MARTA Dining Guide: Dunwoody and Sandy Springs stations

This Rough Draft dining series highlights restaurants in cities and neighborhoods within easy walking distance or a short bus ride from MARTA rail stations. Check out other guides to Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, and Lenox on the Gold Line, Buckhead on the Red Line, and Lindbergh Station on the Gold and Red lines. 

Hit the arrow tab on the top left of the map to view each station guide.

Originally built in anticipation of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Dunwoody’s MARTA station finally brought the Red Line to the suburbs just outside the Perimeter. Four years later, the Red Line culminated with the openings of both Sandy Springs and North Springs stations. These edge city rail stations help metro Atlanta visitors and residents alike reach more densely populated areas and attractions inside and outside the Perimeter, including Perimeter Center, Midtown, and Downtown, continuing south to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

This dining guide spotlights nine restaurants, plus two dining destinations with multiple restaurants, easily accessible from the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs stations. All of the restaurants listed are a quick walk or bus ride from one or both stations.

Dunwoody station is accessible via the 5, 87, and 150 buses bound for Piedmont Road, Roswell Road, and Dunwoody Village, respectively.

Sandy Springs station is accessible via connecting Bus 148, an east-west route with stops along Mount Vernon Highway, Johnson Ferry, Powers Ferry, New Northside, Interstate North Parkway, and Riveredge Parkway.

Dunwoody Station

CT Cantina & Taqueria ($-$$)
244 Perimeter Center Pkwy

• Mexican; extensive bar and beverage selection; coffee shop with pastries; Sunday brunch buffet 
• Walking from Dunwoody station: 12 minutes or .5 miles

The Dunwoody location of CT Cantina & Taqueria is the local Mexican restaurant chain’s largest. The atmosphere takes a visual nod from Tulum’s resorts with a massive patio and a strip of indoor cabanas that take group dining to another level. This location is nothing short of a party, so come with a crowd and order the birria taco plate to share. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to try one of the chef’s house-made tortillas, either in chip or wrap form, and make sure to order one of CT Cantina’s 17 margaritas.

What to eat: Birria taco plate

What to drink: Spicy verde margarita; Kiwi Piwi margarita; Guava Lava margarita

Norifish ($$$-$$$$)
1115 Springwood Connector

• Japanese; sushi; omakase
• Walking from Dunwoody station: 17 minutes or .7 miles
• Bus 5 or 87: 1 stop along Hammond Drive to Springwood Connector, then 4 minutes of walking

While Atlanta proper has become flush with omakase spots, you’ll find some of the best-quality fare at Norifish just outside the Perimeter. As with the Buckhead location, this location also flies fish in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market. The menu keeps things simple–order some sushi and smaller plates to share, or go big and get the six-course standard or premium omakase. There’s a modest selection of sake, Japanese beer, cocktails, and wine. Reservations recommended. 

What to eat: Belly rice; kinmedai (golden eye snapper); lobster dynamite

What to drink: Sake; cucumber mint yuzu spritz

McKendrick’s Steak House ($$$-$$$$)
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road

• Steakhouse with full bar and extensive wine list; business-casual dress code 
• Walking from Dunwoody station: 22 minutes or 1 mile
• Bus 150: 2 stops at Dunwoody Village to Perimeter Center, then 2 minutes of walking

A meal at McKendrick’s still feels like a trip to 1995. Even if you’re not a steak person, the menu is full of hits, like hearty salads and a customizable seafood tower. In addition to more traditional steakhouse sides such as creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, McKendrick’s offers notable deviations, including roasted okra, Brussels sprouts, and wild mushroom risotto. Beat the crowd — and get even more attention from the staff — by coming in on a Monday night, when it’s not flush with business meetings. Reservations recommended. 

What to eat: Stone crab claws (when available); wild mushroom risotto; French onion soup; steak 

What to drink: Lemon fizz; wine

To reach the Funwoody Village restaurants within Dunwoody Village, including Morty’s Meat & Supply and Barn Booze & Bites, along with nearby restaurants like NFA Burger, Vintage Pizza, and Dunwoody Tavern, hop on Bus 150 north to Dunwoody Village Parkway at Mount Vernon Road.

Sandy Springs Station

Yaba’s Bagels ($-$$)
4780 Ashford Dunwoody Road

• Bagels; fast-casual breakfast and lunch option for sandwiches and coffee
• Bus 150: 5 stops via Perimeter Center to Ashford Dunwoody, then 3 minutes of walking

New York City-style bagels meet Middle Eastern flavors in the wonderful hybrid that is Yaba’s Bagels. Expect city classics like pastrami melts and a bagel egg and cheese sandwich. However, make sure to branch out and try the signature bagels, like the Levantine (za’atar bagel topped with labneh, olive oil, and extra za’atar), the Yaffa (squeaky grilled halloumi with tomato, arugula, and a touch of pomegranate molasses), or, if your tastes steer sweeter, the Souk (tahini, date syrup, Medjool dates, and walnuts). In addition to house-made bagels, there’s also a small selection of sweets, including danishes, croissants, and muffins. Keep an eye on Instagram for weekly sandwich specials, too.

