800 Degrees, Ink. Sack, Umami, Border Grill and More Coming to LAX

Umamimania is coming!

And we thought it was exciting that Morimoto opened a skewers restaurant at LAX. In addition to the slew of locals opening at the our major airport, it's announced today that the Tom Bradley Terminal will get a slew of eats and drinks from Top Chef chefs, local bars and celebrity toques.

By next year's holiday season, travelers will have their choice of Michael Voltaggio's sandwich shop ink.sack; Umami Burger and its pizza offshoot 800 Degrees; Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken's Border Grill; Suzanee Goin and Caroline Styne's Larder at Tavern; and LAMILL, Vanilla Bake Shop, Chaya, Short Cake, Luckyfish (the Sushi Roku-owned concept that closed in Beverly Hills) and James Beach. And just as we lamented the fact that we have no wine bars near our gates here (in Seattle we waited for a flight with charcuterie and a lovely glass of syrah instead of, say, Sbarro), there will be a Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar and Vino Volo for small plates and sips. The behemoth Starbucks will also unveil its first Starbucks Evenings here, the new after 4 PM beer and wine (and Frappuccino) concept.

The Tom Bradley Terminal is the hub for international travel, and most if not all will open by spring 2013, when the first phase of the expansion and renovation will be complete. The second phase will finish sometime in 2014. New dining concepts from other local chefs and bars continue to open in Terminal 4, 5 and 7. At least for now anyone flying on Delta has Lemonade to pull them through (total godsend).