Where to Eat at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

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. The newest terminal to reopen, Terminal 3, now features a full-service restaurant from Top Chef contestant and TV personality chef Nyesha Arrington.

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 holiday travel season, and what to expect when seeking out food at Los Angeles’s busy international airport.

Three Standout Places to Eat

Native by Nyesha

• WPizza and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck at Terminal 6: Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s classic pizzas, pasta, and salads are often the most reliable things to eat in an airport setting, though the prices will certainly be higher than in a fast food spot.
• Native by Nyesha at Terminal 3: A resurrected version of chef Nyesha Arrington’s former Santa Monica restaurant, the current Eater YouTube host has a globally-inspired spot in Terminal 3 with grilled shrimp & grits, avocado toast, hamachi crudo, and Korean-style chicken wings in what might be the most ambitious chef-driven restaurant in the entire airport.
• Beecher’s Handmade Cheese at TBIT: Seattle’s Pike Place Market imported one of its best stalls in Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, which makes breakfast sandwiches, soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches at reasonable prices.

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LAX

Terminal 1

A Quick Meal

• California Pizza Kitchen: California-style pizza, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers
• The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Coffee, blended drinks, and baked goods
• Chick-fil-A: Southern-style fried chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and sweet tea
• Einstein Bros. Bagel: Breakfast sandwiches and bagels
• Panda Express: Steam table American Chinese food with combination plates
• Qwench Juice Bar and Wetzel’s: Located before security, with blended juices and pretzels

Fast Casual/Bars

• Urth Caffe and Bar: A sit-down spot with coffee, sandwiches, and salads
• Betcha Burger: A classic burger spot with hot dogs, chicken, and breakfast items
• Rock & Brews Concert Bar and Grill: Rock and roll-themed salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, pizzas, burgers, craft beers, and a full bar
• Ace Cerveceria and Tacos: Generic tacos, nachos, guacamole, and other dishes with a decent selection of bottled and draft beer
• Reilly’s Irish Pub: Based on the Sunset Strip nightlife spot, this restaurant serves 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
• Fresh Brothers Pizza & Sandwiches: Personal-sized pizza, salad, wings, sandwiches
• Jersey Mike’s Subs: Sandwich chain with big Italian subs and Philly cheesesteaks
• Pick Up Stix: Chinese fast food classics 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 whose West Hollywood original is inexplicably popular with Gen-Z imbibers
• SeaLegs Wine Bar: Snacks, small plates, and wine by glass

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Terminal 3

A Quick Meal

• Jamba Juice: Popular juice and smoothie spot with bowls
• Homeboy Cafe: LA’s iconic bakery and cafe has grab-and-go sandwiches and baked goods
• Alfred Coffee: Hipster coffee drinks, pastries, breakfast burritos, and even beer and wine options

A Bigger Meal with Cocktails

• Native: LA chef (and Eater host on YouTube) Nyesha Arrington has opened an airport version of her now-closed Santa Monica restaurant with room for 120 people and Asian-influenced dishes like Korean fried chicken sandwich, curry cauliflower, and grilled Kyokuyo red shrimp.
• Chicken + Beer (New): This Atlanta airport staple has made its way west serving, you guessed it, chicken and beer. Expect Southern-style favorites like shrimp and grits, chicken n’ waffle, burgers, salads, and sandwiches, plus cocktails, wine, and beer.

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PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Terminal 4

A Quick Meal

• Dunkin’ Donuts: Donuts, coffee from the big East Coast chain
• Homeboy Cafe: Sandwiches, salads, and coffee from a civic-minded Downtown LA bakery
• Natural Break: A grab-and-go sandwich and salad kiosk

Fast Casual/Bars

• Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza: Pizza, salads, beer, soups from the old-school chain
• Campanile: An airport outlet of the late chef Mark Peel’s iconic La Brea restaurant
• 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)
• Farmers Market To Go: Grab and go fare inspired by the iconic Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax

Fast Casual/Bars

• Lemonade: Quick-casual salads, sandwiches, and breakfast fare with seasonal ingredients
• Donburi Bistro: Japanese rice bowls and a full bar
• Loteria! Grill: Mexican fare including 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: Rock and roll-themed salads, sandwiches, pizzas, burgers, craft beers, and more

