• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Year in Review » My Top 10 Airline Meals Of 2023
Meal of the WeekYear in Review

My Top 10 Airline Meals Of 2023

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 29, 2023December 27, 2024 18 Comments

For this year’s final Meal of the Week, I count down my top 10 airline meals of 2023.

To be clear, these are only the best meals I have enjoyed over the last year, not my top 10 all-time list. I traveled all over the world in 2023 and experienced so many superb airline meals that it was hard for me to narrow the list down, but I’ve done my best. My focus is only on main courses and as seems to be the case every year, reveal my great love for lamb.

Note that many of these meals are from my big Bali – Cambodia – Nepal – Bhutan trip that I have not yet reviewed (something to look forward to next month).


Top 10 Airline Meals Of 2023


10. Flat Iron Steak On United Airlines 777 Business Class

When it comes to red meat you can mostly expect short ribs on United, but I enjoyed a rare flat iron steak from SFO-TPE and it was vey good (and the sauce had a quite a kick).

a bowl of meat and vegetables


9. Thai Dinner On Nepal Airlines A330 Business Class

I enjoyed a spicy but delicious dinner of Thai rice with white fish in green curry sauce and fried Thai zucchini with egg while flying from BKK-KTM on Nepal Airlines.

a tray of food on a table


8. Pork Belly On Singapore Airlines A380 First Class

The pork belly was fatty but flavorful while traveling from JFK-FRA in Singapore Suites.

a plate of food on a table


7. Steak + Eggs On United Airlines 777 Business Class

United’s catering out of DXB is tops and the steak + eggs served prior to landing in EWR was the best breakfast I had all year on any carrier. Somehow even the hollandaise sauce was perfect.

a plate of food on a table


6. Beef Satay in Malaysia Airlines A350 Business Class

When it comes to satay, Malaysia Airlines does an even better job than Singapore Airlines, as proved once again on my KUL-HND flight.

a plate of food on a table


5. Beef Short Ribs On SAS A350 Business Class

The short ribs were tender and flavorful enroute from BKK-CPH and the bone marrow butter, thyme sauce, and mashed potato made for a great combination.

a bowl of food on a plate


4. Steak Dinner In Singapore Airlines A380 First Class

I enjoyed a delicious herb-crusted beef filet from FRA-SIN in Singapore Suites.

a plate of food with meat and vegetables


3. Rare Steak In JAL 777 Business Class

When I asked for a rare steak from HND-SFO on JAL…I got it. A high-quality piece of meat made even better with Café de Paris butter.

a piece of meat with a piece of cheese on top


2. Lamb Cutlet In Singapore Airlines 737 Business Class

I was so impressed with the lunch Singapore Airlines served (via Book the Cook) on my sub-two hour flight from SIN-REP. Perfect lamb. I just wish there were seconds…or thirds!

a plate of food on a table


1. Lamb Cutlets In Qantas A380 First Class

Qantas service may have been a letdown, but the lamb chops served from SYD-LAX were top-notch.

food on a plate with a glass of wine


I am very thankful for all the great meals I enjoyed this year and look forward to many more in 2024.

What was your favorite airline meal in 2023?

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article My Top 10 Airline Lounges Of 2023
Next Article Fabulous: Elizabeth Line From Heathrow To Central London

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Tuscan Caprese Burger

    Tuscan Caprese Burger On United Airlines

    May 12, 2025
  • Jeff Mauro Bagel United Airlines

    Taste Test: The Chicago Bagel Breakfast Melt By Jeff Mauro On United Airlines

    May 5, 2025
  • KLM Deluxe Meal Box

    KLM’s “Deluxe Meal Box” In Intra-European Business Class

    April 18, 2025

18 Comments

  1. Nico Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 3:13 pm

    Lobster tail in Qsuites was pretty awesome

  2. SMR Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 3:35 pm

    I have to be honest…other than the JAL steak..it all looks so awful! I never eat on planes anymore

  3. PolishKnight Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 3:48 pm

    “A high-quality piece of meat mad even better with Café de Paris butter.”

    The spell checkers here have their whole 2023 ruined due to you! I hope you’re happy!

  4. rich Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 6:35 pm

    I think it was on Austrian that I had a very nice filet about 5-7 years ago.

  5. JoeMart Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 7:02 pm

    The UA cheeseburger didn’t make the list? What is wrong with you?

