What a great find in Forest Park! It's tucked away but there's a lot of parking, and right off Jonesboro rd. You get a lot of food for the money, we tried the fried catfish plates, for sides we had candied yams, macaroni, collard greens, fried cabbage, and potato salad. We tried hush puppies and cornbread, and banana pudding for dessert. The fried catfish portion is generous and seasoned well, we had ours with tartar sauce and hot sauce. It was extremely fresh and piping hot. The sides were all great and I look forward to trying more, the collards and potato salad were our favorites! The banana pudding is sweet and they use some sort of cake type dessert instead of vanilla wafers, it's very good! Service is great, it was our first time and we were a little lost. They have a cashier and an ordering kiosk, plenty of room and nice tables to dine in which I appreciate. Staff was friendly! Can't wait to try more of their meals! read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Fried Catfish plate - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

What a surprise to find in Forest Park. I've been here so many times for work and never did I know this was here till it was recommended by a colleague. Talk about good southern BBQ, fair prices, good atmosphere, and EXTREMELY great customer service. Don't even worry about going up to get your food when they call your name, once they see you acknowledge them they bring it to you with a smile and they lay it all out for you. SUPERB. I had the Catfish Nuggets senior combo w/ Potato Salad and the Black Eyes Peas on rice. SO DARN GOOD! I tried my colleagues brisket and the flavor was smokey and delicious. The portions are more than fair, believe me you will probably end up taking stuff to-go unless you have an army of hungry folks with you. Thank you so much for the amazing Customer Service to the Ray's Southern Foods team. You absolutely delivered on all aspects and you earned my five star rating. read more

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Take the short drive 15 minutes from the airport and get tasty BBQ done the right way. Ray and his family are doing southern food proud. Favorite bites this visit were the baked beans and 7 cheese Mac. The pulled pork sandwich was a little dry, but the medium sauce made it perfect. The sweet tea should be illegal at this level of sweetness. Service was friendly. The interior could use some brightening, but this is a great place to eat in or take out. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - BBQ pork sandwich - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

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Settings could use some updating would be great for private events. My first time to visit moved to Morrow in June 2025...found on a google search.. My receipt reflects the server as Amber. I had some questions regarding the menu items/prices....one I would not have ordered the bottle drink if I had known the additional charge of .50 and the posted menu reflect a cost of .50 for a corn muffin and when I brought it to her attention....she stood firm in stating the price on the receipt.... I have not gotten my food yet so I cannot comment...I am looking forward to it... Last, regarding customer service, Amber needs some training in that area.. BON APPÉTIT Doretha McGlory read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

Really good Southern Barbecue, I had the overwhelming pork sandwich, on a fresh bun, you had to get through a pile of pork first, to get your hands on the bun, incredible hot Mac and cheese side , piping hot, fresh warm beans , and refreshing Cole slaw , washed down with a sweet tea , this place is family owned, and worth a visit.. ! read more

This place is unbelievably good. Super close to 285. Smoked and fried chicken, brisket and ribs are fantastic. Sides and dessert are good too read more

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Yelpers what's good? Another food adventure was had and my tummy was satisfied. I had the chance to dine at Ray's Southern Food. The food was amazing. I sat inside. The food was brought out to me. The dining area was clean. I sat a the high table face the TV the was play women college basketball. I highly recommend this spot. OMG! I had the following: - Smoked Wings, Fish, fried cabbage, candied yams cornbread - Sweet tea (I recommend opting for their signature punch instead) read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Smoked Wing, Fried Cabbage, Candied Yams, fish - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

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Ray's Southern Foods is the real deal. The smoked wings were cooked to perfection. Crispy outside, juicy inside, and the size of them was a very welcome surprise. These were not your average wings. The whiting? Easily the best seasoned fish I have ever had. Every bite was packed with flavor that made me stop and appreciate the moment. Do not leave without trying the Ray's Punch. It is smooth, refreshing, and absolutely essential to the experience. As for the sides, the macaroni was rich and cheesy, the mashed potatoes were light and fluffy, and the cabbage was simply delicious. On top of all that, the customer service was outstanding. From the moment we ordered to when the staff came around checking on tables, they were friendly, attentive, and genuinely accommodating. You can tell they care about the people as much as they care about the food. The only small critique is that it was a little warm inside when we first arrived, but once the air came on, it was much more comfortable. If you are in Atlanta and want real Southern food that hits all the right notes, Ray's is the place. The food speaks for itself, and it says come back soon. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - SR Smoked Wings, yams and Cabbage - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