What to eat: The Yaffa (bagel sandwich with grilled halloumi, tomato, arugula, and balsamic); The Levantine (open-faced za’atar bagel topped with labneh, olive oil, and za’atar); The Reuben with choice of bagel (we suggest za’atar or everything)

What to drink: Coffee

Politan Row at Ashford Lane ($-$$)
4550 Olde Perimeter Way

• Food hall with sports pub and two bars
• Walking from Sandy Springs station: 16 minutes or .7 miles

Sometimes when you’re in a group, the best option is choosing the flexibility of restaurant choices that come with a food hall. Politan Row at Ashford Lane features 10 food vendors, including 26 Thai, Delilah’s Everyday Soul, Bussin’ Jerk ATL, Sheesh, Bucatini, and Buzzin’ Burgers. Get your drinks at Bar Politan, located smack-dab in the middle, or venture to vapor-wave speakeasy Okay Anny’s or Streakers Sports Pub. 

What to eat: Birria ramen (Tacos El Kohuich); jerk chicken nachos (Bussin’ Jerk);

What to drink: Flaming Dr. Pepper (Okay Anny’s); iced Irish coffee (Streakers); passionfruit lemon drop (Bar Politan)

Yalda ($$-$$$)
6500 Aria Blvd

• Middle Eastern and Persian; nice dining room with full bar and patio
• Walking from Sandy Springs station: 18 minutes or .8 miles

Metro Atlanta offers a wealth of Persian restaurants, and Yalda’s got some of the best dishes representing the cuisine. Kebabs are the move here, as are the rice dishes, which include shirin polo (a celebration rice made with orange peel, raisins, and nuts). Other standouts at Yalda include the eggplant dishes. (Kaskh bademjoon is more popular, but mirza ghasemi maintains an irresistible balance of smoky and tangy notes.) Try the lamb neck–a Persian delicacy served over cauliflower puree–or the succulent shrimp Saganaki and za’atar labneh. The atmosphere is straight out of Darband, a former mountain village and hiking trail that’s been incorporated into Tehran’s metropolitan area. Reservations recommended. 

What to eat: Lamb loghmeh; shirazi salad, Chilean seabass

What to drink: Tipsy Sabzi; Majnoon; Hafez’s Last Word; Back Home Brewing beer

Hawkers Asian Street Food ($-$$)
1230 Ashford Crossing

• Pan-Asian street food
• Walking from Sandy Springs station: 16 minutes or .7 miles

With locations across the Southeast, Hawkers may not be local, but the restaurant’s take on Asian street food is worth more than a try. It’s impossible to go wrong with an order of roti canai, which comes with the option to top it with Sichuan chili crisp, peanuts, and a peanut-sesame sauce paired with vanilla ice cream (aka the Chili Vanilli). For drinks, choose from a selection of wine, sake, beer, Japanese whisky, and prismatic cocktails. From 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Hawkers features deals on bao and other small plates, along with beer and cocktails.

What to eat: Seoul hot chicken bao; Hong Kong sticky ribs; Vietnamese goi ga salad

What to drink: Masala chai; Viet-spresso; five-spice Old Fashioned; matcha lychee lemonade

Joey D’s Oak Room ($$-$$$)
1015 Crown Pointe Pkwy

• Steakhouse with oak bar; business-casual dress code; lunch and dinner; good for groups and corporate dining
• Walking from Sandy Springs station: 11 minutes or .5 miles

Atlanta meets New Orleans and New York City at Joey D’s Oak Room, a three-decade-old Perimeter Center steakhouse with a slew of loyal regulars. Think Houston’s-quality meats, but within a much more independently run operation. It’s also the ideal setting for a 1990s-style power lunch, which still happen here every weekday. The menu, wine list, and beverage program, with a bar offering more than 600 different spirits, have remained consistently good over the years. Start off with a classic Caesar, garlic crab claws, and honey butter croissants, or a shrimp cocktail and she crab soup. You can’t go wrong with steak at Joey D’s, but don’t dismiss the fresh fish of the day entrees, blackened chicken rigatoni, or the Oak Room burger. There’s croissant bread pudding for dessert. Reservations recommended. 

What to eat: Prime rib; French dip; French onion or she crab soup; Oak Room burger; fish of the day; croissant bread pudding

What to drink: Freezer door vesper; Joey’s martini

Food Terminal ($-$$)
6550 Aria Blvd

• Malaysian street food; cocktails; Sunday brunch
• Bus 148: 2 stops from Riveredge Office Park via Powers Ferry to Mount Vernon, then 14 minutes of walking or .6 miles

You know you’re dealing with good, affordable food when your menu comes in catalog form. If that’s not enough for you, however, you should know that the Chamblee location of Food Terminal has landed on Atlanta’s Michelin Guide three years running. Street food is the move here, with cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) and garlic noodles as go-to dishes. Try the rolling hot plate rice for a do-it-yourself take on fried rice, and don’t skip the mango sticky rice for dessert. Earlier this year, Food Terminal introduced a dim sum brunch. 

What to eat: Curry chicken noodle soup; garlic noodles; mango sticky rice

What to drink: Bubble tea with or without booze

Sandy Springs MARTA station includes accessibility to City Springs Performing Arts Center, Sandy Springs city hall, a conference center, and restaurants part of the City Springs complex. Restaurants at City Springs include The Select, Nam Kitchen, Flower Child, and Cafe Vendome. Take the number 5 or 87 bus headed west from the Sandy Springs MARTA station. Nearby Roswell Road also features numerous restaurants, dubbed Sandy Springs Restaurant Row, accessible by foot or bus.

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