    • Stuart Reply
      December 29, 2023 at 10:02 pm

      Right? Paired so perfectly with a packaged muffin.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 30, 2023 at 12:58 am

      I just took my last United flight of the year and made a big mistake by not ordering the cheeseburger. I do love the cheeseburgers…

  6. Christian Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 11:29 pm

    I notice you only list entrees, which makes some sense to simplify. That does tend to exclude some exceptional appetizers though. The only place I tend to eat caviar is on a first class flight these days but now that I think about it you don’t tend to eat much caviar. Not your thing?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 30, 2023 at 12:57 am

      I will eat caviar when offered, but never on the ground…it’s just not something I particularly enjoy (cf. foie gras, which I will not even eat in first class). I did have the caviar courses in Singapore Suites. Full review coming.

  7. PM Reply
    December 30, 2023 at 9:15 am

    I had an excellent smoked salmon and cream cheese breakfast dish flying Aeroméxico in J from CDG. One really has to wonder why most airlines serve those horrible powdered eggs, or at best some dry omelette, for breakfast even when the rest of their premium class meals is absolutely fine.

  8. Cr- Reply
    December 30, 2023 at 9:51 am

    Do you fly for the food or to get somewhere? Why the focus on so much food? Food has nothing to do with flying. It’s just food on a plane. 🙂

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 30, 2023 at 2:09 pm

      Food is a big part of the flying experience for me.

      Yes, I may be irrational.

    • Sal Reply
      January 1, 2024 at 9:39 am

      If you think food has nothing to do with flying, you’re on the wrong blog.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        January 1, 2024 at 9:40 am

        That is correct. But we invite CR to stay and learn! 😉

  9. BB Reply
    December 30, 2023 at 2:02 pm

    I generally like this blog, but the article above was stomach – churning. One slab of bloody red meat after another in a world where red meat consumption is declining ( though not as fast as it needs to) and the majority of premium flyers don’t order it.
    Frankly, it also requires far less culinary skill or creativity than most other dishes served by airlines.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 30, 2023 at 2:14 pm

      There used to be an Australian named Paolo who would comment all the time on my meat consumption – I know the top 10 was really stacked in favor of red meat this year, but we’ve actually really downsized it from our diet at home. Mostly fish and chicken these days. And that probably explains why I always order it on planes…

    • PM Reply
      December 30, 2023 at 3:38 pm

      I don’t know what ‘the majority of premium flyers’ are ordering (though I suppose that, if you are thinking about those flying ‘First Class’ within the USA, their choices are probably limited to cereal bars and sandwiches full of preservatives), but this is plainly a political comment.

      The way chickens are reared in most parts of the world is disgraceful and far worse in terms of both hygiene and animal welfare than what one will encounter when it comes to cattle. As if that wasn’t enough, in the UK and other places, chicken consumption is increasing as certain religious minorities are imposing their eating habits on the rest of us through economics [when 10% of the population doesn’t eat pork but nearly everyone eats chicken, anyone who has to cater for schools, hospitals, events etc will prioritise chicken], meaning that those of us who don’t belong to those religions end up eating religiously slaughtered meat even if that’s not always the best for the animal (and also financially supporting the certification bodies, some of which aren’t fantastically transparent).

      Overfishing is also a huge issue in many parts of the world, and I am not sure about how sustainable fish consumption is (and I certainly don’t trust anything that the likes of Vietnam and other big seafood producers in Asia may say about that).

      I basically suspect that insects are the only really sustainable protein source for humans. I have recently been able to try some grasshoppers, and I have to say that they weren’t bad at all. Unless and until they become more widespread, however, I will continue to consume red meat and read posts about airline meals that contain it!

  10. Dave Reply
    December 31, 2023 at 4:48 am

    If all that undercooked red meat is what these airlines serve them I’m much better off with a Grilled Chicken wrap from Potbelly. And there S’mores Cookies are awesome as well.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Influencer Dog United Airlines
    Unreal: Influencer Brings Her Massive Great Dane “Service Dog” On United Airlines Flight May 21, 2025
  • Hawaiian Airlines Bomb Threat
    “The Guy Next To Me Has A Bomb!” Hawaiian Airlines Passenger’s Lie Sparks Tarmac Chaos May 21, 2025
  • Newark Airport Flight Caps
    How the FAA Is Determining Which Carriers Must Reduce Service At Newark May 21, 2025
  • Delta CrowdStrike Lawsuit
    Delta’s $500M Lawsuit Against CrowdStrike Moves Ahead—But Passengers Are Suing Too May 21, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.