CHICAGO – The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) today announced that the award-winning Airport Restaurant Week (ARW) will return to O’Hare and Midway International Airports in 2019. This year’s edition will run from January 25 through February 7, 2019 and will mirror the exciting events of the 12^th annual Chicago Restaurant Week.

 During this year's annual event, ARW continues to feature some of Chicago’s favorite local culinary experiences for passengers around the world. Ticketed passengers flying through O’Hare and Midway next month will have access to free samples of Chicago’s world-class cuisine and special menus created by several award winning airport restaurants

 “We are thrilled to partner with the City’s best chefs, dining establishments and our airport partners to offer O'Hare and Midway travelers a taste of Chicago during Airport Restaurant Week,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “Every year, we host this special event in tandem with Chicago Restaurant Week, so that passengers can experience the best food options and some of the city’s finest culinary options without ever having to leave the airports.”

 Many of the specials offered through ARW highlight Chicago’s local and locally inspired brands served at O’Hare and Midway. Some of the locations participating at O’Hare this year include America’s Dog; Auntie Anne’s; Berghoff Café; Billy Goat Tavern; Burrito Beach; Garrett Popcorn Shops; O'Brien’s Restaurant & Bar; Nuts on Clark; Reggio’s Pizza; Summer House Santa Monica; Rick Bayless’ Tortas Frontera, Vosges Haut-Chocolat, and more.

 At Midway, passengers can check out demonstrations from these concessionaires and more: Arami Sushi; Big &little’s; Big Shoulders; DeColores; Home Run Inn Pizza; Nuts on Clark; and more.  

 In addition to the freshly made food samples and special offers, passengers will receive a free Airport Restaurant Week oven mitt, bamboo cutting boards, chip clips, and recipe book while supplies last. A full schedule of ARW tastings, chef demonstrations, and other activities will be announced in January 2019.

 Chicago travelers have many new culinary options to look forward to in the first quarter of 2019, thanks to new concessions locations being introduced by the CDA. Next month, O’Hare will open new fast casual restaurant Burger Federation in Terminal 3, and the airport’s third Garrett's Popcorn Shop in Terminal 5.

 The Midway concessions transformation will continue bringing new upgraded dining options to passengers in January and February, including: local coffee joint Big Shoulders Coffee; new and expanded DeColores burrito restaurant; and the airport’s first Einstein’s Bros. Bagels to increase coffee and breakfast choices.

 The Airport Restaurant Week event started at O’Hare and Midway in 2015. Since then, the airport culinary event has become a customer favorite, and received a first place award for Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Service from Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) in 2016.