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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, including the celebrity chef’s famous Chinois chicken salad.
• 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, and smoothies
• Blu2o: Beachy California cuisine from chef David Myers, with a full bar
• Point the Way Cafe: A gastropub from Golden Road Brewery with flatbreads, beer, and sandwiches
• Starbucks Evenings: An all-day, wine-friendly place to get coffee and snacks
• Wahoo’s Fish Taco: Chain fish taco spot with chicken taquitos, loaded nachos, and a burrito
• California Pizza Kitchen: A full-service restaurant in the former Osteria by Fabio Viviani space

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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
• Ashland Hill: An airport outlet of the Main Street Santa Monica gastropub with breakfast sandwiches and pre-made fare that’s simply warmed up
• BLD: Sandwiches, salads, hot plates inspired by the former Beverly Boulevard restaurant by chef Neal Fraser
• Randy’s Donuts and Hilltop Kitchen (New): The famous doughnut-topped building in Inglewood has opened an outlet at LAX serving beautiful glazed cake and yeast fritters, plus coffee and other dishes from South LA’s Hilltop Kitchen

Fast Casual/Bars

• Loteria! Grill: Mexican fare from chef Jimmy Shaw
• The Counter Custom Built Burgers: Burgers, fries, and more that can be fully customized
• B Grill: Sandwiches, burgers, salads, steaks, pastas, seafood by popular Sunset Strip steakhouse Boa
• Rolling Stone Bar & Grill: Wings, burgers, chicken tenders, salads, and booze
• Wolfgang Puck Express: Pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and entrees 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 from the longtime Downtown LA institution.
• Stella Bar: All-day fare from breakfast to dinner with vegan/vegetarian options named after Stella Artois beer

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Tom Bradley International Terminal

Pre-Security Checkpoint

• Earl of Sandwich: National sandwich chain
• Pinkberry: Tart froyo with fruit and other toppings
• Asian Street Eats by Chef Hung: Top Chef winner Hung Huynh does scallion pancakes, braised short rib rice bowls, and Japanese teas in partnership with Earl of Sandwich
• Planet Hollywood: All-day American fare like sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and more
• WPizza by Wolfgang Puck: Pizza spot from the celebrity chef
• Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: Coffee and tea chain with snacks

West Gates

• Flight Shop
• Playa Vista: Coffee, snacks, fruit, and other grab-and-go items
• Santouka Ramen: Mitsuwa’s popular ramen spot
• Illy Coffee

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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
• Pret-A-Manger: Pre-made sandwiches, salads, and more
• Playa Vista: Coffee, snacks, fruit, and other grab-and-go items

Fast Casual/Bars

• ink.sack: Classic and modern sandwiches in half portions by chef Michael Voltaggio
• Vino Volo: Wine bar with small plates
• Santa Monica Brew Works: A brewpub with California-inspired beers
• Chicken Guy: From Guy Fieri and Robert Earl, this fast-food chicken spot has locations across the country, but this is the first location in Southern California. Expect tenders and chicken sandwiches with fries for around $15.

A Leisurely Meal

• Border Grill: Mexican specialties from chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
• Chaya Sushi: Upscale Japanese lounge fare
• Chicken + Beer (New): An Atlanta-based restaurant with fried chicken sandwiches, shrimp and grits, and other Southern food with a wide selection of cocktails, wine, and beer
• Santouka Ramen (New): Hokkaido-style ramen bowls that occupy food court locations inside Mitsuwa markets
• Umami Burger: Fancy burgers from the once popular upscale chain
• 800 Degrees: Make-your-own Neapolitan-style pizzas
• Beecher’s Handmade Cheese: The popular spot from Seattle’s Pikes Place market makes fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches and other fare
• P.F. Chang’s: The upscale casual chain restaurant has reopened with Chinese American and other Asian dishes

PS Terminal

PS

PS is the exclusive private terminal for commercial flights at LAX, where travelers are best able to have private security and luxury services — private check-ins, security, and a car that directly chauffeurs travelers from their homes or hotels to the terminal. It’s most compelling for celebrities, professional athletes, and other folks hoping to avoid paparazzi, plus those who can afford the hefty price tag.

Dining options change every six months or so, and the seasonal menu features dishes that will fill diners up without leaving them stuffed before a long flight. Folks can enter either a lounge-style salon with a limited number of other travelers or a private suite, which comes stocked with a pantry, toiletries, and other amenities. Dining options in the lounge include cocktails and bites, and both the lounge and the private suite also include chef-prepared meals — strawberry salads, jackfruit tacos, avocado toasts, and more.