Bacon Sushi at "One Flew South" in Atlanta

It’s a well-known fact that most airports offer overpriced food that is not exactly spectacular in taste. So why not pay a little more for…well, more?

For those who can find the time to chow down between flights at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, there’s always the option of dining at One Flew South, a sleek and upscale restaurant located next to the food court at Concourse E. Amid the lineup of stagnant food brands such as the ever-ubiquitous McDonald’s and the generic Panda Express, One Flew South stands out like an oasis (although at the nearby Nature’s Table Bistro, the fresh Georgia peach juice is apropos and highly recommended).

One Flew South may specialize in mostly hot food, but the restaurant happens to boast a sushi bar with a number of amazing cut rolls ranging from $10 to $16. One noteworthy detail in most of the rolls is that only English cucumbers are used. (As opposed to many other varieties of cucumber, the English version tends to be less bitter, with a skin that is generally not as hard and thick.)

I ordered the $12 Bagel Roll, which comes with smoked salmon, Greek yogurt sauce, and English cucumber. Using a lemon zester, the roll is then topped off with citrus shavings, which are commonly used on many of the rolls in place of sesame seeds.

Per the chef’s recommendation, I agreed to try the Benton’s Roll, which isn’t on the menu but as with most items that are “off the menu,” it was a special dish that was mind-blowingly good, although a sushi roll with bacon and avocado does sound wacky.

But this is no ordinary bacon. It comes from Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams, the famous purveyor of hickory, smoked, and aged pork products in Madisonville, Tennessee. Its deeply rich and pungent essence is further enhanced by the restaurant’s in-house seasoning and caramelization process using brown and white sugar, salt, and fresh cracked pepper. Above all, it’s finished in the oven, which gives the bacon its extra crispness.

This bacon can also be found in the restaurant’s Bacon and Sweetgrass Dairy Chevre (goat milk cheese) Salad. Want to try a hot plate the restaurant recommends? Order the Duck Breast with Sweet Potato Puree, Brussels Sprouts and Blueberry Reduction.

One Flew South
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Atlanta, Georgia
404-816-3464