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9 Airport Restaurants Actually Worth Eating at (And 5 Places to Always Skip)

Airport restaurants worth the layover (and ones to avoid)

By Amanda Teague , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated April 28, 2026

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Airport food has long been the punchline of travel jokes: overpriced burgers, soggy pizza, and whatever has been sitting under a heat lamp since your last connection. Yet that reputation has started to shift. As people start traveling more, airports have been quietly upgrading their dining scenes with restaurants that actually feel worth seeking out.

Of course, not every terminal got the memo. Some airports still struggle with crowded dining areas, inconsistent quality, and menus that feel aggressively mediocre. To help travelers avoid the worst and find the rare gems, here are the airport restaurants that genuinely deserve your boarding pass, as well as a few places where grabbing a snack before security might still be the smarter move.

1. Worth it: One Flew South at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL)

Airport sushi usually inspires suspicion, yet One Flew South tends to change minds fast. The chef-driven spot has long been treated as the gold standard of airport dining, with ramen, crudo, and polished mains that feel restaurant-level rather than terminal-level. Food & Wine has repeatedly ranked Atlanta among the best U.S. airports for food, and this place explains why.

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2. Worth it: Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen at Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

Houston's beloved Cajun seafood chain somehow keeps its airport location surprisingly solid.

Travelers often rave about the gumbo, seafood platters, and bisques that taste close to what you'd find at the original restaurants around town. As Reddit user MFxKool shared, "Pappadeaux is my 'ol reliable.' It always hits. Prices have gone up and I complain every time I see the menu but it doesn't stop me from going and enjoying the food."

When an airport meal starts with oysters and ends with bread pudding, the whole "airport food is terrible" argument starts wobbling.

3. Worth it: Root Down and Elway's Steakhouse at Denver International (DEN)

Denver International Airport quietly dominates airport dining rankings. In Altezza Travel's 2025 analysis of the 20 busiest U.S. airports, DEN scored 19 out of 20 overall for the best food experiences. With spots like Root Down and Elway's Steakhouse, grabbing dinner before boarding rarely feels like settling.

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4. Worth it: Tortas Fronteras at Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

Chicago O'Hare tends to deliver wildly uneven airport dining, yet Tortas Fronteras reliably saves the day. Created by celebrity chef Rick Bayless, the counter spot turns out fresh tortas, guacamole, and Mexican street-food classics that food writers consistently highlight as a standout.

In a terminal full of crowds and mediocre options, this place often feels like a small miracle. "

If you're ever looking for food during a layover at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, I strongly recommend stopping by Tortas Frontera," said Eastern_Fig8938 on Reddit.

5. Worth it: Bánh Shop at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)

Airport sandwiches usually land somewhere between "fine" and "regrettable," but Bánh Shop aims higher. The Vietnamese-inspired counter spot builds bright bánh mì and noodle bowls with real flavor.

Its grilled pork meatball baguette once earned the title Best Meatball Sandwich in America from Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, which is a surprisingly bold honor for something served steps from Gate C.

6. Worth it: Stone Arch at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)

Minneapolis-Saint Paul tends to punch above its weight in airport dining satisfaction surveys. In fact, in J.D. Power's 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, MSP ranked No. 1 in categories including "Food, Beverage and Retail."

Stone Arch helps the reputation stick. The restaurant pours Minnesota craft beers and serves hearty Midwestern fare that travelers often rate surprisingly well. When your pre-flight drink involves a local IPA instead of a sad airport lager, the layover suddenly feels much more civilized.

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7. Worth it: The Salt Lick BBQ at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

Austin's airport leans hard into local restaurants, which explains how legendary Hill Country barbecue ended up inside a terminal.

The Salt Lick's airport outpost serves brisket, sausage, and ribs that still carry that slow-smoked Texas flavor. Compared with the average airport meal, a tray of barbecue and sauce feels almost suspiciously satisfying.

8. Worth it: Bun Mee at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport often lands near the top of airport dining rankings, like Food & Wine naming it as a top 10 airport for food and drink. Bun Mee shows why.

The Vietnamese counter spot turns out crisp bánh mì, noodle bowls, and bubble tea that travelers consistently praise for flavor and speed. It's the rare airport meal where you might actually wish your flight were delayed five minutes.

9. Worth it: La Carreta at Miami International Airport (MIA)

Miami International Airport practically demands Cuban food, and La Carreta delivers the classics travelers expect. The airport location serves croquetas, Cuban sandwiches, and strong café cubano that regulars say taste close to the original Miami restaurants.

A quick plate of Cuban comfort food before takeoff tends to feel far more appropriate than another forgettable airport burger.

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1. Skip: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark has developed a reputation for airport dining that's…not exactly glowing. One recent analysis ranked it the worst U.S. airport for food, with roughly 70% of restaurants rated below three stars.

Even more painful: the average meal price still hovered around $23. Paying premium airport prices for sub-three-star food rarely feels like a winning strategy.

2. Skip: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Fort Lauderdale's terminals might move travelers quickly, yet the food scene tends to disappoint. Studies analyzing online reviews suggest roughly three-quarters of restaurants here fall below three stars.

That statistic alone explains why many travelers quietly resort to snacks, coffee, or survival-mode granola bars before boarding.

3. Skip: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

JFK offers plenty of restaurants, but the ratings paint a less flattering picture. A 2025 study by Altezza Travel found that about 57% of the airport's eateries rated below three stars, with an overall average rating of around 2.6. In other words, finding something good sometimes feels like airport dining roulette.

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4. Skip: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

O'Hare doesn't lack restaurants; it lacks breathing room. Some travel analyses describe it as the most crowded airport dining scene in America. In fact, it has the highest number of visitors per restaurant across all major U.S. airports.

Long lines, packed terminals, and uneven quality sometimes turn a simple meal into a surprisingly exhausting mission.

5. Skip: Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando International Airport handles enormous tourist traffic, and the dining situation often reflects that reality. Altezza Travel reports that MCO has more than 113,000 visitors per restaurant each month.

The terminals lean heavily toward national chains designed to move crowds quickly. For travelers hoping for memorable food, the options can feel more like theme-park concessions than anything worth lingering over before a flight.

Bottom line

Airport food still carries a terrible reputation, yet the reality looks more complicated. Many major hubs now feature chef-driven restaurants and regional specialties that genuinely rival city dining. Choosing wisely can transform a boring layover into something memorable, and finding those standout spots even helps travelers save money on travel by avoiding overpriced, disappointing meals.

A few simple rules make the search easier. Look for open kitchens where food is prepared in plain view and notice where airport employees or flight crews tend to eat. Skip heat-lamp buffets or mystery trays sitting under warming lights. And when possible, choose local restaurants over national chains. If the airport reflects the city's food culture, the odds of a good meal improve dramatically.

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