Most airport food isn’t known for being all that great. Compared to their standalone brethren, their facilities are smaller, their food turnover is slower, and their management companies run differently and have different goals.
In recent years, more airports are trying something new – a standalone restaurant inside an airport that’s MADE for an airport. Either that, or a local place starts a location in an airport and, lo and behold, they do it “right.” Some have even garnered Michelin stars!
We’ve had the pleasure of experiencing “those” kinds of airport restaurants in the past:
- Cask & Larder at MCO
- One Flew South at ATL
- There was also the restaurant designed by Disney Imagineers, at LAX, but we liked it more for its decor than its food LOL.
More attention is being paid to these diamonds in the rough that are hidden between the McDonald’s, Starbucks and Nature’s Tables, to the point that Bloomberg, the global media company that covers business, finance, markets, politics, and more, started paying attention. After all, Bloomberg’s audience is typically business people. And with post-pandemic business flights becoming more and more of a “thing” nowadays, who better to ask what their favorite airport-based restaurants are than their business globetrotters? Here are their Top Eight (not ten? No idea why) restaurants, ranked:
8. Iwashi Sushi at Benito Juárez Int’l (MEX)
Using the concept of “Tsukiji” sushi, this walk-up only counter service restaurant at Terminal 2 always has a long line. They even use seafood flown in from Japan – Try to find the likes of that at a Panda Express kiosk!
7. Bun Mee at San Francisco Int’l (SFO)
Bun Mee is one of those “local” places that expanded to the airport. Established in 2011, the Vietnamese sandwich shop has locations in Pacific Heights, the Financial District, and the Marina District, besides its 2 locations at SFO. Located at Terminals 1 and 3, Bun Mee is open daily from 6am to 10pm.
6. The Salt Lick BBQ at Austin-Bergstrom Int’l (AUS)
My husband and I travel to the greater Austin area a couple of times per year and we’ve been great fans of The Salt Lick for a good decade and a half, if not more (here’s our review of it). So we were thrilled to see an outlet open at AUS, between Gates 20 and 21, a few years ago.
5. One Flew South at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l (ATL)
Open since 2009, One Flew South, a 2-time James Beard Award nominee, has served hundreds of thousands of passengers at the world’s busiest airport. My husband and I have managed to eat here together once (here’s our review), and Joe (hubby) was able to sneak another visit there, while passing through Concourse E, without me. And yes, I was jealous.
4. Le Café Cyril Lignac at Louis Vuitton at London Heathrow (LHR)
Hailed as a collaboration between Louis Vuitton and chef Cyril Lignac, this café, located in Terminal 2, opened just outside the Louis Vuitton shop, in October 2024.
3. Hungry Club at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)
From their website: “Dabiz Muñoz, one of the best chefs in the world, presents a new gastronomic concept designed specifically for passengers who have little time but want to eat well at the airport. The offer, which will be dynamic and changing according to the time of day, includes soups (ramen or laksa), pizzas with unusual ingredients (kimchi, chips or Iberian ham), sandwiches, hot dogs and sweets such as the flat croissant.” Hungry Club is located at MAD in Terminals T3, T4 and T5.
2. Yakiniku Champion at Tokyo Haneda (HND)
Yakiniku was already well known around Tokyo when this outpost opened at HND’s Terminal 3. “Yakiniku” translates into “grilled meat” and the menu reflects this entirely, with items including a variety of beef dishes grilled over an open flame.
1. Duddell’s at Hong Kong Int’l (HKG)
Located at Unit No. 7E161, Level 7, Departure East Hall, Terminal 1 of HKG, Duddell’s menu is a mixture of flavor and art. It’s not surprising that the #1 airport restaurant in the world has a Michelin star.
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