Before you fly, here’s a guide to local eats at MSP Airport

Airport food doesn’t have to be a last resort. At Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, it can even be a reason to get there early.

Among the national chains, you’ll find plenty of Minnesota-born names: salad bowls from Crisp & Green, pastries from Angel Food Bakery, burgers from Red Cow. It’s all part of the airport’s efforts to balance the comfort of big-name brands with a taste of hometown pride.

With fall travel picking up — starting this week with Minnesota students’ annual break — we combed Terminal 1 (with Terminal 2’s overhaul still to come) to see what’s new, what’s changed and where to eat before takeoff.

Stone Arch: The beer list is exclusive to Minnesota craft brewers at this full-service mainstay, also known for hearty Midwest staples like cheese curds and chicken wild rice soup.

Peoples Organic: With sustainability in mind, this all-organic eatery dishes up grass-fed beef burgers, veggie-packed bowls and plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menu items. There’s a full bar, too.

Lake Wine Kitchen + Bar: Like the wine shop on Lake Street in Minneapolis, this spot has shelves of giftable bottles to take with you to your next stop. Or sit a while out on the mall with a charcuterie board and a crusty baguette.

Ike’s Clubhouse: This mezzanine-level spot, like its Minnetonka counterpart, has a clubby vibe and menu of classic hits like three-meat chili, a wedge salad and New York-style cheesecake. Catch a game on the many TVs.

Northern Soul: This quick-serve spot offers battered chicken sandwiches and tenders and a variety of Southern-style sides, including biscuits and mac and cheese.

Leeann Chin: This 45-year-old Minnesota brand has all the favorites, served fast: bourbon chicken, egg rolls, honey shrimp and more.

Also available: Get your coffee fix at Caribou, Starbucks or Dunkin’. For Neapolitan-style pizza, the super-hot ovens at Settebello turn out pies quickly. Mix and match in the food court from Auntie Anne’s, Firehouse Subs, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Hissho Sushi and Shake Shack. Or indulge a chicken crispers craving at Chili’s.

The Blue Door Pub: The Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhood pub has an airy setup at the end of Concourse C and the start of A. The Juicy Blucy, their version of the cheese-stuffed burger, is on the menu.

The Cocktail Room at 18th and Central: Tattersall Distillery spirits are the backbone of the cocktails at this deep-in-the-concourse bar, which also serves light snacks and pub fare.

Bottle Rocket: Blue Plate, the Twin Cities neighborhood restaurant group, has an outpost here with sandwiches, salads and a full bar.

Twins Grill: A baseball-themed sports bar celebrates Minnesota’s home team, and offers an all-around menu from breakfast through dinner.

Verdi Market: It’s a grab-and-go market with a little local flair, including bakery-made pastries and Dogwood coffee.

Also available: Buffalo Wild Wings is the rare airport eatery open late (till 10 p.m. for those night flights). Starbucks and Joe & the Juice have the sips. Further representing the national chains are Smashburger, Chick-fil-A and the wine bar Vino Volo.

Republic: It may not still anchor Seven Corners, but the onetime Minneapolis pub still has a home at MSP, with sandwiches, tacos, a few local draft beers and a cocktail list.

Angel Food Bakery: The St. Louis Park bakery known for its doughnuts, cupcakes and whimsical treats has an outpost at the airport, to bring a little sweetness to your travels.

Holy Land Deli: In Food Truck Alley, the Mediterranean restaurant serves up hummus, kebabs, falafel and other halal-certified eats.

Red Cow: The burger spot offers some of the greatest hits also found at its brick-and-mortar locations, plus breakfast, cocktails and more.

LoLo American Kitchen: The Stillwater restaurant and craft cocktail bar shows up airside for breakfast through dinner, with plenty of sandwiches, salads, burgers and a solid Bloody Mary.

Also available: Qdoba for quick burritos and bowls, and the Roasting Plant single-cup coffee brews.

Zona Cocina: The classic Tex-Mex menu spans tacos to chimichangas, and a wide selection of tequila in the bar.

Donut Trap: Grab a sweet little something from a St. Paul doughnut maker at this doughnut vending machine.

Also available: The chains in F cover pretzels, chicken and more. There’s Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Panda Express, Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A. Plus Caribou coffee, and quick-serve empanadas and sandwiches at Camden Food Co.

Coming soon: Jimmy John’s plans to bring its famous smells (and sandwiches) to MSP by the end of 2025.

Crisp & Green: The customizable salad maker with locations across the Twin Cities gives flyers a veggie-packed start to their trips.

More restaurants: Though not entirely local, these eateries are worth noting. Shoyu has decent ramen and dumplings. TwinBurger & Tap has some creative breakfast sandwiches, in addition to lunch and dinner handhelds. Mimosa had local chef Russell Klein contribute, at some point, to the menu. And it’s last call for Volante, the Italian restaurant from chef Doug Flicker. It will close at the end of October.

Also available: Morning bites from Eggy Weggy and Poppy’s Bagels, burgers from Custom Burger (in two locations), and several outposts for grab-and-go nourishment from Cibo Express dot this long concourse. For coffee, there’s Caribou and a Starbucks with great views of the tarmac.

Farmer’s Fridge vending machines dispense salads, yogurt, grain bowls and wraps. You’ll find them in Concourses C, E and F, on the MSP Mall, one pre-security in Terminal 1, and on Concourse H in Terminal 2.

While the terminal undergoes an overhaul, we eagerly await some new food options. In the meantime, you’ll still find Cocina del Barrio, with Mexican classics and a big tequila bar; and Minnesota Wild Bar and Restaurant with cheese curds, flatbreads and a full bar. Starbucks and Caribou have your coffee fix covered, and Farmer’s Fridge has a salad dispenser here, too. Some newer options include two Subway sandwich vending machines, and a grab-and-go pop-up for a future convenience store, Hometown Market.