Dine out and pay what you can at these Atlanta restaurants

Driving the news: El Ponce, Vinny's Mutual Aid Bakery and Kamayan ATL are participating in this year's Pay What You Can campaign.

• Vinny's, a pop-up that raises funds for Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza, will be serving its items from 6-8pm Wednesday at the Rooftop at Hotel Clermont, according to an Instagram post.

State of play: The campaign, which is Paga Lo Que Puedas in Spanish, comes from Norma Listman and Saqib Keval, the duo behind acclaimed Mexico City restaurant Masala y Maíz.

• The idea is to allow more people to experience acclaimed restaurants, without the usual price barrier.
• This year, more than 100 restaurants in 57 cities across 13 countries are taking part.

How it works: Instead of a check, diners get a blank envelope and decide what they can pay for their meal. Drinks are priced as usual.

• Everything else stays the same: Restaurants serve their regular food with their regular hospitality, whether a diner leaves $5 or $500.

Catch up quick: Kamayan ATL, the Doraville-based Filipino restaurant, has been on Atlanta's Michelin Guide since 2023. Its chefs and co-owners, Carlo Gan and Mia Orino, were named 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists.

• El Ponce, a Mexican restaurant, is located in the city's Poncey-Highland neighborhood.

What we're watching: If the campaign will result in repeat customers.