A 1950 muffler shop now serves Filipino lumpia right next to Louisiana po’boys. That alone made me stop scrolling.
The old garage doors are still there, too.
The menu calls itself world comfort cuisine, and it means it. Cajun mussels, Cuban sandwiches, and fried green tomatoes all share the same page.
I like how none of it feels forced together.
This spot sits in a small Georgia downtown, not a big city food district. A husband and wife built it from a tiny four-table start.
Now it collects local awards year after year.
It is a perfect place to settle a family food argument. One person wants Southern, another wants something global.
So what happens when a single kitchen refuses to pick a side?
An Old Muffler Shop Got A Very Tasty Second Life
Mufflers used to be the main event at this address. Back in 1950, the building opened as Lord’s Muffler Shop, and cars came in for repairs.
Today, Rico’s World Kitchen fills that same space with po’boys, lumpia, and mussels. Rico Cunnington and his wife, Katie, turned the old shop into a restaurant in 2009.
Their story didn’t start here, though. Rico first ran a tiny four-table spot near the Mall of Georgia.
Moving into a former garage was a big jump in size and in nerve.
The best part is that they kept the character. Garage doors still frame the dining room, so the building’s past stays easy to spot.
Photo-covered walls add even more personality to the casual-chic space.
I love when a restaurant doesn’t erase its history. It gives you something to talk about while you wait for food.
It also makes the meal feel rooted in this exact place.
So when someone asks where you ate, you get a fun answer. You can tell them you had lunch in a muffler shop.
That usually earns a confused look, followed by a request for directions.
Louisiana Po’Boys Land Far From The Bayou
Fried shrimp, oysters, or fresh catch. Those are your po’boy choices at Rico’s World Kitchen, and picking one may take a minute.
The po’boy is a Louisiana classic built on French bread. It’s simple on paper, yet it’s hard to do well far from New Orleans.
Rico’s treats it as a menu headliner, not a side project.
Shrimp makes a friendly first pick for most people. Oysters suit anyone who wants a bolder, more coastal bite.
Fresh catch works when you want fish without overthinking the decision.
The kitchen also gets playful with daily specials. Some specials have taken the po’boy idea in new directions, like scallops served po’boy style.
Asking your server about the day’s options is a smart habit here.
Here’s a tip for groups. Order a po’boy and something global, then split everything down the middle.
You’ll taste two corners of the world in one sitting without leaving Georgia.
I believe a good sandwich tells you a lot about a kitchen. Bread, filling, and balance all have to work together.
A Louisiana favorite this far north sets a high bar, and that’s what makes ordering one so tempting.
Nett’s Lumpia Brings The Philippines To The Same Table
Crunchy, golden, and rolled tight. Filipino lumpia are thin egg rolls, and at Rico’s World Kitchen they go by the name Nett’s Lumpia.
The name gives the dish a personal touch. It sounds like a family recipe, though the restaurant keeps the backstory simple.
What the menu does share is the filling, which mixes savory beef, pork, and seasoned chicken.
Lumpia are a staple at Filipino parties and family gatherings. They’re easy to share and easy to eat with your hands.
That makes them a perfect starter while everyone decides on main dishes.
Seeing lumpia beside Cajun mussels might feel random at first. Then you realize both dishes are comfort food in their home countries.
That shared idea ties the whole menu together.
For first-timers, lumpia make a low-risk adventure. The flavors feel familiar if you like egg rolls, yet they still taste like something new.
Kids and picky eaters often find them less scary than mussels.
My advice is simple. Order a plate for the table, even if nobody asked for one.
Lumpia tend to vanish fast, and you don’t want to be the person who missed out.
Starters That Hop Between Continents Before Your Main Course Arrives
Prince Edward Island mussels in Cajun spiced butter and cream. That one line on the appetizer list explains a lot about this kitchen’s mood.
The Cajun BBQ Mussels are a big draw, and they come with plenty of rich sauce. Bread on the side is your best friend here.
Don’t let any of that sauce go to waste.
Fried green tomatoes keep things deeply Southern. They get a southern breading and a creole remoulade for dipping.
It’s the dish to order for anyone visiting Georgia for the first time.
Then the passport stamps start piling up. Pacific Rim Crabcakes arrive with carrot and cucumber slaw, black sesame, and Asian pear dressing.
Fire Cracker Shrimp brings crispy wild-caught shrimp, sriracha aioli, and wakame seaweed salad.
Chicharrones round out the list for crunch lovers. These deep-fried pork skins get a house blackened seasoning.
They’re a fun snack to pass around while you chat.
With a group, the smart move is ordering three or four starters. You’ll cover Louisiana, the South, and the Pacific in one round.
Honestly, you might forget you still have entrees coming.
