Eating and Drinking at JFK Airport: A Survival Guide

The dining scene at JFK is a minefield: you can find everything from culinary gems to tourist traps with exorbitant prices and disappointing quality. The experience of eating at the airport can be stressful, with long lines, indifferent service, and confusing ordering systems. This guide, based on the analysis of hundreds of reviews, is designed to be your field manual, helping you navigate the options in each terminal so you can eat well without feeling like you've wasted time and money.

Quick Answers for Hungry Travelers at JFK

  • What is the cheapest option to eat?

    McDonald's (T1, T4) and Dunkin' (present in almost all terminals) are consistently the most economical options. However, be prepared for the longest lines at the airport, especially during peak hours.

  • Is anything open 24 hours?

    Yes. Dunkin' in several terminals operates 24/7, becoming a haven for night travelers. CIBO Express Gourmet Markets (especially in T5) also usually have options available at any hour.

  • I'm short on time, where can I get a truly quick bite?

    "Grab & Go" markets like CIBO Express (T5) or Camden Foods (T4) are your best allies. Avoid sit-down restaurants or fast-food places with long queues if you have less than 45 minutes.

  • Which terminal has the best dining options?

    Terminal 4 offers the greatest variety and quality, with popular options like Shake Shack and more sophisticated restaurants. Terminal 5 also has good sit-down options like 5ive Steak, albeit with some caveats.

food court JFK airport

Image from Youtube

Critical Points / Traveler's Manual

  • The Exorbitant Price: The Norm, Not the Exception

    The most universal complaint is the price. Paying USD 20 for a mediocre sandwich or USD 15 for a beer is common. The quality rarely justifies the cost, and many places don't even display prices clearly.

    Strategy: The most effective is to bring your own snacks and a reusable water bottle to fill up post-security. If you need to buy something, assume you'll pay a 50-100% markup over street prices.

  • Customer Service: A Russian Roulette

    From indifference to outright rudeness, poor service is a constant criticism in many establishments. The staff often seems overwhelmed, unmotivated, or simply rude.

    Strategy: Use self-ordering kiosks whenever possible to minimize interaction. If the service is bad, don't feel obligated to leave a large tip, especially if it's suggested before you've been served.

  • The Tyranny of the QR Code and Mandatory Tipping

    Many restaurants (especially in T5) force you to order and pay via a QR code, adding a minimum tip of 18% before you've received any service or food! This creates enormous frustration.

    Strategy: Review the bill before paying. If the system doesn't allow you to adjust the tip to zero, consider whether you really want to eat there. Paying a tip for service you haven't yet received is a highly questioned practice by travelers.

  • "Fast Food" That Isn't Fast

    Long lines at popular spots and slow preparation, even at "fast food" places, can jeopardize your boarding time. Places like Irving Farm (T7) are notorious for waits of over 30 minutes for a coffee.

    Strategy: Before getting in line, observe it. If it's not moving quickly, find another option. If you have less than an hour before your flight, opt for a pre-packaged sandwich or salad from a market.

Analysis by Terminal: Where to Eat (and Where Not To)

Here we break down the reputation of the most mentioned establishments in each terminal, based on the collective experience of travelers.

Terminal 1

Soho Bites: Consistently rated as one of the worst options. Travelers describe their burgers as "dry and sad" and the food in general as a "rip-off" for its terrible quality and high price.

Eat & Go Istanbul: The food can be decent, but the service is harshly criticized for being rude and for the lack of visible prices on products, leading to unpleasant surprises at the checkout.

JikJi Café: Opinions are very divided. While some appreciate having a Korean food option, others rate it as the "worst Korean food" they've ever had, with unfriendly service.

Terminal 4

Shake Shack: One of the most popular and reliable options in the entire airport. Its burgers are praised, but its popularity guarantees long lines at almost any time.

Pizza Vino: The pizza is considered acceptable for an airport, but the place is harshly criticized for its "hostile" staff and a confusing ordering system that leads to conflicts with customers.

Le Grand Comptoir: A wine bar that attracts with its aesthetics but frustrates customers with a QR ordering system that closes the tab and automatically adds a 20% tip after 40 minutes, often before the food has even arrived.

