Kool Korners Grocery

It was a sad day when this place closed. Hope to visit the new location someday. Havana Sandwich shop just reopened (across from Rusty Nail on Buford Hwy) which had been a close 2^nd — so hopefully great Cubans will be available again in Atlanta.

They’ve reopened!!! I’m going to B’Ham next week for work and will be definitely stopping by to say hi and have a few cubans.

This is one of those places you just have to know about. If you are driving down 14^th Street, chances are you will not see the small unassuming sign for Kool Korners. You will see Jimmy John’s next door and probably be tempted to go in there for a sandwich, and that would be a mistake.
If you go across the street to Kool Korners you will get a much better sandwich and experience. It is a very small place with not a lot of standing room and nowhere to eat inside. I have never been there without a decently large line though. When you enter it is best to tell them immediately if you do not want the «Classic Cuban» so by the time you get up there they would have made it.
They have some other drinks and snacks that are interesting as well. I generally just stick to the chips though as I am not that adventurous. I have heard good things though. I usually opt for the roast beef sandwich which is really good. The people working here are not teenagers looking for a part time job, they are truly authentic and have been making this food for many years. They are always very kind and efficient. Even with long lines you get in and out pretty fast. Only downside is there is nowhere to eat inside but I live about a half a mile away so no big deal.

I’ll add one too as I am one of the two (as far as I know) Cubans (okay, Cuban-​American) on the site.
Okay — history time.
Ramirez (aka «El Buitre» or «The Vulture») was an institution. He moved to Miami (aka «The Elephant Graveyard for Cubans») recently but leaves in his wake many happy customers with huge butts because of all the lard in the food he prepared — okay, not lard, but certainly pork fat.
I first met him about 30 years ago as a mere pup when he was running one of the Diaz stores (yes, Diaz Foods used to have multiple convenience stores where homesick Cubans could get their fixes of food trucked up from Miami). Diaz had a store in Peachtree Hills that Ramirez and his wife would run — when anyone had a party going on, you would tell him to jam another lechón (Cuban Spanish for «kick-​ass tasting pig with lots of fat to make your butt big») and Cuban bread (also made with lard — that one I know cuz I saw them make it that way) in the oven.
Whew, those were the days.
Then he moved to Midtown on his own gig. We used to go there after class at Tech or work (my Dad owned a business around the corner) and we would just be blown away.
Glad I just worked out — I think I just gained some weight thinking about those sandwiches.

Yeah, they’re closed now, so this review is just for posterity. Kool Korners really had the best Cuban sandwich in Atlanta («The best Jerry, the best»). Mr. Ramirez was super nice and roasted the pork himself in house. Sure, some people would say that the standard addition of jalapenos, lettuce or mayo weren’t «authentic» (and I had him hold the mayo), but even these griping pedantic purists would admit the sandwiches were amazing.
Yeah, the place looked run-​down on the outside, and there really isn’t anywhere to eat on site (except for a couple of picnic tables around back), but these are all minor trifles to taste these legendary Cuban sandwiches. I’d go, grab a bag of plantain chips and a drink and wait for my Classico. Sometimes I’d mix it up and get a salami or a roast beef instead of the classic, but whichever one I got they were consistently sublime.
Thanks for the memories, Kool Korners.

OH NO, I just heard they closed! This was the best Cuban sandwich place in town. It totally reminded me of the Soup Natzi, since you had to wait in line forever, get to the counter, order what you want as fast as possible, pay and run out the door.
It will be missed!

This makes me very sad, I used to go there all the time after I went to the Knuckle Up Fitness Gym. I am from Tampa so I know good cubans and these were definitely one of the best. I guess its Woodys on Saturdays for me.

