The Real Chow Baby

The Bottom Line

Kids, teens, and parents will all find something to love at this upscale yet reasonably priced version of Mongolian barbecue. Grab a bowl and fill it with vegetables, meat, noodles, sauce, and spices, then watch as your stir-fry sizzles on a giant round grill. Unlimited choices of healthy, fresh ingredients and an ordering process that doubles as entertainment make The Real Chow Baby a kid friendly restaurant.

Pros
• A wide variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces
• Affordable
• Good for picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions
• You can try a different stir-fry every time you go
• Nutritional information is posted prominently; no MSG
• Noise level is fairly high – good for spirited children!
• Close to Ikea and Midtown

Cons
• Hard to spot the restaurant at night
• Wait times can be long
• Weekend nights attract young people and singles – not as family-friendly
• Limited complimentary valet spots

• Address (2 locations): 1016 Howell Mill Road Ste. A, Atlanta, GA 30318.
  782 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306.
• Phone: 404.815.4900
• Reservations: For 6 or more; accepted via phone or OpenTable.com.
• Cuisine: American/Asian fusion, stir-fry.
• Price: Lunch is $7.99 and dinner is $11.99 for unlimited servings. Kids under 9 can go through the line once for $6.99.
• Lunch: M-F 11-2:30; Sa 11-3; Su closed.
• Dinner M-Th 5-10:30; F 5-11:30; Sa 4-11:30; Su 5-10.
• Website: The Real Chow Baby.

At The Real Chow Baby, the food preparation is part of the experience. You’ll create your meal by going through a buffet-style line. If you don’t know what you want, follow the suggestions on the mural behind the line or ask the friendly servers for their favorites. Grab a couple of bowls, fill them with rice, noodles, meat, vegetables, fruit, spices, and delicious sauces like Asian Peanut Pesto, Kung Pao, or Teriyaki, and watch the grill chefs cook your food on a 60-inch flat top grill.  A server will bring your stir-fry back to your table.

Didn’t fill yourself up the first time? Go through again and try something completely different; with 70 ingredients on the stir-fry line, it’s hard to eat the same thing twice. If you want, have your stir-fry made into a wrap, soup, or salad. While most people stick with stir-fry, you can round out your meal with appetizer or dessert or choose a drink from their extensive selection of cocktails, beer, and wine.

The Real Chow Baby appeals to parents because of the funky décor and fresh, grown-up ingredients. Kids like watching the amazing grill chefs prepare the food that they chose themselves, from chicken, noodles, and carrots for the picky eater to shrimp, sausage, broccoli, mandarin oranges, and Hoisin Lime Sauce for the more adventuresome child.  Dieters and those with food allergies can check out the nutritional information painted on the wall mural or request that their food be prepared on a separate grill.

The Howell Mill Road location is a little tricky to find, and while there is complimentary valet parking, sometimes the spots are full and you’ll have to park on the street. The restaurant can be fairly crowded on weekend nights, and it’s somewhat loud, though many parents don’t mind the noise because this way, the kids won’t bother anyone! Lunch is a great time to go, because the prices are great and the crowds are a bit smaller. The location is also right around the corner from Atlantic Station - where you can stop by Ikea or spend the afternoon shopping - and is convenient to Downtown attractions like Philips Arena, The Georgia Dome, The Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.