Can we agree that most airport food is pretty unsatisfying? Accordingly, when good stuff pops up, it’s worth noting. I have a few standards I always suggest – but with the reminder that part of the trick is being in the right terminal. It’s no good to hope for Danny Meyer’ Shake Shack at JFK if you’re in Terminal 1, 2 or 3,and you have only an hour between planes. It’s in Terminal 4 – two of them, in fact – but you’d have to go through security to get to a Shackburger. Not a pretty sight.
One choice spot that’s before security is Dooky Chase’s in the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, in the West Terminal. That fine fried chicken keeps its flavor for your onboard meal, too.
If you’re flying Southwest through Atlanta, which means you’re on Concourse C, there’s definitely a choice worth nothing. Pay no attention to the Chick-Fil-A. Next to it is a branch of the legendary Varsity. I was moving too fast to check the chili dogs for which they’re known but I succumbed to an order of onion rings after I spied a long rod of single rings being dipped in batter. Lovely, light beer-batter type of ring, worth one’s while for sure. But, like most o-rings, eat ‘em while they’re hot.
Note also that while the menu board lists only meals – two sandwiches and fries, for instance – I saw several people ordering just one burger and dog.
They’re apparently also on Concourse F.
The Varsity
Concourses C and F
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Atlanta
and other locations in and around Georgia
Breakfast, lunch and dinner