That tiny bag of pretzels won’t fill you up for long. And unless you want to be the subject of viral outrage videos from fellow passengers when you unpack a tuna salad sandwich you made at home, eating on a plane can be challenging at best—and problematic at its worst.
Fortunately, passengers at Dallas Love Field can dine at several DFW-based restaurants steps from their gates prior to boarding. Sure, the menus are limited, and the prices are higher than their off-site counterparts. But if you have time to kill before a flight (or during a lengthy departure delay), at least you have higher-quality options than that questionable grab-and-go sandwich at Hudson News.
Here are 10 places to grab a snack, meal, or big glass of wine next time your travel plans land you at DAL.
Cool River Cafe
Fans of Cool River Cafe were surely saddened when the long-running Las Colinas original shuttered in 2020, but at least the brand lives on at the airport. Nibble on short rib quesadillas or togarashi-crusted ahi tuna with a sparkling guava margarita. Or feed a bigger appetite with a Gouda bacon burger, honey-glazed Atlantic salmon, or a 14-ounce ribeye. Terminal Concession Village, coolrivercafe.com
Catch One
If your ticket doesn’t have New Orleans on it as your final destination, fear not. You can still get a Cajun/Creole fix from your barstool at this spot in the center portion of the concourse, directly across from Gate 9. Snack on crab and spinach dip or shrimp cocktail while sipping a Vieux Carre. Or fill up with crab cakes, crawfish etoufée, and seafood gumbo. During morning hours, grab a toasty breakfast sandwich and a hurricane mimosa. Gate 9
Paciugo Gelato Caffè
This Dallas-born gelateria has been serving frozen delights at its locations since 2000. This outpost is tucked away in the same space as Auntie Anne’s. Choose your favorite flavor in a cup or cone, as a smoothie or shake, or combined with espresso in an affogato for a little extra travel stamina. Gate 9, paciugo.com
Crú Food & Wine Bar
The first sight you see as you ride the escalator up from the TSA security checkpoint is a sandwich board proclaiming “It’s Wine O’Clock,” “Carpe Vino,” “Corks Are For Quitters,” or some other cheeky mantra. Create a new pre-flight ritual with an artisan cheese flight and a glass of excellent wine. You can even buy full bottles to enjoy on-site or at your final destination. Terminal Stem, cruwinebar.com
Maggiano’s Little Italy
The Dallas-based Italian-American eatery recently debuted a beautiful Love Field spin-off where you can get comforting dishes aplenty. Whether you’re craving spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, Caesar salad, or a chicken pesto sandwich, they’ve got you covered. Terminal Stem, maggianos.com
Cantina Laredo
Start your vacation early with some top-shelf guacamole, crispy chips, and a Perfect Patron Rita while you browse the menu for entrées. Combination fajitas always hit, with a nice-sized portion of grilled chicken, tender steak, rice, beans, pico, and fresh, warm tortillas. Or savor a little of everything with a platter such as the Puerto Vallarta, which includes a taco al carbon and two types of enchiladas, plus all the sides. Don’t sleep on the chorizo con huevos during breakfast hours. Gate 6, cantinalaredo.com
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Sometimes, only a brisket sandwich slathered in barbecue sauce will do the trick when hunger strikes. Luckily, the Love Field location of the 85-year-old Dallas-based chain has your back. Grab a seat at the bar to enjoy your food with an ice-cold draft beer. Or pop by earlier in the day for brisket in a different format: hearty breakfast tacos. Terminal Concession Village, dickeys.com
Campisi’s
It may not have the old-school charm of the Mockingbird Lane location that’s been serving loyal customers since 1950, but when you’re craving pizza, this counter-service location delivers the goods. The thin-crust, oval-shaped pies are big enough to share, especially if you add a chopped salad. The muffaleta sandwiches and Italian subs are also quite substantial. Though wine, beer, and spirit options are rather limited, it’s a great excuse to enjoy a glass of Chianti. Terminal Concession Village, campisis.us
la Madeleine
Many Dallasites got their first taste of French fare at this fast-casual bistro that got its start near Southern Methodist University in 1983. The restaurant’s famous tomato basil soup will warm you up and makes a great dip for a gooey, four-cheese grilled cheese sandwich loaded with cheddar, provolone, swiss, and parmesan. Grab a chocolate croissant on the go, and everyone seated in your row on the plane will be forever jealous. Gate 7, lamadeleine.com
Whataburger
Though not based in Dallas, this Texas icon is worth mentioning as an airport dining option because it’s easily one of the best Whataburger locations in North Texas. Because of the sheer volume of customers, everything at this location is served piping hot, whether it’s a sausage, egg, and cheese taquito with hash browns, or a double Whataburger with cheese, bacon, and jalapeños. And unlike the locations outside the airport, here you can add a beer to your burger order. Terminal Concession Village, whataburger.com…