Mehrabad International Airport

Mehrabad may be Tehran's older, domestic-focused airport, but don't let that fool you into skipping a meal here. The food options, while not lavish, are genuinely satisfying and refreshingly authentic. The upper-level departure hall hosts a handful of sit-down cafeterias and fast-casual counters where ash-e reshteh, the hearty Persian noodle soup loaded with herbs and kashk, appears on menus year-round. It's comfort food in the truest sense, and grabbing a bowl before a domestic flight to Shiraz or Isfahan feels perfectly right.

The main food court area near the central check-in hall is your best bet for variety. Look for the stalls serving freshly made sandwiches filled with kotlet, Iran's beloved spiced meat patty, alongside warm lavash and pickled vegetables. Tea is everywhere and always good — strong, amber-colored, and served in little tulip glasses with nabat sugar crystals on the side. A few spots also offer dizi, the slow-cooked lamb and chickpea stew traditionally served in a stone crock, which makes for a surprisingly memorable pre-flight meal.

Sweeter cravings are well covered too. Pastry counters stock saffron-laced sohan brittle, pistachio-stuffed nougat, and zoolbia — those delicate, syrup-drenched fritters that Tehranis adore. These make excellent last-minute edible souvenirs if you forgot to stock up in the bazaar. Coffee options are limited compared to international airports, so manage expectations and lean into the tea culture instead. Prices throughout the airport are reasonable by any standard, and the staff at most counters are used to navigating orders with a mix of Farsi and enthusiastic pointing.