3. Seoul Incheon
Seoul Incheon International Airport is one of the best in the world, according to our readers, with a shiny new Terminal 2 built in 2018. There are a total of 19 Korean food restaurants in the airport serving traditional dishes such as nakji-bokkeum (spicy octopus stir-fry), naengmyeon (cold noodles), and bibimbap (rice bowls). If you’re in search of local cuisine in Terminal 1, check out the “Korean Cultural Street,” styled like a traditional Korean home.
4. Doha Hamad
Hamad International Airport in Qatar was named the best airport in the world by Skytrax this year, and our readers seem to agree: the Doha airport was ranked in the top five during our 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards. As one would expect, the dining scene is a major draw of the world-class airport experience. As Qatar Airways’ home base, passengers who are lucky enough to access lounges like the Al Safwa First Lounge can expect exemplary food and service.
5. Rome Fiumicino
Virtually an extension of Rome’s culinary scene, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport offers local Italian favorites, from lip-smacking pizza and pasta to gelato and paninis (plus all the espresso you could ever need). Recent renovations have led to new and improved dining options, including the Palermo-based Antica Focacceria di San Francesco in Terminal 1.
6. Dallas/Fort Worth
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport airport is the second-largest airport in the US (go big or go home, as they say). Anyone who has traveled long-haul to or from the States has likely found themselves with a few hours to spare on a Dallas layover. So, why not spend it getting a true taste of Texas BBQ at Hickory or The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que? Alternatively, head over to Terminal E27 to Whataburger, a Texan classic.
7. Munich
There’s some great food to be found at Munich International Airport’s 60 restaurants, cafes and bistros (including a classic Christmas market during the winter). But perhaps unsurprisingly, the main draw here is the locally brewed beer, best enjoyed at the Airbräu beer garden, self-proclaimed as “Europe’s only brewery in an airport.”
8. Tokyo Haneda
Airport sushi might not sound appealing to many, but you can’t go wrong ordering a roll or few in either of Japan’s two international airports—especially if you find yourself at the Sushi Tsurutei restaurant, located inside Japan Airlines’ first class lounge. But if you’re stuck in the terminal, don’t fret: Haneda is home to nearly 50 Japanese restaurants and another 15 Chinese food restaurants. Picking one to try is half the fun.
9. Houston George Bush
The second Texas airport to make this list, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport may be smaller than its Dallas counterpart, but it still has Tex-Mex taquerias, burger bars, and fast food restaurants galore. If there’s a time and place for (several) pre-flight margaritas, it might as well be here.
10. Atlanta
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US—and even in the world, by some counts. But if you’re not sprinting to make a connection, stop by the James Beard-nominated restaurant One Flew South for fine dining where you least expect it. Or, for more casual Southern fare, try Ludacris’s Chicken and Beer washed down with The Varsity’s signature Frosted Orange soda.