I was in the area and Yelp guided me here. I've passed this restaurant numerous times and didn't know it even existed. located in a basic retail park and flea market Plaza. It was pretty busy when I was there, but the line moved quickly. They also offer online ordering. The restaurant is pretty spacious if you're looking to eat in. The price point is reasonable for the portion size. I ordered the 4 veggie plate for $8.49 and it came with a side of cornbread, Not pictured because I devoured that buttery goodness before I could take the pic..smh! Lol. The veggies were seasoned well. I definitely recommend if you're in the area. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Veggie plate- Fried cabbage. Collard green, yams,fried corn - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

First off, the customer service is great. The guy that took my order asked me if I was new and I let him know that it was my first time and he made my ordering process easier because I was very indecisive on whether I wanted chicken wings or pork ribs. I ended up ordered both with a side of cabbage, cornbread, and candied yams. The yams were some of the best I've ever had; it was cooked to perfection. The yams were sweetened and spiced just right. The cabbage was perfectly seasoned with a hint of sweetness; probably second best I've ever had. As for the ribs, they were good but not the best I've had. I would eat them again though. The chicken wings were delicious, but I've had better fried chicken elsewhere. The problem with the chicken is that you could taste the flavor, mostly from the outside whereas on the inside of the chicken like the actual chicken meat didn't have much flavor to it, but I still enjoyed my food. The cornbread tasted like it was made out of love and not from a box which I can appreciate. I would 100% recommend this place! read more

Ray's Southern Foods - JR Fried Chicken Wings JR Ribs Cornbread Muffin - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

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I came because of a bad review, crazy work I'm just gonna say the food was a hit the service was a hitter We dined in the setting was chill 5star for sure jerk bbq sauce fire salmon chowder fire everything was awesome! read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

I was thrilled to find this place open on a Sunday, which is a challenge for Bbq/soul food joints. This place of clearly popular because the parking lot was packed and a long line inside as well. I'm glad I ordered ahead. I maybe had to stand in line behind 3-4 people to get my order (10 mins). I ordered Sr Baked Turkey Wings, Rib Tips and Jr Smoked Chicken Wings. Everything was as it should be, except we would have wanted the turkey wings to be smothered. I had to make gravy for it at home. I'd definitely go again. Rib tips excellent. read more

Ray's is one of my favorite spots! I was disappointed today. You can tell when the owner and management is not there. I normally get the brisket dinner, and it's always on point. But today, my vegetable medley only had squash and zucchini; no mushrooms, red peppers nor broccoli. My brisket was prepared as if the staff member didn't want to be there. The ladies taking orders and bringing out orders exhibited great customer service. I'll only go back when the owner/management is there. ​ read more

There was a really long wait for our food on a Saturday night around 6:30pm. We decided to dine inside and were happy with the cleanliness, TVs and overall feel of the space. When the food came it was hit or miss: some items were piping hot and some were cold. We ordered some of everything and the favorites were the yams and chicken. Other items might have been better had they been hot. I felt the Mac and cheese wasn't cheesy enough and I also didn't like the texture of the cornbread-oily, yet dry. They did apologize for the long wait. They also let us know they do a brunch buffet on Saturday, so maybe that's worth coming back for. I ate the sweet potato pie for breakfast in the morning and it was good. read more

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Amazing flavor! Amazing food! Fantastic experience. The staff was very helpful in all aspects. Definitely will stop here again.

Friendly staff, clean place and excellent food. We arrived to Atlanta and we wanted to eat soul food. We found Ray's from Yelp and we decided to try it. We were not disappointed. Wanted to go back before leaving Atlanta but we run out of time. We will definitely go back next time we visit friends again. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Part of our New Year special menu of half chicken, black eyed peas, collard greens, Mac and cheese. - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

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Now! Before I give you my full review, allow me to say, I LOVE BARBEQUE!!!!! During my friend's day we decided to try a new restaurant. Upon executing a search on Yelp we decided to try out Ray's. Ray's sits in a huge strip mall. When you pull in the restaurant is to the far right hand side. Don't do what I did and go to the left. LoL! Walking up to Ray's you realize it is hugeeeee. There are two entrances. One brings you into the dining side and one brings you to the order area. Regardless of which door you walk in it's all connected... As I got to the register, the man in front of me told the cashier "let me get my usual!" This was a great sign for me as it shows that he is a repeat customer. To say I was excited is an understatement. LoL! Taking a moment to take in the menu and the assortment of options I decided on the Ribs Dinner with One Side. After placing our order we took a seat, not before taking pictures with the Ray's sign so I could let everyone know I was here. LoL!!!! The wait wasn't too long as before I knew it the waitress called my name and was bringing the order to the table. Looking at the plate I was pleased with the presentation and serving size. I asked for my sauce on the side as I like to see how the ribs taste without sauce first. The Ribs: Moist. Meaty. Well seasoned. Perfectly made. Good quality. Very filling. Overall 10/10. The Sauce: (I ordered the Mild) Flavorful. Not "bottled." Thick. Perfect hint of sweet to pair with the natural salt of the pork. Overall 10/10. The Yams: The yams weren't bad. You could taste the "canned" flavor, however, you could also taste the added flavorings that are presented to give the taste of homemade. Overall 6/10. My experience at Ray's was absolutely enjoyable. The ribs alone provide for a flavor filled, stomach pleasing experience that makes you want to come back. **Oh yeah, I didn't get to try the mini sweet potato pie, however, it was calling my name. I'll be getting it next time. HaHa!! read more