Buffalo Wild Wings: A standard place to watch sports, but with generic airport food. Travelers warn about the automatic tab-closing system with a 20% tip and extremely slow service.

Terminal 5

Deep Blue Sushi & 5ive Steak: Both are sit-down restaurants that share the same main criticism: they force customers to pay and add an 18% tip at the time of ordering, before receiving any service. The food quality is considered mediocre for its very high prices, and the service, non-existent.

Caribbean Kitchen: The reviews are mostly negative. The food is described as dry, flavorless, and in some cases, spoiled. The service also receives poor ratings for its indifference.

Terminal 7

True Burger: Rated by many as "horrible" and "inedible." Complaints range from raw meat to wrong ingredients and staff with a bad attitude. One of the worst-rated options at the airport.

Irving Farm Coffee Roasters: Although the coffee is good, it is famous for its absurdly long wait times, which can exceed 45 minutes for a simple coffee and a bagel. Many travelers have lost their money by having to leave to not miss their flight.

Brooklyn Rebel: Offers made-to-order pizzas, which is a plus. However, the service is very slow (waits of over 30 minutes) and the staff is described as unfriendly.

Terminal 8

Mezze Café: Reviews point to very slow and rude service, with staff who seem to avoid customers. The food is of basic quality and reheated.

Dos Toros Taqueria: Generally receives good reviews. It is seen as a tasty fast-food option with generous portions, similar to Chipotle, and with friendly staff.

Villa Pizza: Opinions are inconsistent. Some find it fast and tasty, while others describe it as "burnt," "cold," and with staff who serve selectively.

Comparative Table by Category

Based on what you're looking for and your needs, you can see a comparison of different options below.

Affordable and Fast

McDonald's
Terminal: T1, T4
Pros: Fast and affordable
Cons: Long lines at peak times

Dunkin'
Terminal: Various
Pros: Ideal for coffee and snacks, 24h
Cons: Can be very crowded

Soho Bites
Terminal: T1
Pros: Quick snack option
Cons: Very low quality and expensive

Urban Crave
Terminal: T4
Pros: Alternative to traditional fast food
Cons: Small portions

Gourmet Restaurant

Le Grand Comptoir
Terminal: T4
Pros: Wide selection of wines
Cons: High price and automatic tipping system

5ive Steak
Terminal: T5
Pros: Good quality meat cuts
Cons: High cost and mandatory tip upfront

Deep Blue Sushi
Terminal: T5
Pros: Fresh and well-prepared sushi
Cons: Expensive and mandatory tip upfront

Healthy Options

Mezze Café
Terminal: T8
Pros: Vegetarian and fresh options
Cons: Limited space and slow service

Camden Foods
Terminal: T4
Pros: Healthy food and variety of options
Cons: Not always available

Eat & Go Istanbul
Terminal: T1
Pros: Mediterranean food with vegetarian options
Cons: Rude service and no visible prices

Coffee Shop

Irving Farm Coffee Roasters
Terminal: T7
Pros: Specialty coffee
Cons: High prices and very long waits

Euro Café
Terminal: T1
Pros: Well-regarded coffee and breakfast
Cons: Small space

Dunkin' Food Court
Terminal: T1
Pros: Good option for coffee and donuts
Cons: Always crowded

International Options

Caribbean Kitchen
Terminal: T5
Pros: Authentic Caribbean flavor
Cons: Very inconsistent quality, often bad

Bento Sushi
Terminal: T4, T7
Pros: Quick sushi
Cons: Limited stock and variable quality

JikJi Café
Terminal: T1
Pros: Korean food option
Cons: Highly criticized quality and service

List of All Dining Options

Below is a complete list of all food establishments, by terminal.

