My pal who practically lives at airports, Joe Brancatelli, tells us where to find the best chow at many of the major ones. One of the few places he recommends that I've tried is Ike's in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. I told you about Ike's back in this post. It was the only airport restaurant I've ever been in that I would consider going to again by choice, not because I was at an airport and therefore had limited options.
Joe also mentions some top restaurants that aren't far from airports in case you have a layover and feel like a short cab ride to superior cuisine. These days, once I'm past the TSA people, I don't feel like venturing out and in again. I wonder how many people besides Joe do.
And he may not have heard this yet but they're about to open an outlet of Pink's Hot Dogs in the Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX. If it's anything like the world famous original outlet of Pink's on La Brea in Los Angeles, it will not make Joe's list. I have friends who when visiting L.A. say, "I've absolutely gotta try Pink's." Disabuse yourself of this idea right now. It is neither obligatory nor a good idea. Pink's is, at best, an average hot dog stand with a grand, inexplicable reputation. Bad parking, mile-long lines, clumsy service, unspectacular franks. At LAX, they might be an okay alternative to other airport food…but so is anywhere that isn't Burger King or Sbarro's.