How to Eat Well at the Airport

It wasn't that long ago that "good airport restaurant" was an oxymoron. A trip to the airport meant brown-bagging it, or suffering through whatever dreck was on offer at the fast-food outlet that happened to have the concession at your gate.

The country's airports still boast plenty of ho-hum eateries. In fact, mediocrity remains the norm. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, the lowest-common-denominator restaurants are being edged out by plucky independents, some with really (really!) good food.



Related: Thanksgiving Travel Forecast (And How to Survive the Rush)



Proof positive of the improving airport gastronomical scene is a newly published list from

Thrillist

of the best restaurants at America's 40 largest airports.

Here, for your delectation, is a random selection of 10 of the featured airport eateries:

• Maudie's Tex-Mex, Austin Bergstrom Airport (Gate 12) - "Classic Austin Tex-Mex joint for queso, the specialty fajita tacos, or the enchilada perfecto."
• Cafe L'Appetito, Chicago Midway (Triangle food court) - "Parma sandwiches, meatball subs, and sesame-crusted hoagie rolls filled with all varieties of Italian pork are the move."
• Whitetail Bistro, Dallas-Ft. Worth (Terminal D, Gate 22) - "Your inevitable six-hour holiday delay at DFW is much more enjoyable when paired with bobwhite quail on a johnnycake with sausage gravy. I mean, it definitely beats Friday’s."
• Shula Burger, Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood (Terminal 1, Concourse C) - "The burgers are a char-grilled delicacy made from brisket, chuck, and short rib, and could stand up as Broward’s best burgers"
• Hugo's Cocina, George Bush Intercontinental (Post-security, Gate D6) - "The cochinita pibil wrapped in banana leaf with habanero salsa will have you raving about the food in Houston even if you’ve never actually "
• Deep Blue Sushi, JFK International (Terminal 5, post-marketplace) - "… perhaps the most shockingly good dining experience you’ll ever have at an airport."
• ink.sack, Los Angeles International (International Terminal Great Hall, Level 4) "Stop in and enjoy chef Michael Voltaggio’s ridiculously delicious sandwiches."
• Tony Luke's (Philadelphia International (Terminal F) - "It would be a tragic error if we didn’t tell you about one of the best cheesesteak shops in Philly sitting right there in Terminal F."
• Blancos Tacos, Phoenix Sky Harbor (Terminal 4) - "The best airport burrito in the country is at the small window attached to one of the valley’s best Mexican eateries."
• Kapnos Taverna Reagan Washington National (Terminal C) - "A fantastic place to chow down on fire-grilled kebab, souvlaki, and pork shoulder."
  
  
  
  As the above list illustrates, there's no longer any reason to settle for a Big Mac or a soggy slice of Domino's pizza pre- or post-flight. Airports may not yet be culinary meccas, but neither are they culinary wastelands.
  
  Seek and ye shall find.
  
  
  
  Reader Reality Check
  
  
  
  What airport restaurants do you favor?