As part of its November issue, GQ Magazine released its list of “10 Best Airport Restaurants in America,” and global restaurateur HMSHost had three of its restaurants in the Top 10. Topping the list is celebrity chef Rick Bayless’s Tortas Frontera at Chicago O’Hare International Airport—HMSHost operates locations in Terminals 1 and 3—followed by Michael Voltaggio’s ink.sack, which HMSHost is bringing to the new Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. Also operated by HMSHost is Gallagher’s, an old-school steak house serving travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport, which is listed at No. 4.
“Having three of our restaurants named to this list is very exciting, and everyone at HMSHost couldn’t be happier about this achievement,” says Steve Johnson, executive vice president of business development with HMSHost. “Tortas Frontera, ink.sack, and Gallagher’s are all amazing restaurants and we’re proud to see that travelers agree.”
Since opening at Chicago O’Hare in 2011, Tortas Frontera has been named one of the top airport restaurants around. The “farm-to-terminal” menu includes the braised short-rib tortas a la plancha and other tortas selections, as well as a variety of salads and the guacamole bar, where you can pick your own. Rick Bayless and his team have brought the concept street side, a transition that normally happens the other way around.
Ink.sack, by award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Voltaggio, is new to the airport landscape. The street side location of ink.sack has been popular in Los Angeles, and HMSHost is partnering with Voltaggio to bring travelers this innovative concept. Ink.sack serves a variety of sandwiches, with the Cold Fried Chicken, Banh Mi, and the Jose Andres, aka the Spanish Godfather, being fan favorites.
Gallagher’s at Newark Airport is a classic steakhouse.