Best Food at the Austin Airport: Quick Guide

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 19, 2025

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The Austin Airport is unique in the fact that we have a huge amount of local Austin restaurants located at the airport. You won't find a McDonald's or a Subway at this airport, but you will find local breakfast tacos and famous Austin barbecue at the main terminal at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Here's the best food at the Austin airport.

This might be weird, but even as a local Austinite, I get SO excited about flying out of ABIA because I love all the amazing food we have at the Austin airport!

I'll purposely get to my flight extra early so I have time to grab a craft beer or a local breakfast taco before I board the plane. I know...I'm weird. But our airport is just that good!

About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheWacoThings.com!

TL;DR? Here are my 3 favorite places to eat at the Austin airport:

1. Second Bar + Kitchen - Gate 16

An upscale American restaurant that started in downtown Austin. Perfect place to enjoy a leisurely meal of black truffle pommel frites and a Congress burger, or linger over a glass of wine at the bar.

2. Tacodeli tacos - Gate 23

One of Austin's best breakfast taco restaurants and my absolute go-to for a quick breakfast before my flight. Try the Jess Special taco!

3. Salt Lick BBQ - Gate 22

If you didn't get to try Central Texas BBQ during your trip to Austin (or you just need one more fix!), stop by Salt Lick for some brisket and potato salad or a pulled pork sandwich.

The Best Food At The Austin Airport

You're probably in a hurry, so I'll keep things brief and just share the 12 best places to eat at the Austin airport.

Tacodeli

Located near gate 23

Austin is known for breakfast tacos, and it just so happens that one of the best breakfast tacos in Austin is at the airport: Tacodeli. They have a bunch of pre-made tacos that you can get really quickly if you’re in a hurry (btw, tacos are pretty easy to eat on a cramped airplane seat!) or, if you want a truly delish taco, get one made-to-order. They’re the best. |WEBSITE|

Related: Best Breakfast Tacos In Austin

Second Bar + Kitchen

Located near gate 16

This New American restaurant literally started on 2nd Street in downtown Austin (hence the name.) They have incredible black truffle Pommes Frites, a delicious Congress burger, and a good selection of wine. If you have time to kill before your flight, Second Bar + Kitchen is a lovely place to enjoy a meal or sit at the bar with a glass of wine.

The Salt Lick BBQ

Located near gate 22

If you want *one more* meal of bbq before you leave Austin, you’re in luck: Salt Lick has a location at the Austin airport! It’s central in the main terminal, so you can access it pretty easily, no matter where your gate is.

Besides all the scrumptious options on the menu, this Austin airport restaurant is fun because you can actually order a whole brisket to bring home. Yep! They’ll give you directions on how to prepare it once you get home. |WEBSITE|

Caffe Medici

Located near gate 9

Best coffee at the Austin airport! Avoid the line at Starbucks and grab some delicious, locally-roasted coffee from Caffe Medici. It’s a mini-chain in ATX with several darling cafes around the city, including one at the Austin Airport. If you’re flying out of one of the east gates (Delta, British Airways, Southwest, Aeromexico), Caffe Medici at the Austin airport is near you.

Beerdrop

Located near gate 12

This is THE place to get craft beer at the Austin airport. Austin Beerworks, which is one of the biggest names in the Austin craft brewery scene, has a bar near gate 12 called Beerdrop. You can find a handful of ABW's most popular brews and enjoy a pint while you wait for your flight.

Peached Tortilla

Located near gate 17

Peached Tortilla was one of the OG food trucks in Austin, and they now have two brick-and-mortar locations in Austin…plus one at the Austin airport! They have the most scrumptious Asian/Texas fusion food like dry-rubbed BBQ tacos with smoky roasted peach bbq sauce, or their amazing Korean steak bowl with yummy mango chia dressing. It’s a pretty quick ordering process here, so you can grab your bowl or tacos quickly, gobble them up, and get to your flight on time.

Juiceland

Located near gate 17

You know when you've been traveling and you just desperately want to eat something healthy? Juiceland is a life saver for those moments!

It's the most popular smoothie chain in Austin (the original location is still operating on Barton Springs Rd!) and they thankfully have a presence at the Austin Airport. Grab a protein-packed smoothie, a cold pressed juice, or a hearty açaí bowl with fresh fruit and granola.

24 Diner

Located near gate 11

Although the name “diner” is in the title, 24 Diner is definitely no greasy spoon diner! It’s inspired by classic diners of the 1950s, but they use locally-sourced ingredients to create chef-inspired comfort food like biscuits and gravy, goat cheese frittatas, and a meatloaf sandwich on rye bread. If you have a little bit of time in the morning and want to start your day with a big, delicious meal, the Austin airport location is a great spot to indulge in mimosa and a big breakfast platter.

Parkside

Located near gate 3

My favorite spot to get a a roasted bone-in pork chop and fries and a glass of malbec before a long international flight! Parkside has been a staple in Austin for over a decade, and they have a location at the Austin airport, too. This is a great place for some crispy calamari, a local craft beer, and an order of steak frites.

Parkside is located at the very end of the terminal toward the east gates, so if you have an overnight flight on British Airways, stop by Parkside for a big delicious meal before you board.

Sushi A-Go-Go

Located near gate 12

If you want something light and delicious, head to Sushi A-Go-Go by Komé for a bit of sushi. Komé is a beloved sushi spot in Austin on airport boulevard, and they opened an ABIA booth so you can enjoy a delicious grab-and-go lunch at the Austin Airport.

Eastside Pies

Located near gate 22

One of Austin's best pizzerias, East Side Pies serves NY-style pizza at their Austin airport outpost. They have a limited menu, but you can get your own personal 10-inch pies to enjoy before boarding your flight.

Hut’s Hamburgers

Located near gate 14

Austin residents are SO glad this burger joint is at ABIA! The original location, which opened back in 1939, sadly had to close a few years ago. So the airport location is a must-try restaurant if you’re visiting ATX.

The menu is simple: burgers, fries, and really good shakes. It’s all about nostalgia.

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