Forget McDonald's and Chipotle — THIS Is Where You Should Be Eating in the Orlando Airport

Eating at the airport can be… difficult. Often, travelers are in a rush and simply grab a bite from the first reliable fast-food establishment they come across in their terminal. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Orlando International Airport

Take the Orlando International Airport (MCO) for example. It’s one of the busiest in the world, and across its three terminals, MCO has a large and diverse collection of eating establishments. Sure, there are McDonald’s, Starbucks, Chipotle, Chili’s, and the rest, but there are also some lesser-known and even local locations that could satiate your hunger next time you’re waiting for a flight.

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Let’s start with Cask & Larder, currently located in Terminal C. Since 2016, the restaurant has been serving “nationally acclaimed food and drink at the Orlando International Airport, Southwest Airlines gates 100 through 129. With its experienced culinary team, C&L creates modern interpretations of classic Southern dishes, as well as interesting new takes on some of the South’s most well-loved favorites. The 220-seat restaurant sports a seasonal bar program pouring craft cocktails and award-winning house-brewed beers from Brewmaster Larry Foor. The attached Marketplace offers locally produced provisions, as well as fresh salads and sandwiches put together daily on-site.”

©Cask and Larder

Moving on, Disney aficionados will find that a very familiar name also has a spot at the airport Terminal C. Chef Art Smith, the proprietor of Homecomin’ at Disney Springs, lends his name to the Sunshine Diner at MCO. Decorated in the Americana style associated with classic east coast diners, this restaurant “celebrates the comfort of the classic diner, adding local & modern twists” to comfort foods like sandwiches, and burgers. The location also features a full bar and to-go counter.

Chef Art Smith’s Sunshine Diner

Speaking of Disney Springs, MCO is also home to an outpost of one of Springs’ most beloved locations, Wine Bar George. The airport location features 75 wines, each available by the glass, the bottle, or the the ounce. The outpost also features a menu form Ron Rupert, Director of Culinary Development for Wine Bar George, which includes breakfast, small plates, cheese, charcuterie and entrees.

Wine Bar George in MCO Airport

In addition to these locations, it was confirmed in late 2024 that MCO would be undergoing a massive expansion, which will include several new locally owned restaurants including:

Stasio’s Italian Deli
Smoke & Donuts
Kelly’s Ice Cream
SoDough Detroit Pizza
Milkhouse
Jam-Eng Caribbean and English Cuisine
4 Rivers Smokehouse
Otto’s High Dive

At the time of the announcement, Greater Orlando Airport Authority CEO Kevin Thibault said of the upcoming changes, “These are significant investments we are making at Orlando International Airport, and they really go to the heart of what we are about: creating timeless experiences for our guests who visit from around the world and here in Central Florida. We are using emerging technologies to create seamless arrival to MCO with the new parking guidance system. Once visitors are here, they will be able to find unique and enjoyable restaurants and stores that are designed with passengers in mind.”

Orlando International Airport

Next time you’re looking for a meal while hanging around waiting for a flight at the Orlando International Airport, you can skip over some of the national chains and instead try something just a wee bit different. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on MCO and it’s expansion.