What's the Best Non-First Class Airline Meal You've Been Served?

[AFF Editor]

Airline food gets a bad rap sometimes, but occasionally it can be really good - even if you're not flying in First Class!

I've had a think about the most memorable airline meals I've been served in Economy, Premium or Business (for the right reasons) and written about 8 of those meals here:

8 Excellent (Non-First Class) Airline Meals

You don't always need to be flying First Class to get great food on your flight. Photo: Qantas. When flying international First Class, the meal service is

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I'd love to know what your best airline meal has been (not including First Class, which you would expect to be totally amazing 9/10 times). You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[RooFlyer]

A cold pea soup in Finnair long haul business class was exceptional, especially with the crockery and glassware they use (pea soup as in puree-ed green peas, not the ham-and pea hot soup type).

A couple of Lufthansa 'Eurobusiness' short haul breakfasts were memorable - plated granola with fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries and red currants) and fresh milk (in a mini bottle), yoghurt, a croissant with fresh jam (or at least not one of those horrid little peel-back containers) plus cold cuts.

JAL 'Japanese' menu dinners in Business - exquisitely presented and very tasty, too.

 

[ThePW]

Had a tasty chicken parmi with VA the other week! It's the most satisfying inflight meal I've had with Virgin since they relaunched business class.

 

[sezza]

I've flown economy class internationally on a few different airlines over the years - lufthansa, klm, qantas, hawaiian airways, british airways, lauda air, TAP, and emirates. I have to say the best economy food i've had is with Emirates - BY FAR!
I love how they have the entre/salad, main, and dessert, AND a snack box of cheese and crackers too. I'm never left hungry, and they are all tasty. I actually look forward to the meals on board and check out the menus a few days beforehand so I can decide beforehand what I'll choose on the flight

 

[RooFlyer]

And welcome to AFF, @ThePW

 

[Austman]

I'd agree with Qatar business class food.

But the best business class dish I think I ever had was over 20 years ago flying Icelandair business class from Reykjavik to Copenhagen.

As the business class menu explained, the fish served on board the afternoon flight was freshly caught that morning off Reykjavik. That's pretty fresh from isolated ocean waters.

And I think it was!

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd agree with Qatar business class food.

But the best business class dish I think I ever had was over 20 years ago flying Icelandair business class from Reykjavik to Copenhagen.

As the business class menu explained, the fish served on board the afternoon flight was freshly caught that morning off Reykjavik. That's pretty fresh from isolated ocean waters.

And I think it was!

At least it wasn't Hákarl

​

 

[Virgin Bart]

Had a tasty chicken parmi with VA the other week! It's the most satisfying inflight meal I've had with Virgin since they relaunched business class.

Wow that looks suspiciously good!

 

[jastel]

After 2 weeks in China eating rice, the QF J meal on the way back was funnily enough bloody rice...
The nice hosty made me a plain vegemite sandwich...best meal ever.

 

[gaz0303]

I’ve had the reindeer on AY in J from HEL to HKG. From memory the quality wasn’t great but at least I’ve had reindeer and can tell people every Christmas.

My first experience of quinoa was in QF Y. I enjoyed it then and been disappointed when ever I’ve had it since. Maybe I’m confused with pearlescent barley

 

[Sprucegoose]

A cold pea soup in Finnair long haul business class was exceptional, especially with the crockery and glassware they use (pea soup as in puree-ed green peas, not the ham-and pea hot soup type).

I believe Neil's (QF) soups are among the tastiest.

in terms of premium meals, SQ has consistently performed over the years. Their Book the Cook service is superb, and the Lobster is a consistent fav.

 

[Guvner]

QR J Mezze is a favourite of mine. JL’s Japanese set menu is right up there.

 

[dairyfloss]

3 words: Malaysia. Airlines. Satays.

I’ve had a quiet word to the J crew about whether I can just make my whole meal about those things. Love ‘em!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[jase05]

3 words: Malaysia. Airlines. Satays.

I’ve had a quiet word to the J crew about whether I can just make my whole meal about those things. Love ‘em!

Cheers,
Matt.

Mrs Jase isn’t a fan of anything satay flavoured but I always make sure she orders them so I get a double helping

 

[Human]

I feel a little awkward saying this, but the coconut porridge with chia seeds on Qatar is, by a country mile, the best porridge I’ve had in my life. It’s simply amazing.

 

[OATEK]

Had wonderful steak, upstairs in Y on SQ A380 over 10 years ago that still ranks as one of the best ever.

Had a lovely prawn salad on an AF A320 in J between CDG and VIE which was also very good.

Generally speaking, I have not had a "bad" meal for quite few years except for a dreadful bacon and egg breakfast brioche on QF back in May this year (in J).

 

[Daver6]

About 5 years ago or so flying QF SYD-DFW in Y. In the days you could pre-select your Y meal online and there was usually an online only special. This time there was duck a l'Orange. It was seriously good and better than most QF J mains I've had.

 

[justinbrett]

I was flying with a mate to LHR quite a few years ago on BA. We had quite a bit to drink (it was a day flight from BOM). The pre-landing meal was a doner kebab. It was awesome! Only Y+ too.

 

[bussyboy]

My first experience of quinoa was in QF Y. I enjoyed it then and been disappointed when ever I’ve had it since. Maybe I’m confused with pearlescent barley

This with me and discovering cous cous!

 

[Bjet]

I had congee in Y meal on Cathay Pacific and Air Canada. It was the best one I have ever had.

i agree some of guys that EK's Y meals are excellent! (I had first salmon on my main meal - first time I had salmon). I remember they all were wrapped in small plastic bags! When I opened them and then put them back on the tray, I could not believe that there was a huge pile of small plastic bags everywhere on the tray!

EY's Y meals are similar to EK's Y meals.

Singapore airlines also has excellent meals. I always choose Singapore noodles for my breakfast not scrambled eggs/bacon/tomatoes/hash brown!

TK on short haul flight (less than an hour flight) - I remember it had got an excellent snack for Y. It made me fill full very quicky. Sandwiches were so tasty!

LATAM has got perfect and authentic quinoa (in Y meal) - that's exactly the same taste when I was in South America!! It's not the same as our quinoa salad from supermarkets and restaurants here!