Some mornings, the line of cars wrapped around a small building on Evans Mill Road tells you everything you need to know. Mamie’s Kitchen Biscuits in Lithonia has been feeding early risers Southern breakfast for years, and people still wait patiently for it.
I wanted to find out if the biscuits, grits, and bacon really live up to all that idling. Here is what I learned about the food, the wait, and the best way to plan your visit.
A Biscuit Counter on Evans Mill Road
Pull off Evans Mill Road just as the sky starts turning gray, and you will probably spot the work trucks before the sign. Mamie’s Kitchen Biscuits sits at 2821 Evans Mill Rd in Lithonia, Georgia, a short drive east of Atlanta.
It is a breakfast restaurant first and foremost, with a lunch menu that carries the same Southern comfort into the early afternoon.
The setup is simple. Think basic counter service, a drive-thru window, and a menu built around fried chicken, biscuits, grits, eggs, and breakfast meats.
Nothing about the place tries to impress you from the parking lot.
What impresses me is the reputation. Mamie’s holds a 4.4-star rating across nearly 1,500 Google reviews, which is a lot of opinions for a no-frills takeout spot.
Many of those reviewers talk about the same three things: the grits, the drive-thru, and the lines.
So that is the question I kept circling as I sat in my car with the window cracked. Is a biscuit worth waiting behind fifteen cars before work?
To answer it fairly, I had to look at the whole picture, from the history regulars describe to the building itself and the food that comes out of that window.
Generations of Regulars
Ask around, and someone will tell you their mama took them here when they were little. That story shows up again and again in reviews.
Regulars describe growing up on Mamie’s, then bringing their own kids, and even hauling out-of-town friends who ask by name for that Mamie’s place.
One family wrote that Mamie’s simply feels like home, and that it has not changed at all. When they needed an extra empty bowl for a daughter with special needs, the staff handed it over without a second thought.
Small moments like that build loyalty that lasts decades.
Another longtime customer said the place has been around for well over a decade, and the sheer number of people recalling childhood visits backs that up. Those memories are a big part of why the line forms at dawn.
Not every old-timer is thrilled, though. A few people who grew up eating here felt let down on later visits, mostly over cold food.
I think that tension says something too. People care enough to be disappointed, which only happens when a place matters to them.
Fluffy, Buttery Biscuits
Let me be honest about the name on the sign. If a place puts biscuits in its title, they had better deliver.
Most visitors say they do.
One first-timer called the sausage biscuits buttered heavenly bliss, and noted the sausage had a little kick without being too spicy. A lifelong fan swears by the country ham, egg, and cheese biscuit.
Families mention ordering bacon biscuits so often they actually crave them, and the chicken biscuit gets plenty of love as well.
One reviewer guessed the biscuits may be made with lard, which would explain that rich, old-fashioned flavor. Another gave them an 8 out of 10, while admitting a certain fast-food chain still holds their top spot.
Fair enough.
Timing matters more than you might expect. A customer compared a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit picked up before 9 am with one grabbed around 11 am and saw a real drop in quality later in the morning.
A couple of others got hard, overcooked biscuits near lunchtime. My takeaway is simple: come early, and those biscuits are at their best.
Creamy Grits and the Breakfast Plate
Forty-seven mentions. That is how often grits come up in reviews, more than any other topic about this place.
Clearly, people are not just here for bread.
The full breakfast plate is where Mamie’s shows its range. Choices include eggs, grits with or without cheese, bacon, sausage patties, sausage links, ham, country fried steak, and pancakes.
You can get a whole plate or just grab a meat with a biscuit to go.
One visitor loved that the grits were creamy and not salty. Another called the cheese grits decadent next to fluffy scrambled eggs and crispy bacon.
Someone who ordered steak and gravy praised the grits, the eggs, and the good portion sizes, and mentioned the pancakes are huge and cooked to order.
Still, grits are personal. A pescatarian diner found hers bland, with just one small butter and no salt or pepper in the bag.
If you like your grits seasoned a certain way, ask for extras at the counter.
Salmon Croquettes, Cobbler, and Lunch Plates
Breakfast gets the headlines, but the lunch side of the menu has its own fans. Reviews mention peach cobbler a dozen times, along with cornbread, salmon croquettes, and plenty of talk about Southern cooking in general.