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I was in the mood for southern fried chicken, so I decided to try Ray's. This restaurant specializes in barbecue, so I explored the menu. I ordered the fried chicken wings (which were jumbo size and a meal in themselves), ribs, brisket and smoked sausage; for sides I ordered collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread. The fried wings were exceptional, and the ribs and smoked sausage was very good. I wasn't a huge fan of the brisket. The collard greens were the pinnacle of comfort food. The macaroni and cheese had good flavor, but I ordered the food close to closing, and the macaroni and cheese was a bit congealed. The flavor was good, but the texture was not. I think the macaroni and cheese would have been great if it was fresh. The cornbread was delicious. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. This is a great place to try if you're craving southern comfort food or barbecue. This restaurant is not too far from the airport, and the prices are very affordable. read more

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Be ready to be welcomed with warm smiles, and helpful staff. I can't say the food was super amazing but very filling and there was a very large menu, so I feel that I may need to try again. My sister brought me here. She told me about the place because she comes often. It definitely felt like a hidden gem. I got the beef tips over rice with color greens, potato salad, and baked beans my sister, that the smoked wings with the same sides. For me, it lacked flavor with the beef tips, collard greens, and potato salad and the beans just weren't sweet enough for my preference. I loved how they had a daily special on their meals and the portion sizes were large. It gave homemade barbecue with how the barbecue sauces tasted. One thing that I really did enjoy was the house maid lemonade I can tell they really made it. The food came out fast and even though it was to go, it was brought to us and I really liked that. Again, the staff was amazing and helpful and with such a large menu, I feel like there's an opportunity for me to try this place again, and actually get the complete experience I was looking for! read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Beef Tips Over Rice Special - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

This place is DELICIOUS! we kept seeing it when we passed by but it seemed to look empty outside so we were skeptical. Once you walk in you see where the people are hiding. This place stays busy and for good reason. I was craving good southern food one day and was like well what can go wrong? Where has this place been all my life? The sides were amazing! We got green beans, collard greens, Mac & cheese, & vegetable medley... y'all... they were so hot and well seasoned. The wait can be a little longer but that's no issue for me because the food comes out HOT & FRESH! My husband has tried the fried chicken wings and the chopped pork. I've gotten the chicken tenders and all meats have been yummy. I'm so glad I found this place. I've recommended it to all my friends already. I can't wait to see what new food come to the menu with the holiday season. read more

Been coming here for years. Good quality bbq and soul food for the price. You won't be disappointed. Rib tips are my favorite and the salmon chowder. read more

It breaks my heart to give this place a two-star review. The staff was incredibly friendly, but the food could definitely use some improvement--or perhaps we just visited on an off day. Being residents of Texas, we expected a higher standard of BBQ. Unfortunately, it did not meet our expectations. My friend ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. The chicken sandwich was very dry, even with the BBQ sauce. I opted for the two-meat, two-side plate, choosing ribs and sausage. While the portions were generous and the ribs tender, the overall flavor was lacking. The sausage was juicy but similarly bland. The fried okra was well-prepared, but the mac and cheese was overcooked. The ambiance was relaxed. I hope that our experience was an anomaly. The service was good, and the staff was exceptionally friendly. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

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I'm a brisket lover so I had a two meat plate with brisket and sausage. The brisket was great but the sausage blew my mind! Great flavor and amazing bbq sauce. I was in town on business and with I could go back all the time. The sides, Mac-n-cheese and bbq beans were amazing as well. Definitely great food and the people were so nice. I highly recommend Ray's!! read more

So I'm working in the area today and looked this place up. I came and I tried and I can say I liked. Everything was seasoned to perfection and everyone was very helpful and nice. The atmosphere is family friendly and you can eat inside. I will most definitely be back. The punch was good and not too sweet. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Lunch Special White Meat Smoked Chicken with Collard Greens and Green Beans - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

