Pura Vida was the clear winner among readers and the AJC's international dining specialist. (ADRIENNE HARRIS/special)

1. Pure Vida
Readers love chef Hector Santiago and Pura Vida, with one reader calling it the most creative food in Atlanta.

2. Havana Grill

3. Tierra

4. Papi’s

5. Las Palmeras

1) Pura Vida, Virginia Highland

The AJC’s dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “Pura Vida is the easy top choice for this category. Chef Hector Santiago and his Virginia Highland restaurant has come a long way over the years with a stint on Bravo’s Top Chef for Santiago to send the restaurant’s evolution into overdrive. The attached sandwich shop Super Pan and El Burro Pollo, the weekend-only burrito store in the same space, offer some of the best intown dining options for around a $10 price tag.”

2) Las Brasas

3) Las Palmeras

4) Las Arepas de Julia

5) Havana Grill