Atlanta’s 2025 Eater Award Winners | Eater Atlanta

"A pop-up from cybersecurity manager–turned–chef Jay Patel, this Indian-fusion barbecue operation has earned a cult following and lines out the door with dishes like butter chicken sliders, oxtail tikka masala sliders, smoked paneer tikka kathi rolls, and hearty kathi (roti) rolls of burnt ends wrapped with pickled masala onions, red peppers, and aioli (Dhaba sauce) that are worth the wait. Patel launched in late 2023, cooking at spots like Sweet Auburn BBQ, Minhwa Spirits, and Green Beans ATL, and has honed his style by layering tandoori spices with cooling cilantro-chutney aioli while smoking and grilling pork, brisket, chicken, and paneer. He even shared the secrets of a viral menu at Eater and Punch’s Pre Shift panel and now preps more than 200 pounds of food for each pop-up; word is we may be close to hearing about his first restaurant." - Henna Bakshi