Introduction to DFW Airport Restaurants
One of the world’s busiest airports, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, plays host to more than 64 million travelers each year. As such, DFW Airport is home to a slew of restaurants catering to those travelers, with options that range across a wide variety of cuisines, dining styles, and price points.
Best of all, people traveling through can get a taste of Dallas and Fort Worth without ever setting foot outside of the airport. Chef Tim Love’s Love Shack offers its enjoyable burgers in Terminal E, Dallas classic barbecue joint Sonny Bryan’s has an outpost there, and Hickory by Kent Rathbun in Terminal B offers the chance to eat food from a local James Beard Award-nominated chef.
Browse through the guide below for a terminal-by-terminal look at DFW Airport’s extensive lineup of restaurants. Local and Texas favorites are in the top slots, with chains listed alphabetically below.
Order fried fish and shrimp, dirty rice, and much more at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Terminal A
Bugatti Bar & Tavern — Dallas-based Italian restaurant with an airport menu of craft drinks, pastas, and traditional Italian-American favorites. [gate A17]
Dallas Cowboys Club — A bar and restaurant devoted to America’s Team, serving Tex-Mex. [gate A21]
La Creme Coffee and Tea — Small batch coffees and teas from an award-winning company headquartered in Irving, Texas. [gate A34]
Lorena Garcia Tapas y Cocina — This Venezuelan cookbook author and celebrity-chef (Top Chef Masters, America’s Next Great Restaurant) runs this airport eatery with cocktails, tapas, and entrees including mojo-marinated pork tenderloin. [gate A33]
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen — Cajun seafood (blackened catfish, perhaps?) and fresh Gulf and East Coast oysters. [gate A24]
Pappasito’s Cantina — Tex-Mex classics, including queso, tamales, enchiladas, and of course, margaritas. [gate A28]
The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que — A Hill Country barbecue icon that has been barbecuing since 1967. [gate A16]
TGI Fridays — This dining chain is not only headquartered in Dallas, but was started in the city. Hit it up for potato skins, wings, or a big plate of ribs. [gate B9] [gate A13]
Twisted Root — Popular local burger joint with a variety of types of burgers and boozy milkshakes. [gate A24]
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels [gate A21]
California Pizza Kitchen [gate A28]
Einstein Bros. Bagels [gate A9 and A11]
La Madeline [gate A25]
McDonald’s [gates A17 and A35]
Panera Bread [gate A33]
Pinkberry [gate A19]
Popeye’s [gate A16]
Smoothie King [gate A25]
Starbucks [gates A20 and A37]
Whisk & Bowl [gate A14]
