Best Full-Service Airport Restaurants

The collection of full-service restaurants below may just challenge your preconceptions of what's available for airport dining. From comforting down-home cooking to the spicy flavors of the Southwest, these eateries serve up some of the best cuisine you can find in between connecting flights. Some of these award-winning restaurants may even have you rerouting your layover just for the chance to eat at them.

These 10 full-service airport restaurants were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.

1. Whisky River | Charlotte, NC

Dig in at Whisky River for a little taste of a Carolina honky-tonk. This rustic restaurant, backed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., is decorated with cowhide seating, a belt-buckle wall and a stage for live music. While you're serenaded by local talent, try the Dirty Tots piled high with pulled pork, house queso and Dale's Signature BBQ sauce.

2. Barrio Cafe | Phoenix, AZ

A legacy of a beloved Phoenix staple, Barrio Cafe offers a little nostalgia for locals and mouthwatering Southwestern cuisine to visitors. You can start with the signature table-side guacamole while sipping a Paloma or Michelada before digging into chicken enchiladas covered in a tomatillo cream reduction and topped with Oaxaca cheese and Mexican crema.

3. Chickie's & Pete's | Philadelphia, PA

With four locations inside the airport, Chickie's & Pete's is easy to find between your connecting flights. This Philadelphia staple has been around since the 1970s and is known for its famous Crabfries and Chickie's Cutlets. Not a fan of seafood? You can get your Philly cheesesteak fix here, too, along with a drink from the full bar.

4. Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar | Chicago, IL

Snag a seat around the long, sleek bar, and watch a sushi chef artfully create your order right before your eyes at Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar. You can start with the albacore ceviche and then move on to the Chicago Dragon roll that has shrimp tempura, avocado, eel and sweet sauce. Don't forget the cute mochi ice creams for dessert.

5. Blanco Tacos + Tequila | Phoenix, AZ

Blanco Tacos + Tequila, located in Terminal 4 of Phoenix Sky Harbor, serves up classic Mexican fare like huevos rancheros, carne asada tacos and green chili pork burritos. Diners appreciate the ease of ordering by QR code and note that service is quick, which is important when your layover is cut short by a late arrival.

6. White Horse Spirits and Kitchen | Salt Lake City, UT

White Horse Spirits and Kitchen's interior of high-backed leather booths, stone tabletops and massive wall of liquors accentuates its modern American brasserie vibe. Savor a plate of Wagyu steak with roasted potatoes, or pick the Croque Monsieur for a lighter meal. Just swinging by for a drink from the bar's extensive collection? You'll discover more than two dozen bourbon and whiskey options alone.

7. Chelsea's Kitchen | Phoenix, AZ

This pre-security spot is the perfect place to grab a meal if you want to avoid the bustle of restaurants closer to the gates. Chelsea's Kitchen has a range of American and Southwestern dishes, including some gluten-free items. Patrons rave about the Howie burger and the rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and fresh roasted veggies.

8. One Flew South | Atlanta, GA

Imagine indulging in a New York strip drenched in sage butter with a side of truffle fries or an expertly prepared sushi roll with salmon, avocado and yuzu kosho green yogurt—that's what awaits you at One Flew South. Twice recognized by the James Beard Foundation, this spot provides an upscale dining experience that may have you looking forward to your next flight out of Atlanta.

9. Ludacris' Chicken and Beer | Atlanta, GA

If you're craving a taste of Southern soul food but are only in the South on a layover, you've got to try Ludacris' Chicken and Beer in Concourse D. Owned by famous entertainer Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and offering a menu cultivated by a James Beard–nominated chef, this restaurant will make your mouth water with entrees like its fried chicken plate that comes with mac and cheese and collard greens.

10. 2.0 Taco & Tequila Bar | Dallas, TX

Have an early flight out of DFW? Grab some breakfast tacos with a side of crispy potatoes at 2.0 Taco & Tequila Bar. Travelers leaving later can indulge in steak tacos served street-style and favorites like the tortilla soup. You can also take the edge off your trip with a First Class Margarita made with Patrón Silver and Grand Marnier.

About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards

Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.

Our Featured Panelists

Aly Walansky writes regularly about food news and trends. She has been a food journalist for over twenty years and has covered everything from budget shopping to recipes to culinary travel content for national publications that include the Food Network, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The Kitchn and more. She was ranked among top 10 journalists of 2023 and top 10 freelance journalists in 2024, as well as #1 food journalist of 2022, by Muck Rack. Follow her at alywalansky.substack.com.

Tonya Hennessey is a freelance travel and food writer and non-profit fundraiser residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has raised funds for groups including Greenpeace International, American Himalayan Foundation, and The Watershed Project. She has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's from the Middlebury International Institute at Monterey. Marrying a passion for travel and food with her love of the written word, she writes for publications including Rovology, Travel By Vacation Rental, International Living, Foodie Flashpacker, and The Savory Traveler. As a Creator for Rug Radio, she produces a new video variety magazine, Create24. Follow her at tonyahennessey.com.

Susan Lanier-Graham is founder and publisher of Wander With Wonder, an award-winning online travel journalism magazine. She has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles while traveling the world over the past three decades. Susan's work has appeared in a variety of publications, including various AAA publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Hotels.com, Modern Luxury, WHERE publications, Fairmont.com, Marriott.com and more. Susan is a member of Society of American Travel Writers, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and North American Travel Journalists Association. She is also a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist.

Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.