Where to Eat at Louisville International Airport (SDF)

Louisville International Airport sees about 3.4 million people each year, and seems to assume most of them want safe, corporatized choices from national chains. HMS Host, the airport's "Food-and-beverage partner," provides a veneer of local flavor (Yum! Brands counts as local, right?) in their spectrum of sit-down, quick-service and to-go eating establishments. The best things about dining at SDF are its convenient location and quick access from I-65 and I-264. Whether you're coming from Main Street, Preston Street, St. Matthews or Shively, you should have time to stop and get something to eat before you wheel in to the airport's wonderful parking facility. If you're hungry, however, Eater offers its best suggestions for something to eat while at SDF.

1) Woodford Reserve Bar & Grill
Brown-Forman granted permission to use their name (and push their liquors) at the most "upscale" of the airport dining options. The space has hostess seating and a sense of apartness from the airport terminal traffic. [Landside Rotunda, Upper Level, pre-security checkpoint]

2) Stars of Louisville Sports Pub
A full service bar also serves as a cover for Yum! Brands Pizza Hut Express® and WingStreet®. In addition to the modified Pizza Hut menu, the "pub" provides many televisions and a slim chance to feel connected to the "Louisville" sports and food scene. [Concourse B, across from gate B9, post-security checkpoint]

3) KFC Express
A replica of the Colonel himself helps travelers feel that sitting down for a quick bite of strips, sandwiches or other KFC items is a kinda, sorta Kentucky thing to do. [Landside Rotunda Food Court, pre-security checkpoint]

4) Chili's Too
Chili's Too has no local corporate HQ ("Does Too!" local Chili's franchise magnate Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman might say) but it does offer a seating area, bar service and something approximating a Chili's menu. [Across from gate A8, post-security checkpoint]

5) La Tapenade
"Convenient grab-n-go snack kiosk" version of an HMS Host corporate Mediterranean café concept. [Across from gate A10, post-security checkpoint]