Where to Eat at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)

Need a good place to eat at JFK Airport? Look no further. Just in time for the holiday travel season, here's an update of Eater's guide to JFK. It maps out every food option throughout the numerous terminals, from quick snacks to leisurely meals, celeb chef cameos, and some major developments since the last update in Terminal 4. It's all you need whether you're rushing for a flight or hoping to kill a long layover.

JFK's Five Standouts

1) Shake Shack/Blue Smoke on the Road: Delta's Terminal 4 now has branches of two of Danny Meyer's most beloved restaurants. They face each other, and it's hard to choose between them. Shake Shack offers all the favorites you find at the other locations, plus breakfast sandwiches and good coffee in the morning. Blue Smoke on the Road serves ribs, sausages, and sandwiches, plus beer, wine, and cocktails. This is a great place to hang out and watch the game, if you're got some time to kill. [Terminal 4, Post-Security, Gate B36/35]

2) Croque Madame: This is famed New York chef Andrew Carmellini's submission to the JFK dining scene. It's a sandwich shop serving open faced sandwiches, crepes, and made to order salads. [Terminal 2, post-security, Gates 21/22]

3) Uptown Brasserie: Marcus Samuelsson's sit-down restaurant offering American fare like fried chicken with collards and mashed potatoes, steak frites, or bagels and lox for breakfast. [Terminal 4, post-security, Gate B32]

4) Deep Blue Sushi: Probably the best sushi you will ever eat in an airport. Deep Blue's fans are known to arrive extra early at the airport or stay late after a flight just to have a taste. Deep Blue on the Fly, next door, offers grab and go options. [Terminal 5, post-security, Marketplace]

5) La Vie: Former Minetta Tavern chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson created a mini Parisian Bistro serving French country classics. Great for a drink, a coffee, or a full-fledged meal. [Terminal 5, post-security, Marketplace]

Bolding and * denotes Eater's seal of approval

Terminal 1

A Quick Meal

· Eat & Go Istanbul (post-Security, between Gates 5 - 7).
· Euro Café (pre-security, Arrivals Level).
· Greenwich Village Bistro (pre-security, Food Court).
· Sbarro (pre-security, Food Court).
· JikJi Café (pre-security, Food Court).
· McDonald's (pre-security, Food Court).
· New York Hotdog & Coffee: If you need a quick, unhealthy meal, go for a bulgogi topped dog (pre-security, Food Court).*
· Panini Express (pre-security, Arrivals Level East and post-security S Concourse Gate 8 and W Concourse between Gates 1 - 3).
· Starbucks (pre-security, Food Court).
· Sbarro (pre-security, in the Food Court)
· Tuscany Café (pre-security, behind Check-in Counters E/F and post-security, S Concourse Gate 5).
· Wok & Roll (pre-security, Food Court).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Idlewild Wine Bar: serving wines from America's top producing regions, with an emphasis on Hudson Valley varietals. (post-security, between Gates 1 - 3).
· Martini Bar: cocktails and take away food from Balducci's (post-security, S Concourse Gate 9).
· Medalist Bar: Medalist screens international sporting events including soccer, alpine skiing and Formula One racing. They serve grilled sandwiches, pizzas, salads and wraps (post-security, between Gates 4 - 6).

Terminal 2

Delta announced the revamp of Terminal 2 back in September, and as of now all of those shiny new, celeb chef backed restaurants from airport restaurant company OTG are open at least in temporary form. That means Todd English's panned Bonfire restaurants are out, replaced by Laurent Tourondel, Cesare Casella, Robby Cook, and Andrew Carmellini.

