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Dining Guide | 10 Best Sky Harbor Airport Restaurants

Posted on: June 10th, 2015 by Taryn Jeffries 1 Comment

We’ve all been there before; headed to the airport in a rush to make sure you get there in time for that 1-2 hour window before your flight leaves. You may have left home in a rush, almost certain that you forgot something. Was it your cell phone charger? Toothpaste? You may have left in such a rush that you didn’t have time to get a meal in before you headed out. Before you cringe at the idea of having to stop at some over-priced fast food joint or the dreaded sticky sweet cinnamon bun (so bad, but so good!), it’s important to note that Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport restaurants have gotten an intense culinary makeover.

Some of your favorite restaurants in town have carved out a delicious spot in the terminal dining arena. So, if you find your stomach rumbling while you ponder if you remembered enough socks and if you have just a little time before your flight, we’ve got the low-down on the latest and greatest airport restaurants and their can’t miss dishes.

Terminal 4 Airport Restaurants

Barrio Café
Best breakfast choice: Chef Silvana has created an empire one delightful dish at a time. Her interpretations of classic Mexican dishes created with French technique are creating a revolution of sorts that is garnering a great deal of attention. One such dish that may confuse the brain (but tantalize your taste buds) at first look is the Crepa de Chorizo. Your crepe is filled with a Longaniza chorizo, sautéed spinach, onion, shallots and garlic. If that weren’t enough it’s topped off with slightly spicy hollandaise sauce and avocado.

Chelsea’s Kitchen
Best breakfast choice: Eggs Benedict are always a hit, but when you add in a rich buttery crab cake it takes breakfast to a whole new level. The jumbo lump crab to filler ratio is perfect and the addition of spinach makes you feel a little better about that buttery velvet hollandaise sauce.

10 Best Sky Harbor Airport Restaurants: Chelsea's Kitchen

Matt’s Big Breakfast
Best breakfast choice: Matt’s Big Breakfast entrée is calling out your name. Three cage fresh eggs, thick cut bacon sourced out of Queen Creek, sausage patties, sweet and salty home fries and a griddle cake are just what you need to get you going. Your eggs will be cooked to order, your bacon will be thick and perfectly peppery. The home fries feature Yukon golds that are boiled and then baked and finish up in an already in progress party of butter and sautéed onions dusted with rosemary. Griddlecakes arrive massive in size and dotted with sweet cream and a side of real maple syrup. You can really taste the quality of all the ingredients in each bite. The best part? There are no true price spikes just because you are at the airport; the process is on par with their Downtown Phoenix location.

10 Best Sky Harbor Airport Restaurants: Matt's Big Breakfast

Cowboy Ciao
Best breakfast choice: the Corned beef hash is a breakfast staple and Cowboy Ciao has spiced this traditional dish up with their Hardy Hatch Hash & Eggs. The dish comes with red country-style potatoes with Hatch chiles and pastrami spiced shredded short ribs all topped with two over easy eggs. The introduction of the Hatch chiles will really open your eyes and give you a whole new perspective on your day.

10 Best Sky Harbor Airport Restaurants: Cowboy Ciao

Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles
Best breakfast choice: While Lo-Lo’s has some stellar breakfast options, it’s Lo-Lo’s and you know what you want. Go for the KK’s special which three juicy southern style chicken, two waffles, grits and two eggs with cheese and onions. The portion is as hearty as it gets and the combination of the chicken and waffles, whether you top with gravy or syrup is something you have to experience at least once, but you’re sure to want it again and again.

Joe’s Real BBQ
Best lunchtime choice: Joe knows BBQ and the best way to soak all of that knowledge and artistry in is by choosing the BBQ Sampler plate. You’ll be presented with ¾ pounds of ribs, chicken, pork, and beef along with a side of your choosing (the cheesy potatoes are a serving of comfort and happiness). You’ll find the meat juicy, tender and delicately seasoned and the spiciness and tang of the accompanying sauce really make each bite sing.

10 Best Sky Harbor Airport Restaurants: Joe's Real BBQ

Blanco Tacos & Tequila
Best breakfast choice: You’re in Arizona, and what’s better for a quick breakfast in Arizona than the versatile breakfast burrito. It’s perfect, really. It looks good on a dish and is also easily transformed into tasty traveling food. Here, you’ll find 5 enticing varieties; Machaca & Eggs, Steak & Eggs, Eggs & Mexican Cheese, Bacon & Eggs and Chorizo & Eggs, though I am sure if you are especially nice thee may be some room for mixing and matching. All of the burritos come with breakfast potatoes and house salsa.

Humble Pie
Best lunchtime choice: Pizza has always been a great on the go option, but Humble Pie is offering up the kind of pizza you really want to savor. Whether you prefer a traditional pizza or if you like to think outside of the (pizza) box, you’ll love their wood-fired pizzas made with quality ingredients. The Pepperoni Pizza is made with Pavone pepperoni, house mozzarella, and their own tomato sauce; this pizza is proof that high-quality ingredients can make the simplest of dishes taste like they came from a 5-star kitchen. If you are looking for something a little more unique, you’re sure to love the Fig & Prosciutto. The slight sweetness of the fig jam and caramelized onions do a delicate dance with the saltiness of the prosciutto and goat cheese.

Terminal 2 Airport Restaurants

Barrio Avion

The breakfast options offered at Chef Silvana’s most recent venture are just what you need to give you that extra kick in the pants you need for an early flight. You can build your own burrito or settle into some chilaquiles or an eye-opening quesadilla. You’ll find fresh ingredients and perfectly seasoned meats of varying heat levels. With generous portions and great flavors, this is a great start to your day of travel.

Terminal 3 Airport Restaurants

Taberna Del Tequileria
For a quick and easy option, Taberna has what you are looking for. You’ll find breakfast burritos, street style tacos and quesadillas. The fast service, array of Mexican menu options and killer bloody Mary’s and margaritas make Taberna a great place to pop in when you find yourself in terminal tres!

This article originally appeared in the June 2015 issue of So Scottsdale Magazine.

About the Author - Taryn Jeffries

Editor and Chief Eating Officer of PhoenixBites, 2017 Food Writer of the Year (Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame) Taryn grew up in a small town in Illinois with a doting Grandmother who taught her the way around a kitchen and that food is representative of love. Her current quest is to find the love in local dishes and the chefs behind them. In addition to running all things PhoenixBites, Taryn is also a freelance writer, sharing her insight on the best dishes and where to get them each and every month.

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