The Varsity Atlanta: Serving Legendary Burgers and Chili Dogs Since 1928

The smell hits you first. Grease, chili, fried onion rings cutting through the car exhaust and Georgia’s summer heat. That’s The Varsity on any given Saturday in downtown Atlanta, and honestly? It’s the most Atlanta thing you’ll experience.

This place has been slinging chili dogs and frosted orange shakes since 1928. Frank Gordy built it with just $1,860 and a 14-by-35 foot building. 300 people showed up on opening day for 5-cent hot dogs. These days? Two city blocks packed with people, easily feeding 30,000 when Tech’s playing at home.

A century in and folks still make the trip. American comfort food minus all the fuss. Hot dogs, burgers, fries done right.

The Vibe at The Varsity

Walk in and bam. Chaos. Good chaos though. It’s loud and fast, everyone moves like they’re on autopilot while you’re trying to find where to even stand. First time? Been there. Someone’s gonna bark “What’ll ya have?” at you before you’ve even decided where to stand, and they’ve been doing that since 1928. Better know your order or fake it.

Fry cooks are hauling ass like they’re on a timed competition, and if you’re even remotely into chili dogs, just breathing in there is amazing. Everyone’s talking at once while burgers sizzle away, this constant wall of noise and activity that doesn’t quit.

This ain’t some trendy spot trying to look good for the ‘gram. Fluorescent lights, plastic trays, no-frills seats. What you see is what you get, and that’s why it works. Game day? Forget it. Tech fans show up by the thousands for their pre-game routine and the place goes absolutely nuts.

Look around. Grandparents eating with their kids and grandkids at one table. Tourists wandering around looking lost but loving it. Regulars who’ve memorized the menu decades ago. The drive-in lanes stay busy with cars pulling up and workers moving between them like clockwork. Messy, nostalgic, and thriving for almost a century now.

History: The Varsity Since 1928

Want to know how big a deal this place is? Atlanta History Center threw it in their “Atlanta in 50 Objects” exhibition. We’re talking Coca-Cola level. Olympic Games level. The Varsity level. And that spot where you’re sitting? It’s been there since ’28, just got a makeover with white stucco back in the 1940s. Jules Grey, the architect, gave it curves that matched the cars outside. Totally ahead of its time back then. Pure Atlanta nostalgia now.

Getting to The Varsity

It’s at 61 North Avenue downtown, sitting across the Connector from Tech. Super easy to find whether you’re behind the wheel or riding MARTA.

Coming south on 75/85? Exit 249D, hang that left. Varsity’s right there across the bridge on your left.

Coming north on 75/85? Same exit (249D), cross Spring Street over to West Peachtree, turn left, then another left on North Avenue. Keep rolling till you see that huge white building on your right.

MARTA rider? North Avenue station on the red/gold line, walk west. Seriously can’t miss it.

Hours:
Open 11am-8pm Sunday through Thursday.
Fridays and Saturdays they run till 9pm.

They’re closed for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Shut down early (6pm) on Halloween, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve.

Game days? Parking’s $50 a spot, first come first serve. Plan ahead or you’re walking.

World’s Largest Drive-In Restaurant

World’s largest drive-in isn’t just marketing talk. Parking fits 600 cars, inside holds 800 people. It’s huge but never feels empty, especially on game days when Tech fans show up in waves.

This place isn’t messing around. Downtown churns out 2 miles of hot dogs daily and burns through 300 gallons of chili. It’s running at factory scale but somehow keeps that neighborhood spot vibe where regulars know exactly what they’re getting.

Gordy named it “The Yellow Jacket” at first, targeting Tech students. Genius play, really. Broke college kids needed fast, cheap food, and he was sitting right there when the trolley dropped them off at Peachtree and North Avenue.

What to Order: Chili Dogs, Burgers, and Frosted Orange

Look, they’ve been making the same stuff since 1928 and nobody’s complaining. Chili dogs are what you’re here for. They pile on this chili and mustard combo they’ve spent nearly a century perfecting. Not feeling the chili dog? Cheese dogs, slaw dogs, and chili cheese dogs are all solid picks.

The menu breaks down like this:

• Hot dogs every which way
• Burgers and cheeseburgers straight off the grill
• Fries and onion rings if you’re throwing caution to the wind
• Fried pies (get the peach) when you’re already full but ordering dessert anyway
• The frosted orange shake everyone raves about

Now the frosted orange. Creamy, citrus-y, and sitting right next to chili dogs in the Atlanta hall of fame. Skip it and you’re missing half the experience.

Prices at The Varsity Atlanta

Best part? This place is dirt cheap. Classic American comfort food at prices that haven’t caught up with 2025 yet.

Chili dogs run around $1.83.
Slaw dogs? About $1.69.
Chili cheese dogs are $2.22.
Burgers cost $2.28.
Even those fried peach pies are only $2.22.

You’re walking out completely stuffed for under $10 per person, which is wild for downtown Atlanta. They take cash, cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, whatever you’ve got.

Here’s what gets me though. Most downtown spots charge $15-20 for mediocre food, and here you are at a place with nearly 100 years of history, leaving stuffed for under ten bucks. Students caught on decades ago. That’s how you stay packed since the Depression era. Frank Gordy wasn’t playing around with his pricing strategy.

Is the Varsity Worth Visiting?

100%. This spot’s been crushing it since 1928 for good reason. Grab chili dogs, burgers, maybe a frosted orange. Done. Fast, cheap, no fuss. You’re not here for fine dining. You’re here because it’s Atlanta through and through. Locals bring their kids. Tourists stop by. Everyone leaves happy. Should you go? Yeah, stop overthinking it. Simple as that.