Miami Airport Among Best in U.S. for Food and Drink

Just months after Miami International Airport (MIA) was roasted all over Reddit for its "sad airport pizza" that went viral, it seems plenty of people—and a major publication—think it's one of the best for foodies.

MIA has landed no. 9 on Food & Wine's Top 10 U.S. Airports for Food and Drink list, joining heavy hitters like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and even LaGuardia.

The Best Miami Airport Eats

Jokes aside, there are plenty of solid options at MIA, especially the ones featured in the New Times' 8 Best Restaurants at MIA list.

There are delicious cafecitos and empanadas at Café Versailles, which has five locations across the terminals, or you can grab crispy pastelitos and classic Cuban sandwiches from La Carreta. Craving something more substantial? Estefan Kitchen Express serves up pork flatbreads and plantain chips, while Ku-Va offers mojitos and ropa vieja that channel the energy of Calle Ocho.

But the flavors don't stop at Cuban cuisine. There's Jackson Soul Food, a beloved Miami institution since 1946, now feeding travelers from Concourse E with family-style plates of fried catfish, okra, and candied yams. At Spring Chicken, helmed by the founder of Yardbird, dig into scratch-made sauces and juicy fried chicken.
Health-conscious travelers have options, too. Fig & Fennel serves up Mediterranean-style couscous bowls, hummus plates, and housemade desserts from the team behind the former Icebox Café. And if you're looking for a drink before boarding, the Bacardi Mojito Bar at Concourse D offers exactly what you'd expect: fresh mint, friendly bartenders, and a drink that (almost) makes you forget you're at an airport.

If you're in a hurry, the MIA2Go app makes ordering easy, so you can spend less time in line and more time enjoying that sandwich, snack, or mojito before your flight.
Still, even winners have their flops. Last summer, MIA went viral when a photo of a sad-looking rectangle pizza from Maestro Della Pizza made the rounds online. The offending slice: a crust with barely any sauce and what looked like unmelted sliced cheese.

That said, with its diverse lineup and local roots, MIA might have earned its spot among the country's best airport food scenes. (You might want to skip the pizza.)