Urban Crave opens in IAH Terminal D

Bold flavors and a full bar land at Gate D2 as Houston Airports redefines the international travel experience.

Jul 21, 2025

Near Gate D2, just steps from the newly opened D-West Concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the smell of chipotle barbecue and sweet brioche signals a new era in airport dining. Urban Crave, a nationally recognized concept from SSP America, has officially reopened at Bush Airport.

Known for delivering “authentic street cuisine,” Urban Crave translates global street food into a full-service bar and grill experience. The design echoes an urban streetscape: exposed brick, industrial lighting, polished wood and open sightlines. But the appeal is more than visual. Travelers can sit down, watch sports, enjoy a cocktail, and eat a chef-crafted meal without leaving the terminal.

SSP America launched the airport-exclusive concept at IAH in April 2011. At the time, it was the first of its kind: a terminal-based restaurant where guests circled a central bar and could watch their food prepared in real time. By 2013, it had earned cult status. Travelers praised its gluten-free options, fresh flavors and generous portions. CNN ranked it among the top 10 airport restaurants in the U.S., calling out the Sonoran “haute dog” and the inside-out burger with cheddar and bacon packed into the patty.

Urban Crave later moved out of Terminal C to make way for redevelopment. Today, it’s been reimagined for a new space and a new audience: international travelers departing from one of the airport’s most ambitious expansions to date. The D-West Concourse opened to passengers in October 2024. It features six gates designed for widebody aircraft, immersive art installations, multilingual signage and an array of new concessions—each part of a strategy to elevate the passenger journey.

The refreshed Urban Crave menu keeps pace with international tastes: Korean wings tossed in gochujang, overnight oats with chia pudding, avocado toast, flatbreads and craft cocktails like the Poblano Margarita and Texas Old Fashioned.

“For years, Urban Crave has been a passenger favorite at Bush Airport,” said Libby Hurley, director of concessions for Houston Airports. “Now, by bringing this elevated concept into Terminal D, we’re delivering on our promise to enhance the international experience one seat, one meal and one connection at a time.”

This one restaurant is part of a broader transformation at Bush Airport, where passenger-focused infrastructure is meeting global ambition. Houston Airports is reimagining the concessions program not as a retail lineup, but as an extension of service and its signature Houston-friendly hospitality.

That vision is gaining traction. In 2025, Bush Airport was ranked 6th in the world for Best Airport Dining Experience by the Skytrax World Airport Awards. The expansion of Terminal D and the strategic reintroduction of favorites like Urban Crave reflect why.

“This is what global connectivity looks like,” said Hurley, “an airport that feeds, serves and welcomes the world.”