Where to Eat at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

As the gateway to one of the world’s biggest tourist destinations, Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is often a visitor’s first or last taste of New Orleans. Historically, and as a general rule with airports, that taste isn’t always representative of the city’s best, but there’s been an effort to change that in recent years. The new terminal’s food offerings aim to replicate local dining experiences, offering a mix of classics, globally recognized chef names, and fresh outposts of neighborhood favorites. Travelers can dig into New Orleans classics like po’ boys and gumbo as well as find global comfort staples like pho and gelato.

Below are Eater’s recommendations for where to eat, drink, and grab something on the go at the Satchmo airport, as well as a handful of trip-worthy restaurants nearby. Some airport bars and restaurants have unreliable hours, so be warned, but all of the below spots are expected to be open for holiday travel at MSY.

If you’re arriving in the Crescent City, check out an Eater’s guide to New Orleans.

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Concourse B

Angelo Brocato — Angelo Brocato’s is a legend on Carrollton Avenue, a family-run Italian gelateria and bakery that delivers homespun service and treats. The same is true for the MSY outlet, where cannolis are real deal and the gelato is fresh — get St. Joseph Chocolate Almond if they have it. (Gate B2)

Bar Sazerac — This bar from a New Orleans-born distillery highlights classic Crescent City cocktails like its namesake sazerac, a traditional daiquiri, and brandy milk punch. The adjacent kitchen, Dook’s, serves burgers and snacks from a to-go window in addition to feeding bar patrons. (Gate B4)

Cafe du Monde — If you didn’t make it to the iconic French Quarter location, at least you can grab a beignet on the way home. The local institution is serving its world-famous beignets and café au lait at MSY, starting at 4 a.m. (Concourse B)

City Greens — MSY is the fifth location of the healthy, fast-casual restaurant founded by two New Orleans locals. The seasonally-changing menu of salads, wraps, soups, and cold-pressed juices is vegan and vegetarian-friendly, but meat eaters can also find organic chicken, wild-caught tuna, and Gulf shrimp to round out their order. (Concourse B/Gate B8)

Dook’s Burgers — Situated across from the Heritage Music Stage, Dook’s is a second outlet for the Dooky Chase family name focusing on burgers, although the menu offers breakfast and some tasty sandwiches too. You can’t go wrong with the classic burger, topped with American cheese, lettuce, and tomato. (Concourse B, Level 2 departures)

Emeril’s Table — The airport eatery from Emeril Lagasse is meant to showcase “a little bit of everything” from the celebrity chef’s New Orleans restaurants. Also offering wood fired pizza, health-conscious menu items (approved by Eat Fit NOLA), and a full bar program, all in a prime location under a huge, cheery skylight. (Concourse B/Gate B10)

Heritage School of Music Stage — The locally-inspired wine bar showcases live music acts produced in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation — in addition to a great selection of wines by the bottle and glass. (Concourse B/Gate B2)

Mondo — Mondo is from Susan Spicer, a James Beard Award-winning chef and the owner of two popular New Orleans restaurants, Bayona and Rosedale. Mondo offers light, globally-influenced menu with dishes like Gulf fish ceviche, shrimp mei fun noodles, and wood-fired pizza. Closed Tuesday and Saturday. (Outside Concourse B, Level 2 departures)

MoPho — Creole flavors meet Vietnamese specialties from acclaimed chef Michael Gulotta here; a winning combination that’s made the original a Mid City neighborhood favorite. Truly everything is good at MoPho, from the build-your-own pho menu (the pork belly is as good as it gets) to the lemongrass ginger chicken wings and the fresh, creative cocktails. (Concourse B/Gate B6)

Vino Volo — MSY’s first dedicated wine bar (part of a national chain) serves domestic and international wines by the glass, flight, and bottle, plus lunch and dinners of small plates (snacks, sandwiches, and salads). All of Vino Volo’s dishes are available to go, and travelers who buy screw-cap bottles of wine can take it on their flight. (Outside Concourse B)

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Concourse C

Cure — MSY now boasts an outpost of Uptown’s popular cocktail destination, bringing weary passengers a James Beard-awarded bar program founded ten years ago with a nod to the therapeutic benefit of cocktails. (Concourse C/Gate C6, next to the Munch Factory)

