Where to Eat at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

The holiday vacation season is upon us, and flying out or through LAX can be a frustrating experience. Many people will try to kill time at the airport waiting for flights to depart, or perhaps, trying to survive unexpected delays. Thanks to recent efforts by LAX to improve the food and dining options, including the brand new Tom Bradley International Terminal, a slew of great concepts are signed up to serve, or already up and running. Here now, a list of what is on offer now with info about eateries in each terminal, and recommendations for where to go.

[Photo: LAX]

LAX's Eight Standouts

1) Nate 'n Al: Nate 'n Al, the Beverly Hills deli institution pushing 65 years, does a shortened menu of Nate 'n Al standbys, like corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. [Terminal 2, Departures Level Food Court]
2) Wolfgang Puck Express: Wolfgang Puck's newest entrant at Terminal 7 is expansive, comfortable, and reliably tasty. The spaghetti is always good, as well as the soups and salads. The roast chicken is also worth getting for something with more heft.

3) Lemonade: Quickly expanding across SoCal, Lemonade opened early last year inside Delta's Terminal 5. This pared down version of the quick-casual gourmet salad spot offers sandwiches, soups and breakfast. The cinnamon french toast bread pudding is far better than a Starbucks cinnamon roll. [Terminal 5, Departures Level Food Court]

4) B Grill by BOA Steakhouse: This scaled down version of the popular West Hollywood steakhouse serves up burgers, chop salads, and steaks. [Terminal 7, Departures Level]

5) 800 Degrees: Without a doubt an easy choice for those looking for a pre-flight meal, this customizable pizza place brings the best qualities of their original Westwood outlet and simplifies it for the airport. The Neopolitan crust performs nicely with a variety of ingredients, all at a reasonable price point.

6) ink.sack: Michael Voltaggio needed an easy concept to open prior to his restaurant, ink. The result was this fast-casual sandwich shop that makes diminutive sandwiches of high quality, making it easy to sample two or more at a time. The street prices run about $6to $7, and the prices here aren't much more than that. Try a pork butt banh mi or "Jose Andres," or godfather sandwich — essentially an Italian deli sandwich made with Spanish meats.

7) Petrossian: This caviar purveyor might be one of the ritziest meals to enjoy before a flight. Think blinis, caviar, Champagne, and maybe a shot of vodka before flying off to Asia.

8) Umami Burger: This homegrown burger shop gets a respectable kiosk at Tom Bradley, albeit a bit off to the corner. The Umami burger, with a roasted tomato, parmesan crisp, and perfectly seared beef patty, is the best thing to order.

Bolding denotes Eater's seal of approval

Terminal 1

A Quick Meal

· California Pizza Kitchen ASAP: pizza (Departures Level Food Court).
· Camacho's Cantina: expected Mexican (by Gate 7).
· La Brea Bakery: sandwiches, salads, panini (Departures Level Food Court).
· McDonald's: typical fast food (by Gate 4B).
· Pinkberry: the usual froyo (Departures Level Food Court).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (Departures Level Food Court).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (by Gate 9).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Backlot Deli: sandwiches, panini (by Gate 4B).
· Gordon Biersch Brewery: bar food, beer, booze (Departures Level Food Court).
· Home Turf Bar Sports Bar: hot dogs, burgers, beer, booze (by Gate 9).

Terminal 2

A Quick Meal

· Burger King: typical fast food (Departures Level Food Court).
· La Brea Bakery: sandwiches, salads, panini (Departures Level Food Court).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (Departures Level Food Court).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (Arrivals Level).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Nate 'n Al: The famed Beverly Hills deli branches out with this new airport outpost. Come by for the usual sandwiches, soups, salads* (Departures Level Food Court).
· Wolfgang Puck Express: sandwiches, pizzas, salads, soups (by Gate 23A).

Terminal 3

A Quick Meal

· Burger King: typical fast food (Departures Level Food Court).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (Departures Level Food Court).
· La Brea Bakery Food Stand: (Departures Level) sandwiches, salads, snacks

A Leisurely Meal/Drink

· Gladstone's 4 Fish: The airport version of Gladstones in the Pacific Palisades, this outpost serves seafood-centric mainstays like Fish Tacos, Fish n Chips, Crab Cakes, Grilled Swordfish. There are also some salads and a few burgers (between Gate 34 and Gate 35).