A Quick Meal

· Balducci's: Great for high-quality and high priced grab and go snacks, sandwiches, salads, etc. (post-security, Gate 23).
· French Meadow Caf&eacute: A good alternative to the typical airport junk, the bakery serves organic and healthy baked goods (post-security, Gate 28).
· Fresh Attractions (post-security, Food Court).
· The Grove/Red Mango: If you need a coffee and/or fro yo fix, this is your place (post-security, Gate 27).
· Starbucks Coffee (pre-security at the Arrivals Level and post-security at Gate 24/25).
· Wendy's (post-security, Food Court).
· Tagliare: classic New York pizza by the slice.
· Cibo Express
· World Bean

Fast Casual/Bars

· Croque Madame: This is famed New York chef Andrew Carmellini's submission to the airport dining scene. It's a sandwich shop serving open faced sandwiches, crepes, and made to order salads (post-security, Gates 21/22)*
· Legend's Sports Bar: Airport sports bar with sports bar food, ambiance (post-security, Food Court).
· BKLYN Beer Garden: Over 20 beers on tap, many from New York state, plus a menu from Laurent Tourodel.

A Leisurely Meal

· Shiso: a Japanese restaurant from Morimoto chef Robby Cook, serving sushi and small plates.*
· Due Amici: Traditional Italian cuisine, with lots of charcuterie and cheese plates, from Caesare Casella of Salumeria Rossi.*

Terminal 3

This iconic terminal (the "flying saucer" that originally housed Pan Am) was closed for demolition over the summer. Among the casualties is Bar Brace, the panini shop from 'Inoteca's Jason Denton, which was previously one of Eater's top five dining options at JFK.

Terminal 4

After a big revamp this past spring, this is now the terminal to dine. There's a Marcus Samuelsson restaurant, the only East coast outpost of Nancy Silverton's La Brea Bakery, and not one but two Danny Meyer spots, plus more on the way.

· Shake Shack: A branch of Danny Meyer's beloved burger chain, with all of the classic menu items offered at the other locations. In a first for the chain, this location will offer breakfast.* (Post-security, Gate B36)
· Blue Smoke on the Road: A version of Danny Meyer's Gramercy barbecue joint serving many of the dishes offered at the original, plus breakfast items, cocktails, wine, and beer.* (Post-security, Gate B35)
· Uptown Brasserie: A sit-down restaurant from Marcus Samuelsson offering American fare. (Post-security, Gate B32)
· LaBrea Bakery: The famed LA bakery from Nancy Silverton. (Post-security, Gate B36)

Still to come is Street Food, a fast-casual restaurant from Marcus Samuelsson, Camden Food Co., an artisanal market, Le Grand Comptoir wine bar, and a second Shake Shack. Many of the fast food establishments and casual dining counters from the old terminal are also still open. Here's a list of the pre-revamp businesses:

A Quick Meal

· Au Bon Pain (pre-security, Arrivals Lobby).
· Buffalo Wild Wings (post-security, Gate B26).
· Cake Tin Bakery & Cafe: another new addition, upscale cupcakes and coffee (post-security, Gate B33).
· McDonald's (pre-security, Mezzanine East).
· Panda Express (post-security, Gate B23).
· Panopolis (post-security, Gate A5 and Gate B26).
· Peets Coffee & Tea (pre-security, Mezzanine West and post-security Gates A5, B23, and B26).
· Wok & Roll (pre-security, Mezzanine West).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Fuel Bar (post-security, Gate B27)
· Tigin Irish Pub (post-security, Gate A5)
· Z-Pizza: lighter, healthier pies (post-security, Gate B28)

A Leisurely Meal

· The Palm Bar and Grill: The JFK location of the famed Manhattan steakhouse opened in early 2010 (pre-security, Mezzanine West).*

