Donnie's Country Cookin' Awards

Donnie's Country Cookin' Restaurant Review:

This simple, unadorned space houses the only unit of the 1989-established local chain where Korean-born founder Donnie Kim still does the cooking. Patrons come from the ranks of blue-collar workers, students and retirees eager to eat well for a few bucks. Staples change daily but include fresh fried fish and coleslaw with tartar sauce made in-house, and very good crispy skin baked chicken. Among desserts, we recommend the carrot cake, sourced from a nearby bakery; the Key lime cake is very popular. A meat and two costs a little under $7. Breakfast is also a meal deal, with a pair of properly cooked eggs, a meat, grits and a biscuit going for about $4. There are pretty good pancakes, too. The surroundings and friendly service make this a cheap eats winner. Originally, there were four locations, but Kim sold two and still owns the one in Stone Mountain (5112 Stone Mountain Hwy., US 78, 770-982-0779).