O'Hare International Airport's Best Eats

O'Hare International Airport is definitely the world's busiest airport, or at least one of them, though Chicago brags about having that unique status. With Chicago being in the running for hosting the 2016 Olympics, I believe it will hold that title for quite a while.

I do travel a lot and after checking in, checking my luggage and going through the security lines, which are often quite long and very time consuming, I like to settle down at my gate with something healthy to eat. If you are like me, you may be a bit queasy or nervous about flying, so I try to keep what I eat light, but nutritious. Sometimes comfort food seems to be the best, as when emotionally charged, people do tend to be hungry for so-called comfort food or the familiar.

Depending upon the time of the flights, appetites can and do differ. But I have found no matter what time I am flying out, Starbucks sings its siren song to me in the form of the incredible aroma of fresh brewed coffee. It reminds me of home, the familiar, and being a coffee lover, I cannot resist.

O'Hare has a number of Starbucks kiosks not only close to the boarding gates, but also as you enter the airport or are ready to leave (departures are second floor, arrivals first floor). The convenience and service is always excellent and no matter what time of day, you can purchase a healthy tuna wrap or very fresh sandwich to a Mocha Frappuccino, fresh brewed hot coffee or tea, or just plain old iced coffee. Of course there are the scones, (which can be a bit messy to eat, but are delicious down to the last crumbs), assorted pastries, cookies, and Danish that all Starbucks stores carry.

While O'Hare has many fine restaurants, and bars, and many choices for food, I do find Starbucks to be the most convenient, the least time consuming place to pick up a meal and very easy to find due to numerous locations within the airport. Often airport "sit down" restaurants have a waiting time to get a table, and as one has already waited in lines for check in and going through the TSA security points, I find waiting for a table for food that I am unfamiliar with to be just another stressor I don't want to cope with while traveling. The airport Starbucks quality is consistent, the very same as you would find at a larger location. Service, packaging and the usual fare are the same as you would expect from going to your neighborhood Starbucks.

Whether you are traveling with your family, or on a business trip, you can't beat the ease and affordability of going to Starbucks. Since there are locations past the security lines, you may board the plane with your food and drink in hand and not have to worry about the new streamlined "box lunch" type food served on the actual flight.