7 airport foods you should never eat no matter how hungry you are

You know that moment when you're running through the terminal, stomach growling, and suddenly every food court option looks appetizing? I've been there more times than I care to admit. Three years living in Bangkok meant countless flights through Suvarnabhumi Airport, and I learned the hard way that airport hunger can make you do regrettable things.

The problem is that airports create this perfect storm of desperation. You're stressed, you're tired, maybe you skipped breakfast to make your flight. Your judgment gets cloudy, and suddenly that sad-looking sandwich under heat lamps seems like a reasonable choice.

After years of travel throughout Southeast Asia and regular trips to Mexico and Europe, I've developed a mental list of airport foods that are never worth it. These aren't just mediocre options. These are the foods that will leave you feeling worse than if you'd just grabbed a bottle of water and waited until you landed.

Let's talk about what to avoid, no matter how convincing your hunger might be.

1) Sushi and raw seafood

This one should be obvious, but I still see people ordering it all the time.

Here's the thing about sushi: it requires incredibly fresh fish, proper temperature control, and skilled preparation. Airports are not exactly known for any of these things. The fish sitting in that display case has probably been there longer than you want to know, and the person assembling your California roll likely isn't a trained sushi chef.

I learned this lesson at Narita Airport years ago. The sushi looked decent, the restaurant had a nice setup, and I figured Japan would get it right. I was wrong. Six hours on a flight to Bangkok with food poisoning is an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone.

The risk just isn't worth it. Raw fish is temperamental. It needs to be handled perfectly from boat to plate, and airports simply can't guarantee that chain of custody. Even in countries known for their seafood, airport sushi is a gamble you don't want to take.

2) Pre-made salads with protein

I know, I know. You're trying to eat healthy. You see that salad with grilled chicken or shrimp, and it looks like the responsible choice among a sea of burgers and pizza.

But think about it for a second. When was that chicken grilled? This morning? Yesterday? How long has it been sitting on top of those greens in a refrigerated case? And more importantly, how consistently has that temperature been maintained?

During my fine-dining days, we were obsessive about protein storage and handling. Cooked chicken had a shelf life measured in hours, not days. We'd rather throw food away than risk serving something that had been sitting too long.

Airport salads with protein violate pretty much every rule I learned in professional kitchens. The lettuce is often limp and browning. The chicken is dry and rubbery. The dressing is the only thing holding the whole sad affair together.

If you want a salad, stick to simple greens without protein, or better yet, find something hot and freshly prepared.

3) Yogurt parfaits with mysterious expiration dates

These look so appealing in their little clear containers, don't they? Layers of yogurt, granola, and fruit. Healthy, portable, perfect for eating at your gate.

Here's what bothers me about these things: you rarely know when they were assembled. Sure, the yogurt might have an expiration date stamped on it somewhere, but once it's mixed with granola and fruit in a parfait, all bets are off.

Yogurt is a live culture product. It's sensitive to temperature changes and contamination. Add some cut fruit that's been sitting around, and you've got a potential problem. I've seen too many of these with separated yogurt, soggy granola, and fruit that's clearly past its prime.

Back in Austin, I make my own parfaits at home with Greek yogurt, honey, and whatever's fresh. It takes three minutes and I know exactly what's in it. At the airport? Just grab a sealed yogurt cup if you need dairy, or skip it entirely.

4) Smoothies from non-specialized shops

You'd think a smoothie would be safe. It's blended fruit, right? How bad could it be?

The problem isn't the concept. It's the execution. Generic airport food courts making smoothies as an afterthought rarely clean their blenders properly.

I've watched employees rinse out a blender with water between drinks, which is basically doing nothing. Cross-contamination is real, and if someone before you ordered a dairy-based smoothie and you're sensitive to lactose, you're going to have a bad time.

Plus, most airport smoothies are loaded with added sugar and artificial ingredients to mask the taste of whatever fruit they're using. You're essentially drinking a very expensive milkshake that pretends to be healthy.

If you see a dedicated smoothie place like Jamba Juice or a similar chain, those are generally safer bets. But the sandwich shop that also makes smoothies? Hard pass.

5) Anything from a heated display case that's been sitting

Pizza slices under heat lamps. Breakfast sandwiches in warming trays. Those sad hot dogs rolling endlessly on metal cylinders.

I have strong feelings about this one. In every kitchen I worked in, we had strict rules about how long food could sit in a hot hold. Usually no more than four hours, and often less. After that, the quality degrades significantly, and the risk of bacterial growth increases.

Airport food in heated displays can sit there all day. The pizza gets dried out and rubbery. The eggs in those breakfast sandwiches develop that weird green tinge. The hot dogs... well, let's not even go there.

If something has been sitting under a heat lamp long enough for you to notice how dried out it looks, trust your eyes. That food is telling you its story, and it's not a good one.

Order something made fresh, even if it takes longer. The difference in taste and safety is massive.

6) Fountain drinks that taste off

This might seem minor compared to raw fish or questionable chicken, but hear me out.

Fountain machines need regular cleaning and maintenance. The lines that carry the syrup and carbonated water can harbor mold and bacteria if not properly maintained. I've been in enough restaurants to know that fountain maintenance is often the first thing to get neglected when a place is busy or understaffed.

If you take a sip of your soda and it tastes weird, maybe flat, maybe slightly chemical, maybe just off, don't dismiss it. That's your body's warning system telling you something isn't right. I've learned to trust that instinct after years of tasting hundreds of dishes and drinks professionally.

The solution is simple: stick to bottled or canned drinks at airports. Yes, they're overpriced. Yes, you could buy three bottles at a regular store for the same price. But at least you know what you're getting.

7) Shellfish in any form

Finally, let's talk about shellfish. Shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, lobster rolls, clam chowder. All of these should be automatic no-gos at airports.

Shellfish is even more temperamental than regular fish. It spoils quickly, requires precise temperature control, and can cause serious food poisoning if mishandled. The symptoms of shellfish poisoning are also particularly unpleasant and can be dangerous.

During my private chef days, I worked with some ultra-wealthy clients who would fly in fresh shellfish from specific suppliers. We'd get it that morning and serve it that evening. That's the kind of supply chain you need for safe shellfish.

Airport kitchens don't have that luxury. They're working with frozen product that's been thawed, or "fresh" shellfish that's been shipped who knows how far. The prep work is done by people who might not have specialized training in seafood handling.

I don't care how fancy the airport restaurant looks or how good the lobster roll smells. It's not worth the risk. Save the shellfish for a proper seafood restaurant in whatever city you're visiting.

The bottom line

Look, I get it. Being hungry at an airport is miserable, and sometimes you're stuck there for hours with limited options. But making a bad food choice can turn a minor inconvenience into a travel nightmare.

The good news is that most airports now have at least a few decent options if you know where to look. Find food that's made to order, from places that specialize in what they're making. A basic burger from a dedicated burger place will always be safer than anything elaborate from a generic food court.

I've also learned to plan ahead. I'll eat a real meal before heading to the airport, or I'll pack some snacks that travel well. Sometimes the best airport meal is the one you don't eat at the airport at all.

Your stomach will thank you, your travel companions will thank you, and you'll actually enjoy your trip instead of spending it in an airport bathroom regretting your choices.