Sweet Auburn Barbecue, Atlanta

Lots of people dream of opening their own restaurant, but not many people are actually invited to open one. That's exactly what happened to Howard Hsu and his friends, however. Smoking meat was largely a hobby for the crew in the beginning, but took a serious turn after they won a few notable competitions in the area. Before long, they were whipping up their Southern-style barbecue in their home kitchens to sell at the Sweet Auburn Market, where the high demand often overwhelmed them. Their barbecue became so popular, the market eventually asked them to open up a permanent restaurant on-site.

Years later, demand has grown even more so that Sweet Auburn Barbecue now has two restaurants and a food truck. That's only good news for locals, who now have multiple avenues by which to get their hands on Sweet Auburn's pimento cheese wontons, coconut lemongrass ribs, and other signature specialties. Also popular is the build-your-own meat plates, with options such as baby back ribs, pulled pork or chick, and smoked beef brisket-all of which pair well with sides like jerk spiced collards, bacon maple sprouts, and stone ground cheddar grits.