I know it’s closed, but I’m gonna review it anyway because I have a confession that’s hard for a wanna-​be gourmand to make: I never actually set foot in here. I never really had a chance to, working as I did in the nether-​regions of OTP. But I did have their legendary Cuban sandwich – once. I happened to call a friend who worked nearby just as he was making an office run for his work team.
«Dude, add me to the list. I’ll come by.»
Some minutes later, I was standing in his office parking lot, exchanging currency for a nondescript paperbag while being given the stinkeye by a passing security guard. I’d heard so much about this sandwich and believed that there was no way it could meet with expectations. I tore into the packaging and bit… into a truly transcendent experience. Some way, some how all of my out-​of-​proportion expectations had been met and then exceeded. How, how, how?!
Even with that, I still failed to take advantage of it while I could. All things, even institutions, are fleeting. And now all I have left is the memory of that pork and bread eaten in the parking lot of Cbeyond. So here’s to you, Kool Korners and to all of you Unilocalers who may take your favorites for granted. Go visit one as soon as you can. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we (or they) die.

A little place. Big taste.
A Cuban that demands attention, warm, it melts in your mouth, and will never try to defect from your tastebuds.

I almost didn’t write this review. I perused the other ones before me and realized from a food perspective, I really had nothing to add. Yes, they have the best Cuban sandwiches in town. I’m pretty sure the sauce Kool Korners uses to season the sandwiches is laced with either crack, a Foie gras reduction, or something else equally addictive. Their menu is very simple so it’s been more than covered by the other reviewers already.
Eventually, I did remember one thing to add. The one complaint most people have is that there’s nowhere nearby to eat the food. They have 1 outside table for seating, and when it’s busy that’s rarely available.
What most people don’t know is that there’s a playground within walking distance, that has a couple more tables and is always empty. Walk (or drive, if you’re feeling especially lazy) down State Street towards 10^th (towards Georgia Tech). Before you get to 10^th street, there are a couple of streets where you can turn right. If you turn right on Calhoun or Richards (I forget which one), there is a tiny playground with a swing set and a couple of picnic tables. It’s out of the way of traffic so it’s quiet, and I’ve never seen anyone else in that playground during lunch hours. There is a daycare next door, but they have their own fenced in playground and I don’t believe their kids play in the open one.
You heard it here first.

I am a consumer of food, but a hunter of great sandwiches.
What a beautiful thing this was. This thing, I didn’t think was possible, between a hunter and her prey. Wait– before I break out in song and completely expose my dorkitude…
I had no idea that place was even open for business. It’s easy to miss and kind of a dive. So keep your eye out for it. There’s a reason it’s called Kool KORNER. I think it’s simplicity only adds to it’s charm. It’s very nostalgic for me. [Sigh] I miss Tampa.
I also have to agree with other Unilocalers in saying that this place is better than Papi’s. Trust me. Save your money, go to Kool’s and just ask for the «Classic». Plain and simple.
Sadly, I’ve heard rumors that the owner may be retiring. Granted, he has been at this for quite some time and earnestly deserves a retirement, but I do hope that the business continues.
If Kool Korner’s had a yearbook, I’d be that cliché classmate that would sign: «Don’t ever change!»

The best sandwich in Atlanta! My stomach starts growling every time I hear the name. The sandwiches are very large, especially for the price. I’ve only ever gotten the Classic because it’s so good, why would you want to try anything else? One friend of mine always gets the roast beef, and another claims it’s the best Turkey sandwich she’s ever eaten.
The ladies making the sandwiches are friendly, and the owner himself is charming. Some may say they’re not authentic Cuban sandwiches, but the staff is authentically Cuban, and they make the sandwiches, so in my mind, that’s authentically Cuban.
You’d never know by the location what a great place this is, but what it lacks in décor, it makes up for in flavor. The parking situation is dicey, since the shops that just opened across the street are quite angry that the Kool Korner customers are parking in their lot and crossing the street (but why would you eat at Jimmy John’s when you can have a KK Cuban?). The only place to sit is at a picnic table out the back… so it’s definitely a to go place. While you’re there, grab a sleeve of Maria’s, a bag of plantain chips, and a can of guava juice.