Terminal 4

A Quick Meal

· Burger King: typical fast food (by Gate 44).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (by Gate 44).
· Homeboy Cafe: Latin-influenced sandwiches, wraps, baked goods,

Fast Casual/Bars

· Sammy's Woodfired Pizza: pizza, salads, beer, soups
· Real Food Daily: Plant-based salads, sandwiches, grab-and-snacks, fresh juice. The world's first plant-based airport restaurant.

Terminal 5

A Quick Meal

· Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: coffee, blended drinks, baked goods. (Departures Level)
· McDonald's: typical fast food (between Gate 53B and Gate 55A).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Lemonade: quick-casual salads, sandwiches, breakfast and more* (by Gate 52B).
· Rock & Brews Concert Bar & Grill: Rock and roll themed salads, sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, craft beers, and full bar. Grab & go meals available as well (Departures Level).
· Skewers by Morimoto: a modern yakitori stand (by Gate 54A).

Terminal 6

A Quick Meal

· Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: coffee, blended coffee drinks, baked goods (by Gate 65).
· Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom: sausages, sandwiches, fries (Departures Level Food Court).
· Monet's California Deli: coffee, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, salads, quesadillas (by Gate 64).
· Starbucks: coffee, baked goods, snacks (Departures Level Food Court).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Home Turf Bar Sports Bar: hot dogs, burgers, beer, booze (by Gate 67A).
· Redondo Beach Brewing Co.: marginally better (more craft-y) beer options, wine, booze (Departures Level Food Court).
· Ruby's Dinette: diner food (by Gate 67A).

Terminal 7

A Quick Meal

· LA Market Food Stand: sandwiches, salads, etc (Departures Level Food Court).
· Klatch Coffee: Special coffee, tea, pastries (Departures Level)

Fast Casual/Bars

Terminal 8

A Quick Meal

· California Pizza Kitchen ASAP: pizza (across from Gate 81).
· Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: coffee, baked goods, snacks (Departures Level Food Court).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Corona Bar: bar food, beer, booze (across from Gate 87).
· Marmalade Cafe: healthy salads, sandwiches, pastries, soups, entrees

Tom Bradley International Terminal

A Quick Meal

· Camacho's Cafe: expected Mexican (Departures Level Food Court, Second Floor).
· McDonald's: typical fast food (Departures Level Food Court, Second Floor).
· Sushi Boy: various Japanese bowls, sushi (Departures Level Food Court, Second Floor).
· Panda Express: steam-table Chinese food (Departures Level Food Court and Departures Level, New TBIT)

Fast Casual/Bars

· Daily Grill Bar: Daily Grill's full bar (Departures Level Food Court, Second Floor).
· ink.sack: classic and modern sandwiches by chef Michael Voltaggio (Departures Level, New TBIT)
· Starbucks Evenings: The first wine bar concept from Starbucks in L.A. Also serves craft beer, coffee, and tapas. (Departure Level: New TBIT)
· Umami Burger: gourmet burgers done with a twist, found all over Southern California. (Departure Level: New TBIT)
· Vino Volo: a typical wine bar that also offers food from breakfast to dinner, plus small plates. (New TBIT)
· 800 Degrees: quick-fire, fully customizable pizzas made in the Neopolitan style. (Departure Level, New TBIT)
· Sam Adams Bar: another typical bar (by Gate 121).

A Leisurely Meal

· Daily Grill: Part of the SoCal chain, this here location offers the expected classic American menu (b,l,d) and is apparently the largest full-service airport restaurant in the United States (there's even a private dining room). One of the top two options for a real meal (Departures Level Food Court, Second Floor).
· Marmalade Cafe: Fresh American cuisine from omelets and pancakes for breakfast, salads, soups, hot plates, and more thoughout the day. (Departures Level, New TBIT)
· Daniel's Bistro: Your other best option for b, l, or dinner, Daniel's Bistro serves California cuisine including salads, pizza, sandwiches, quiche, small plates, soup, panini, crepes, specialty cocktails, and organic coffee (Arrivals Level).
· Chaya: modern Asian cuisine, sushi, and more. (Departures Level New TBIT)
· Petrossian: a French caviar and Champagne bar, with vodkas, flatbread, and smoked fish. (Departures Level, New TBIT)

Other

A Leisurely Meal

· Encounter Restaurant: California cuisine prepared in one of the most unique buildings in the world. Think lunch and dinner selections like Ahi Tuna Tartare and Peking Style Roasted Duckling, this is a good fine dining option at LAX especially since it's outside of security clearance (freestanding restaurant on the top of the iconic Theme Building across from Terminal 2).
·All Airport Dining Coverage on Eater LA [~ELA~]