FLYING HIGH ON FLAVOR

Serving half-smokes, chicken and waffles, Lowcountry classics and more, these Black-owned eateries elevate your airport-dining experience

- Ronda Racha Penrice

Gone are the days of settling for bland food during your travels. Today, great cuisine can be found at nearly every airport—even in the busiest terminals across the country. Thanks to a rising wave of Black restaurateurs, you no longer have to endure subpar dining or resort to expensive snack hauls in place of a real meal. Below are a few culinary gems, brought to life by Black men and women, located in airports from coast to coast. Whether you're craving a famous chili bowl, a classic po'boy or a dining experience worthy of not one but two James Beard nominations, these airport spots are sure to satisfy your flight-fueled cravings.

ONE FLEW SOUTH

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Concourse E, E26

Forget the chaos of travel and slip away to One Flew South—a gourmet oasis where a bento box can be breakfast, lunch or dinner and the cocktails are exquisite. Created by Terry Harps of Global Concessions and Jackmont Hospitality (the food-service management company cofounded by Maynard H. Jackson, Atlanta's first Black mayor), this restaurant offers globally inspired cuisine. Delectable dishes include the Deviled Egg Experience, Collard Green Ramen and Tandoori Chicken. Its “airport sushi” is fresh and delicious—including the raved-about Kamikaze dish (tuna, salmon, spicy mayo, Hamachi, isonoyuki and eel sauce). And the popular Uncle Nearest 1884 premium whiskey is the main ingredient of both the Grown Up Mimosa for breakfast (if that’s your thing), and the Old Fashioned for dinner. One Flew South was the first airport restaurant to be nominated for the James Beard Award, including nominations for Outstanding Service in 2014 and 2015.

BEN’S CHILI BOWL