The 10 Best Airports for Food, From Istanbul to Atlanta

Jino Lee/Changi Airport

We are never quite ourselves at the airport—perhaps that’s why airport food similarly tends to taste like a lesser version of the real thing. Fortunately, not every airport is a vacuum of flavor and diversity; in fact, a select few have consistently received accolades for their dining experience.

The World Airport Awards, known within the industry as the “Oscars of Aviation” recently released its 2024 ranking of the best airports for dining, considering the overall food selection, variety, and quality of the airport’s restaurants (including cafés, bars, restaurants, and fast food), including their value for money. The winners were selected based on the results of global airport customer satisfaction surveys administered by the UK-based consulting firm Skytrax.

Happily, the majority of the airports that made the ranking are supported by Traveler editors, via a roundup of their most memorable airport meals from around the world, which includes a lokum burger in Istanbul; xiao long bao in Singapore; ramen in Seoul; paninis and gelato in Rome; fried chicken and omakase in Atlanta; and vegetable gyoza in Tokyo Haneda.

So, the next time you find yourselves at one of the airports below, pull up a chair and dig in.

The 10 best airports in the world for food in 2024

1. Istanbul

There’s no shortage of Turkish delights at the Istanbul Airport, which boasts 117 dining venues. The Turkish Airlines hub is also known for its world-class airline lounges, notably the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge, which serves up mouth-watering dishes like gözleme, manti, and mezze—all made better with with a glass of Öküzgözu.

2. Singapore Changi

Singapore Changi is consistently ranked one of the best airports in the world by our readers in our our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. But the airport does food particularly well, with a whopping 194 eateries. To help navigate your way through them, read our helpful guide to where to eat in Changi airport.

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.

Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler

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