Java Saga
Taiwanese restaurant · Dunwoody Forest
5145 Buford Hwy NE E, Doraville, GA 30340
Highlights
Giant Taiwanese fried chicken sandwiches, coffee & tea drinks
Giant Taiwanese fried chicken sandwiches, coffee & tea drinks
"Originally launched as a food truck in 2016, serving coffee and snacks, Java Saga has since grown into a full-fledged eatery on Buford Highway offering a complete selection of Taiwanese street eats and cafe specialties. The star dish is a massive Taiwanese hot chicken sandwich topped with American cheese, bread and butter pickles, mango habanero sauce, and a creamy apple slaw. Owner Alvin Sun affectionately calls it the “ABC” or “American Born Chinese” as an homage to his upbringing as a first-generation American. Other menu highlights include their iconic Taiwanese chicken nuggets, Lou Ro Fan (braised pork with rice), and a killer breakfast Dan Bing (egg crepe roll). Expect to see a tiny restaurant space with limited indoor and outdoor seating that focuses mainly on grab-and-go for a quick, satisfying meal on the run." - Michael Tran
"Ignore the name because Java Saga is more than just a spot for coffee, lattes, and fruit teas (which are decent)—the real thing to get at this Taiwanese cafe is the hot chicken sandwich. Sitting on thick, sweet bread, the Taiwanese-fried filet is practically the size of a tablet, with a crunchy coating that hints at garlic and five-spice powder. If you’re not in the mood for something that big, get the crispy nuggets instead—they’re coated in the same savory spices and make for a perfect snack on the small, plant-filled patio while watching the comings and goings of the busy highway." - nina reeder, jacinta howard, juli horsford
"Ignore the name because Java Saga on Buford Highway is more than just a spot for excellent coffee, lattes, and fruit teas—the thing to get at this Taiwanese cafe is the hot chicken sandwich. It’s the size of your tablet, with a crispy, flavorful coating that hints at garlic and five-spice powder. And thick, sweet bread makes this sandwich extra satisfying. Watch as chefs prepare it in the open kitchen, and then take it out to the small, very planty patio, where joining the lunch crowd makes for a perfect midday break. Food Rundown Hot Chicken The hot chicken sandwich is the best thing to get here. It’s huge, spicy, and sweet, spread out on a thick piece of sweet toasted bread. photo credit: Jacinta Howard Chicken Bits The tasty Taiwanese-style nuggets are plump and fried hard while staying juicy inside. Diggity Dan Bing A Taiwanese-style crepe made with eggs, melty american yellow cheese, and bacon, wrapped in a soft, chewy tortilla makes for a great breakfast. You get three stuffed crepes, and it’s simple and comforting, especially on rushed mornings or any time since it’s served all day. photo credit: Jacinta Howard" - Jacinta Howard
"Head to Java Saga at its new Buford Highway location for a sizable Taiwanese-style hot chicken sandwich in four levels of heat: lifeline (mild), crypto (hot and numbing), octane (very hot), and predator. Each sandwich comes topped with Java Lava Saga sauce and sweet pickles and is served on brown sugar milk toast. Pair it with a mango smoothie to curb the heat." - Mike Jordan
"A Doraville coffee shop and Taiwanese fried-chicken spot distributing red envelopes to customers on Feb 10, hosting a lion dance at 1:00 p.m. on Feb 11, and selling Taiwanese fried-chicken nuggets in the Chinatown food court on Feb 10–11 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m." - Eater Staff
