JFK Terminal 5 Adds Nom Wah, The Halal Guys and Melt Shop in NYC Dining Push

NEW YORK, June 1, 2026 — Airport hospitality operator OTG has opened three celebrated New York City dining brands at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 5, bringing Nom Wah Tea Parlor, The Halal Guys and Melt Shop to the post-security concourse near Gate 25. The three restaurants debut as part of JetBlue and Fraport USA Inc.'s $100 million Terminal 5 refresh, a commercial redevelopment effort that will add more than 40 new concessions including more than 18 local food and beverage concepts before the project's completion at the end of 2026. The openings represent the first wave of new dining options at what JetBlue calls its flagship terminal in its home airport.

The selection of Nom Wah, The Halal Guys and Melt Shop reflects OTG's stated goal of making Terminal 5's dining programme feel authentically rooted in New York's neighbourhood food culture rather than defaulting to the national chain formats that have historically dominated airport concourses. The three brands span dim sum, street cart chicken and rice, and gourmet grilled cheese three of the city's most recognisable and distinct culinary identities.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor Brings Century-Old Chinatown Dim Sum to JFK Terminal 5

Nom Wah Tea Parlor first opened in Manhattan's Chinatown in 1920 and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating dim sum restaurant in the United States. The Terminal 5 outpost operates as a sit-down restaurant and bar, open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily a schedule that serves early departures and late arrivals alike. The interior design draws directly from the Chinatown original: black-and-white tile floors, red leather banquettes and framed artwork featuring photographs of Chinatown reference the restaurant's century of presence in lower Manhattan.

"Opening Nom Wah at JFK is an incredibly meaningful milestone for our team and my family," said Wilson Tang, CEO of Nom Wah. "Nom Wah has been part of New York's Chinatown story for over 100 years as the oldest dim sum parlor in America, and we're proud to share our food with travelers from around the world while continuing to grow the brand beyond Chinatown across the nation."

Tang's family has operated Nom Wah since he took over the restaurant from his uncle in 2011, modernising its business operations and expanding the brand to additional New York City locations while preserving the original Chinatown restaurant's character and menu. The JFK opening marks the brand's first presence inside a major transit hub.

The Halal Guys Arrive at Terminal 5 From Their Legendary Midtown Street Cart

The Halal Guys began as a street cart at the corner of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in 1990, serving halal chicken and gyro over rice with warm pita and the brand's signature white sauce to late-night office workers, taxi drivers and tourists. The cart became one of New York's most recognised food phenomena, generating lines that extended down the block and spawning hundreds of imitators across the city. The brand has since expanded into a global franchise operating hundreds of locations worldwide, while maintaining its New York origins as central to its identity.

"What started as a NYC food cart at 53rd and 6th in 1990 has become a global brand, but New York remains our home," said Ahmed Abouelenein, CEO of The Halal Guys. "Airports are cultural crossroads, and this is the perfect place to share authentic flavors that represent our city and serve the diverse travelers passing through."

The Halal Guys already operate a stand at Yankee Stadium, giving the brand a presence at two of New York's highest-profile venues. The Terminal 5 location extends that footprint into the airport environment, where the brand's grab-and-go format translates directly to the demands of travelers moving through a busy domestic terminal.

Melt Shop Brings Gourmet Grilled Cheese and Comfort Food to the Concourse

Melt Shop launched in New York City in 2011, building a following through its elevated approach to grilled cheese moving the childhood classic into gourmet territory through the use of high-quality cheeses, artisan bread and carefully selected additional ingredients. The menu also includes crispy chicken melts, hand-spun milkshakes and other comfort food preparations designed for both dine-in and grab-and-go occasions.

OTG CEO Matt King framed all three openings within a broader philosophy about what airport dining should accomplish. "Airports can often feel rushed and transactional," King said. "Our goal is to create dining experiences that feel authentic and memorable, offering guests the same beloved brands they would seek out across New York City. Partnering with Melt Shop, The Halal Guys, and Nom Wah allows us to bring iconic flavors to Terminal 5 and give travelers a moment to pause, relax, and enjoy great food."

$100 Million Terminal 5 Refresh Targets 40 New Concessions by End of 2026

The three restaurant openings sit within a significantly larger transformation of Terminal 5 that JetBlue, Fraport USA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced in 2025. The $100 million refresh will deliver more than 40 new concessions alongside physical improvements including art installations and a redesigned centre concourse modelled on New York's iconic parks. The project aligns with the Port Authority's broader $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport into what officials have described as a world-class global gateway.

Teresa Rizzuto, General Manager of JFK International Airport, confirmed the Port Authority's backing for the Terminal 5 direction. "The addition of Melt Shop, The Halal Guys and Nom Wah Tea Parlor align with the Port Authority's vision for a new JFK that will create a uniquely New York experience that will become an enjoyable part of the passenger journey," Rizzuto said.

Jose Cuevas, Vice President of Fraport New York, also commented on the significance of the three openings. "They add real depth and energy to T5's culinary program and reflect the spirit of New York's dining scene," Cuevas said, noting that the openings mark meaningful progress in the broader terminal refresh. The concession development is also being supported by Shri Krishna, Inc., a New York-based small business joint venture partner certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation as an Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

Stephanie Evans Greene, JetBlue's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand, linked the restaurant choices to JetBlue's identity as a New York-headquartered carrier. "Nothing says New York like great food and the energy of people on the go," Greene said. "The Halal Guys, Melt Shop, and Nom Wah are the kinds of New York favorites our customers can get excited about." Terminal 5 is JetBlue's primary hub at JFK, which handles the bulk of the airline's domestic and Caribbean operations.

More information about Indian cuisine and its regional diversity can be explored through Indian cuisine history and traditions.

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