Best Fly-In Restaurants: Where to Find the $100 Hamburger in 2025

The $100 hamburger. You fly an hour out, spend $100 on fuel, grab a $10 burger, and fly home. It’s the most expensive meal you’ll ever love.

Here are the best fly-in restaurants at general aviation airports across the United States – verified, currently operating, and worth every cent of avgas.

Pilot Pete’s – Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C), Illinois

Location: Terminal building, 905 W Irving Park Rd, Schaumburg, IL

What makes it special: This is Chicagoland’s only aviation-themed restaurant, and it shows. The place is packed with aviation memorabilia, signed photos of famous aviators, and model airplanes everywhere. Huge panoramic windows overlook the active runway.

The food: World Famous Chicken Fingers, Caribbean Baby Back Ribs, and recipes from around the globe. Voted one of Schaumburg’s top 10 restaurants in 2022.

Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm

Pilot info: Park at the terminal. Easy walk from transient parking.

Rating: 4.3/5 on Tripadvisor, #8 of 259 restaurants in Schaumburg

The Hangar Restaurant – Albert Whitted Airport (KSPG), St. Petersburg, FL

Location: 2nd floor of terminal, 540 1st St SE, St. Petersburg, FL

What makes it special: Opened in 2010, this place sits right above the Sheltair FBO with stunning views of Tampa Bay. Indoor and outdoor seating, with outdoor tables literally next to the planes on the ramp.

The food: American cuisine – burgers, sandwiches, daily specials. Solid food with unbeatable views.

Hours: 8am-9pm daily

Pilot info: Tell Ground you’re going to the restaurant. FBO charges $5 or 5 gallons minimum. Access through Sheltair FBO, take the wide stairway to the 2nd floor.

Why pilots love it: Watch planes land and depart while eating. Popular with both fly-ins and locals.

Waypoint Cafe – Camarillo Airport (KCMA), California

Location: 325 Durley Ave, Camarillo, CA

What makes it special: One of California’s most popular fly-in spots. The outdoor patio gives you close-up views of airport traffic, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays, tri-tip sizzles on the outdoor grill.

The food: Known for Smokehouse BBQ Burger, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, massive cinnamon rolls, and shakes. The tri-tip is legendary.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8am-3pm (closed Monday)

Pilot info: Plenty of transient parking. Can get crowded on weekends – expect wait times for outdoor seating.

Rating: 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor, #2 of 144 restaurants in Camarillo

Jet Runway Cafe – Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE), Florida

Location: 5540 NW 21st Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL

What makes it special: Opened in 2008, this cafe offers window seats directly on the runway. Watch takeoffs and landings while you eat breakfast.

The food: Famous for breakfast – chicken and waffles, crab cake hash, fried bread pudding, french toast, honey lime salmon. Southern-style comfort food done right.

Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2pm

Pilot info: Easy access from transient parking. Breakfast service is the main draw.

Rating: 4.4/5 on Tripadvisor, #112 of 939 restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Planning Your $100 Hamburger Run

Flight planning tips:

• Call ahead: Check hours and verify they’re open – small airport restaurants can have irregular schedules
• Fuel planning: Calculate round trip + reserves. Some airports charge ramp fees waived with fuel purchase
• Weather: VFR recommended for your first visit to any new airport
• Parking: Ask Ground for transient parking instructions on initial contact
• Wait times: Popular spots get crowded on weekends – consider weekday visits

What to bring:

• Current sectional charts or pilot kneeboard for flight planning
• Quality aviation headset for clear communication with tower/ground
• Cash for smaller FBOs (some don’t take cards)
• Tie-down kit if staying longer

The $100 Hamburger Tradition

Why it’s called the $100 hamburger: You rent a plane for $150/hour, fly 30 minutes out, 30 minutes back, burn fuel, pay ramp fees, and buy a $10 burger. Total cost: roughly $100. Worth it? Absolutely.

It’s not about the burger. It’s about:

• Building cross-country flight time
• Practicing navigation to unfamiliar airports
• Meeting other pilots
• Keeping flying fun and social
• Having an excuse to go flying

RIP: Southern Flyer Diner (Brenham, TX)

Worth mentioning: The Southern Flyer Diner at Brenham Municipal Airport (11R) in Texas was legendary. It won “Best $100 Hamburger” six years in a row and operated from 2002-2020. The 1950s-themed diner with waitresses in poodle skirts permanently closed due to COVID-19.

A replacement called Dreamliner Diner opened briefly in 2021 but closed a year later. The space remains vacant as of 2025. Pour one out for the GOAT of fly-in diners.

Find More Fly-In Restaurants

Resources for finding more destinations:

• Fly-n-Eat app: Launched in 2025, connects pilots with restaurants at GA airports nationwide
• Airport Based Restaurants map: Lists 398 on-airport restaurants and 528 within 1.5 miles of airports
• Flying Iowa: Comprehensive guide to Midwest fly-in dining
• AOPA Airport Directory: Many listings include restaurant information
• Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for cross-country flight planning

Make It a Flight

The $100 hamburger isn’t just a meal – it’s an excuse to fly. Pick a restaurant within an hour of your home airport, check the weather, file or open flight following, and go.

You’ll practice navigation, radio work, and landing at an unfamiliar airport. You’ll meet other pilots. You’ll eat food that somehow tastes better when you flew to get it.

And yes, you’ll spend way too much money on that burger. But that’s not the point. The point is: you went flying.

Clear skies and full plates.