10 secret restaurant menus worth ordering from in Atlanta

Discovering off-menu items at some of your favorite local restaurants in town is something special and intriguing. You get the feeling that you’re a member of a secret club that no one else knows about when you order anything that isn’t on the menu but is available upon request.

If you want to get these unique, off-the-menu items, you’ll need to know what to ask for. So, we’ll let you in on a little secret and share 10 local spots that offer full-on secret menus and off-menu items that will make you feel like a true insider.

Bartaco

A secret taco and a $1 donation to No Kid Hungry for each one sold? Yes, please. From now until Dec. 5, order the #bartacosecret roasted Brussels sprouts taco. The crispy, honey-chipotle-glazed roasted Brussels sprouts are served over a curry carrot puree and garnished with pickled onions and sweet and spicy candied pepitas seeds.

Location: Multiple Locations (Chastain Park, Inman Park, Vinings, West Midtown); Website: bartaco.com

Butcher and Brew

If you want to order the Frankenstein Burger at Butcher and Brew, make sure you are extra hungry. It’s a secret menu item that takes juicy burgers to new levels. This incredibly large triple-patty burger comes with smoked pork, bacon, a fried egg, two kinds of cheese, sauce, house-made pickles and caramelized onions. Good luck if you decide to try this stacked burger!

Location: Two Locations (Alpharetta); Website: butcherandbrewshop.com

Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House (Hapeville)

You may be familiar with the original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House diner in Hapeville. It practically resembles a combination of Chick-fil-A and Waffle House. The restaurant’s layout is based on Truett Cathy’s original Chick-fil-A and offers drive-thru, sit-down and counter dining options. Along with standard Chick-fil-A staples, the Dwarf House menu also has a number of unique specialty items not offered on the usual menu, including chicken salad, cornbread, fried okra and even a hamburger (yes, you read that right, a Chick-fil-A hamburger). While there are other Dwarf House locations, you can only order a burger at the one in Hapeville.

Location: Hapeville (Original) - 461 N Central Ave.; Website: chick-fil-a.com/the-dwarf-house; Contact: 404-762-1746

Park Bar

Try Park Bar’s featured off-menu Irwin M. Fletcher Steak Sandwich, named after Chevy Chase’s character from the 1985 action-comedy Fletch, in which he says the iconic line, “I’ll have a bloody mary and a steak sandwich, and a steak sandwich.” This is a hearty steak sandwich with swiss cheese topped with a crunchy onion ring and comes with a side of your choice.

Location: Downtown - 150 Walton St. NW; Website: parkbaratlanta.com; Contact: 404-524-0444

Poke Burri

Listen up, sushi fans! While Poke Burri’s regular menu offers sushi burritos and sushi donuts, their entire secret menu features a variety of even more creative items such as sushi pizza, sushi sandwiches, sushi corndogs, fried oysters, matcha baby beignets and much more. Once you experience these inventive secret menu items, you’ll undoubtedly go back for more.

Location: Multiple Locations; Website: pokeburri.com

Taqueria del Sol

What you’ll find at Taqueria del Sol is Mexican cuisine with a Southern twist. The George, the Natilla and the fried chicken taco salad are some of the unique off-menu dishes you may order at any Taqueria del Sol location. The fried chicken taco salad is served in a crispy, fried flour tortilla shell and is topped with fried chicken tenders, cotija cheese, salsa fresca, guacamole and ranch dressing. The George is a mixture of turnip greens, charro beans and rice. Don’t forget to try the Natilla for dessert; it is a tasty vanilla pudding topped with a chocolate syrup “S” and dusted with cinnamon powder.

Location: Multiple Locations; Website: taqueriadelsol.com

The Vortex

We all know The Vortex (ages 21+) is a true Atlanta institution with an incredibly extensive food and booze menu. However, if you weren’t already aware that they also have an equally extensive secret menu, now is your chance to sample it. The Carnivorgasm, Chili Cheeseburger, Hawaiian Quesadilla, Bypass Burger Breakfast Melt and many more are among their top-secret dishes.

Location: Two Locations (Little Five Points and Midtown); Website: thevortexatl.com

The Yard Milkshake Bar

Save room for dessert, because The Yard Milkshake Bar is going to become your new favorite place if you have a serious sweet tooth. Their menu offers a huge selection of confections including shakes, sundaes, ice cream cups and cones, floats, edible cookie dough scoops, specialty bowls, and, of course, their over-the-top and insanely-decked out milkshakes. They also feature a full secret menu with plenty of fun and imaginative sweet treats, such as Churr’All I Need, Always and Ferrero, Chai Me A River, Mustachio Pistachio, Oreoaholic and many more.

Location: Two Locations (Downtown and Buckhead); Website: theyardmilkshakebar.com

Atkins Park Tavern

With the OG location in Virginia-Highland and another in Smyrna, Atkins Park Tavern is a great spot that has something for everyone. The menus differ between both locations, and the Smyrna menu features items that aren’t available on the Va-Hi menu. However, if you find yourself in Smyrna and still want to enjoy some Va-Hi menu staples like the Atkins Park Nachos or late-night chicken or beef tacos, you can order them as off-menu items.

Location: Smyrna - 2840 Atlanta Rd. SE; Website: atkinspark.com; Contact: 770-435-1887

Waffle House

Last but not least, we’re rounding out our list with Waffle House, a 24-hour Atlanta staple. Whether you’re going in the early morning, at 2 p.m. or late at night, you can always count on them to be open. While they’ve already got an unbeatable menu, Apple Cinnamon Waffles, a Chicken Bacon Ranch Biscuit, Pecan Waffles, Double D’s (two hash browns topped with two eggs) and a Waffle Sandwich are some of the great secret menu items you can order.

Location: Multiple Locations; Website: wafflehouse.com