Plans Revealed For Chicago O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 5
Chicago O'Hare International Airport's terminal 5, which is undergoing renovation, will feature 15 restaurants and shops post-security, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation and Westfield Concession Management, who are overseeing the $26 million project.
Nearly all of the terminal's dining and retail options have been located before the security checkpoint, making it difficult for passengers to find food, drinks, and shops after they've passed through the metal detectors. The redevelopment will bring several Chicago-based businesses to a new eco-friendly food court with open kitchens and a shopping arcade post-security.
After clearing a redesigned TSA checkpoint, travelers will pass through a Dufry duty-free store that opens onto a hall of luxury shops and a food court of sit-down and counter-service restaurants. Among the restaurants will be Rick Bayless' Mexican restaurant Tortas Frontera, Italian restaurant Tocco, which features Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta, and gastropub Local Headlines Bar.
Chicago-based restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You is opening four concept restaurants in the new food court, including Hub 51, which serves sushi, tacos, and burgers; Big Bowl, which serves Chinese and Thai noodle dishes; Wow Bao, an Asian bun shop; and the debut of Urban Olive, a modern Mediterranean restaurant.
Quick options include Natural Break, which serves salads, sandwiches, and juices, and locally owned and operated Intelligentsia Coffee. Among the typical newspaper stands and luxury clothing and accessory stores, the terminal will also feature Chicago-based Vosges Haut Chocolat, which sells chocolate bars, truffles, and toffees.
Terminal 5 remains open during the renovation with staggered grand openings. The renovation is scheduled to be complete in fall 2013.
Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.