Whether you're looking for renowned chefs or craving a specific regional cuisine, American airports now offer a culinary feast. In the past, the idea of airport restaurant food may have made you worry about questionable salads or greasy burgers and bar snacks. But fear not, food lovers! Nowadays, most major American airports are proud to provide local specialties and regional dishes prepared by talented local chefs or feature outposts of Michelin-starred celebrity chefs.
You can find delicious food no matter where your destination or layover is within the United States. Airport websites often highlight the local and regional specialties available. Reputable guides like Zagat and Fodors are great resources for discerning travelers. Foodie sites like Eater and review platforms like Yelp offer localized tips on finding the best food – even at the American airport. The list below showcases airport cuisine that meets the culinary mark. So let's not waste time and… Get to the point right now!
So which American airports are ready to satisfy your taste buds?
1. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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As one of America's culinary hubs, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers an impressive array of dining options that would delight even the most discerning food enthusiast. The city's diverse Asian communities are well-represented with delicious eateries like Bun Mee, serving up Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches on the go, and Koi Palace, known for its tantalizing dim sum. Catering to the health-conscious crowd, SFO also boasts a long list of restaurants, such as Napa Farms Market and Amy's Drive Thru, where every menu item is vegetarian, reflecting the Californian lifestyle. In addition, you'll find a lineup of food trucks just outside the Departures area. Don't miss the chance to savor a freshly baked loaf of San Francisco's famous sourdough bread from Boudin, located in the International Terminal near Gate A2.
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
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If you're craving classic American cuisine, look no further than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). As the world's busiest airport, this bustling travel hub offers an extensive array of mouthwatering meals to satisfy every passenger passing through. Visit Paschal's Southern Cuisine, an Atlanta staple, where you can indulge in delectable dishes like catfish and fried green tomatoes. For a more elevated experience, head to One Flew South, one of the top-rated airport restaurants globally, which serves a captivating fusion of Southern fare and sushi. For those seeking a quick bite, the airport also houses all the familiar American fast-food favorites, such as Popeyes, Five Guys, and the beloved Bojangles. With over 100 dining options spread across 6 concourses, you're sure to find something to curb your appetite.
3. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
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In a city with a thriving food scene, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has long lagged behind in offering passengers a diverse array of dining options. However, this is starting to change. The Port of Seattle is moving forward with modernization and expansion, significantly increasing customer choices by expanding from 85 to 135 dining and retail establishments. Among the new additions are unique local standouts, including Floret, the airport's first full-service vegetarian restaurant operated by Seattle's renowned vegetarian establishment, Café Flora.
Seattle's iconic Skillet, which started as an Airstream trailer food truck and is now a city institution with multiple brick-and-mortar restaurants, is set to offer its elevated comfort food menu at Sea-Tac. In addition, prominent Seattle chef, Jason Stoneburner, is behind the food at Seattle Beer Union, where his fresh, seasonal menus will accompany the region's best beer, wine, and spirits. As a recent Seattle success story, Sunset Fried Chicken, which is thriving in its Capitol Hill spot, is bringing its succulent chicken sandwich to travelers passing through Concourse D.
4. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
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Michael White, the renowned chef behind the Michelin-starred Marea and Ai Fiori restaurants in New York, brought his signature Italian cuisine to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in 2014. He wanted to offer everyday travelers a more accessible way to enjoy his delectable dishes. Located near LaGuardia's Gate C30 in Terminal C, his restaurant Cotto was designed to be a modern interpretation of a traditional trattoria. The chef envisions the concept as "farm to terminal," ensuring the use of the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients. As you bask in the bright and airy ambiance of the space, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and mint-green furnishings, you can indulge in freshly baked pizza, pasta, antipasti, and paninis. Why not try the tangy meatballs or a white pie with melty mozzarella, ricotta, provolone, parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes? Another specialty to savor is the garganelli pasta tossed with radicchio, smoked ham, and truffle butter. And for added convenience, you can even order directly from an iPad right at your table.
5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
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Located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you'll find a modern take on Mexican cuisine in the terminal offshoot of the LA landmark Border Grill, founded by renowned restaurateurs and chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. The pair opened this new location in 2013, offering elevated tacos, quesadillas, and tamales in a relaxed cantina setting. If you're not a local foodie, you might not realize the pedigree behind your chile rellenos. After honing their skills in Chicago and Paris, Feniger and Milliken opened City Café (later renamed City Restaurant) in LA in 1981. Along with two of their other concepts, Border Grill (1985) and Ciudad (1988), the kitchen duo is often credited with reshaping the culinary landscape of Los Angeles.
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Along with our ultimate travel guide, we would like to share an additional valuable suggestion. This advice will prove beneficial for individuals who opt for air travel.
If you get to the airport by car, you always need to find a good parking space for your vehicle to leave for the period of a trip. In most cases, airports have special on-site parking for that purpose. However, such a parking lot is pretty costly most of the time, and people aren't ready to spend a lot of money at the beginning of a trip. So is there any solution?
The best way to solve this problem is to choose off-site parking. Why, you may ask? We will explain.
There are many reasons which can prove the benefit of this parking type. Here are some of them:
- Affordable Rates. Depending on the duration of your trip, you can choose between short-term and long-term airport parking. Anyway, an off-site airport parking is much cheaper, so you can save your money and spend the most considerable amount on things you really want to see or try while traveling.
- Fast Service. In contrast with on-site airport parking, which can take quite a long time, off-site parking offers you the convenience of driving directly to the entrance and having a staff member pull your luggage out of your vehicle and load it into the shuttle. Then they will park your car for you. After your baggage is loaded, you can take your seat in the shuttle, which will bring you and your bags to the airport. It's a hassle-free option that is usually faster.
- Convenience. When people travel, they may be stressed about making it to the airport on time. If you use off-site parking, you will definitely make your travel experience more convenient, as you use the service of a private company. Even though you may be able to park on-site at the airport in a short-term or long-term airport parking lot, consider using an off-site parking lot service.
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We are glad to say that our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers travelers online reservations for parking just outside airports that are convenient and affordable. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing travelers parking options at over 100 airports in the US and Canada. The app allows customers to search and compare parking rates at up to 70 percent savings compared to the cost of on-site parking at all major airports.
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Now let's take a good example. Imagine that you're planning a trip to NYC, New York. This state is located in the northeastern United States. So if you're flying from San Francisco, California, you can use cheap parking near SFO with shuttle. If you're coming from New York City, you can choose affordable parking around LaGuardia Airport. It just depends on the place you're flying from.
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