MSP Airport Nominated for Best Dining in USA Today Poll

Modern airports have become much more than just a place to hop on a plane and head to a new destination. Hotels, retail shops, and full-service restaurants are now common at major airports across the country. For travelers, that means airports have become dining destinations in their own right.

MSP’s Role as Minnesota’s Gateway

Minnesota’s largest airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), welcomed just over 37 million passengers in 2024. With that many people moving through the terminals, it’s no surprise that MSP has become home to dozens of restaurants, bakeries, and grab-and-go spots.

National Recognition for Dining Options

USA Today has nominated 20 airports across America in its 2025 Reader’s Choice Awards, asking travelers to vote on which airport is the best for dining. MSP is among the nominees, praised for its wide variety of options. “There’s something for just about every hungry traveler,” USA Today explained in its nomination.

What MSP Brings to the Table

From full-service restaurants and bars like Blue Door Pub, The Cook & The Ox, Shoyu, and Mimosa, to quicker bites from Angel Food Bakery & Donut Bar, Crisp & Green, Chick-fil-A, and McDonald’s, MSP offers something for everyone. Between the two terminals, there are more than 50 food and drink choices.

Competing Against the Giants

MSP is going up against mega airports like Seattle–Tacoma, Chicago O’Hare, and Orlando International, which currently leads in voting. While MSP doesn’t have quite as many options as those hubs, it holds its own with local flavor and quality. Voting is open until Monday, October 6, with results announced Wednesday, October 15. MSP currently sits in 13th place and could use support from Minnesotans to crack the Top 10.

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