Flight delays? Where to eat while you wait at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
You've made it through the security checkpoint and have an hour or two to kill before your flight. That's when the rumble in your stomach strikes.
Satisfying your appetite becomes a must. You need to find food before your only options are a small bag of snacks at best or nothing at worst when you're on the plane.
Fortunately, Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has an abundance of dining options, featuring a mix of national chains and local favorites.
There's even more options now. Six new restaurants along the new Southwest Airlines concourse (located in the D gates) opened in August and September 2023.
Here's a look at every restaurant in Terminal 4, listed in order of the gate they appear.
New to Sky Harbor: This airline is moving to the Phoenix airport and adding flights. Here's where you can go
Best restaurants at Phoenix airport Terminal 4
A gates
Zinc Brasserie Grab & Go (A1): A grab-and-go spot serving French sandwiches. Zinc Brasserie also operates a full-service restaurant near gate C11.
Olive & Ivy (A4): This airport offshoot of the Scottsdale Mediterranean restaurant serves paninis, salads and specialty coffees.
Zinburger (A4): Zinburger is a go-to for American comfort food, serving several varieties of burgers, chicken sandwiches and shakes.
Blanco Tacos & Tequila (A5): Blanco Tacos' menu includes many of the taco specialties they're known for at their metro Phoenix restaurant locations, including green chile pork, braised short rib and carne asada tacos. The restaurant also offers a to-go menu. Blanco, as well as the previously mentioned Olive & Ivy and Zinburger, are among restaurateur Sam Fox's many concepts with a presence in metro Phoenix.
Dilly's Deli (A7 and A17): The airport locations of this Tempe deli offers prepackaged sandwiches and salads for on-the-go travelers.
Panda Express (A8): Airport location of the popular Chinese restaurant chain serves food like teriyaki chicken, egg rolls and fried rice.
Wildflower Bread Company (A8): Serves breakfast in the morning and a selection of sandwiches, salads and soups at lunch and dinner. Wildflower also has a location in the terminal pre-security.
Peet's Coffee & Tea (A17): Coffee shop serving coffee and tea. Also has locations in the terminal pre-security and near gate D1.
Four Peaks Brewery (A20): The Arizona brewery's Sky Harbor location serves a selection of bar food like cheeseburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and chicken enchiladas, as well as a selection of its beers.
Deluxburger (A22): Quick service restaurant specializing in burgers.
Pei Wei (A23): Airport location of the chain of Asian diners, the sister company of P.F. Chang's.
Tammie Coe To Go (A22): Grab-and-go with sandwiches, drinks and sweets from Tammie Coe Cakes.
B gates
Cowboy Ciao Express (B1): A grab-and-go kiosk with sandwiches, beverages and snacks. Cowboy Ciao also has a full service restaurant near gate B21.
Pita Jungle (B3): Offers healthy food such as pitas, wraps, salads and hummus.
Wendy’s (B4): Popular restaurant chain known for its burgers and fries.
Matt’s Big Breakfast (B5): Local favorite offering all-day breakfast, including the Five Spot Platter breakfast sandwich with eggs, bacon and cheese.
Sweet Republic (B5): Ice cream shop with three locations in metro Phoenix, known for artisan ice cream with flavors like salted caramel swirl, crème brûlée and honey lavender.
Focaccia Florentina (B6): Kiosk serving pre-packaged Italian sandwiches.
The Refuge Coffee Food and Wine (B8): Serves specialty coffee and freshly made sandwiches and salads.
OHSO (B9): Sky Harbor location of the brewery with four metro Phoenix locations, serving burgers, sandwiches, salads and beers. OHSO has a second Arizona airport location at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Fazoli's (B9): Popular Italian fast-casual chain known for its pizza, pasta and breadsticks. Fazoli's opened in 2023 at Sky Harbor to much fanfare from fans who missed the long-bygone restaurant, and a new standalone restaurant is expected to open soon in Mesa.
Starbucks (B17): Internationally known coffee shop chain serving drinks, snacks, and breakfast and lunch items. Starbucks also has locations in Terminal 4 pre-security and near gate C1.
Mission Grab-n-Go (B17): Grab-and-go kiosk with prepackaged sandwiches and snacks.
La Madeleine (B20): Restaurant serving French specialties like the croque monsieur sandwich, which includes ham or turkey and Swiss cheese on ciabatta bread.
McDonald's (B20): Internationally known fast food chain with burgers, fries and breakfast sandwiches.
Cowboy Ciao (B21): This airport location survived the original Scottsdale restaurant's closure in 2018, and it still serves its famous Stetson chopped salad. Known for its American comfort food and extensive wine list, Cowboy Ciao has a full-service restaurant near Gate B21 and a grab-and-go outpost near gate B1.
More routes added: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport added these 11 flights so far this year. 2 more are coming soon
C gates
Starbucks (C1): Internationally known coffee shop chain serving drinks, snacks, and breakfast and lunch items. Starbucks also has locations in Terminal 4 pre-security and near gate B17.
Nocawich & Nocawich Express (C1 & C2): This Tempe sandwich shop is known for specialties like the Cisco Kid (turkey, bacon, white cheddar, cranberry jam, arugula and aioli on multigrain bread). One kiosk prepares sandwiches and salads to order; the other offers prepackaged grab-and-go options.
Los Taquitos (C3): Airport outpost of Mexican restaurant with four metro Phoenix locations, offering tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
Humble Pie Pizza (C4): Local restaurant known for their 9-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas.
Zinc Brasserie (C11): French restaurant serving specialties like flatiron steak frites and grilled chicken paillard. A Zinc grab-and-go location is available near gate A1.
Cartel Coffee Lab (C13): Craft coffee and tea, plus assorted baked goods.
Sir Veza’s Taco Garage (C13): Quick service kiosk offering Mexican and American cuisine.
Panera Bread (C14): Bakery and cafe chain offering sandwiches, salads and baked goods.
D gates
Barrio Cafe (D1): The menu at the airport location of this beloved Mexican restaurant is more limited than its flagship location on 16th Street in midtown Phoenix. But you can still get a number of its signature dishes here, including the guacamole topped with pomegranate seeds.
La Grande Orange (D1): Airport location of the pizzeria and general store in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, serving pizza, burgers and sandwiches.
Peet's Coffee and Tea (D1): Coffee shop serving coffee and tea. Also has locations in the terminal pre-security and near gate A17.
Sip Coffee and Beer (D12): Coffee, beer, cocktails and light bites in one setting.
The Crystals at Sky Harbor, a food hall located on the way to gates D11-D18, features these restaurants:
Chick-Fil-A: The chicken sandwich chain opened its first Arizona airport location at Sky Harbor on Sept. 7, one of five new restaurants it plans to open in 2023 in metro Phoenix.
Pedal Haus Brewing: The local brewery with locations in Tempe, Phoenix and Chandler serves beer and American comfort food.
Bobby's Burgers: Celebrity chef Bobby Flay's first metro Phoenix restaurant features burgers, fries and shakes.
Eegee's: This Arizona chain with locations in Tucson, metro Phoenix and Casa Grande serves sandwiches and the frozen fruit drinks that give the restaurant its name.
Berry Divine: This local chain serves acai bowls and smoothies.
Coming soon: Eegee's, Chick-fil-A and more new places to eat and shop at Phoenix airport
Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Restaurants at Phoenix airport: Best places for food in Terminal 4
