With their first-ever Global Tastemaker Awards, popular cuisine magazine Food and Wine has found the best of the best food options across numerous categories.
Based on readers’ experiences within the past three years, categories such as best cities, restaurants and bars, cruises, and even food trucks were determined.
One area that was focused on was airports, with the 11 best U.S. airports ranked for their food choices.
The top winners for U.S. airport food have been picked by the readers of Food and Wine, and some stand out for the best bar options, great healthy food choices, as well as the overall variety, service, and atmosphere of the airport’s dining experience.
Most of the winning airports have celebrity chef venues, as well as dining establishments that are offshoots of popular venues in the city they serve, offering customers the chance to try some of the local delicious without ever having to leave the terminal.
So, if you are not one for airport lounges and prefer to explore the food courts, read on to find out who’s got the best options.
Here are the 6 best airports in the U.S. for food :
1. San Francisco International Airport
With nearly 80 dining options that reflect San Francisco’s vibrant food scene, travelers will be happy to wait for their flight as they sample some local favorites.
As the second busiest airport in California, it’s no wonder this major hub has so many dining options with cruises from around the world.
Highlights include Cat Cora’s Kitchen in Terminal 2, Yankee Pier in Terminal 3, and Napa Farms Market in multiple locations.
Vegetarians and Vegans are also spoiled for choice here, as the many Asian eateries offer tofu dishes, and there are establishments such as Amy’s Drive Thru, a sustainably focused café featuring organic veggie, vegan & gluten-free dishes including seasonal salads, burgers and drinks.
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
As the world’s busiest airport, it’s no surprise to find it located high on the list of the best food options in an American airport.
One thing that sets ATL apart is the fact that they have the first airport upscale dining restaurant in the country, with the high-end One Flew South serving southern-inspired dishes and cocktails in a fine dining setting.
Atlanta has numerous fast food options but also loads of choices for vegetarians and vegans. One popular choice is in Terminal D, where you can make any dish on the menu vegan at Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh.
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is one of America’s busiest, ranking 16th for the number of passengers served.
As such a busy hub, it’s refreshing to see that it also ranks high among the best airports for dining options as well.
Enjoy lobster rolls and craft beer, and have your food delivered to you at your gate if you are pressed for time.
In Concourse A, Greek Kitchen offers hummus, falafel, and other Mediterranean-inspired meat-free options.
Farmer’s Fridge is a unique and modern concept — these vending machines keep fresh and healthy food stocked and up to date, so grabbing a salad or grain bowl before your flight has never been easier.
4. Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport
For a city that is so famous for its food scene, it’s not surprising to see its airport have a major range of local favorites to choose from as well.
New Orleans cuisine is loved for its seafood, and the airport serves up classics such as gumbo and oysters right there in your terminal.
Another thing this city is known for is the live music scene, and again the airport is no exception, with live acts belting out tunes on a regular basis. Basically, the airport’s message seems to be — your New Orleans party doesn’t need to end when you leave the city.
Vegetarians and vegans seem to rely on the fast food chains here for their options, such as Smoothie King and Starbucks.
5. Portland International Airport
Portland being Portland, this airport is one of the few to actually have a filter on their website for vegan dining options, and with many choices for those who follow a plant-based diet.
While PDX already has numerous options for everyone, from fried chicken to more upscale options, a major renovation is to be completed in the next couple of years, which will help the airport to expand its dining options even further to reflect the growth that Portland’s food scene has undergone recently.
6. Tampa International Airport
Florida has over 60 airports, and Tampa is the 4th busiest out of all of them.
Despite not being the largest or the busiest in the state, dining options are vast in TPA.
Travelers can enjoy everything from some of the city’s best craft beer at the Cigar Brewing Company, to enjoying a meal at the airport off-post of Tampa’s oldest restaurant, Columbia Cafe.
Vegetarians and Vegans can find choices at P.F. Chang’s, with options such as tofu dishes and lettuce wraps, and Qdoba, which often offers Impossible Meat in their dishes.
You can read the whole list here; the last of the top spots go to:
- 7. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- 8. Nashville International Airport
- 9. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
- 10. Detroit Metropolitan Airport
- 11. Editor’s Pick: Denver International Airport
