A Traveler’s Guide to Restaurants at Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Dulles International Airport is filled with food and drink options.

With tons of travelers hitting the skies this summer, Eater has updated its guide to eating and drinking at Dulles International Airport. Instead of going the Uber or pricey parking route, D.C. travelers now have easy access to the airport via Metro’s Silver Line expansion. The full list of open restaurants at Dulles can be found here.

Since this guide was last updated in November 2024, fresh fast-casual arrivals include: D.C.’s half-smoke institution Ben’s Chili Bowl, the return of burger pioneer Five Guys, and Clarendon-born smoothie stand South Block — RFK Jr.’s apparent morning drink of choice. And Virginia-based Rappahannock Oyster Bar, which maintains a location at the Wharf, just brought its Chesapeake Bay bivalves to the airport alongside sandwiches, salads, desserts, cocktails, and a separate takeout menu. Gatsby, Knead Hospitality + Design’s upscale American diner in Navy Yard, recently touched down at IAD with chicken pot pie, prime rib, grilled salmon, smash burgers, mac and cheese, and French dip.

The Loudoun County airport is still expected to welcome a full-service edition of chef Fabio Trabocchi’s classy pasta parlor Sfoglina. Meanwhile, IAD recently said goodbye to Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Concourse B.

To prepare for peak travel time, flyers can skip the line and order from airport restaurants via mobile phone and pick up their food and drink at the counter. There’s also an expanded assortment of Pepsi vending machines scattered around the airport. A proposed construction plan to the tune of $7 billion includes adding a 14-gate concourse, additional runway, and other expansions catering to an influx of passengers. The new Concourse E is expected to open in late 2026.

Dulles Standouts

Bistro Atelier: This 135-seat French bistro comes from Hakan Ilhan, the local restaurateur behind D.C.’s Il Piatto, Brasserie Liberte, Ottoman Taverna, and the new Alara in Georgetown. Find fresh salads, burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast and brunch served all day. (Post-security, Concourse D)

&pizza: Homegrown favorite &pizza maintains two Dulles destinations for quick-serve, custom pizzas with gluten-free dough and vegan cheese options. (Post-security, Concourse B/C)

Chef Geoff’s: Restaurateur Geoff Tracy has made a name for himself in D.C. with gourmet burgers, lots of bacon, and well-executed American food. This is his first airport venture. (Post-security, Concourse C)

Vino Volo Wine Room: Staff is well versed in helping customers pick pre-flight flights from local Virginia wineries. The chain wine bar also offers a compact menu of small bites and charcuterie. (Concourse B)

Capital One Lounge: Unlimited access for Venture X cardholders and entry fees for others. A full-service coffee bar has La Colombe cold brew on tap and beans from Virginia-based Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Company. Pre-Flight Helles Lager is brewed specially for the Capital One Lounge by Ashburn-based Lost Rhino Brewing Co. (Past pre-check, between the East and West security checkpoints)

Main Terminal

A Quick Meal

Main Terminal/Baggage Claim

• Dulles Gourmet Market: 24/7 operation serving snacks, sandwiches, salads to go, and candy (Pre-security, Lower Level)
• WellFound Foods: Grain bowls, salads, and sandwiches (Pre-security, Main Terminal)
• Capitol Grounds Coffee: sandwiches, salads, snacks, and coffee (Pre-Security, Lower Level).
• Starbucks: coffee, pastries, sandwiches (Pre-security, Lower Level).
• Café Americana: bar, tall drafts, coffee, pizza, and other U.S. favorites right outside of the long international customs line (Pre-Security, Lower Level).
• Dunkin’: doughnuts and coffee (Post-security, Z Gates)

Main Terminal: A Leisurely Meal

• District ChopHouse serves burgers, steaks, and other casual dishes along with a full bar (Pre-Security, Ticketing Level)

