Airplane food gets a bad rap, but some airlines have turned their in-flight dining into an art form. Gone are the days of mystery meat and soggy vegetables at 35,000 feet.
From succulent lobster to traditional bibimbap, premium carriers now offer restaurant-quality cuisine that might make you forget you’re hurtling through the sky in a metal tube.
1. Singapore Airlines – Lobster Thermidor
Holy mother of seafood! Singapore Airlines’ Lobster Thermidor isn’t just airplane food—it’s a straight-up culinary flex at 35,000 feet. Tender chunks of lobster swim in a rich, creamy sauce spiked with brandy and mustard that’ll make you question reality.
The dish comes perfectly plated with buttery rice and seasonal vegetables. First-class passengers can even pre-order this decadent masterpiece through the airline’s “Book the Cook” service.
2. ANA – Kaiseki-Style Japanese Meal
Forget everything you know about airplane meals. ANA’s Kaiseki service transforms your tray table into a floating ryokan experience. This meticulously arranged multi-course Japanese feast celebrates seasonal ingredients with artistic presentation that would make Instagram influencers weep.
Each beautifully crafted compartment reveals delicate treasures: perhaps delicate sashimi, steamed egg custard, pickled vegetables, or grilled fish. The attention to detail extends to the serveware—elegant lacquerware and ceramics replace plastic containers.
3. Qatar Airways – Lamb Machbous
Buckle up, flavor chasers! Qatar Airways’ Lamb Machbous hits your taste buds like turbulence you actually want to experience. This traditional Gulf specialty features fall-off-the-bone tender lamb nestled on a bed of aromatic rice that’s been lovingly infused with a symphony of Middle Eastern spices.
The magic happens when fragrant cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon meet the rich meat juices. Every bite delivers that perfect balance of protein, carbs, and comfort that somehow tastes even better at 40,000 feet.
4. Turkish Airlines – Grilled Chicken With Bulgur Pilaf
Who knew chicken could taste this good while defying gravity? Turkish Airlines’ grilled chicken isn’t just moist (a miracle in pressurized cabins)—it’s marinated in a secret blend of Mediterranean herbs that’ll transport you straight to an Istanbul spice market.
The bulgur pilaf sidekick deserves its own fan club. Nutty, fluffy grains studded with pine nuts and tiny jewels of pomegranate provide the perfect textural contrast. A dollop of creamy yogurt sauce ties everything together.
5. Emirates – Arabic Mezze Platter
Forget sad cheese plates—Emirates’ mezze spread is the ultimate airborne appetizer flex! This gorgeous parade of Middle Eastern small plates turns your fold-down tray into a flying feast worthy of royalty.
Each component sings with flavor: velvety hummus drizzled with olive oil, smoky baba ganoush, tabbouleh bursting with parsley and lemon, and stuffed vine leaves that somehow maintain their perfect texture at altitude. Warm, pillowy pita bread comes wrapped in a cloth napkin to preserve its heavenly softness.
6. EVA Air – Braised Pork Belly With Rice
Sweet mother of comfort food! EVA Air’s braised pork belly will make you forget you’re strapped to a chair in the stratosphere. This Taiwanese classic features meltingly tender chunks of pork that have been slow-cooked in a magical concoction of soy, star anise, and rock sugar until they reach that perfect sweet-savory balance.
The sauce alone deserves a Nobel Prize—rich, glossy, and perfect for drizzling over the accompanying steamed rice. Each bite delivers that umami bomb that somehow tastes even better when you’re 38,000 feet above the Pacific.
7. Cathay Pacific – Dim Sum Selection
Bamboo steamers at 35,000 feet? Cathay Pacific isn’t playing around with their dim sum game! This Hong Kong carrier serves up a basket of handcrafted dumplings that would make your favorite Chinatown restaurant jealous.
The selection typically includes har gow (translucent shrimp dumplings), siu mai (open-faced pork and mushroom dumplings), and char siu bao (fluffy barbecue pork buns) that somehow maintain their perfect texture despite the cabin’s dry air. Each piece arrives piping hot, with delicate wrappers that haven’t turned to rubber—a minor miracle in aviation catering.
8. Japan Airlines – Seared Wagyu Beef With Garlic Soy Sauce
Carnivores, rejoice! Japan Airlines’ seared Wagyu beef is so tender you could cut it with a plastic airline fork (though thankfully they provide real cutlery). This isn’t just any beef—it’s premium Japanese Wagyu with that signature marbling that melts like butter in your mouth.