Folse Market — This pricey John Folse-backed marketplace with stations for seafood, po’ boys, coffee, and wine is back in business after remaining shuttered for an extended period of time. The hours are still quite limited, however — 4 to 9 p.m. (Concourse C/Gate C10)

Leah’s Kitchen — With the help of grandson Edgar, this anchor restaurant pays homage to the late Leah Chase, the legendary New Orleans chef who made Dooky Chase’s restaurant world famous. The fried chicken is cooked to order and well worth the wait, and the gumbo, red beans and rice, shrimp Creole, and Louisiana redfish are highlights. (Concourse C, Level 2 departures)

Lucky Dogs — Lucky Dogs are the quintessential French Quarter street food, sold ‘til late from carts that look like hot dogs (it even has its own biography). There are two locations in the airport to help with a hangover or for a quick bite on the go. (Concourse C/Gate C2)

Midway Pizza — Known for serving deep-dish pizza with a serious crust on Freret Street, the MSY version serves a scramboli for breakfast — dough-embraced egg concoctions. Try the the Uptown Meatdown, topped with pepperoni, bacon, ham, Italian sausage, and meatballs. (Concourse C, Level 2 departures)

Munch Factory — This restaurant serving modern soul food is a go-to in New Orleans (and counts Jay-Z and Beyonce as fans after their visit), especially for Creole gumbo, oysters Gentilly, and bread pudding. The MSY space serves a breakfast and all day menu, including other favorites like a saucy roast beef debris po’ boy, shrimp and grits, and the ‘Voodoo Burger’. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. (Concourse C/Gate C6)

PJ’s Coffee and Tea — This local coffee chain is well-known for its iced coffee and granita, the perfect pick-me-up in hot, humid New Orleans. Otherwise, there’s plenty of espresso. Note — the airport location is current only open until noon. (Concourse C)

Where to Eat Near the Airport

Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar— This Kenner oyster bar is a must for raw oysters, crawfish and other boiled seafood, and blackened alligator and calamari. (3203 Williams Blvd., five minutes from the airport)

Pho NOLA — New Orleans has a large Vietnamese population and a healthy number of pho restaurants. Pho NOLA is arguably the best of the handful that are near the airport. For best results go with the banh mi. (3320 Transcontinental Drive, 10 minutes from the airport)

Banh Mi Boys — Banh Mi Boys, a next-generation Vietnamese spot, shares a parking lot with a Texaco station. The tiny place has a few outdoor tables on which to enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes like vermicelli bowls and banh mi. Owner Peter Nguyen also adds New Orleans twists to the menu, like an oyster Rockefeller po’ boy and debris fries. (5001 Airline Drive Suite B, 15 minutes from airport)

Gendusa’s Italian Eatery — Gendusa’s is beloved by Kenner and beyond for homestyle Italian cuisine in delightfully large portions, from giant meatballs to muffuletta to cannoli. Order online to grab items to go for the flight. (325 Williams Blvd., 15 minutes from the airport)

Pho Orchid Express — Quick and trusty Vietnamese food on the cheap with counter service and a small dining area. The banh mi is perfect takeout food for those heading to the airport. (1401 Airline Drive, 15 minutes from the airport)

Queens Cuisine — Stop by Queens for some of the area’s best soul food staples, from fall-off-the-bone fried chicken and turkey necks to red beans, greens, and potato salad. This is the real deal, a good pre-flight fuel-up stop. (2000 Airline Drive, 10 minutes from the airport)

Short Stop Po-boys — This traditional little po-boy shop on Transcontinental is known for its decadently messy roast beef po ‘boy. It bangs spot-on classic po’ boys out fast, so it’s perfect when you’re in a hurry. It’s also perfect when you’re not. (119 Transcontinental Dr, 15 minutes from airport)

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Banh Mi Boys

3244 Magazine Street, , LA 70115 (504) 354-8502 Visit Website

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Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar

3201 Williams Boulevard, , LA 70065 (504) 443-6454 Visit Website

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Short Stop Poboys

119 Transcontinental Drive, , LA 70001 (504) 885-4572 Visit Website