled mayonnaise, on a honey butter sweet roll. It’s a favorite at Gillespie’s Gunshow and Revival restaurants. Section 107.
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Molly B’s Kitchen
Named for Falcons and United owner Arthur Blank’s mother, Molly B’s takes inspiration from some of Molly Blank’s recipes to create the menu here. The dining area at Molly B’s on the 100 level is hard to beat. It’s full-service dining with wide-open views of the playing field. What to order: The Molly B’s burger is made of two short rib patties, gruyere, French onion soup mayo, dijon, pickles, and caramelized onions on a brioche bun. Section 133, 338.
West Nest by Westside Works
Students and graduates of the Westside Works Culinary Academy run these stands on the 100 and 300 levels. They’re in charge of cooking and service, and developed the West Nest menu long before Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened to the public. What to order: The premium chicken in waffle bowl is an over-the-top combination of a tempura-battered chicken tender, waffle fries, Kool-Aid pickles, and honey hot sauce in a waffle bowl. Section 115, 324.
Williamson Bros. BBQ
This local barbecue restaurant institution garnered national attention a few years back, thanks to former speaker of the house and Georgia resident Newt Gingrich, who used to order from Williamson Bros. BBQ when he was living in Washington, D.C. The Marietta restaurant now includes a location in Canton. Taking over the former Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q stalls at the Benz, people can order everything from barbecue nachos and smoked sausages to smoked wings and pulled pork sandwiches. What to order: Try the hickory fries if on the menu, smothered with pulled barbecue meat and topped with cheese and Williamson Bros. barbecue sauce. Sections 136, 238, 342.
Section-by-Section Dining Guide
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Section Field Level
- Atl BBQ
- ATL Pizza Company
- Bruster’s Ice Cream
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- Delta Sky Club
- H&F Burger/Hop’s Chicken
- Mercedes Benz Club
- Yard Dogs
Concourse 100
- ATL Fan Fare: Sections 105 and 113
- ATL Grill: Section 133
- ATL Market: Section 123
- ATL Pretzel: Section 120
- Absolut Cart: Section 124
- Avion Cart: Section 126
- Bacardi Cart: Section 117
- Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks: Section 117
- Bruster’s Ice Cream: Sections 104 and 124
- Bud & Burgers: Section 118
- Budweiser Biergarten: Section 119
- Bud Light Cart: Section 133
- Capital Crust Pizza: Sections 115 and 131
- Captain Morgan Cart: Section 117
- Chick-fil-A (Yes, it’s closed on Sundays): Section 123
- Column Bar: Section 135
- Corona Cart: Section 117
- DRNK Market: Section 107
- Dippin Dots: Sections 113 and 126
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- Fresh Mex: Sections 105 and 125
- Fries Up (open Sundays only, replacing Chick-fil-A): Section 123
- Gamechanger: Section 107
- Heineken Bar: Section 132
- Hops and Chops: Section 116
- Hot Press Express: Section 121
- Jack Daniel’s Bar: Section 114
- Java Joy: Section 116
- Meatless Grill Cart: Section 120
- Miller Lite Cart: Sections 116, 131
- Miss D’s New Orleans Style Candy & Popcorn: Sections 104 and 120
- Moe’s Southwest Grill: Section 116
- Molly B’s Kitchen: Section 133
- Papi’s Cuban Grill: Section 107
- SO:KO:ME: Section 116
- Shock Top Brat: Section 116
- Smoke and Pour Nacho Cart: Section 117
- Sweetwater Cart: Section 110
- Terrapin Brewing Bar: Section 106
- The Mac Shac Cart: Section 122
- Tito’s Vodka Cart: Section 113
- West Nest by Westside Works: Section 115
- Williamson Bros. BBQ: Section 136
Concourse 200
- 4 Rivers BBQ: Section 218
- Absolut Cart: Section 202
- ATL Fan Fare: Section 205
- ATL Grill: Sections 210 and 234
- Bacardi Bar: Section 216
- Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks: Section 226
- Bruster’s Ice Cream: Sections 221 and 246
- Capital Crust Pizza: Sections 214 and 230
- Corona: Section 247
- Corona Cart: Section 209
- Dippin Dots: Sections 216 and 226
- Dos Equis Bar: Section 206
- Farm Burger: Section 245
- Heineken Cart: Section 225 and Skybridge
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- Jack Daniel’s Cart: Section 221
- Lunazul Cart: Section Skybridge
- Martel Cart: Section 226
- Miller Lite Cart: Sections 223, 234
- Miller Lite Bar: Section 242
- Miss D’s New Orleans Style Candy & Popcorn: Section 214
- SO:KO:ME: Section 221
- Shock Top Brat: Section 202
- Smoke and Pour Nacho Cart: Section 209
- Sweetwater Cart: Section 215
- Taffer’s Tavern: Section 223
- The Mac Shac Cart: Section 238
- Tito’s Vodka Cart: Section 223, Skybridge
- Whistle Pig Bar: Section 215
- Wicked Weed Beer: Section 232
- Williamson Bros. BBQ: Section 238
Concourse 300
- AB Market: Section 336
- AB Market Bar: Section 336
- ATL Fan Fare: Sections 308, 322, 329
- ATL Grill: Sections 318 and 347
- Bacardi Cart: Section 302
- Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks: Section 349
- Blue Moon Bar: Section 323
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- Bruster’s Ice Cream: Sections 302, 322, 334
- Capital Crust Pizza: Section 338
- Corona Cart: Section 327
- Dos Equis Cart: Section 349
- Fresh Mex: Sections 305 and 340
- Goose Island Bar: Section 339
- Gridiron Pizza: Section 312
- Heineken Cart: Sections 307 and 331
- Hops and Chops: Section 327
- Hot Pressed Express Cart: Section 311
- Jack Daniel’s Cart: Section 334
- King’s Hawaiian Grill: Section 315
- Meatless Grill Cart: Section 307
- Miller Beer: Sections 301, 309, 310, 316, 323, 336
- Miss D’s New Orleans Style Candy & Popcorn: Sections 307 and 326
- Molly B’s: Section 338
- Shock Top Brat: Section 344
- Smoke And Pour Nacho Cart: Section 316
- Sweetwater Bar: Section 328
- Tailgate Grill: Section 311
- The Mac Shac Cart: Section 320
- Tito’s Vodka Cart: Section 344
- Vizzy Hard Seltzer Cart: Section 313
- West Nest by Westside Works: Section 324
- Whistle Pig Bar Cart: Sections 320 and Skybridge
- Wicked Weed Beer Bar: Section 342
- Williamson Bros. BBQ: Section 342