comida en jfk

 Photo by Klara Kulikova - Unsplash

Terminal 1

  • Arrivals Eatery - arrivals hall
  • Downtown Market - gates 1/2
  • Dunkin' Food Court - food court
  • Eat & Go Istanbul - between gates 5-7
  • Euro Cafe - west arrivals hall
  • Farmer's Fridge - food court, gates 2 and 5B
  • Flying Tacos - food court
  • JikJi Cafe - food court
  • McDonald's - food court
  • Pizza Pub - gate 6
  • Soho Bites - gate 3
  • Soy & Sake - gate 5
  • Starbucks Evening - gate 3
  • Taste NY - gate 4
  • The LOCAL - gate 5
  • Uptown Market - gate 7
  • Wok & Roll - food court
  • Wurst Sausages - food court 

Terminal 4

  • Beacon Bar - concourse A
  • Bento Sushi - gate B26
  • Blue Point Brewery - gate B34
  • Buffalo Wild Wings - gate B26
  • Camden Foods - west retail hall
  • Chocolates & More - central retail hall
  • Dollies - opposite gate B34
  • Dunkin' Donuts - gate B33, east arrivals
  • Eastward - gate B46
  • Farmer's Fridge - gates A4 and B26
  • Five Borough Food Hall - west retail hall
  • Flatiron Coffee Roasters - east retail hall
  • Green Goddess - main retail hall, north wall
  • Jamba Juice - gate B27
  • Le Grand Comptoir - west retail hall
  • McDonald's - east retail hall
  • Mi Casa - gate B23
  • Peet's Coffee & Tea - gate B26
  • Pizza Vino - gate B29
  • Shake Shack - gates B22 and B37
  • So Chocolate - east retail hall
  • Starbucks - gate A2
  • The Palm Bar & Grille - west retail hall
  • Urban Crave - Gate B46
  • Vino Kitchen & Bar - retail hall 

Terminal 5

  • 5ive Steak - central hall
  • AeroNuova - central hall
  • Artichoke Pizza - food court
  • Blue Sky Traders - baggage claim hall 6
  • Bryant Park - check-in hall
  • Caribbean Kitchen - food court
  • CIBO Aunt Butchie's Bakery Café - gates 515/516
  • Cibo Express Gourmet Market - central hall, food court, gate 506, pre-security arrivals and departures
  • CIBO Horizon Bakery Café - gates 501-502
  • Custom Burger/Eggy Weggy - food court
  • Deep Blue on the Fly - central hall
  • Deep Blue Sushi - central hall
  • Dunkin' Donuts - food court, arrivals hall, check-in hall
  • Farmer's Fridge - arrivals hall, gates 501-507 and 522-530
  • H&H Bagel - food court
  • Hot & Cold Tables - food court
  • Jacob's Pickles - gate 508
  • Jamba Juice - central hall
  • La Vie - gate 522
  • Leon's Bagels - gate 505
  • Lucy's Asian Kitchen - food court
  • Philly Cheesesteaks - food court
  • Piquillo - central hall
  • Re:Vive Bars - gates 506, 515/516, 525, food court
  • Revolucion Market - gate 511
  • Starbucks - gate 522
  • Supply 5 Co. - gate 511
  • The Loft - gates 522-530

Terminal 7

  • Apartment 7B Deli & Restaurant - food court
  • Bento Sushi - food court
  • Brindle Room - food court
  • Brooklyn Rebel - food court
  • Dunkin' Donuts - gate 10, arrivals area
  • Farmer's Fridge - gate 2, check-in hall
  • Irving Farm Coffee Roasters - food court
  • Johnnie Walker - central hall
  • Le Grand Comptoir - gate 6
  • True Burger - food court

Terminal 8

  • Alidoro - gates 39-41
  • Cibo Market - concourse B, opposite gate 6
  • Dos Toros Taqueria - gate 35
  • Dunkin' Donuts - gates 39-41, carousel 9, main hall
  • Farmer's Fridge - gates 8, 14, and 40
  • Golden Krust - Carousel 7
  • Idlewild Chophouse - Main hall
  • Licorice & Pretzels - gate 14
  • Mezze Café - check-in hall
  • O'Neal's - concourse B, gate 6
  • Shake Shack - gate 10
  • Starbucks - gate 46
  • Villa Pizza - concourse C, gate 38

Information on JFKfly.com is based on external sources/experiences for traveler assistance; it may change and should be verified. JFKfly.com is NOT the official JFK airport website and is NOT affiliated with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.