The Sandwich Board Reads Like A Travel Itinerary
Guava BBQ sauce on hickory-smoked pork? Yes, that’s a real option, and it’s called the Mojo Pork sandwich.
Rico’s World Kitchen builds sandwiches the way some people plan road trips. Every stop adds something different.
The Chicken Cuban leans toward Caribbean flavors, while the Apricot Ham and Brie feels a little fancy.
Spice fans should look at the Royal Rooster. It features a tender fried habanero chicken breast.
The name alone makes it hard to skip.
Vegetarians aren’t left out either. The Fried Green Tomato and Portobello Mushroom sandwich offers a meaty texture without the meat.
It also sneaks another Southern classic onto your plate.
Choosing just one can feel unfair. A good plan is to pair a sandwich with a friend’s po’boy and trade halves.
Sharing turns a quick lunch into a tasting tour.
These sandwiches show what world comfort cuisine really means here. Each one borrows from a different place, then lands with Southern hospitality.
I like that the menu trusts you to be curious. You might walk in craving a basic sandwich and leave with a new favorite flavor.
Your Side Dish Decision Matters More Than You Think
Sides at Rico’s World Kitchen don’t play backup singer. They step right up to the microphone.
Sweet Potato Chips are a fun swap for regular chips. They bring a little natural sweetness to balance salty sandwiches.
Pair them with a po’boy and you’ve got a smart combo.
Hashbrown Casserole is pure Southern comfort. It’s the kind of side that makes a simple meal feel like Sunday dinner.
Fans of cheesy, crispy potatoes should put it on the list.
Fried Eggplant is the wildcard. It’s a little unexpected, which fits this kitchen perfectly.
Ordering it is a great way to try something you might skip elsewhere.
Salads offer a lighter route, too. The Strawberry Salad, Fried Green Tomato Salad, and House Salad give you fresher choices.
They work well if you want room left for dessert.
Here’s my rule for groups. Everyone picks a different side, then the table shares them all.
That way nobody suffers side-dish regret halfway through the meal. Trust me, staring at someone else’s plate with longing is not a good look on anyone.
Save A Little Room Because Dessert Is Made In House
Homemade desserts close out the menu, and that word homemade carries real weight. It tells you the kitchen cares about the last bite as much as the first.
After lumpia, mussels, and a po’boy, dessert might sound impossible. Still, this is the moment to pace yourself.
Splitting a sweet treat with the table makes it easier to say yes.
Dessert options can shift, so asking your server is the way to go. Southern favorites like banana pudding have shown up here.
That fits right in with the comfort food theme.
I think dessert is where a restaurant shows its heart. Anyone can buy a frozen cake and slice it.
Making sweets from scratch takes extra time and effort.
A good strategy works like this. Order lighter on sides if you know you want dessert.
Or take dessert home and enjoy it later on the couch.
Either way, skipping it feels like leaving a movie before the ending. You came all this way for a world tour of flavors.
Finishing with something sweet just makes the whole trip feel complete.
Downtown Buford Makes The Trip Even Better
Right off the square in downtown Buford, this kitchen sits in a walkable, small-town setting. You’ll find it at 306 W Main St, Buford, GA 30518.
That location adds a lot to the visit. You can park, eat, and then stroll the downtown area afterward.
It turns a simple meal into a relaxed afternoon outing.
Timing matters, so plan ahead. Rico’s World Kitchen opens at 11 AM Tuesday through Saturday.
It’s closed on Sundays and Mondays, which surprises some weekend planners.
Hours can shift, so a quick check before you go is smart. Nobody wants to arrive hungry to a locked door.
Lunch is an easy target since the doors open late morning.
Daily specials also change, so every visit can feel a little different. That’s a great excuse to come back more than once.
Asking about specials should be part of your routine.
Buford sits in Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta. That makes it an easy drive for many folks around Georgia.
A small downtown, a global menu, and an old garage building make a pretty great trio.
Awards, Events, And A Whole Lot Of Community Spirit
Best of Gwinnett winner, again and again. Rico’s World Kitchen has earned that title many times from 2014 through 2025.
That kind of streak doesn’t happen by luck. It takes steady cooking and a real connection with the community.
Winning year after year shows people keep coming back.
The restaurant also reaches beyond its own walls. It’s an approved caterer for the Buford Community Center.
That means its international comfort food can show up at parties, meetings, and celebrations.
Picture a wedding shower with lumpia on the buffet. Or a work event with po’boys and fried green tomatoes.
Catering lets guests taste this unusual menu without leaving the venue.
The dining room itself aims for a warm, inviting feel. It’s cozy and energetic at the same time, with a casual vibe.
There’s also outdoor seating for nice Georgia days.
I like how this place grew from a tiny four-table start. Now it feeds events and wins awards across the county.
That journey from a muffler shop to a community favorite might be the most satisfying story on the whole menu.
