Flying Home During the Winter Holidays? Where to Eat at SFO Airport

Airport meals aren’t usually known for being your best dining experience in a city. But as one of the busiest airports in the country, San Francisco International Airport has an array of diverse restaurants to visit before your flight — including the outposts of several popular restaurants in the city.

Keep reading for our list of where to eat in SFO, arranged by terminal and generally after security — with ideas for what else to do to kill time before your flight.

And if you live here already and are flying out of SFO for the holidays, this may be a reason to get to the airport early and enjoy a good meal, or just draw breath before the intensity of visiting family begins.

Jump straight to:

• Where to eat in SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1
• Where to eat in SFO Terminal 2
• Where to eat in SFO Terminal 3
• Where to eat in the SFO International Terminal

(Visiting San Francisco and landing late? Many restaurants in the city close somewhat earlier than you may be used to, so you may want to grab a bite to eat at the airport anyway. But keep in mind that even though SFO is a 24/7 airport, some restaurants also close here at around 11 p.m. or so.)

A primer on exploring between terminals

At SFO, if you’ve gone through security and have enough time before your flight, you can walk between terminals to find the restaurant or amenities of your choice.

It’s a major perk that guests can take advantage of, said Francis Tsang, from SFO’s communications team.

“If you’re trying to be adventurous, you should wander around these different terminals,” Tsang said. “There’s something for everyone.”

However, if you’re planning to explore between terminals after security, “make sure that you have time so that you don’t miss your flight,” Tsang added.

How long does it take to walk between terminals at SFO?

The approximate walk times between SFO terminals post-security, as measured in person by this reporter:

• From Terminal 1 to Terminal 2: Around a 3-minute walk
• From Terminal 1 to International Terminal A: Less than a minute’s walk
• From Terminal 2 to Terminal 3: Around a 2-minute walk
• From Terminal 3 to International Terminal G: Around a 6-minute walk

Pre-security, SFO also has a free, 24-hour Airtrain running across the terminals.

If you’re planning to explore between terminals, check out the airport’s own guide to navigating its terminals first — and make sure you don’t accidentally exit security.

Eating at Harvey Milk Terminal 1

• Bun Mee has Vietnamese cuisine, including pho, banh mi sandwiches and egg rolls (menu). “This is my favorite place,” Tsang said. “The pho is really good.” Bun Mee appears twice in the airport and was recently recognized by Bloomberg as one of the best airport restaurants in the world.
• Dolores Park Cafe is one of this reporter’s favorite restaurants in San Francisco, and having an airport brunch is the perfect way to mark a flight out of the city if you missed stopping by its Mission District location (menu)
• Dogpatch Bakehouse & Caffè offers coffee and treats
• Ritual Coffee is another popular San Francisco chain
• Bourbon Pub: Unlike other airports, you won’t find as many fast food chains at SFO, but you can get a reliable burger here (although, as you’ll see on the menu, expect to pay much more than at your average McDonald’s or Burger King)
• Starbird has crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders, in a similar vein (menu)
• Little Skillet offers a soul food fix (menu)
• Mama Go’s Filipino Cuisine has creamy ube lattes, which are a particular favorite of this reporter, along with snacks like Philippine Dried Mango (menu)
• Napa Farms Market is one of the most popular spots by sales in the airport, according to an SFO spokesperson

What else to do in SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1:

• Green Apple Books is a beloved local San Francisco bookstore and is fairly large for an airport storefront
• Let kids tire themselves out before a flight at the two playgrounds available at Terminal 1 …
• … or take them to the LEGO storefront, which is a fun stop for LEGO enthusiasts of any age (but remember that this branch is more expensive than other LEGO stores)
• A sensory room — a quiet place to escape the hustle of the airport — is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• There’s also a large MAC store in Terminal 1, in case you’re inspired to try the “facemask on the airplane” trend you’ve seen on TikTok
• View the permanent installation dedicated to the life of the late Harvey Milk, and remember: SFO has several curated art exhibits across its domestic and international terminals, most of which are located post-security

Eating at SFO Terminal 2

• Lark Creek Grill is one of SFO’s most popular eating spots for travelers, according to an airport spokesperson — and was named one of the best airport food spots in the world by Condé Nast in 2014 (menu)
• Burger Joint, which serves flame-broiled hamburger patties
• Cat Cora, the restaurant of an Iron Chef featured on the popular television series of the same name
• Peet’s Coffee is a popular Bay Area-based coffee chain
• Napa Farms Market offers a wide variety of dishes and quick meals

What else to do in SFO Terminal 2:

• Book Inc. for books and magazines
• Terminal 2’s outdoor terrace, before security, is a place to grab some fresh air before your flight.

Eating at SFO Terminal 3

• Sidewalk Juice has acai bowls and blueberry almond smoothies that this reporter is somewhat in love with (menu)
• Bun Mee, for Vietnamese food, has a Terminal 3 location in addition to its Terminal 1 spot
• Burger King, one of SFO’s few fast food chain options, has cheap(er) bites with a side of onion rings
• Dogpatch Bakehouse & Caffè, another spot also found in Terminal 1, has coffee and baked goods
• Klein’s Deli and Coffee Bar for quick sandwiches
• Peet’s Coffee for your caffeine boost and speedy bites

What else to do in Terminal 3:

• Grad a good read at Compass Books
• Let kids run around in the terminal’s play areas

Where to eat in the SFO International Terminal

In International Terminal A:

• Boudin Bakery for San Francisco sourdough bread and sandwiches. As a born-and-raised San Franciscan, Tsang emphasized trying the sourdough bread before leaving the Bay if you’re a visitor
• Gott’s Roadside has classic, hearty burgers and fries (and you can order online to save time)

In International Terminal G:

• Mustards Bar Grill is another of SFO’s most popular spots by sales, according to an airport spokesperson (menu)
• Asian Box has easy-to-go meals and boba tea (menu)
• Joe & The Juice offers fresh smoothies, juices and sandwiches
• Napa Farms Market is also available at the International Terminal

What else to do in the International Terminal

• For some high-end shopping, you’ll find storefronts like Hermes and Saint Laurent in International Terminal A …
• … and swanky shopping options like Gucci and Burberry in International Terminal G

Finally: Early for your international flight or dropping someone off? What you’ll find pre-security in the International Terminal:

• If you’re hoping for something more familiar and cheap(er) when it comes to food, you’ll find more fast-food joints available in this area, like Wendy’s and Panda Express — as well as small plates at Tapas and Taps
• You can also get some fresh air on the pre-security outdoor terrace here, with a view of the airfield, check out the Aviation Museum & Library and visit SFO’s museum to watch documentaries and short films