Where to Eat at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Summer 2022

From traffic into the airport to inefficient security lines and unplanned delays, traveling through LAX can be a veritable nightmare — and that’s before adding on a year-plus of pandemic slowdowns, delays, and added health and safety layers. Since 2019, LAX has been busy with construction and renovations, which means some significant changes in the operations of eateries, restaurants, lounges, and bars at the airport.

Because some food and drink spaces are in flux, LAX now offers an airport-only food delivery service called Order Now that will bring dishes from across terminals, in case a particular terminal you’re flying out of doesn’t have many options. Here is an updated look, just ahead of the summer vacation travel season, and what to expect when seeking out food at Los Angeles’s busy international airport.

Five Standout Places to Eat

Matthew Kang

1. WPizza and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck at Terminal 6: Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s classic pizzas, pastas, and salads are often the most reliable things to eat in an airport setting, though the prices will certainly be higher than a fast food spot.
2. Border Grill in Tom Bradley International Terminal: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken’s Santa Monica restaurant has a casual place inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal that’s always reliable for Mexican fare.
3. 8 Oz Burger Bar in Terminal 4: Come here for Niman Ranch beef burgers and shoestring fries from chef Govind Armstrong.
4. Cole’s in Terminal 4: One of the two LA restaurants to have claimed the invention of the French dip sandwich (the other being Philippe’s), this small counter has four different sandwiches including roast beef, pork, pastrami, and turkey.
5. Slapfish in Terminal 2: Modern seafood like shrimp and lobster rolls, fish and chips, tuna melts, fish tacos, and more from the Orange County-based chain helmed by celebrity chef Andrew Gruel.

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LAX

Terminal 1

A Quick Meal

• California Pizza Kitchen: Pizza and salads
• The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Coffee, blended drinks, baked goods
• Chick-fil-A: Fried chicken sandwiches and waffle fries
• Einstein Bros. Bagel: Breakfast sandwiches and bagels
• Betcha Burger: A burger spot with hot dogs, chicken, and breakfast items
• Panda Express: Steam table Chinese food with combination plates
• Qwench Juice Bar and Wetzel’s: Located before security, with blended juices and pretzels
• Urth Caffe: Coffees, teas, breakfast, sandwiches, and salads from popular LA-based cafe

Fast Casual/Bars

• Urth Caffe and Bar: A full-service restaurant with coffee, sandwiches, and salads
• Rock & Brews Concert Bar and Grill: Rock and roll-themed salads, sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, craft beers, and a full bar
• Ace Cerveceria and Tacos: Fairly generic tacos, nachos, guac, and other fare with bottled or draft beer
• Reilly’s Irish Pub: Based on the West Hollywood nightlife spot, serving burgers, sliders, tacos, and sandwiches with full cocktails and beer.

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Matthew Kang

Terminal 2

A Quick Meal

• Breeze: A simple coffee shop
• Built Custom Burgers: Customizable burgers and fries from The Counter
• Fresh Brothers Pizza & Sandwiches: Pizza, salad, wings, sandwiches
• Jersey Mike’s Subs: Sandwich chain with big Italian subs and Philly cheesesteaks
• Pick Up Stix: Chinese food is ready-made and served from a steam table
• Starbucks: Chain coffee shop, located at pre-security departures and the downstairs arrival level

Fast Casual/Bars

• Slapfish Modern Seafood Shack: Sandwiches, lobster rolls, fish tacos, breakfast, and other seafood
• Barney’s Beanery: Diner food and pub inspired by Route 66
• SeaLegs Wine Bar: Snacks, small plates, wine

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Terminal 3: Closed for Renovation

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Photo by Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Terminal 4

A Quick Meal

• Dunkin’ Donuts: Donuts, coffee from the big chain
• Homeboy Cafe: Sandwiches, salads, and coffee from a civic-minded Downtown LA bakery

Fast Casual/Bars

• Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza: Pizza, salads, beer, soups
• 8 oz. Burger Bar: Popular burgers from chef Govind Armstrong
• Campanile: An airport outlet of the late chef Mark Peel’s iconic La Brea eatery
• Cole’s: French-dip sandwiches from the iconic Downtown restaurant and bar
• La Provence Patisserie and Cafe: French macarons, paninis, donuts, and more

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LAX

Terminal 5

A Quick Meal

• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Coffee, blended drinks, baked goods (both Departures and Arrivals are open)
• Farmer’s Market Coffee Corner: A simple coffee and tea spot
• Farmers Market To Go: Grab and go fare inspired by the iconic Original Farmers Market

