Crunching a freshly baked banh mi at the end of Terminal C at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or unwrapping a giant cemita while boarding is right on the edge of acceptable airport behavior. Not because you shouldn’t enjoy one of Seattle’s best sandwiches and slices along the way, but simply because it would be an absolute pain for your fellow passengers to watch (and smell) with envy.
As a frequent traveler and foodie, I’m always stopping off for a quick bite just outside airports in other cities: a po’boy on the way into Louis Armstrong in New Orleans, a kebab in Crystal City before departing from Reagan, or a burrito to bring back on the plane in Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, because of the distraction from all the shiny things and the false confidence of bringing lunch from home, I rarely bring something equally delicious on the outbound flight. I just join the crowd and make do with a $15 grilled cheese.
But no longer. I am committed to sparking conversations that will give Seattle passengers the envy of their fellow airport passengers, and also introduce some of our top picks that are easily accessible via various routes from Seattle to the airport. This is where I belong.
I-5: Voi Café
A tray of banh mi sandwiches from Voi Cà Phê
Photo courtesy of Voi Cà Phê
Remember: anything becomes a breakfast sandwich if you buy it at 8am on your way to the airport. This Georgetown Vietnamese sandwich shop opens early and offers online ordering, so you can pull off the highway and grab the best banh mi and coffee in the city, sip a drink for the rest of the drive, and pack a sandwich for later.
SR-509: Semitas Poblanas
Semitas de Milanesa in Poblanas
Photo by Semitas Poblanas
If traffic forces you to take the 509, don’t despair. It’s the perfect excuse to stop at Boulevard Park and eat one of the torta’s giant relatives. Filled with a variety of Mexican meats (I love the Milanesa), shredded string cheese, avocado, and a variety of other goodies on sesame bread, this sandwich will surely overwhelm you with its flavor, and its weight will make you black out for most of the flight to Florida.
Side Street: Stevie’s Famous
Stevie’s Famous Pizza
Photo courtesy of Stevie’s Famous
Yes, I suggest stopping by Burien’s renowned pizzeria and buying an entire pizza to take on the trip. Just make sure you get a few friends to finish it before you board, or else the whole box might count as carry-on baggage. Or, if that scares you, buy it by the slice. But the pizza is so good that it’s well worth paying the checked baggage fee, if necessary, to bring the spinach and artichoke special on board.
Light Rail: Milkdrunk, Original Phillies, Billiard Hoang, Taco Street
From left to right: Milk Drunk Chicken Sandwich, Original Philly Cheesesteak, Billiard Phone Vermicelli Bowl, and Taco Street Burrito.
Photo credits: Milk Drunk, Original Phillies, Ballard Hoang, Taco Street
While Seattle’s public transportation system isn’t nearly as robust as I’d like it to warrant the risk of getting off, buying food, and re-boarding (maybe someday), a chicken sandwich at Milk Drunk (Beacon Hill), a cheesesteak at Original Philly’s (Mount Baker), a vermicelli bowl at Billiard Hoan (Columbia City), or a burrito at Taco Street (Othello) are the perfect bribe to get a friend or family member to give me a ride to a light rail stop on the south end; they’re cheaper than an Uber and a lot tastier.
