We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don't cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements that
appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and services -
like free credit score access and monitoring. With the exception of
mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or services, partner
compensation is one of several factors that may affect which products we
highlight and where they appear on our site. Other factors include your
credit profile, product availability and proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors' opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews. Here is a list of our partners.
7 Great Uses of the Priority Pass Restaurant Credit
These airport restaurants accept certain Priority Pass memberships as a method of payment, offering meal credits.
Lee is a freelance travel writer and podcast host based in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves to travel with his wife and two children using miles and points. Lee has held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2007 and enjoys being spoiled thanks to his Kimpton Inner Circle status.
Jeanette Margle leads the home loans content team at NerdWallet, where she has worked since 2019. Previously, she led NerdWallet's travel rewards content team and spent three years editing for Upgraded Points while self-employed as an editor and writing coach.
Jeanette earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin and has a Master of Education from the University of Houston. A lifelong Texan, Jeanette grew up in a small town in the Hill Country and lives in the Houston area with her husband and daughters.
Updated
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and
relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving
writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and
complete as possible.
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on
NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not
been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
For those seeking a bit of comfort and respite at the airport, Priority Pass memberships can unlock access to more than just lounges. Depending on your version of Priority Pass membership, the program best known as a network of airport lounges also provides dining credits at select airport restaurants.
Generally speaking, an individual entree ordered at an airport restaurant will be higher quality than the troughs served at the airport lounge buffet. And as Priority Pass lounges struggle with overcrowding issues, the attention from a waiter might offer a higher level of service.
Subscribe to our free TravelNerd newsletter for inspiration, tips and money-saving strategies, delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional
content and agree to our Terms of Use
and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Given that, dining at a Priority Pass restaurant makes for one of the best ways to maximize your Priority Pass membership. Here are some of the best Priority Pass restaurants:
1. San Francisco Giants Clubhouse, San Francisco
San Francisco Giants Clubhouse at San Francisco International Airport. (Photo by Sally French)
San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 3, near Gate F13
You don't have to be a Giants fan to eat at the San Francisco Giants Clubhouse. No matter your team, you can dine here and get $28 off your bill with an eligible Priority Pass membership.
Just as they are at the stadium, garlic fries are the staple food at San Francisco Giants Clubhouse. Expect to dine on other baseball-inspired food such a nachos, chicken wings and hot dogs. There's a long list of Priority Pass lounges and restaurants at SFO, but it's the fun menu that makes San Francisco Giants Clubhouse stand out.
Smoked salmon and a bagel at the San Francisco Giants Clubhouse at San Francisco International Airport. (Photo by Sally French)
If you come during breakfast, the best meal for the price is the smoked salmon, served with a bagel.
2. Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar, Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal A, near Gate A17
While many Priority Pass restaurants come and go, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar has been a hot spot in the airport for over 25 years. Given that, expect it to stick around Priority Pass too.
When you're here, savor authentic Mexican flavors alongside a variety of tequilas in this Houston staple, with a $28 credit per person.
3. Kafe Kalik, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Kafe Kalik at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Photo by Sally French)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, near Gate 6
When it comes to Fort Lauderdale airport lounges (or in this case, well, a restaurant), Kafe Kalik is a delight. It's a casual, waiter-service eatery serving Caribbean and American cuisine.
Service is not always the best, so don't plan on coming in a hurry. But if you have time, it's worth it — particularly for the entree called the “Yardie” Spiced Curry Chicken. It's loaded with a generous portion of meat accompanied by rice, peppers, onions and potatoes.
A meal at Kafe Kalik at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Photo by Sally French)
Other menu items include ceviche, conch fritters and fried calamari. If American fare is more your thing, there's also burgers and pizza.
4. Landry's Seafood, Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal C, near Gate C42
If you're looking for classic American seafood instead, you have another Priority Pass restaurant option at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Landry's Seafood has served Gulf Coast cuisine to locals and tourists for decades. That's perhaps unsurprising given that — as a city near the Gulf of Mexico — Houston enjoys an abundance of fresh fish. Each Priority Pass guest receives a $28 dining credit.
5. Westward Whiskey, Portland, Oregon
Portland International Airport, Concourse C, near Gate 6
Hopefully you're not hungry, because this isn't a restaurant. But for some travelers, it's better. Home of America's highest-rated single malt whiskey, Westward Whiskey's PDX version of the local distillery offers an in-airport tasting room. Besides sample a whiskey or cocktail flight, you'll learn about Westward's complete grain-to-glass process.
6. Chef Geoff's, Washington, D.C.
Dulles International Airport, Concourse C, near Gate C14
Known for casual sophistication and modern American cuisine, Chef Geoff’s offers a $28 credit per guest.
Depending on your membership type, you also have access to certain airport restaurants, including those named above.
How to sign up for Priority Pass membership
Some people purchase Priority Pass memberships outright from the Priority Pass website. Memberships start at $99 annually and can run past $400, depending on your level of desired access.
However, many travelers get Priority Pass membership as a complimentary benefit from their credit card.
The catch? Some credit cards with a Priority Pass benefit specifically exclude Priority Pass restaurant benefits (including some that used to offer it but cut the benefit in recent years).
The good news though? There are still credit cards with Priority Pass restaurant benefits. If you hold one of them, here's how to ensure you get your credit (and a meal that's partially — and perhaps fully — covered by your membership):
How to use Priority Pass at airport restaurants
Using your Priority Pass at an airport restaurant is straightforward:
Present your card: Upon arrival, let the restaurant staff know you’re a Priority Pass member, and show them your card (either the physical or digital version).
Apply the dining credit: Typically, each member and guest receives a $28–$30 dining credit, though exact amounts vary by restaurant. Charges over the credit limit are your responsibility.
Bring a guest (maybe): Depending on your membership type, you might be able to brig one guest, who will also be eligible for a credit So, if the restaurant credit is $28 per person but you're allowed to bring a guest, you could charge up to $56 per table for the two of you and receive the full credit amount.
Tip: Ensure you tip based on the pre-discounted bill to fairly compensate your server.
Priority Pass Restaurants: are they worth it?
Priority Pass can be a great asset for travelers, especially with the restaurant credit. However, limitations on some credit card-issued memberships — and restrictions on restaurant benefits, in particular — can reduce its value for certain travelers.
For those without lounge access through an airline, Priority Pass offers an affordable way to enjoy lounge and dining benefits, but the value will ultimately depend on your specific airport, as well as the type of credit card you hold.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.