Terminal 5

A Quick Meal

· Aunt Butchies Bakery Cafe (post-security, Gates 14-15)
· Away Cafe (pre-security, Departures and post-security, opposite Security).
· Ben & Jerry's (post-security, Gates 24/25)
· Boar's Head (post-security, Food Hall)
· Cheeburger, Cheeburger (post-security, Food Hall)
· Cibo Express Gourmet Markets (pre-security, Arrivals Baggage Claim 4 and post-security, Marketplace, Food Hall, Gates 6, 9, and 10)
· Dunkin' Donuts (pre-security, Arrivals Baggage Claim 4 and Departures and post-security, Food Hall, Opposite Security Check, and Gate 26)
· Famous Famiglia Pizza (post-security, Food Hall)
· Fresh Italian Pasta (post-security, Food Hall)
· Jamba Juice (post-security, Marketplace).
· Horizon Bakery Cafe (post-security, Gate 1).
· Lucy's Asian Kitchen (post-security, Food Hall)
· Illy Coffee Bar (post-security, Gate 19)
· Market Table & Feature Entrees Bar (post-security, Food Hall)
· Philly Cheesesteaks (post-security, Food Hall)

Fast Casual/Bars

· NYSG (New York Sports Grill): a modern sports bar and grill (post-security, Gates 9/10)
· Revolucion: Mexican fare that's not high end but leaps and bounds better than Food Court Mexican (post-security, Gates 11/12)
· Re:Vive: Re:Vive is JetBlue's table-service dining in its gate areas. They offer seating, power outlets for charging electronics, and touch-screen monitors from which customers can order meals to be delivered to the gate area (post-security Gates 6, 14/15, 24/25, 18/19, and outside Food Hall)

A Leisurely Meal

· 5ive Steak: The Jet Blue Terminal's classic American steakhouse (post-security, Marketplace)*
· AeroNuova: Del Posto's Mark Ladner developed this one, a rustic Italian spot featuring locally sourced ingredients. (post-security, Marketplace)*
· La Vie: Minetta Tavern chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson created a mini Parisian Bistro serving French country classics. Great for a drink, a coffee, or a full-fledged meal (post-security, Marketplace)*
· Piquillo: Piquillo, created by Txikito's Alex Raij, is apparently the first-ever Spanish tapas restaurant in a US airport (post-security, Marketplace)*
· Deep Blue Sushi: Probably the best sushi you will ever eat in an airport. Deep Blue's fans are known to arrive extra early at the airport or stay late after a flight just to have a taste. Deep Blue on the Fly, next door, offers grab and go options (post-security, Marketplace)*

Terminal 7

A Quick Meal

· Auntie Anne's (post-security, Food Court)
· Balducci's (post-security, Food Court and Gate 10)
· Red Mango (post-security, Food Court)
· McDonald's (post-security, Food Court)
· Starbucks (pre-security Lower Level Arrivals Area post-security 6/7
· Subway (pre-security, Lower Level Arrivals Area)
· Wolfgang Puck: gourmet sandwiches, soups and Wolfgang Puck's gourmet pizzas (post-security, Food Court).

Fast Casual/Bars

· Todd English's Bonfire Restaurant (post-security, Food Court)
· Sammy's Beach Bar and Grill (post-security, Gates 2/3)

Terminal 8

A Quick Meal

· Abitinos Pizza (post-security, Food Court)
· Au Bon Pain (post-security, Gate 35)
· Auntie Anne's (post-security, Food Court)
· Brooklyn National Deli (post-security, Gate 41)
· CIBO Express Gourmet Market (post-security, Gate 7 and 14)

· Dunkin' Donuts (pre-security)
· Europan (post-security, Food Court)
· Juan Valdez Café (pre-security)
· McDonald's (post-security, Food Court)
· SoHo Bistro (and Express) (post-security, Gate 43)
· Starbucks Coffee (post-security, Gate 46)
· Wok & Roll (post-security, Food Court)

Fast Casual/Bars

· O'Neal's Restaurant (post-security, Gate 7)
· New York Sports Bar (post-security, Gate 8-10)
· Drink Martini Bar (post-security, Gate 4)
· Vino Volo Wine Room (post-security, Food Court)

A Leisurely Meal

· Bobby Van's Steakhouse (post-security, Gate 14)

JFK

John Kennedy Airport, Queens, NY