Port Sudan New International Airport

Port Sudan New International Airport is a modest facility, and its airside dining scene reflects that honestly — but don't mistake small for unremarkable. The main terminal has a handful of cafeteria-style counters serving hot meals throughout the day, and the standout is almost always the freshly prepared fool medames, Sudan's beloved slow-cooked fava bean dish, ladled generously and served with flatbread and a drizzle of olive oil. Arrive early and you'll find it steaming and at its very best.

Beyond breakfast staples, the airport's food stalls lean heavily into Sudanese comfort food — think savoury lentil soup, grilled meat skewers, and rice dishes spiced with cumin and coriander that fill the small seating area with an irresistible warmth. There's nothing that resembles an international chain here, and that's genuinely part of the charm. Travellers transiting through Port Sudan get an authentic, unpretentious taste of what locals actually eat, not a sanitised airport version of it. Fresh-squeezed guava juice and strong Sudanese coffee rounded with cardamom are the drinks to seek out.

Dining options are limited in number, so timing matters — the counters tend to be busiest during morning departures and quieter in the afternoon lull, which is actually the ideal window to sit, eat without rushing, and chat with staff who are almost always genuinely hospitable. Carry some Sudanese pounds, as card payment is unreliable at most stalls. Think of the airport's food scene not as a convenience but as a small, worthwhile introduction to the generous culinary spirit of Sudan's Red Sea coast.