Where to eat at MSP Airport when traveling for the holidays

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport is top-rated on several fronts, including for a sizable roster of local eateries featuring Juicy Lucy burgers, bacon-topped doughnuts, spiked adult shakes and more.

To get into vacation mode and start your holiday travel off right, why not carve out a little extra time and treat yourself to local eats. For a taste of Minnesota, here are the latest offerings that can be found at Terminal 1 (a Terminal 2 expansion is currently underway):

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 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.

The Cook & the Ox: When the occasion calls for a steak, this handsome spot has a couple of those on the menu. (Plus salmon, fish and chips, and all the rest.) There’s a thorough list of wines by the glass and cocktails, too.

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 in 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, its 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.

Also available: Find Bruegger’s Bagels, Greek Kitchen and Panda Express in the food court.

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.

Also available: The airport’s one and only McDonald’s is planted here, on the walkway between C and D.

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’s airport version features 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 for single-cup coffee brews.

Hi-Lo Diner: The retro East Lake Street diner has a pared-down menu at MSP with all-day breakfast, sandwiches and salads, and milkshakes (and spiked adult shakes, too).

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. The latest addition: Jimmy John’s is now bringing its famous smells (and sandwiches) to MSP.

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

Mill City Tavern: The menu emphasizes local flavors and ingredients, such as a wild rice-crusted walleye entree, a Minnesota chopped salad with smoked sausage and cranberries, and a Minnesota breakfast plate with apple butter for the toast.

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.

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.