America's Best Airport Dining Spots

By Food & Wine

Sluggishly slow ticketing lines, airport security... and a great meal? F&W's ultimate airport dining survival guide features the best places to eat and drink in airports around the country, from Carolina-style barbecue in Charlotte and fresh sushi in San Francisco, to the culinary juggernaut that is Terminal 5 in NYC's JFK airport (a brasserie, a tapas joint and yakitori). Here, Food & Wine highlights America's best airport dining spots.

More from Food & Wine:

America's Best Bars
Best Burgers in the U.S.
Best Steak in the U.S.
Best Pizza Places in the U.S.
Best Fried Chicken in the U.S.
Best Ice Cream Spots in the U.S.

 

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Comments

[darchok]

03:09 AM on 07/31/2012

I'm sorry but that burger in the Dulles photo is just ridiculous.

[Howard Dalton]

03:52 PM on 07/30/2012

Was just stuck at LGA on a layover a few weeks ago and I can confirm the choices for dining are plenty and tasty. Can also confirm a Cosmopolitan made with 2 drops of well vodka costs $13.

[jr4949]

10:56 AM on 07/30/2012

eastcoast bias much?

[portfolio]

10:50 AM on 07/30/2012

Encounter Restaurant at LAX

[MammaLu]

06:04 PM on 07/29/2012

Ok, but when it comes to train travel, any of you riding Amtrak or CalTrain in California, check out Patty's Inn just opposite the San Jose station.

Been there since 1933, and looks it, but it has great food! Best homemade clam chowder I've ever had, great sandwiches, free peanuts in the shell, friendly people in the old world way, not the new corporate way.

A must!

[skytracker]

03:46 PM on 07/29/2012

I do not know about you all, however, I would never eat as much food as some of the images shows before boarding a flight. Smaller portion ... that works ... bring it on! Yummy ...

[JacksonHts]

03:23 PM on 07/29/2012

The best airport food I have ever had in my entire life was in New Orleans about 1982, I had some really awesome Gumbo after spending all day without food and right before a flight back to NY. I am sure the concession where I bought it has been replaced by some franchise that you can find at every airport or shopping mall food court. Second best was a pulled pork sandwich at the KC airport in 2004.

[caphillprof]

09:34 AM on 07/29/2012

Obviously you all haven't been to San Francisco; nor have have you had a Rick Bayless sandwich while changing planes at O'Hare.

[consumesoup]

02:54 PM on 07/28/2012

Fish Tacos at San Diego International is a treat....watch the flight crews,(pilots, flight attendants) dash for it when they have a few minutes between flights...it's truly amazing.

[Karl Wilder]

12:32 PM on 07/28/2012

While many airports have stepped up food quality (but you do pay ultra premium prices) to put 5 guys on this list insults them all.

[Carbon Forteetoo]

09:03 PM on 07/27/2012

Agree with Legal Seafood at Logan. So yummy.

[BuckyJamesDio]

08:07 PM on 07/27/2012

I actually like Vino Volo. They have some great wines and the staff is always very casual, knowledgeable and friendly. It's about time that airports finally are creating nice little areas that almost make you forget you're at an airport.

[sunflower12]

09:14 PM on 07/31/2012

Me too, a nice place.

[BuckyJamesDio]

10:33 PM on 07/31/2012

Fanned because I scrolled your comment history and have decided you are smart.

That is all for now.

Cheers!

[Derpwood]

07:09 PM on 07/27/2012

LOL - Bring something with you . .

Much better . .

Vino Volo = $30

[Bradley Greig Smith]

06:15 PM on 07/27/2012

I'm glad to see that there is some good food at airports. I don't think I want to know how much it costs though. In all honestly some of the worst food I have ever eaten in my life was at airports. Nasty, overpriced and I was only eating it because of extended layovers between flights. It doesn't help having all the security checks. Years ago you had the time to pop into town, get some food and still make your connection. Good luck with that now. I suspect that this is a direct result of the TSA. Next to nobody feels like having to go through security again if they can help it.

[Hardyman1966]

04:15 PM on 07/27/2012

Someone's not doing their homework.  The Theme Building in the middle of LAX was revamped by some Disney Imagineers a few years ago and is now totally Jetsons with a phenomenal menu!

www.EncounterLAX.com

[Derpwood]

07:13 PM on 07/27/2012

Encounter was AWFUL!!!

Insanely overpriced ($17 for an app and $30 for an entree, and the food was bleech . . the drinks were small and bad . . They also get nasty if you try to share anything . .

Total FAIL!

[Carbon Forteetoo]

09:05 PM on 07/27/2012

That 1998 style website needs a serious update. I'm surprised not to see scrolling text.