Fast Casual/Bars

• Lemonade: Quick-casual salads, sandwiches, breakfast with seasonal ingredients
• Donburi Bistro: Japanese rice bowls and full bar
• Loteria! Grill: Mexican fare like tacos and burritos from chef Jimmy Shaw
• Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market & Bistro: Gifts, gourmet items, and healthy bistro fare
• Ford’s Filling Station: An airport outlet of chef Ben Ford’s former gastropub
• Rock & Brews Concert Bar & Grill: Rock and roll-themed salads, sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, craft beers

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Terminal 6

A Quick Meal

• The Habit Burger Grill: California-based burger chain
• Starbucks: Coffee mega-chain
• Peet’s Coffee: Another coffee mega-chain featuring dark roasts (closed Tuesday and Saturday)

Fast Casual/Bars

• The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck: Made-to-order breakfast and lunch options
• The Wine Bar by Wolfgang Puck: Wine, beer, craft cocktails
• WPizza by Wolfgang Puck: The celebrity chef’s signature pizzas
• Earthbar: Healthy food, acai bowls, smoothies
• BLU2o: Beachy California-cuisine
• Point the Way Cafe: A gastropub from Golden Road Brewery
• Starbucks Evenings: An all-day, wine-friendly place to get coffee and snacks
• Wahoo’s Fish Taco: Chain fish taco spot
• Osteria by Fabio Viviani: Italian classics like chicken marsala and caprese salads, with a full bar

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Terminal 7

A Quick Meal

• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Coffee, baked goods, snacks
• LA Life: A generic quick grab-and-go spot for salads, pre-cut fruit, and other snacks
• Dunkin’: National coffee and donut chain (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
• Klatch Coffee: Orange County-based specialty coffee chain

Fast Casual/Bars

• Ashland Hill: An airport outlet of the Main Street Santa Monica gastropub
• BLD: Sandwiches, salads, hot plates inspired by all-day restaurant on Beverly (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
• Loteria! Grill: Mexican fare from chef Jimmy Shaw
• The Counter Custom Built Burgers: Burgers, fries, and more
• B Grill by BOA Steakhouse: Sandwiches, burgers, salads, steaks, pastas, seafood
• Rolling Stone Bar & Grill: Wings, burgers, chicken tenders, salads, and booze
• Wolfgang Puck Express: Pizzas, sandwiches, and salads from the celebrity chef

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Terminal 8

A Quick Meal

• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Coffee, baked goods, snacks
• Panda Express: Fast-casual American Chinese fare
• Carl’s Jr: National fast food burger chain with breakfast sandwiches

Fast Casual/Bars

• Engine Co. No. 28: Full-service bar and restaurant with classic American cuisine
• Corona Bar and Grill: All-day fare from breakfast to dinner with vegan/vegetarian options, and of course, the namesake Mexican beer

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Tom Bradley International Terminal

Pre-Security Checkpoint

• Earl of Sandwich: National sandwich chain
• Asian Street Eats by Chef Hung: Top Chef winner Hung Huynh does scallion pancakes, mixed rice bowls, and Japanese teas in partnership with Earl of Sandwich
• Pret-A-Manger: Pre-made sandwiches, salads, and more
• Playa Vista: Coffee, Snacks, fruit, and other grab-and-go items
• Planet Hollywood: All-day American fare like sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and more
• WPizza by Wolfgang Puck: Pizza spot from the celebrity chef

West Gates

• Flight Shop
• Playa Vista: Coffee, snacks, fruit, and other grab-and-go items

Arrival Level

• Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: Coffee and tea chain with snacks
• Pinkberry: Tangy frozen yogurt chain with fresh toppings

After Security Checkpoint

A Quick Meal

• Starbucks: Coffee mega-chain
• Panda Express: American Chinese fare
• Vanilla Bakeshop: Cupcakes
• Kentucky Fried Chicken: Fried chicken chain
• La Mill Coffee: Specialty roasted coffee from LA

Fast Casual/Bars

• ink.sack: Classic and modern sandwiches in half portions by chef Michael Voltaggio
• Vino Volo: Wine bar with small plates

A Leisurely Meal

• Border Grill: Mexican specialties from chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
• Chaya Sushi: Upscale Japanese lounge fare
• Umami Burger: Fancy burgers
• 800 Degrees: Make-your-own Neapolitan-style pizzas