Concourse A

A Quick Meal

• Jersey Mike’s Subs: freshly sliced hot and cold sandwiches daily (Post-security, Gate A3)
• Dunkin’: coffee, donuts, breakfast sandwiches (Post-security, Gate A23)
• Extreme Pita: healthy handhelds served until 10 p.m. (Post-security, Gate A14)
• Starbucks: coffee, pastries, sandwiches (Post-security, Gate A5)
• Subway: sandwiches and wraps (post-security, Z Gates)

Concourse B

A Quick Meal

• Ben’s Chili Bowl: D.C.’s decades-old institution for half-smokes (Post-security, Gate B73)
• Five Guys: delicious burgers from a homegrown name (Post-security, Gate B45)
• Capitol Grounds Coffee: a local, family-owned coffee shop with coffee, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items. (Post-security, Gate B72)
• Cava: Mediterranean bowls, salads, and pita sandwiches from the DMV-born chain. (Post-security, Gate B62)
• Freshii: Vegan-friendly noodle, salad, and quinoa bowls. (Post-Security, Gate B72)
• Chick-fil-A: Chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. (Post-security, Gate B46)
• Peet’s Coffee: coffee, tea, pastries, and more. (Post-security, Gate B46)
• Potbelly: Come for the sandwich, leave with the famous chocolate chip cookies. (Post-security, Gate B46)
• &pizza (Gate B71)

A Leisurely Meal

• Rappahannock Oyster Bar: Breakfast, appetizers, soups, salads, and entrees with a concentration on seafood and oysters, plus grab-and-go yogurts, packaged salads, dips, and bottled beverages. (Post-security, Gate B37)
• Commanders Burgundy and Gold Club: The Washington Commanders-themed sports bar for NFL-obsessed flyers, lined with legends like Joe Gibbs and Sonny Jurgensen. Pro tip: Hours start at 5 a.m. (Post-security, Gate B73)

• Bracket Room: Arlington’s quasi-celebrity-owned sports bar from Bachelorette contestant Chris Bukowski, which closed during the pandemic, maintains its outpost at the airport with dishes like lamb lollies and a watermelon caprese salad (Post-security, Gate B50)

• Vino Volo Wine Room: small bites, sandwiches, charcuterie, and local wine flights (Post-security, Gate B63)

Concourse C

A Quick Meal

• Bagels and More: all-day option for bagels and cream cheese spreads, egg sandwiches, paninis, salads, parfaits, and more (Post-security, Gate C14)
• Auntie Anne’s: gourmet pretzels, hot dogs, dips, and lemonade (Post-security, Gate C9)
• Starbucks: coffee, pastries, sandwiches (Post-security, Gate C7; Post-security, Gate C24)
• &pizza: local quick-serve pizza favorite (Post-security, Gate C28)
• Subway: sandwiches and wraps (Gate C2)
• Be Right Burger: eatery with made-to-order burgers, featuring beef, turkey, or veggie patties (Post-security, Gate C14)

A Leisurely Meal

• Gatsby: upscale diner fare and martinis from the D.C. original (Post-security, Gate C22)
• Chef Geoff’s: burgers and American fare from a local favorite (Post-security, Gate C14)
• Devils Backbone Tap Room: pulled pork sandwiches, a fried chicken schnitzel sandwich, and local brews on tap (Post-security, Gate C3)

Concourse D

A Quick Meal

• South Block: fresh-pressed juices, bowls, and smoothies from the Virginia-born chain (Post-Security, Gate D9)
• Chick-fil-A: chicken sandwiches (Post-security, Gate D7)
• Union Kitchen (Post-security, Gate D5)
• Pizza Hut (Post-security, Gate D20)
• Rusty Taco (Post-security, Gate D10)
• Dunkin’: coffee, donuts, breakfast sandwiches (Post-security, Gates D5 and D23)
• Starbucks: coffee, pastries, sandwiches (Post-security, Gate D16)
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: custom sandwiches and milkshakes (Post-security, Gate D14)
• Wow Bao: dumplings, potstickers, bao buns, and rice bowls (Gate D20)

• Where to Eat at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport [EDC]
• Where to Eat at Baltimore-Washington International Airport [EDC]
• All Airport Dining Guides Coverage [EDC]