By Gisella Brok
Want to walk your dog and then grab a Banh Mi? If so, head to the Works, in the upper Westside of Atlanta. The Chattahoochee Food Hall absolutely bustles with people and hums with energy, the industrial space having been transformed into a rustic foodie heaven.
At the Works, you can satisfy basically any craving you have. Empanadas? Head over to Belen de la Cruz. Banh Mis? Banh Mi Station has got you covered. BBQ? Doug’s North Carolina BBQ will pile on the hushpuppies.
Where do I always go? Flying Fish Sushi and Monster Cravings. For some reason, cookies and sushi make for an interesting yet delicious combo (disclaimer: don’t put cookies in your sushi. Please eat them separately… Or do whatever makes your taste buds happy).
If you’re looking for a quick bite of sushi, Flying Fish Sushi is your place. Housed in a smaller stand towards the back of the food hall, they’re usually pretty busy. A lot of people order takeout, but there are countertop chairs and plenty of other seating available around the hall. Because of the self-order screen, you don’t really get to talk to the food preparers, but you can still watch them make your order!
While the sushi itself is not anything exceptional, I’m not expecting restaurant-level quality from your average sushi stand. They serve traditional and modern rolls, poke bowls, nigiri, and hand rolls!
My favorite is the Fresh Salmon Poke Bowl. They’re not lying when they call the salmon fresh, and the sauce features just the right amount of umami flavoring with a touch of sweetness.
Along with the salmon and sauce, it also comes with seaweed salad, tomatoes, carrots, edamame, avocado, and sesame seeds. Personally, I get mine without the seaweed salad and tomatoes. The salmon melts in your mouth, pairing well with the avocado, and the sesame seeds enhance the flavor just enough.
I also devoured some hand rolls. There’s a good ratio of rice to fish to cucumber, and the sauce doesn’t feel like it’s dripping onto your hands. Like the poke bowl, the fish is fresh and not too fishy!
Once you’re ready for some dessert, Monster Cravings is the perfect place for a quick sweet treat. The great thing about a food hall is that the lines are never terribly long. At Monster Cravings, the workers are super nice and patient (which, if you’re indecisive like me, is very helpful).
It’s definitely hard to choose between the flavors because there are so many, and (as you’ll be able to see in the glass casing) they all look amazing. From the classic chocolate chip to campfire smores to sandwich-turns-cookie PB&J, it’s really hard to decide.
My first time, I chose cookies and cream, which I definitely don’t regret. A brown sugar cookie base stuffed with Oreo chunks, it’s perfect. Creamy yet crunchy, the cookie is a happy middle between those thin, crispy cookies and those thick, gooey cookies. Basically, they settle the debate over the best cookie type by just choosing both.
The same goes for their Snickerdoodle cookie. A classic, it’s hard to mess up, but theirs are especially tasty. Moist and chewy, I’d be shocked if someone said their cookies were dry.
The owner, Veronica Dalzon, is known for saying that her cookies are better than your grandma’s. Every grandma is different, so go try the cookies and see if you agree!
