The 5 Best Restaurants At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Texas, According To Reviews

Eating at the airport can be a dreary and unsatisfying affair, and some terminals in the United States have a notorious reputation for having some of the worst food. Chicago Midway regularly disappoints travelers with its lack of quality options while refreshments at LaGuardia Airport in New York can leave a serious dent in your vacation fund before you even board the plane. In recent years, however, many airports across the country have upped their restaurant game and now feature spots that you might actually enjoy eating at rather than endure out of necessity. Once such place is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) in Texas, regarded as one of the best airports in the U.S. for food.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is located just a 20-minute drive from downtown Austin and it is relatively small, handling around 22 million passengers a year. (Low compared to the 72 million that passed through Dallas in 2023.) The close proximity makes the airport feel a part of the city, something that is reflected by the choice of quality eats. All the spots you will find in the airport are highly-rated local favorites, and ABIA has also become an unlikely haven for classic Austin restaurants that no longer exist in the city itself. Add to that some fine local art and live music to enjoy, dining at Austin-Bergstrom is (dare we say it) a pleasurable experience. Let's have a look at some of the top picks.

Texas is well known for having some of the best barbecue in America, so it comes as little surprise that a BBQ joint appears in most recommendations of places to eat at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The original Salt Lick BBQ was a family-run joint established in 1967 in Driftwood, Texas, using slow-roast family cooking techniques handed down over generations. The owners have branched out since then with venues in Round Rock and slick modern restaurants in Dallas-Forth Worth and Austin-Bergstrom Airports. The outlet at ABIA has a particularly fine reputation, ranked as one of the best airport restaurants in the world by the Daily Meal in 2013. With a commitment to serving quality meats, it continues to feature in the conversation today.

Located between gates 20 and 21, it might not have quite the same homey atmosphere as the original Driftwood restaurant but it still delivers some delicious eats if you're in the mood for those Texan flavors while you're waiting for a plane. Load up with favorites like brisket, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, and combo platters with classic sides of beans, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. Watch out for the double-chopped sandwich, a sloppy delight absolutely stuffed with sausage and brisket. If you're on a morning flight, grab a Big Tex Breakfast Burrito to keep you going until you reach the other end. Salt Lick also does a nice drop of local wine, too.

Tex-Mex cuisine is ever-popular in Texas and another highly-rated spot (4.5 on Tripadvisor) in the main terminal puts a different spin on the usual taco fare. The Peached Tortilla, which started out as a food truck in 2010, is a concept restaurant that offers an award-winning fusion of Asian flavors and southern-style cooking. The rise has been meteoric — since its humble beginnings, founder Eric Silverstein was voted one of the top up-and-coming chefs by Plate Magazine and now has two restaurants, a bar, a food truck, and the breezy outlet at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Voted as one of the best airport grab-and-go options in the nation by USA Today readers in 2024, the slim menu doesn't get bogged down with a multitude of options and makeweights. Check out the signature tacos and bowls (BBQ brisket, banh mi, Korean steak) or take a breakfast option for those early bird flights. Pork belly and egg tacos or an avocado toast plate are a few of the light and tasty options served until 10:30 a.m. Vegetarians and vegans aren't left out, either. The cauliflower tacos and bowls with toasted coconut, watermelon radish, and lime are good enough to make even devoted carnivores think twice about their order. Located near Gate 16, The Peached Tortilla makes for a convenient and reliable all-day option where you are guaranteed bold flavors and top-notch grub.

This Texas city may be primarily regarded as a big barbecue and taco town, which is one of the reasons we love Austin. It also has its fair share of quality burger options, although it sadly lost one of its most iconic old-school joints when Hut's Hamburgers shuttered its doors in 2019 after 80 years in the business. Thankfully for fans, its spirit still lives on at this lively spot near Gate 14 which evokes a diner-style vibe with its checkered floors, burgers and fries in baskets, and retro original logo.

The Hut's menu encapsulates all the nostalgia with several specialty cheeseburgers named after (or at least nodding to) rock 'n' roll stars of the '50s. Check out the smoky Chubby Chuck's with hickory sauce; the Ritchie Valens with guacamole; the Buddy Holly stacked with "All-American" trimmings; and the standout Fats Domino heaped grated cheese, pickles, mustard and tangy New Orleans seasoning served in a basket with fries. All their patties are made from fresh beef locally sourced in Austin. As a nod to modernity, vegans and vegetarians aren't left out in the cold, with the possibility to transform any option with a plant-based Impossible Burger. If you are in the mood for something other than burgers, Hut's also has you covered with light bites like loaded fries and mozzarella sticks, and sandwiches including the turkey club or BBQ fried chicken. If you're lucky, you might also get treated to some live music.

This is another reputable homegrown Austin spot that lives on at the airport after the downtown location shut down in 2020, and there are also two other venues at East Austin Hotel and The Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells. The ABIA spot near gate 16 offers contemporary American cuisine served in a soothing modern space and carries over some of its signature dishes from the old address in the city. One such favorite is the Congress Burger, a brisket and chuck mix topped with gruyere cheese and onion confit that was voted Austin's best burger by Texas Monthly in 2016.

Second Bar + Kitchen serves throughout the day. Breakfast options included toasted bagels, big American plates, French toast, breakfast tacos, and the delicious Texas Benedict — poached eggs with brisket on biscuits served with chorizo gravy. Lunch and dinner options range from pizzas, salads, and sandwiches to lighter bites such as blistered peppers, black truffle fries, and veal meatballs. For those on the fly, a decent grab and go menu is also available.

While the food is highly-rated, it's not all about dining. Second Bar + Kitchen is also renowned as one of the best places in the airport to enjoy a cocktail. The menu of speciality mixed drinks includes classics such as the negroni, old fashioned, and bloody Mary to help take the edge off those pre-flight nerves.

A survey in 2024 revealed that the United States is a nation of sandwich lovers, with butties making up an average of 30% of people's diets. Almost half (46%) of respondents went so far as to say they would happily eat nothing but sandwiches for their whole lives. Those folk won't be disappointed at Austin Airport thanks to several outlets preparing the handheld meal. The one that most regularly crops up in lists of the best places to eat in the main terminal is Noble Sandwich near Gate 13.

You won't be overwhelmed by options when you step up to the counter as there are very few choices: the Noble Pig (pulled pork, bacon, ham), the Knuckle Sandwich (roast beef), the Turkey Chop (smoked turkey), and the Cuban (ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese). Perhaps the highlight is the roast beef, oozing with cheese and caramelized onions and a dollop of horseradish to give it a little bite. The turkey option also has its fans, complimented with salad and a zingy lemon and coriander vinaigrette. Breakfast alternatives like the Everything Bagel Sandwich (scrambled egg, sausage patty) are also available, and younger flyers won't feel left out or over-awed thanks to the kids menu offering grilled cheese on sourdough or a ham and cheese hoagie. Not exactly gourmet, but sure to satisfy your sandwich cravings.

When it comes to recommending the best of anything, we are fully aware that top picks are very much subjective. That is especially the case when it comes to food and dining options, a subject that arouses a great deal of passionate debate. Therefore, while compiling this article of the best five restaurants in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport we have taken into consideration a combination of user reviews (on sites like Tripadvisor, Yelp, etc.), viral recommendations, and tips from reputable sources including USA Today, Eater, Food & Wine, and The Infatuation. It is also worth noting that while we have narrowed it down to five outlets, that isn't to say you should necessarily swerve any of the other restaurants and cafes available. Ultimately, we would recommend that you bear our picks in mind but go with whatever you fancy on the day.