Atlanta’s Best Samosa Guide Has Landed

Atlanta’s Best Samosa Guide Has Landed

From flaky potato and pea samosas to crispy duck and lamb ones, these are the best snacks around town.

The samosa originated in the Ghaznavid empire (present-day Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) in the 11th century. In the last few centuries, though, it has spread worldwide. Some of the most popular variants exist in South Asia (Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi samosas are especially common in Atlanta), East Africa (in Ethiopian cuisine, they’re called sambusas), and the Middle East. Fillings range from potato and pea (the traditional Punjabi samosa) to lentils (often seen in Ethiopian sambusas), chicken (common in Bangladeshi samosas), and more. Atlanta also has no shortage of samosa-serving restaurants and counters, meaning there’s something for everyone. Here’s where to find some of the best in town.

3495 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 105, Suwanee, GA 30024

In an unassuming strip mall in Suwanee, about 40 minutes north of downtown, you’ll find shops that specialize in Indian rotis, stores that sell Hindu artwork and prayer objects, and butchers that sell halal meat. Among them is a grocery store called Suvidha. Inside — past the checkout counters and cramped aisles and shelves stocked ceiling-high with black tea and pickles — is one of the best South Asian snack counters in the city. Here, alongside Indian sweets, curries, and at least three types of biryanis, you’ll find mounds of onion pakora (fried and battered onion strips), fresh kachori (oily pockets of crispy lentils), and a tray full of hot, crispy, golden, potato and pea samosas.

A thick yet still crispy exterior — fried to a signature golden hue — encapsulates a well-salted potato and pea filling. While you’re there, also check out their onion samosas and mango lassi. The samosas here are so popular that there is usually a line at the hot food counter.

1000 Marietta St NW UNIT 202, Atlanta, GA 30318

This Michelin-recommended Malaysian restaurant is known for its large menu, so you’d be forgiven if you’ve missed their samosas previously. The mini samosas are about an inch and a half big and are filled with curried potatoes, chickpeas, lentils, and onions. They have a softer shell than your typical samosa and come with a salty, tangy curry sauce for dipping.

1707 Church St ste c-7, Decatur, GA 30033

Decatur’s Indian street food mainstay does not disappoint on the samosa front. The restaurant (the name translates to “spicy” or “tastily seasoned”) is known for its fried snacks and South Indian fare. Chat Patti’s potato-and-pea-filled samosas are sprinkled with chaat masala, which makes all the difference. Think of it as the difference between salted fries and unsalted fries. Chaat masala adds that final oomph of flavor to the samosa. The restaurant’s strip mall location is also convenient for those looking to sample multiple amazing samosas in one outing, such as those from this next cafe.

Potato and Pea Samosas at Royal Sweets

1685 Church St #106, Decatur, GA 30033

Royal Sweets is another counter-service spot located just a few feet from Chat Patti. The store also features a display case of Indian sweets and snacks, but you won’t find their samosas there. Instead, they’re brought out piping hot in a paper bag and earn our nod for freshest samosa. The dough — fried a deep brown color — is the star of this samosa. The aroma of cooked samosa crust wafts out of the bag the second it’s opened. Take a bite and you’ll find a potato and pea filling flecked with chile flakes.

4301 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345

This small, unassuming Bangladeshi restaurant has only a single row of tables and often has a soccer match playing on the TV facing the service counter. Their chicken samosas — encased in a crispy, spring roll-like wrapper — are filled with a moist, ground meat filling. Yet what makes these samosas stand out is the sauce accompanying them.

Samosa veterans might be bored of the same (often store-bought) tamarind and mint chutneys served alongside the snack. Alif Cafe’s tamarind chutney is tangy, sweet, and spicy — like a cross between the regular, sweeter tamarind chutney and tabasco. Meanwhile, the mint chutney is colored a milky green and is surprisingly sweet, in addition to its freshness. Both sauces elevate this samosa into a league of its own, plus the snack will only cost you a dollar and a half.

77 12th St NE #2, Atlanta, GA 30309

Located closer to central Atlanta, Tabla is one of the city’s most upscale Indian restaurants. The classic potato and pea samosa is wrapped in a crispy and fluffy dough. The cumin in the filling comes through strong and each vegetable retains its natural taste. Head straight here for those craving an extra fresh and gourmet version of the classic Punjabi samosa. Try the duck samosa, if it is available.

2857 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Located in a Buford Highway strip mall, Kategna is a bright Ethiopian restaurant with walls painted mint green and blue and the smell of incense always lingering. The lentil sambusas — the Ethiopian cousin of the South Asian samosa — are a revelation.

The snacks come in a triangular, eggshell-like wrapper, similar to many South Asian meat samosas. However, while they might have shared ancestry, these fried treats diverge sharply in their flavor. Rather than tasting herby and green, Kategna’s lentil sambusas are smoky, intense, and almost meaty in taste, with hints of cinnamon and cardamom.

2853 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Located in the same strip mall as Kategna, Biswas Grocery and Cafe lives up to its split-purpose name. While three-quarters of the store is taken up by fridges and shelves stocked with rice, spices, and other necessities, the store’s back right corner hosts a handful of tables and a counter for food. The Bangladeshi joint serves potato and pea samosas. The filling has an intense umami flavor. It tastes less like fresh vegetables and instead mostly of fat and salt, similar to a dish like the Persian kashke bademjan. It’s also one of few restaurants to purposely serve their samosas with ketchup. The acidity and sweetness of the condiment pairs surprisingly well with the samosa (and, of course, the ketchup earns extra points for nostalgia and a homemade touch).

4022 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30345

This hole-in-the-wall is a Buford Highway classic. It’s a traditional Indian canteen, serving samosas, chai, fried snacks, and heartier fare. While the original location is understated in its decor, the cafe recently opened a larger, more modern space in the neighboring lot. Bismillah Cafe serves both vegetable and chicken samosas, and while both are good, the latter takes the cake. The filling of ground chicken and peas is moist and almost creamy. Meanwhile, the triangular shell is a paper sheet’s thickness and breaks at the touch.

99 Krog St NE Suite H, Atlanta, GA 30307

This stall at Krog Street Market features modernized versions of dishes from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry), a city in southern India, and dishes from across the country. Among the offerings are a butter chicken burger, tandoori salad, and more traditional plates like pani puri and channa masala. Their lamb samosas come in an unusual (for India) half-moon shape, with a light dusting of extra salt and seasoning on top. Instead of your typical, drier samosa filling, this one closely resembles keema curry (spiced ground lamb with peas and tomatoes).

Atlanta’s love for samosas is ever-expanding, so whether they’re in grocery stores or high-end restaurants, there will always be new samosas to try. Use this guide as an encouragement to try more unexpected places in the search for your next favorite samosa.