Best U.S. Airports for Food

U.S. airports are finally moving out of the dark ages, with many now offering excellent dining options that would rival the picks of a major urban center. And they continue to get better each year, with big-name chefs and respected restaurants moving into airports at a fast clip.

But still, not all U.S. airport dining options are created equal. Among the best are:

• Denver International Airport, with options like Root Down, Tapas Sky Bar and Crú Food & Wine Bar
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where you can eat some of the city’s best barbecue at Salt Lick
• Boston Logan International Airport, whose best restaurant, Bonfire, offers a Mexican steakhouse experience
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport, with options like Rick Bayless’s Forterra sandwiches and Gold Coast Dogs with Chicago-style hotdogs
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which offers four barbecue spots, eight bars, eight Mexican restaurants and even an entire restaurant dedicated to breakfast cereal

Which airports rank as the worst dining spots? New York’s airports — LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark — are sad approximations of the big-city counterpart, famous for its cuisine. Instead of world-class food, you get overpriced chains. Better to eat before you head to the airport.