The kitchen wizards at JAL somehow manage to achieve a perfect medium-rare doneness that survives the reheating process. The garlic soy sauce accompaniment strikes that ideal umami balance: savory, slightly sweet, with just enough garlic to be interesting without offending your seatmate.
9. Qantas – Barramundi With Lemon Myrtle Cream
G’day, taste buds! Qantas showcases Australia’s finest seafood with their barramundi dish that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about airplane fish. This native Australian white fish somehow maintains its flaky, moist texture even after being reheated in a flying metal tube.
The magic lies in the lemon myrtle cream sauce—a uniquely Australian twist that combines the citrusy native herb with rich cream for a sauce that’s simultaneously bright and indulgent. Indigenous ingredients take center stage, celebrating Australia’s culinary heritage with every bite.
10. Singapore Airlines – Satay Skewers With Peanut Sauce
Meat on a stick never tasted this sophisticated! Singapore Airlines’ satay skewers are the aviation world’s most legendary appetizer—so good they deserve a second mention on this list. These flame-grilled treasures arrive still sizzling, releasing an intoxicating aroma of lemongrass and spices that’ll wake up even the most jet-lagged passenger.
The meat (your choice of chicken, beef, or both) receives a complex marinade bath before being chargrilled to juicy perfection. But let’s be honest—the real star is that peanut sauce. Rich, slightly spicy, with just the right balance of sweet and savory notes, it’s so good you’ll be tempted to drink it straight.
11. Air France – Duck Confit With Dauphinoise Potatoes
Mon Dieu! Air France’s duck confit will have you speaking French and kissing your fingertips like a cartoon chef. This isn’t just airplane food—it’s flying French bistro fare that would make your Parisian grandmother weep with joy.
The duck achieves that holy grail texture: crispy skin protecting meat so tender it practically falls apart when you look at it. The rich, savory flavor somehow survives the reheating process, preserving that slow-cooked magic that usually requires hours of preparation.
12. Korean Air – Bibimbap
Airplane food that requires assembly? Genius! Korean Air’s bibimbap turns mealtime into an interactive experience that’ll keep you entertained through hour three of that K-drama marathon.
The setup arrives like a colorful art project: a bowl of steaming white rice topped with separately packaged vegetables, seasoned beef, and that crucial sunny-side-up egg. The accompanying gochujang (Korean chili paste) comes in its own tube—squeeze as much or little as your spice tolerance allows.
13. Etihad Airways – Grilled Sea Bass With Couscous
Fish dishes that don’t taste like reheated sadness? Etihad Airways has cracked the code with their Mediterranean-inspired sea bass that would make coastal chefs nod in approval. The fish arrives with crispy skin intact (a minor miracle in airline catering) and flesh that flakes perfectly with the gentle prod of a fork.
The couscous base isn’t just a bland carb placeholder—it’s infused with saffron and studded with tiny jewels of dried fruit and toasted almonds that add textural intrigue. A light citrus sauce brings everything together without overwhelming the delicate fish flavor.
14. Lufthansa – Sauerbraten With Red Cabbage And Spätzle
German engineering extends beyond the aircraft at Lufthansa! Their sauerbraten (traditional German pot roast) delivers a masterclass in how hearty comfort food can shine at 36,000 feet. The beef achieves that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that typically requires hours of marinating and slow cooking.
The sauce deserves special recognition—rich, slightly tangy from the traditional vinegar-based marinade, and deep with complex flavors of juniper berries and bay leaves. Red cabbage brings sweet-sour notes and vibrant color, while the spätzle (soft egg noodles) provides the perfect vehicle for soaking up every last drop of that magnificent gravy.
15. Thai Airways – Green Curry Chicken With Jasmine Rice
Fasten your taste buds, not just your seatbelts! Thai Airways’ green curry chicken delivers a flavor explosion that might make you temporarily forget you’re in a pressurized tube hurtling through the sky. The balance of spicy, sweet, and savory elements remains perfectly intact—a culinary high-wire act at altitude.
Tender chunks of chicken swim in a vibrant green sauce that’s complex without being overwhelming. The coconut milk base maintains its creamy texture, while aromatic Thai basil, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves provide those authentic notes that transport you straight to Bangkok.