Mac and cheese earned a strong recommendation from a first-time visitor, who paired it with the chicken biscuit. Country fried steak pops up too, for anyone who wants something heartier.
One reviewer summed the whole menu up as soul food, rich and indulgent, best enjoyed as a treat.
Salmon croquettes get mixed reactions. They come as a salmon biscuit, which is handy for anyone avoiding meat.
One diner appreciated the generous size but felt there was too much filler, and another found the patties bland. I would treat them as a maybe rather than a must.
A few folks wished for more options, like fried fish or beef sausage, though turkey sausage now appears in review chatter. Overall, the lunch lineup feels like a Sunday dinner plate, just served on a weekday in a takeout box.
Drive-Thru Lines and the Walk-In Trick
Here is the part everyone warns you about. The drive-thru line at Mamie’s can wrap around the building, spill into the street, and keep going.
Reviewers describe lines fifteen cars deep, plus dozens of call-in orders stacking up behind the counter.
The good news? Plenty of people have found a shortcut.
Several visitors parked and walked inside to order instead, and they say counter ordering moves fast. One person waiting on a Thursday at 10 am skipped the cars entirely and was back on the road quickly.
A few chairs sit inside for waiting, and one reviewer was pleasantly surprised to find utensils, condiments, and napkins already tucked into the bag. During one very busy rush, the counter worker made sure everyone knew a wait was coming but promised all would be served, and they were.
My advice is to park, walk in, and have your order ready. Mornings here are busy, but the line usually looks scarier than it actually is.
Old Building, Warm Counter
Nobody comes to Mamie’s for the decor, and visitors are refreshingly blunt about that. One fan described the building as old and run down, with a sun-faded sign and chairs that looked borrowed from a church back room.
Dine-in seating ended during Covid and never came back, so this is strictly takeout.
One regular put it best: you come for the food, not the atmosphere. A few reviewers also mentioned people hanging around outside, so stay aware of your surroundings.
Inside, the service gets more praise than complaints. Visitors describe staff who are warm and funny, with one first-timer laughing at the counter before sunrise.
Others shout out friendly cashiers who made their families feel at home.
Some experiences fall short, though. A handful of reviewers mentioned orders not made the way they asked, a missing fried egg, or attitude at the register.
Double-check your bag before pulling away. It suits commuters, workers on break, and families grabbing a quick bite who care about flavor over frills.
Hours, Prices, and Planning Your Visit
Early birds, rejoice. Mamie’s opens at 5 am Monday through Friday and closes at 1 pm.
Saturday starts a bit later at 6 am, also closing at 1 pm, and the kitchen is closed on Sundays.
Prices are a big reason people keep returning. One visitor paid $8.57 for cheese grits, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a biscuit, and was thrilled the place had not jacked up prices.
Others call the food inexpensive with reasonable prices overall, and one reviewer noted free refills on drinks.
Finding it is easy. The address is 2821 Evans Mill Rd, Lithonia, GA 30058, and you can call ahead at 770-482-4364.
The website, mamieskitchenbiscuits.com, is a good place to check before heading out.
For the best experience, go early in the morning when biscuits are freshest, park instead of joining the drive-thru, and check your order before leaving. Bring an appetite, but maybe not a fancy outfit.
My Verdict on the Morning Wait
So, would I wait again? Yes, but I would do it smart.
Mamie’s Kitchen Biscuits is not polished, and it does not pretend to be. What it offers is hearty Southern breakfast at fair prices, made by a crew that many visitors describe as warm and fast under pressure.
The biscuits and grits carry real weight, and the generations of families who keep coming back speak louder than any sign could.
There are weak spots. Late-morning food can slip, orders sometimes get mixed up, and the building could use some love.
Salmon croquettes divide people, and there is nowhere to sit and eat inside.
Still, a 4.4-star rating across nearly 1,500 reviews is hard to argue with. If you get there early, walk in, and order a biscuit with a side of cheese grits, I think you will understand the line.
Just maybe follow one reviewer’s playful advice and make it a treat, not a daily habit.
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