The Best Restaurants at George Bush Intercontinental: Your Guide to Houston’s Worthy Airport Eats

Over the past few years, Houston has joined the ranks of metropolitan cities drastically improving their airport food. By getting local chefs into the airport, it helps  ensure that hungry travelers never have to resort to soggy pizza or lukewarm fast food ever again.

They can actually eat something with some tie to Houston — something that’s actually good. Between standing in crazy long TSA lines and trying to keep everyone in your party happy and calm, air travel is stressful enough. The food part of it should be soothing. Of course, now with all these new options, you need to know where to go.

Here’s the ultimate traveler’s guide to the best restaurant options at George Bush Intercontinental airport. It’s time to navigate IAH like an in-the-know foodie pro.

Terminal A

Blaze Pizza

Get fired up to enjoy Blaze’s range of signature pizzas with classics such as Meat Eater and Veg Out, and enjoy new riffs such as Art Lover, a creative pizza with artichokes, mozzarella, ricotta, chopped garlic, and red sauce dollops. If you consider yourself even more of an artist, try your hand at creating your own pie with the rare BYO option, or make it simple by going with one of the seasonal salads. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

The Breakfast Klub

Marcus Davis recently opened an express edition of his legendary Houston breakfast restaurant in IAH. Luckily for hungry brunch-lovers, wings and waffles, “katfish” and grits, and “biskits” and gravy are available, as well as all the classic breakfast dishes, and additional options for lunch and dinner.

Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard

Considered by some to produce the best burger in Houston, this once hole in the wall restaurant has become the go-to of cheaper, but actually good options at IAH. Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are a given, but so are Hubcap’s more adventurous staples like the Frito Pie Burger, topped with Fritos, chili, cheddar cheese and grilled onions.

Finish it off with your choice of fries (regular, cheese, chili cheese, or bacon cheese). Morning travelers can enjoy breakfast tacos, and even a waffle burger. 

Terminal B

3rd Bar Eating House

3rd Bar was created by Houston celebrity chef Bryan Caswell and restaurateur Bill Floyd. Crab cakes, fried pickles appetizers and fried oyster po’boys are available. Not a fan of seafood? Check out the buttermilk fried chicken or smoked country ham and cheese o’boy sandwich. Dessert is beignets of course. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and on-the-run options are available.

El Real

If the mark of a good Tex-Mex restaurant is its cheese enchiladas, El Real (also from Caswell) doesn’t disappoint, with perfectly melted sharp cheese, and a fried egg on top, adorned with chili con carne. Other Tex-Mex favorites such as Fritos chili pie, quesadillas, and tamales are also available.

Freshii

Indulged a little too much before heading to the airport? Freshii offers seasonal salads, wraps bowls, and burritos along with soups, smoothies, and juices. Check out its Oaxaca bowl, a brown rice and kale base topped with veggies and crispy wontons and a spicy yogurt sauce.

For lighter fare, their Recoverii smoothie; mango, turmeric, pineapple, honey, banana, and coconut milk will delight health nuts. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options also dot the menu.

Bullritos

Hankering for a burrito and a draft beer? Bullritos is an affordable option that mimics Chipotle with make your own burritos, where customers can choose from a variety of tortillas, rice and beans, meat, and veggies. But the tender pulled pork makes this more than just a burrito joint. Fajitas, tacos, and Tex-Mex plates are also in play.

Barcuterie

I’m a sucker for charcuterie boards and fancy cocktails, so I find myself plopped down on one of Barcuterie’s stools every time I pass through IAH. Its Texas Manhattan is not to miss, as is its Bloody Mary. They even have a charcuterie salad, a make your own charcuterie board, and more beer choices than you’ll know what to do with.

Terminal C

Bam Bam

Bam Bam really has it all. A cool and tropical ambience combined with a menu of mostly Asian and Cajun inspired dishes including Thai Style Noodles with Shrimp and Lump Crab, Pho, Crispy roasted pork belly, and even Cajun specialities, including a worthwhile crawfish plate. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

Ember

James Beard Award-winner and chef/owner of Underbelly, Chris Shepherd opened up his own IAH restaurant, Ember, this year. Steaks, seafood, and creative starters such as fried dilly beans and grilled ricotta salata stud the menu. Don’t miss Ember’s “Redneck Cheddar Mac ’n Cheese, infused with Shiner Bock. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

Olio

My first foray into cooking is due entirely to the Midtown Farmers Market that was once located outside of Monica Pope’s now closed restaurant t’afia. The Houston-based chef and owner of Sparrow Bar & Cookshop, which shuttered in late 2016, opened up an Italian restaurant at IAH.

Serving up paninis, polenta fries, mushroom rage toast, and braised short rib with burrata, my wallet will always be happily indebted to Pope’s food. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available

Le Grand Comptoir

Perfect for the traveller that’s feeling spendy, Le Grand Comptoir churns out French classics like croquet monsieur, beef carpaccio, with pizzas and hearty salads. Its prime rib starters are enough to feed a family, but don’t that let stop you.

Pala

Warm olives, pizza bread, and even vegan pizza are available at new concept of Ryan Pera, chef and co-owner of Heights hotspots Revival Market, Coltivare, and Eight Row Flint. Pizzas, salads, and starts all made with fresh ingredients are featured at Pala,

Terminal D

Hugo’s Cocina

Hugo Ortega — the chef and co-owner of four of Houston’s top restaurants — hits the airport with this restaurant serving up authentic Mexcian food. Don’t miss Hugo’s healing Pozole or indulgent Queso Flameado. Tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and Migas are also available.

Terminal E

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

One of the largest family-owned and operated restaurant companies in the United States, Pappas’ Pappadeaux recently opened an airport location, providing hungry travelers an extensive list of fresh seafood options. You’ll find Gulf Coast and Blue Point oysters, as well as sushi, salads, sandwiches and burgers, and even Pappadeaux’s delectable sweet potato pecan pie. To-go and gluten free options are also available.