It’s a common complaint among travelers: healthy, fresh and high-quality airport food is tough to come by.
But with the addition of two Modern Market locations to Denver International Airport (DIA) in 2015, passengers flying to and from the "Mile-High City" can now enjoy dishes made with seasonal ingredients that can be traced back to specific farms.
It makes sense that in a health- and fitness-obsessed city like Denver, the airport would cater to local tastes. And Modern Market is the perfect fit for those on the go, with its fast-casual setup!
Modern Market (previously Modmarket) offers healthy eats at Denver International Airport — Photo courtesy of Carri Wilbanks
There’s truly something for everyone at Modern Market, which serves an array of creative salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas, with no shortage of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options for those with dietary preferences or restrictions.
The chain was founded by two friends who believed that fast food could be good food. Its restaurants serve made-from-scratch, affordable menu options in 13 bright, airy locations throughout Colorado, with several in Texas, too.
The coolest thing about Modern Market’s menu? When you’re viewing the digital version, simply click on an ingredient to see where it comes from.
Spinach? Sourced from farms in California and Arizona.
Chicken? Red Bird Farms, a local Colorado company that provides natural, antibiotic-free chicken.
Quite the upgrade from the stomach-churning mystery meat at Modern Market’s unhealthy fast food counterparts found throughout most airports!
“Since we opened on Concourse B earlier this year, we have received the warmest welcome from travelers looking for a healthy but fast meal,” says Modern Market Co-founder Anthony Pigliacampo. “Now that we have two DIA locations, fresh, naturally good food is available to even more people. We are proud to help make the world a happier and healthier place, one traveler at a time.”
For early-morning travelers, the Modern Markets at DIA serve up delicious egg scrambles made from cage-free eggs and served with potatoes and toast. If you’re looking for a kick, try the Green Chili Scramble with chicken, or for a more classic morning meal, opt for the Bacon Scramble, served with all-natural, nitrate-free bacon.
Vegetarians will love the Market Scramble, complete with broccoli, caramelized onions and aged white cheddar cheese. Breakfast sandwiches, served on Ciabatta rolls and topped with provolone cheese, are also available.
The lunch and dinner menu focuses on soups, salads and sandwiches. The Superfood Salad is great pre- or post-flight fuel, since it’s filled with healthy stuff – spinach, kale, quinoa, carrots, almonds and grapes – that will help you beat jet lag and derail those dreaded flying-induced colds.
Another popular salad is the filling Flatiron, made with mixed greens, grilled steak, roasted potatoes, gorgonzola cheese, tomato, caramelized onion and balsamic vinaigrette.
Sandwiches, which can all be made with gluten-free bread, are made from scratch in house to order and toasted in Modern Market’s brick oven. Sandwich options include Chipotle Steak, Basil Chicken and Arugula Mozzarella.
Modern Market’s soups are also, of course, made from scratch, and there’s always a vegan option available.
For fresh food on the go, you can find the Modern Market restaurants at DIA in the B Concourse and the C Concourse.
