Denver International Airport feeds millions of travelers every year. The food here is far better than normal airport food. Many restaurants are local Colorado names that you also find in the city. This guide shows the best food at Denver Airport concourse by concourse. You will know where to eat before you land.
The airport has more than 100 places to eat and drink. Local chefs run many of them. You can sit down for a full meal or grab a fast bite between flights. Every concourse has strong options.
Quick Picks: The Best Food at Denver Airport
Short on time? Start with these names. Root Down in Concourse C is the top pick for fresh Colorado food. Santo in Concourse C serves the best Mexican food in the airport. Elway’s in Concourse B is the steakhouse choice. Mercantile Dining & Provision in Concourse A works for almost any meal of the day.
Best Restaurants in Concourse A
Concourse A has the newest food scene in the airport. A new food court opened in the center core in 2026. Several local Denver restaurants opened here in the last two years.
Mercantile Dining & Provision
Chef Alex Seidel runs this farm driven restaurant in the center core of Concourse A. The menu uses seasonal food from Colorado farms. Travelers love the fried chicken sandwich and the fresh pastas. It also has a market counter for fast takeaway food.
Denver Chophouse
This is the classic steakhouse of Concourse A. It pours its own beer and serves grilled steaks and fresh salads. The sweet potato fries and Cabernet mushrooms are popular sides. It suits a long layover well.
The Bindery
Chef Linda Hampsten Fox brought her LoHi restaurant to Concourse A near Gate A24. The menu mixes Mediterranean and Mexican flavors. There is a small oyster bar and a bakery case with fresh pastries. Breakfast here is one of the best in the airport.
Mesa Verde Bar & Grill
Mesa Verde is a long time Concourse A favorite. It serves tacos and burritos with green chile. The bar is known for its wide tequila list and margaritas. Portions are big for airport food.
Denver Central Market
This small food hall brings the RiNo market hall to Concourse A. Several counters serve different foods in one space. It is a smart pick for groups that cannot agree on one place. Seating is shared and service is fast.
Shake Shack and the New Concourse A Food Court
The center of Concourse A now has a shared food court. Shake Shack serves its burgers and crinkle fries here. Fat Sully’s Pizza and Chick-fil-A sit in the same court. Lines move fast even at busy hours.
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. is the easy breakfast stop in Concourse A. It serves fresh bagels and coffee from early morning. Grab a bagel sandwich if your flight leaves before other kitchens open.
Best Restaurants in Concourse B
Concourse B is the biggest concourse at the airport. It holds the United hub and long food rows near the center core.
Elway’s
Elway’s is the famous steakhouse in the center core of Concourse B. It is named after Broncos legend John Elway. The kitchen serves USDA steaks and Colorado beers. It opens early and stays open late.
New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium pours Colorado craft beer near Gate B30. The Fat Tire amber ale comes from Fort Collins. The food menu covers burgers and pub plates. It is a relaxed place to wait out a delay.
CRÚ Food and Wine Bar
CRÚ sits near Gate B51 in Concourse B. It is a calm wine bar away from the food court noise. Small plates pair with wines by the glass. Travelers with a long evening layover like it most.
Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs
This local hot dog stand is a Denver original. The menu loads hot dogs with fun toppings. Prices stay lower than most airport food. It is fast when your gate time is close.
Best Restaurants in Concourse C
Concourse C may have the strongest food of all. Two of its restaurants hold MICHELIN Guide praise. Southwest and other carriers fly from here.
Root Down
Root Down is the most loved restaurant at Denver Airport. The kitchen cooks with local and organic food. Many dishes are vegan or gluten free. The roasted beet salad and the veggie burger draw fans from every concourse.
Santo
Chef Hosea Rosenberg opened Santo near Gate C49. He won Top Chef and runs a praised Boulder restaurant. The menu follows Northern New Mexico cooking. Order the breakfast burrito with his famous green chile.
Mister Oso
Mister Oso sits near Gate C54 in Concourse C. Chef Blake Edmunds serves Latin small plates and tacos. The birria tacos and coconut shrimp stand out. A spicy margarita fits the food well.
Timberline Steaks & Grille
Timberline is the steak option in Concourse C. It serves big cuts with mountain lodge style. The room feels calm and wide. It works well for a last Colorado meal before you fly home.
Food Before Security: Jeppesen Terminal
Most food at the airport sits after security inside the concourses. The Jeppesen Terminal still has a few choices before the checkpoints. Boulder Beer Tap House on Level 5 West serves Colorado craft beer and pub food. It opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 11 at night. Meet arriving friends here if you are not flying.
Best Denver Airport Food for a Short Layover
A short layover needs fast food near your gate. Einstein Bros. Bagels covers early flights in Concourse A. The Concourse A food court serves burgers and pizza in minutes. Denver Central Market is quick for groups. In Concourse C the Root Down bar seats solo travelers fast. Always eat in your own concourse. The train ride between concourses eats your buffer time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant at Denver International Airport?
Most travelers pick Root Down in Concourse C for fresh Colorado food. Santo in Concourse C is the top choice for Mexican food. Elway’s in Concourse B is best for steak.
How many restaurants are at Denver Airport?
Denver International Airport has more than 100 places to eat and drink. They spread across Concourses A and B and C and the Jeppesen Terminal. New local restaurants keep opening every year.
Can you eat at Denver Airport before security?
Yes. The Jeppesen Terminal has a few places before security like Boulder Beer Tap House. Most restaurants sit inside the concourses after security. Plan to eat after the checkpoint for the best choice.
Does Denver Airport have local Colorado food?
Yes. Many restaurants at the airport are Denver originals. Root Down and Mercantile and The Bindery and The Bagel Deli all started in the city. Their airport kitchens serve the same local flavors.
What is the best food at Denver Airport for breakfast?
Einstein Bros. Bagels opens early for bagels and coffee. The Bindery in Concourse A serves a full breakfast with fresh pastries. Santo in Concourse C is famous for its breakfast burrito with green chile.
Final Thoughts on Eating at Denver Airport
Denver Airport food rewards a little planning. Pick your concourse first and then pick a local name. You can eat a chef led meal here that beats most city airport food. Save this guide for your next trip through DEN.
