To be quite honest, when we grab a bite to eat while waiting for our flight in an airport we’re not exactly expecting Chopped champion quality…but maybe we should? That’s at least if we’re flying out of this airport…
Editors over at Food & Wine decided to get to the bottom of airport dining, otherwise trying to determine who’s doing it right. They polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from across the globe for their top culinary travel experiences and then handed those results over to their Global Advisory Board, who ranked the top nominees in each category. By doing so, they were able to uncover the best airports in the U.S. for food and drink.
As it turns out, but one but two NYC airports made it to the top ten! Considering NYC was named one of the best foodie cities in the world we shouldn’t be surprised. But again, this is an airport we’re talking about, and unfortunately we don’t always expect much from them.
Best airport in the U.S. for food and drink: JFK Airport – #3
Securing the #3 spot is NYC’s JFK Airport. And when we really think about it, it does make sense–we did a deep dive into the best food options at JFK not too long ago, and from grab-and-go pick ups to sit down bars, they really do cater to every need. Food & Wine writes:
On the to-eat list for JFK International Airport visitors: The Classic BEC (Bacon, Egg & Cheese) at 53-year-old institution H&H Bagel, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza’s namesake creamy slice, and Baked by Melissa’s tiny cupcake bites, all in Terminal 5…Terminal 4’s Delta One Lounge…is a taste of NYC’s busiest airport’s emphasis on dining…its 140-seat brasserie serves three-course meals that include Hamachi crudo, steak tartrate, and, of course, New York cheesecake.
Oh, and if you have a flight out of JFK any time soon, keep in mind that Uber just launched $10 flat rate rides from Manhattan and Brooklyn to the airport!
Best airport in the U.S. for food and drink: LaGuardia Airport – #4
Not far behind JFK is NYC’s LaGuardia Airport, claiming the #4 spot. This one doesn’t entirely surprise us (and we say “entirely” because, again, we’re talking about airport food) because it recently climbed from worst to first as the best airport in the country! Food & Wine writes:
Midtown’s Hunt & Fish Club serves lobster bisque and Brooklyn-style pork chops, Brooklyn Diner brings its house-cured pastrami and buttermilk pancakes, and Dale Talde’s Talde Noodle Bar features kung pao wings, ramen, baos, and bento boxes. Julian Medina’s La Chula Taquería offers carnitas and mushroom tacos, along with the chef’s trademark Margarita, with double barrel reposado, Cointreau, and orange splash.
Other must-eats at LGA, according to Food & Wine, include Bubby’s and Brooklyn’s Chuko ramen, both who have set up shop in Terminal C, and Eli’s Essentials, a collaboration with NYC’s gourmet grocery icon Zabar’s (from Eli Zabar), which is stocked with its famous babka and challah bread.
And similar to Uber’s JFK shuttle, they also offer the service to LGA!
Rounding out the top ten is as follows:
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport – Georgia
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport – Illinois
3. John F. Kennedy International Airport – New York
4. LaGuardia Airport – New York
5. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport – Texas
6. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport – Texas
7. San Francisco International Airport – California
8. Denver International Airport – Colorado
9. Miami International Airport – Florida
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – Washington
Now if they could only just lower those food prices we’d be golden!