Podcast 296 – How Dunwoody Has Attracted 44 Restaurants In the Last 3 Years – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody

If you've been living in Dunwoody or considering moving to Dunwoody, you’ve likely noticed a delicious transformation taking place. Over the past three years, Dunwoody, Georgia has welcomed a staggering 44 new restaurants—an unprecedented boom that’s reshaping the local culinary landscape.

What’s striking is not just the number of new eateries, but the nature of them. These aren’t just your typical big-box chains replacing failed predecessors. Many of these 44 restaurants are fresh concepts, local ventures, or chef-driven kitchens filling newly developed spaces. Ashford Lane and High Street, two of the city’s hottest new districts, didn’t even exist three years ago. Today, they’re vibrant, thriving culinary hubs drawing diners from all over metro Atlanta.

Why Restaurants Are Flocking to Dunwoody

Dunwoody has emerged as a magnet for restaurant growth, and it’s not by accident. The city’s unique blend of cozy neighborhood charm, a strong residential base, and a bustling business environment makes it a strategic choice for restaurateurs. Add in easy access to major highways and MARTA, and you have a recipe for success.

But beyond the numbers, what sets Dunwoody apart is its community spirit. People here value quality, connection, and memorable experiences—values that resonate deeply with today’s restaurant owners. Whether you’re planning a quick lunch, a weekend dinner with the family, or a night out with friends, Dunwoody delivers the vibe and energy that keeps guests coming back.

Ashford Lane: Dunwoody’s Culinary Playground

Ashford Lane, located in the heart of Dunwoody near the iconic Target store, has rapidly become a dining destination in its own right. Just a few years ago, this area was largely underdeveloped. Now, it boasts some of the city’s most exciting food spots.

Locals and visitors alike can enjoy meals at places like Grana, Superica, Culinary Dropout, and Jeni’s Ice Cream. From casual bites to upscale entrées, Ashford Lane offers a full evening of culinary exploration. Want to go big? Start with cocktails at Hawkers, then stroll over to Grana for a pizza that might just ruin you for all others. Wrap it up with dessert at Jeni’s or a nightcap at Hobnob.

Ashford Lane isn’t just about variety. It’s about energy. Patio dining, string lights, live music, and a layout built for walking and mingling—it’s the kind of scene that reminds you why living in Dunwoody is so special.

High Street: The Future Is Now

While Ashford Lane has set a high bar, High Street is poised to go even bigger. Already drawing comparisons to Avalon in Alpharetta (newest home of Dunwoody's own NFA Burger), High Street’s phased development plan will stretch across multiple blocks, eventually reaching the State Farm Towers.

Here’s the kicker: the developers behind High Street are the same team that created Avalon. And once fully built out, High Street is expected to surpass Avalon in size and scope. That means more restaurants, more retail, more green space, and more reasons for people to be moving to Dunwoody.

Phase one is already making waves with restaurants like Velvet Taco, Agave Bandido (which features a secret speakeasy), Nando’s Peri-Peri, Hampton Social, and the ever-popular Putt Shack. Future phases promise even more eateries, entertainment venues, and walkable urban experiences. It’s no exaggeration to say that High Street is redefining what it means to be moving to Dunwoody.

Not Just Big Names—Authenticity Matters

A huge misconception about Dunwoody’s dining expansion is that it’s all about large chains moving in. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Many of the 44 new restaurants are small businesses, chef-driven concepts, or sole proprietorships. Cuddlefish, for example, is a unique sushi and seafood restaurant—not a franchise. Morty’s Meat & Supply, nestled in the Funwoody Food Truck Park, is another standout local concept.

These spots are bringing authenticity and creativity back into the conversation. Dunwoody’s residents made it clear—they wanted more than fast food and cookie-cutter options. The response has been a rich tapestry of flavors, cultures, and culinary styles.

The 44 New Restaurants You Need to Try

From bagels to BBQ, tacos to Thai, Dunwoody’s food scene is more diverse than ever. Here’s the complete list of new additions:

• Agave Bandido

• Ark Coffehaus

• Ben & Jerry’s

• Brown Bag Seafood

• Buffalo Wild Wings

• Chicken Salad Chick

• Chopt Creative Salad Co.

• CT Cantina & Taqueria

• Cuddlefish

• Culinary Dropout

• Desi District

• First Watch

• Good Vibes Ice Cream Shop

• Grana

• Halal Guys

• Hampton Social

• Hawkers

• Jeni’s Ice Cream

• Kitchen & Kocktails

• Louisiana Bistreaux

• Lucky Goat Coffee

• Message in a Bottle

• Mikata

• Morty’s Meat & Supply

• Nando’s Peri-Peri

• North Italia

• Omakase by Yun

• Panda Express

• Paris Baguette

• PF Chang’s

• Politan Row

• Putt Shack

• Snooze

• Steak & Grace

• Stone Age Korean BBQ

• Summitt Coffee

• Super Chix

• Superica

• Sushi Kingdom

• Valor

• Velvet Taco

• Wa’Haka

• Yaba Bagels

• Yao

You can view the full, searchable list at discoverdunwoody.com.

Mark Galvin’s Mission with Discover Dunwoody

Mark Galvin, podcast guest and head of Discover Dunwoody, has been on a mission to shine a light on all the good happening around town. As the destination marketing organization for Dunwoody, his job is to boost hotel bookings, restaurant traffic, and local shopping—all funded by hotel taxes, not resident dollars.

Through projects like the Dunwoody Trolley Tour (which you can join at whatsupdunwoody.com/tour), Discover Dunwoody is helping both newcomers and long-time locals rediscover what makes this city shine. Mark emphasized how the growth of restaurants is a symbol of the city’s broader economic vitality.

Economic Boom in New Buildouts

One of the most amazing facts about the restaurant boom is that many of these new spots aren’t replacing others—they’re occupying newly built spaces. This is a sign of true economic health. Developers aren’t just renovating old spots—they’re building brand-new environments that elevate the dining experience.

Spaces like Ashford Lane and High Street are ground-up developments filled with restaurants that never had a predecessor. That’s a big difference from the churn-and-burn cycle you see in less vibrant areas. Here in Dunwoody, restaurants are moving in because the market is growing.

More to Come: Park Place, Campus 244, and Beyond

The dining boom shows no signs of slowing. Future hot spots like the redeveloped Park Place and the upcoming Campus 244 project are already slated to add even more restaurants to Dunwoody’s menu.

If trends continue, we could see another 20 to 30 new places to eat over the next three years. That means more local jobs, more variety, and more reasons to love living in Dunwoody.

Want to Taste It All? Join the Tour

Step One: Mark your calendar for the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 PM.

Step Two: Reserve your spot at whatsupdunwoody.com/tour.

Step Three: Show up hungry and curious! You’ll ride the trolley, hear from local leaders, and explore the evolving food and retail landscape.

Now’s the time to discover (or rediscover) all the great food, flavor, and community energy happening right here in Dunwoody. Whether you’re a seasoned local or thinking about moving to Dunwoody, there's never been a better time to eat your way through town.

For more details, check out whatsupdunwoody.com/food and follow @DiscoverDunwoody on social media.