Gordon’s Galley

Finding Gordon’s Galley is the sort of thing that makes Unilocal so special
If not for Unilocal,I would not have ignored the «Authorized personnel only» sign at an airport.
If not for Unilocal,I would have felt awkward crowding into in an elevator with 10 people in pilots hats after ignoring the above sign.
If not for Unilocal I would have paid $ 20 for a mediocre burger instead of $ 6 for a brisket plate that was oh so good

Best option in the airport. On a short trip from California. Needed Texas bbq. Was so happy to see tips about this secret place; thanks Unilocalers! Got the brisket and it was mouthwatering, slow cooked, tender. Yum! Fries we’re fresh and sprinkled with a little Cajun spice. Awesome. Glad I went down the elevator past the restricted access sign! There’s also an ATM down there if you need it (but the café takes credit too).

Gordon’s Galley is the safest restaurant in Houston. How do I know this? What kind of eatery makes you go through a security check before entering?
The kind that’s located in the belly of the Houston airport.
For this reason, you’ll never just ‘go’ to Gordon’s Galley, you’ll wind up there, which is a shame, because the BBQ is fantastic.
Like a bouncer at a trendy club trying to keep out the riff raff, Gordon’s Galley is further protected by an elevator that says ‘Authorized Personnel Only’. Only those brave enough to defy this placard will be allowed to enter flavor country.
Walking through its doors, we realized this place wasn’t meant for us, but rather for airport personnel, as we were the only patrons without Captain’s bars. But with BBQ this good, Gordon’s Galley is a secret worth sharing. If you have a dream of tasting good Texas BBQ but your stopover is too short to venture into Houston, make sure to check out the next best thing.
You’ll eat so much at Gordon’s Galley, your layover will become a lay-​down-​over.

This place is designed for Airport personnel.
I happen to be in the aviation industry, so when I was on a 3 hour sit for work I decided to see what it was like since they last renovated it.
The new décor is great, it looks a lot better. And the food stayed the same, which is fine since it was consistently good anyways.
I went in for breakfast and had the french toast. It isn’t on the menu, but it’s delicious since they use Texas size bread for the french toast. So good!
My meal was a decent price. I had eggs too and I think I racked up around $ 4 to 5 bucks or so.
I came in a separate time and ordered two breakfast tacos and spent around the same.
Everything was delicious and right for the money. And for airline workers who could spend a fortune on other eateries throughout the airport, this is always a safe place with a myriad of options.

Get it while it’s hot! Rumor is that they are closing this place by January 2013.
Yay, I always find time to come here when I’m flying through from work. This place is open to everyone not just airline employees, but you don’t get a discount.
Try the Stuffed Baked Potato with chopped beef + everything. Or the Roasted Chicken/​Chicken Fried Steak. Chicken Tortilla soup is great as well.

So I had a 5 hour sit last week in Houston so I figured WTH, I’ll go back & give them another try. It was only 1:30pm so I figured they would still have everything available. NO! Again they were out of brisket. Settled for the chopped BBQ beef sandwich & it was just fine. A deal at $ 5.50 for a big bun full of moist tasty BBQ beef. I would have liked a pickle wedge on the side or a bag of plain Lays potato chips but neither were available.

Great variety of food. The nachos have a great blend of spice & taste. Be prepared to booty squirt with a lot of the dishes though! $ 4 specials are worth it sometimes.
Too bad this place was bought out and no longer have variety and pricing.

The food isn’t quite up to a 5 star rating, but for an employee cafeteria, it really is a great value for the money. I have yet to find another place similar to Gordon’s at other airports. The options range from light and healthy (salad bar) to hearty (brisket, breakfast burritos, etc.). This is definitely my «go to» place before I start a trip or between flights that have long breaks in IAH.

First, Do Not listen to Cameron or any of these other people who are advising you to breach our Homeland security and enter a Restricted Area. It is Restricted for a reason! You are entering access to an active ramp and if you get caught, you could be reported to TSA who can and will hold you for questioning. You will miss your flight and have to explain to your awaiting party how you breached The United States Homeland Security for some BBQ. Oh yes, you want the government to protect you from terrorist and then you get on the internet and brag on how you can breach security at the airport. With that being said, yes, Gordon’s Galley is the best place for airport employees to grab a bite to eat at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. It has excellent food for a very good price. It was named after Gordon Bethune, who was one of the best leaders in the airline industry. It is also a place where airport employees can relax, get a meal, and watch television during their breaks. Most importantly, it is a place where individuals who have passed extensive backgrounds checks, cleared by the government, and posess a badge, can momentarily get away from passengers and feel safe.

First things first. IT’S next to E4 and NOT E3 and it’s not the elevator to the chain Pappadeaux’s. It’s tucked behind the gate.
This place has done two things for me.
1. — new found passion to find hole in the wall cafeterias at airports worldwide that have local food fare for the proletariat that keeps these travel hubs humming.
2. — even more respect for Unilocal the community it has fostered to give people who don’t view alimentation as a necessity but a passion.
I was just in Dallas and never got a chance to get what I miss most of Texas while there. Texas BBQ. I ended up working too late for the true BBQ joints I would like to go to.
I was in Houston en-​route to Palm Beach to visit family and stumbled on cameron’s review per my PDA. (my love of my iPhone grows with every find)
This ploace is no frills and awesome. The brisket was juicy and tender. The sausage was tender and spicy. The sauce was ok, but the meat had enough flavor where it didn’t matter much.
The mix of pilots and ariline employees wearing safety orange was great to see. These people don’t want that heavy nasty crap above in the concourse. They want true food from TX.
A must see if you like off the beaten track type places that exceed expectations but don’t tell everyone. The secret is part of the draw.
Enjoy!

I found this place because of the review by Cameron K.- Thank you. But seriously, you would miss it if you don’t keep your eyes peeled. Look for a small sign at E3 that says Gordon’s Galley. You have to take an elevator downstairs to get to this place. The elevator said «restricted personnel only» but we went downstairs anyway. It looks like a cafeteria and you feel like you are not where you should be– airport personnel pretty much filled the place. We were the only «outsiders». They served us anyway. It looks like a cafeteria. My husband had a hamburger and it was okay, nothing special. I had the chicken and it was DELICIOUS! I was very, very surprised. It was moist and delicious, surprising when you are eating out of a Styrofoam container. They also had sausage, brisket, and so much. Great prices– think $ 5-​$ 7 for a meal-​in an airport.

This is the open to the public cafeteria located below gate E3 at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport. Serving some of the best BBQ around, this establishment offers an inexpensive alternative to other terminal restaurants. Be sure to check out the adjacent Continental Airlines company store.