Airline dining has made significant strides, with some meals being so exceptional that they can make you forget you’re flying. Airlines are now collaborating with well-known chefs to create menus that showcase the best of global cuisine. Let’s look into 15 mouth-watering meals available at 35,000 feet, setting a new standard for in-flight dining.
Lobster Thermidor
If you thought lobster was only found in seaside restaurants, Singapore Airlines would like to prove you wrong. They offer Lobster Thermidor to their business and first-class passengers. This dish features a creamy, mustard-laced lobster tail served with roasted vegetables and buttery potatoes, making it as indulgent as it sounds.
Arabic Mezze
Qatar Airways takes in-flight snacking to a whole new level with its Arabic Mezze platter. Imagine nibbling on hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and stuffed vine leaves while lounging in your extra-wide seat. It’s the perfect light meal that makes you feel worldly and refined, even if you’ve just binge-watched four episodes of “The Office.”
Beef Tenderloin
When Emirates serves up its pan-fried Beef Tenderloin, you might momentarily forget you’re flying. This isn’t your typical airline beef! This tender cut is cooked just right, with a rich, savory jus and perfectly roasted veggies on the side. Think of it as enjoying a steakhouse meal, minus the candlelight, but with way better legroom.
Kaiseki Meal
All Nippon Airways (ANA) doesn’t just serve food; they serve art. Their Kaiseki meal is a multi-course masterpiece that includes sashimi, grilled fish, simmered veggies, and rice, all presented with the precision of a Japanese tea ceremony. Every bite feels delicate and thoughtful, and eating with plastic utensils suddenly seems like a crime.
Lamb Kofta
Turkish Airlines brings a little slice of Istanbul to your tray table with their Lamb Kofta. These spiced lamb patties are grilled and served with fragrant rice and charred veggies, packing in flavors that transport you to a Turkish bazaar—without the haggling. The dish is hearty enough to satisfy the hungriest traveler.
Duck à l’Orange
This is not your average Air France meal! It’s duck glazed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce and served with sautéed vegetables. Even if you’re eating it while wearing noise-canceling headphones, it feels chic, like a Parisian bistro has magically appeared mid-flight.
Rösti And Veal
Swiss Airlines offers a taste of Switzerland with their Rösti and Veal Zurich-style. The crispy Rösti (Swiss hash browns) and tender veal in a creamy white wine mushroom sauce perfectly combine hearty and elegant. It’s rich without being heavy, offering a culinary snapshot of Swiss comfort food in the skies.
Green Curry Chicken
If you like your in-flight meals with a little kick, Thai Airways has you covered. Their Green Curry Chicken is bursting with flavors—spicy green chili, creamy coconut milk, fragrant jasmine rice—a complete sensory experience. The heat level is just right, warming you up without making you reach for the complimentary water.
Grilled Salmon
Etihad Airways’s Grilled Salmon with Citrus Salad is light, refreshing, and perfectly seasoned—just what you need after hours of recycled cabin air. The salmon is grilled just right, and the zesty salad adds a much-needed brightness. You’ll feel healthier just by ordering it!
Dim Sum
Cathay Pacific treats first-class passengers to a true Hong Kong experience with their Dim Sum selection. Instead of dry bread rolls or overcooked pasta, you get a beautifully steamed assortment of dumplings and buns filled with pork, shrimp, and veggies. It’s a special breakfast, like a bite-sized journey to a bustling dim sum restaurant.
Braised Veal Cheeks
The Braised Veal Cheeks served in Lufthansa are slow-cooked to perfection and offered alongside mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. The veal is so tender that it practically melts in your mouth, transporting you to a German grandmother’s kitchen for Sunday dinner.
Full English Breakfast
British Airways doesn’t mess around when it comes to breakfast. This breakfast spread includes everything you could possibly want to start the day—sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms, and tomatoes. It’s hearty enough to keep you fueled for hours of flying.
Black Cod With Miso
Singapore Airlines doesn’t just serve any old fish dish—their Black Cod with Miso is a perfectly balanced meal that delicately combines sweet and savory. The cod is flaky and soft, and the miso glaze gives it the right amount of umami flavor. Paired with steamed rice and greens, it feels luxurious without weighing you down.
Caviar Service
If you’re flying first class with Emirates, expect more than just a tasty meal. How about caviar? That’s right, Emirates serves a top-tier caviar service, complete with blinis, sour cream, and all the traditional accompaniments. You can even pair it with a glass of vintage champagne to ensure you’re fully immersed in the high-flying lifestyle.
Wagyu Beef
Japan Airlines treats its first-class passengers to Wagyu Beef, a dish that pretty much defines luxury dining. The beef, known for its incredible marbling and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, is served with traditional Japanese sides like miso soup and pickled vegetables.
