With Yelp for almost three years, in July 2015 Jonathan T moved south from Minneapolis to serve as Atlanta’s Senior Community Manager. When he’s not moseying around his Morningside ‘hood, he’s scouring the city to indulge in a savory bowl of noodles, sip on a cold taro boba tea, admire the city’s sick graffiti art, and exploring the all that ATL has to offer. Today, we check in with him from his favorite Vietnamese restaurant.
What did you do before you worked for Yelp?
I worked as the Director and Creator of House of Dance: Twin Cities, Minnesota’s first ever hip-hop community center, consulted as a grant writer for various non-profits, MCed underground hip-hop battles, and taught college access and break[dance]ing at a high school and community center, respectively. I have a lot of different interests, obviously.
What’s your favorite thing about representing Atlanta Yelp?
People have a serious love for food in the dirty dirty. And why wouldn’t they? The capital of the South prides itself on food sourced from local growers, and a robust culinary history of cookin’. Restaurants pop up faster than zits on a teenager’s face and many people use food as a gateway to learn about the city’s diverse racial and ethnic communities. It’s beautiful. It’s tasty. And I’ve gained a few pounds ever since moving here.
What’s your most recent local business discovery?
Botiwalla in Ponce City Market. I dig their modern take on Indian cuisine. I would fight my best friend for their tamarind glazed spare ribs with ginger, garlic, soy, star anise, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. I could eat these all day, without any shame.
How would you spend a perfect Saturday in Atlanta?
Because I’d need to burn several hundred calories for my planned day of gluttony, I’d wake up early in the morning to take a long jog through Piedmont Park. Then I’d start my day, beginning with Home Grown’s transcendent Comfy Chicken Biscuit. Then, I would drive over to Alon’s Bakery to have a nice iced coffee and pastry. I’d take a few hours to check out the graffiti around the Krog Street Tunnel, linking Inman Park and Cabbagetown. I’d then check out Buford Highway Farmer’s Market and look at their fresh seafood for the day. Later, I’d drive down Buford Highway to grab a bowl of pho dac biet at Pho Dai Loi II and a cold boba tea at Kung Fu Tea. For dinner, I would venture even further north to eat Korean BBQ at 678 and end the night with some debauchery and cheap drinks at the infamous Clermont Lounge.
What local celebrity would you take to lunch and where would you go?
I would take Ludacris to Heirloom Market BBQ, so we could devour some kickass ribs with a Korean twist. Then, I would ask him “how low can he go?” and if I could sit in his car while he blasts Roll Out. I would be able to die happy, with BBQ stained fingers and all.
Can’t get enough of Jonathan T? Check out all of his reviews on Yelp! If you still want more, follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as he continues to explore Atlanta.
