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Airport food has come a long way from sad sandwiches and mysterious foil-wrapped breakfast burritos. The latest proof? Three beloved New York restaurants have officially landed inside JFK Airport's Terminal 5, giving JetBlue passengers a much tastier reason to arrive early.
As part of the airport’s ongoing overhaul of Terminal 5, airport hospitality company OTG has opened outposts of Melt Shop, The Halal Guys and Nom Wah Tea Parlor, three distinctly New York brands that represent three very different corners of the city's food scene. Now, travelers facing delays can swap an overpriced snack box for a grilled cheese stuffed with gooey melted cheese, a platter of halal chicken and gyro or a basket of dim sum before takeoff.
The most historic arrival is undoubtedly Nom Wah: founded in Chinatown in 1920, it’s widely considered New York City's oldest continuously operating dim sum restaurant. The original Doyers Street location has survived more than a century of change, passing from longtime owner Wally Tang to his nephew, Wilson Tang, who helped introduce the institution to a new generation of diners and expand the brand beyond its Chinatown roots.
Halal Guys went from a humble Midtown street cart to one of New York's most recognizable food success stories. Its combination of seasoned chicken, gyro meat, pita and addictive (and famous!) white sauce has become a rite of passage for both tourists and late-night locals.
Rounding out the new trio is Melt Shop, known for its grilled cheese sandwiches, crispy chicken melts, tater tots and hand-spun milkshakes.
The openings are part of a larger $100 million refresh of Terminal 5 being led by JetBlue, Fraport USA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The project will eventually bring more than 40 new concessions to the terminal, including more than 18 local food and beverage concepts, along with public art installations and newly-redesigned passenger spaces.
If you're flying out of Terminal 5 anytime soon, you may want to budget a little extra time—not for security lines, but for dumplings.