Great Restaurants at Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport (MIA) hosts a number of great restaurants. If you don’t mind doing some walking you can find one to satisfy any craving.

Nathan’s Hot Dogs
Nathan’s Hot Dogs serves world-famous, long hot dogs. They use high-quality meats, and they sell a few side dishes like fries and onion rings. There are plenty of gourmet toppings for the dogs available including chili and cheese, salsa, and sauerkraut.

As good as their hot dogs are, Nathan’s makes pretty average burgers, so you would be better off getting your burger fix somewhere else. They do serve a decent Philly cheesesteak sandwich and a number of fine battered chicken dishes. Nathan’s prices are reasonable- you can get a dog, a side, and a drink for well under $20.

T.G.I. Friday’s
T.G.I. Friday’s likely needs no introduction, but the Miami Airport location has a few quirks that set it apart. First off, be prepared for big city prices. The cheaper entrees start around $20.

You should also be ready to wait for a while. Every time I’ve passed by the restaurant there was a line of people waiting for a seat. They do serve great food there though. T.G.I. Friday’s is famous for their appetizers (fried cheese, buffalo wings, and potato skins), and they have a variety of great pasta dishes and black Angus burgers.

Island Chicken Grill
Island Chicken Grill is one of a number of Caribbean-themed restaurants in MIA. This particular eatery specializes in Cuban dishes, so expect most of the food to have a spicy kick.

One of their best dishes is the Jamaican jerk wings- buffalo wings marinated in a spicy, flavorful sauce. A lot of their food is heated in the microwave, however, and doesn’t taste very fresh. You should probably avoid most of their sandwiches as their taste really suffers when being reheated. Entrees cost just under $10, and full meal will run you about $20.

Sbarro
Sbarro is great for families on a budget or hearty eaters who are tight on cash. They serve large portions of decent, inexpensive food.Sbarro specializes in Italian foods- pizza, pasta, and salads. Their pizza is particularly good, and I enjoy their lasagna enough to order it every time I’m there.

They have plenty of seating available, but they are located on Terminal F, away from the main dining section at Terminal D.I also found that the tables were often dirty, since their small staff cannot keep up with the numerous customers.

Starbucks
There are two Starbucks locations at MIA, both of which are on Terminal D. You can either take your meal and keep on walking or find a seat at the terminal across the way, because your chances of finding a seat among their four or five tables are pretty slim.

Starbucks offers a number of different ways to have your coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. They also sell a variety of baked goods, including cookies, muffins, and breads.

Most of the eateries at Miami International Airport are located on Terminal D, but there is actually very little seating in that area. So be prepared to walk with your meal to a waiting area. The eateries on other terminals are all located close to seats made for waiting passengers, so they tend to have little to no restaurant seating.