My mouth starts watering when I just think about these sandwiches — every time, even right now. I have been a Kool Korner patron for about 15 years now; I have friends who have been going for much longer. The sandwiches have always been fantastic — full of flavor, big and a great bargain. The prices have gone up a bit over the years but, still, they are a great deal.
I don’t like to get into the argument about whether or not they are authentic Cuban sandwiches. I don’t really care; either way, I truly believe they are the best sandwiches in Atlanta. I will gladly stand in line with all the other hungry souls waiting patiently for our turn to call out our toppings (I like everything — with hot peppers!).
Be sure to let them know right away upon entering if you are getting something other than the classic so you don’t mess up the flow. I usually grab a bottle of soda and a bag of fried plantains (I like the garlic ones as well as the plain), and they have some packages of cookies that are pretty good, too. If there are no open tables outside, I have been known to eat my entire sandwich in my car just outside Kool Korner — I just can’t wait!

Kool Korners has the best Cuban sandwiches! When I worked at Turner Broadcasting, I would always go around the corner to Kool Korners for a quick lunch. Fast, Cheap, Delicious!
I have since moved away from Atlanta, and will probably never return, but if I ever do, I will definitely go to Kool Korners for lunch no doubt!

I’m exactly half-​way through a classic with everything (with jalapeño’s of course). Kool Korner rocks. The sandwich is fantastic; I’ve never ordered anything but the classic besides the occasional bag of plantain or cassava chips. I usually eat a late lunch, so the lines are never too long for me. I like this place so much I bought a black and white ink print of the place at the Virginia-​Highlands festival this past summer, and have it framed and hung above my desk in my office at work. It’s these rinky-​dink mom-​and-​pop shops that make me love the food in Atlanta.
Quantity and potency of the jalapenos seems to vary, so be careful if your spicy tolerance is weak. You can always ask for just a little jalapeño.
I need more data points, but it seems like things with the initials KK result in tasty eats (the other one being Krispy Kreme).

Yum! A large Cuban sandwich for under $ 5! And its actually very tasty! I got the «Classic» with everything, including the jalapenos and enjoyed it very much. Places like this are the main reason I love Unilocal,I would never have known about it unless I found it on here.
Suffice it to say, I’ll be back!

You could eat this every day for lunch. So good. So cheap.
It’s their sauce man… they put drugs in it (just kidding)… but its so darn good.
You can get a veggie sandwich here for just over $ 2!
CASH ONLY !!!
No indoor seating. Eat in your car or at the one picnic table they have!

BEST CUBA SANDWICHES!
I love the owner. He is an older gentleman. If you try to order anything other than a Cuban he says…“no you need a Cuban” and he is always right. I also accompany my Cuban with a side of plantains chips and a Inca Kola! (Just writing about it is making my mouth water!)
They don’t have seating so hope that the pic-​nick table out side is available and that it is a nice day.

«Grocery» is really a misnomer. This literal hole-​in-​the-​wall is where you’ll find the best cuban sandwich around. Owned by a cute elderly Cuban couple (the lady of the house passed a few years ago, bless her soul), this take-​out only shop is truly a diamond in the rough.
Consider picking up a few cubans on a sunny day and having a picnic in Piedmont Park. If you’re looking for a place to sit down, try Havana Sandwich Shop on Buford Highway.

I always used to think this place was just a ratty looking grocery store, driving past it several times a week for almost four years. I never knew that inside the shabby exterior was the best Cuban sandwich in Atlanta. Some Georgia Tech grads introduced me to the place, and they were horrified that I lived nearby and didn’t know about it.
The Cubans at Kool Korners are so popular that the staff has a note up when you walk in the door that you only need to place an order if you’re getting something other than the Cuban. If you want a Cuban (like everyone else), just get in line and tell them know how many. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered anything else off the menu come to think of it.
Be prepared to wait through the line if you go at lunch. They sell chips and drinks as well as sandwiches, but that’s it. There’s no seating (aside from the one picnic bench that will invariably be full if it’s not raining) so you’ll need to have somewhere in mind for a spot to eat your sandwich. Piedmont Park isn’t too far away if you’ve got the time and the weather is nice. Sometimes I’ll go by Kool Korners and grab a few Cubans and bring them down to Centennial Park for lunch with my wife and friends. Seems like I’m always the one who has to fetch the sandwiches, but it never gets old going inside Kool Korners after the years of missing out on it.