Just because you only have a layover in Chicago doesn’t mean you can’t try some of the city’s best—and most iconic— foods.
With some of the best airport food in the U.S., Chicago O’Hare International Airport is one of the best airports in the country for hungry travelers. The dining options at O’Hare go far beyond fast food, though you’ll find the standard McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Auntie Anne’s across airport terminals.
Bite into mustard, relish, pickle and onion-topped Chicago dog at America’s Dog in between flights. Have an Italian beef sandwich or a cheeseburger at Billy Goat Tavern to perk you up during an unexpected flight delay.
Pick up an entire Eli’s Cheesecake—or just a slice—to take home and share with your friends and family. Grab a bag of caramel and cheddar popcorn from Garrett Popcorn to snack on during a long flight or something to munch on from Nuts on Clark, known for its popcorn and gourmet nuts.
For authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, you’ll want to venture beyond the airport though you can try Reggio’s butter crust pizza at O’Hare. Truth be told, it’s more like a Pizza Hut pan pizza than the cheesy deliciousness you’re dreaming of. Deep dish takes longer to cook than regular pizza, and that can be a challenge for anyone who may be rushing to catch a flight.
If you absolutely must have Chicago deep dish and have a layover of more than four hours, there’s a Giordano’s about a 10-minute cab ride away in Rosemont and a Lou Malnati’s within walking distance of the Irving Park Blue Line train, which runs to the airport.
With a longer layover, consider heading to the iconic Gino’s East location on Superior Street in downtown. You can get there by taking the Blue Line L train from the airport to the Chicago stop and getting on an Eastbound Route 66 bus. Or take the blue line to Clark/Lake and transfer to a northbound red line train to the Chicago stop. Or head to the Giordano’s at Navy Pier.
The Best Airport Restaurant At Chicago O’Hare
Chicago O’Hare’s best and most popular restaurant is Tortas Frontera, a Mexican pressed sandwich shop by restaurateur, cookbook author, television host and celebrity chef Rick Bayless. You’ll find Tortas Frontera locations in Terminals 1, 3 and 5.
Bayless specializes in Mexican cuisine and his Tortas Frontera airport locations are something special. They use many of the same ingredients as Bayless’ flagship Tortas Frontera outpost in downtown Chicago, and they’re designed to travel well. When taste testing the menu, Bayless said he packed prepared food into to-go boxes and waited an hour to taste it, ensuring meals hold up until you’re comfortably reclined in your airplane seat with a drink in your hand.
Sandwiches are made with bread from Fausto’s Bread in the Chicago suburbs. Smoked pork and chorizo come from Gunthorp Farms in neighboring Indiana, which has been partnering with Bayless for over two decades.
If you’re looking for breakfast options on the go, this is the perfect place to find them. The breakfast sandwiches are so good you may want to book a morning flight just to try them.
For The Best Selection of Airport Food
Terminal 5, the main international terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, just emerged from a $3.5 million expansion and offers the best and broadest selection of restaurants.
You’ll find several local favorites like The Goddess and Grocer, R.J. Grunts Burgers & Fries and Wow Bao here. Goddess and Grocer is an excellent brunch choice and has good sandwiches, wraps and salads. Wow Bao specializes in making fluffy steamed buns similar to dumplings. My usuals are the veggie bao and the coconut custard dessert bao. It’s the perfect place for picking up a warm snack for your flight.
There’s also a Macaroni Grill, Hampton Social, Great American Bagel Co, Chili’s Too, Burger King and La Tapenade Mediterranean Cafe. Of these, Hampton Social is my favorite, though sometimes a Great American Bagel will do when authentic New York bagels are nowhere to be found.
Sushi, Salads and More
For sushi, head to the Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi Bar in Terminals 1 and 2, an outpost of a popular local restaurant in the Wicker Park neighborhood. If you’re not into sushi, the fish tacos are well-reviewed.
Next time you find yourself in Terminal 3, head to Publican Tavern, a Chicago institution best known for its beer, pork and oysters. Publican’s flagship downtown location has been recognized by the Michelin Guide.
In terminal 4, head to the Summer House Santa Monica, whose Lincoln Park location I frequent. The California-inspired menu features salads, pizzas and lots of healthy options.
For an iconic local cheeseburger, head to the Billy Goat Tavern & Grill in Terminal 1. This is an outpost of the 90-year-old tavern that inspired a famous John Belushi sketch. Sketch writer Bill Murray, a Chicago native, was once a regular at the Billy Goat Tavern, which first opened in 1934. Its present downtown location opened in 1960, but there’s no need to fight traffic or find parking when you can get a “Cheezborger, Cheezborger, Cheezborger” at the airport.
And don’t worry if you’re traveling through Chicago Midway International Airport and not O’Hare. There’s another Billy Goat Tavern & Grill location at Midway, making it easy for you not to miss out on this Chicago institution.
For a quick bite, look for one of the Farmer’s Fridges vending machines are scattered across O’hare’s airport terminals.
For bar food and my favorite local beer, go to the Goose Island Beer Company in Terminal 3. This is a great place for a big bowl of chili, fish and chips or a Chicago Dog and a craft beer. In case you’re wondering, my personal favorite Goose Island brew is Matilda.
One thing you might want to skip when traveling through O’Hare is Starbucks. There’s one near the airport’s famous fossilized dinosaur between the B and C gates of Terminal 1, but I’ve never been patient enough to test out its long lines.
