37 unforgettable airport meals around the world, according to travel editors

I was travelling from Phoenix to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for work and had a connection in Charlotte. I had eaten much earlier in the morning with colleagues, so I thought I’d grab a meal at the airport prior to boarding. However, I underestimated Phoenix traffic and subsequently arrived at the airport a bit later than I would have liked and wasn’t able to buy something to eat prior to departure. Sure, the airline had snacks and food for purchase, but being in the main cabin toward the back, there wasn’t much left by the time they got to me. It was a long, hungry four hours. Luckily, that was followed by a three-hour layover in Charlotte, and I knew I’d be able to find something there. When I walked into the main atrium, my stomach did the thinking for me and led me to the first place it knew we’d find a substantial meal: Brookwood Farms Carolina Pit BBQ. I ordered a pulled pork barbecue sandwich with extra sauce. It came with a side of coleslaw and macaroni and cheese. The sandwich was piled high with pulled pork on a freshly baked roll, so much so it was overflowing onto the plate. The mac and cheese and coleslaw were also hearty portions. The meal with a drink came in at roughly $15. The flavour, the heartiness, the freshly baked roll, and that warm feeling that only real comfort food can replicate all came together to make this one of the best barbecue meals I’ve ever had. Not only was I full, but I kept asking myself, Should I buy another for takeaway and eat it later? I tell everyone I know passing through Charlotte to stop in for something to eat, and I’ve returned many, many times. It never disappoints! Bobby Laurie, Washington, D.C.

Acai bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, North Carolina

In a sea of fast food and overpriced snacks, stumbling upon healthier options at the airport is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. During a recent layover at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, I was pleasantly surprised to come across Sambazon, a food company that sells acai-based foods and beverages. A delicious customised acai bowl filled with fresh bananas, blueberries, and mangoes and topped with fleshy shreds of coconut, set me back by roughly $13, and I couldn’t believe I was actually enjoying this burst of fresh tropical flavours at an airport. Taryn White, Washington, D.C.

Bojangles’s four-piece Supremes dinner with fries, ranch sauce, a biscuit, and Pepsi in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, North Carolina

My first flight from North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh, to North Carolina’s most populous city, Charlotte, is barely 30 minutes once airborne, and the connection to my next flight to Phoenix is tight. But as an economy passenger, I knew I wouldn’t be served a meal onboard, so I planned to pick up something substantial to eat for the four-hour flight – without breaking the bank or cutting into my tight layover time. Luckily, I knew just the place for the job. Any North Carolina native knows that when you’re in need of something quick and delicious, nothing hits the spot better than Bojangles. Thankfully, there are two locations in the airport: The Plaza (the main food court near Concourse D) and Concourse B. My standard order? A four-piece “Supremes” dinner with perfectly breaded chicken tenders, thick-cut fries, ranch sauce, and a Pepsi. It also comes with a pillowy buttered biscuit. (Pro tip: If you aren’t as hungry but still need something to eat, order a kid’s Supreme meal for a smaller portion at half the cost.) Of course, it should come as no surprise to frequent travellers that airport food comes at a markup, so while the same meal will cost you $8 at your average Bojangles outside, it costs nearly double at Charlotte Airport. Still, that’s a markup I’m willing to pay for food I know will be consistently delicious. Bojangles at Charlotte is everything a hungry traveller needs: a regional favourite with quick, friendly service offering hot, satisfying meals. Stella Shon, Durham, N.C.