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Future Airiel!!! Listen up! Do NOT Order the chicken wings cause they are the big ones. You love the fried fish, every side, and sweet potato pie they have prepared for, but you will be mad when you open their well pack Uber order and you see those fat wings. To others reading if big fat thick wings is your thing these will definitely satisfy your fried chicken crave as they are seasoned to perfection. read more

My dad went here for lunch today for his 65th birthday. Mom is sick or she'd have gone with him. But he brought home a plate for her. Dad has never been picky about food, but he said it wasn't good at all and he'd never go back. I don't know what either one of them got, but I know they like to sample some of everything, so I'm sure t was a large order. I'm mostly sad he had such a bad experience on his birthday. read more

The people there were very nice and attentive. Sadly, the food didn't match their lovely demeanor. The meat was cut with the grain and not against so it ended up being dry and tough. Also, there was a rather large fatty chunk that may have been ok had it been cut correctly. Sadly, it did have much flavor. Same with the sides. Kind of bland. It was way too much to pay for something that was subpar. I really hate giving this review but I think they can do better. Maybe I came on an off day. read more

Rays is my go to for soul food when I'm at work. Just this past Saturday I was out & starving. I went pass my house to get some Rays. Staff is always friendly and the food is always good. read more

Great food, family vibes and service!! Rays took care of my thanksgiving sides this year and the food was delicious! We ordered mac, yams, and greens. The portions were very generous for the price (all places are not as fair with the filling of the pans). Not only will I order again and more... I have recruited some new customers headed there as well! Thanks Ray's! read more

Ordered my Thanksgiving dinner from Ray's Southern Food this year and baaaby, they did not disappoint! Everything is so delicious, even the punch!!!! Look forward to ordering for Christmas!!! I'm stuffed and ready for a nap! read more

This Kev from Cali.I went to Atlanta fory lil cousins funeral and it was my 2nd time buty wife's 2nd time.The 1st day there we was hungry and found out about this place called Rays BBQ.Uhm !uhm is all I can say.The food was awesome.My aunty and Uncle arrived the following day and we went back again the food was popping.I had a 3 meat bbq plate my aunt and uncle had the catfish and whiting plate ,the Lemon Pound cake was so good and the Banana Pudding was so good my wife saved some to eat for breakfast.Oh yeah the Rays punch was right on point.So if you in Atlanta by the airport in Harts field.Stop by Rays BBQ and the food will make you feel like home.Thsnk you Ray for the hospitality. read more

The food was really awesome. The prices are very reasonable. The service is very friendly and they really take care of their customers. It was our first time there and we would definitely go back. read more

Great food. Will return. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I wanted the salmon plate but was advised that it would be a long wait. So, I didn't get what I really wanted but what I got was good. read more

The food was absolutely wonderful, savory and delicious. The star of the show was this banana pudding it was so so so so good. If I could I'd give it a 4.75 because it took a little bit to come out but other than that damn this was good. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Banana Pudding - Regular - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

Last week we ordered some food went home wrong order went back the staff had a nasty attitude we just left 15 minutes ago even the cook had to say they want free food read more

I have enjoyed the salmon chowder on several occasions. It's very tasty. A little salty for me. Nevertheless good with the cornbread. I have to be more careful but it's delicious! I have also enjoyed the grilled veggies. They were basted with flavor and not over-cooked. I wish some carrot slices were added though, still one of my faves at Rays. read more

Catfish nuggets are the best I've ever had, no cap!!! Service was exceptional as well. Everyone was really nice and accommodating.

Food was amazing and prices are excellent. Customer service was good. Food came out in a timely manner.

You walk in and immediately place order and pay. Be sure to know what you want before walking up. This place gets busy! They do have 7-8 tables. There is another room full of tables but for some reason they keep those doors closed. Once they call your name, you pick up your tray with food. We got the 3 meats with two sides combo. We picked brisket, sausage, rib tips, coleslaw and baked beans. For our bread we picked corn bread. Since we will be flying out of town in a few hours, we went with a mild bbq sauce. I love spicy food but it doesn't love me back. In less than 10 minutes we got our food. I was a little insulted that they only provided one fork...did they really think that I was going to eat this mountain of food by myself? 3 meats was way too much food for 2 people. It tasted great and I felt bad about throwing any of it away. I especially liked the baked beans. The restrooms were clean and I really liked the family pics on the walls. My wife wanted me to give this place a 5, but the guy taking orders wasn't the friendliest and the ambiance could have been better. read more

Ray's Southern Foods - Southern Near Me - Forest Park, Georgia

The service was excellent for a to go restaurant. The food was good. I will come back again to try the dessert.