Foodie News

High-end burger restaurant eyes Houston airport: Will fly dining be forever fast food changed?

A local restaurant operator is making some rather big changes to Houston's franchise scene, most significantly by hoping to bring new restaurant and concession options to George Bush Intercontinental Airport as well as overseeing the local return of donut chain Krispy Kreme.

Guillermo Perales, president and CEO of Sun Holdings LLC, has placed a bid to operate several eatery concepts at the airport. His company owns and operates 440 restaurants in Florida and Texas, including CiCi's Pizza, Golden Corral and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Houston as first reported by Houston Business Journal.

"The airport does not have any Hispanic operator. There are over 2 million Hispanics in Houston. We hope (the airport) gives our company a chance."

One of the new concepts Perales hopes to introduce to the Houston Airport System is a BK Whopper Bar — a high-end hamburger concept from international chain Burger King — and a local Mexican restaurant, although specifics have yet to be determined.

"We want to partner with a couple of Houston concepts to provide Houston travelers with local restaurants, and (partner with) some national brands that we feel resonate very strongly with all travelers," Perales tells HBJ.

Perales hopes that the fact he's the largest Hispanic restaurant franchisee will give his company an edge when the airport system is considering bids.

"The airport does not have any Hispanic operator," Perales says. "There are over 2 million Hispanics in Houston. We hope (the airport) gives our company a chance."

In addition to adding new dining options to the airport, Perales is bringing the North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme donut franchise back to Houston. In December, Perales announced that the chain — which left the local market in 2006 following the end of its previous franchise agreement — will be opening 10 locations across the city. The first Krispy Kreme, scheduled to open Feb. 17, will be northwest of Houston at 5611 Highway 6.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport may soon feature new dining concepts if operator Guillermo Perales' bid to the airport system is accepted.

Bush Intercontinental Airport Terminal E waiting area IAH travelers

Photo by Henry Han Wikipedia

George Bush Intercontinental Airport may soon feature new dining concepts if operator Guillermo Perales' bid to the airport system is accepted.

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BBQ News

Acclaimed Texas barbecue joint now available on American Airlines

American Airlines

Pecan Lodge sandwich, soon to be served sky high.

Award-winning Dallas barbecue will soon be served in a lofty new location: on an airplane. Pecan Lodge, the acclaimed BBQ restaurant in Deep Ellum, will be featured on select flights aboard American Airlines.

According to a release, the Fort Worth-based airline is adding Pecan Lodge as an option on certain flights out of DFW bound for New York.

Pecan Lodge is the perennial Dallas BBQ favorite that opened in Deep Ellum in 2014, known for its smoked brisket and "Hot Mess" loaded baked sweet potato. The restaurant's nods include being featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. When Tom Cruise came through Dallas in 2025 on a tour through Texas to promote his new film Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, where did he stop? Pecan Lodge.

The partnership with American begins in February for passengers in first class on flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The offering will consist of a barbecue platter with brisket, smoked sausage, mac & cheese, coleslaw, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

They'll replace that with a new item for March consisting of a chopped brisket sandwich with green beans, potato salad, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

The options are available only via preorder, beginning January 11 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The Pecan Lodge partnership is the latest in American's commitment to elevating its customer experience. Other recent new menu additions include Champagne Bollinger and Lavazza coffee, both in lounges and in flight.

In a statement, American SVP of Customer Experience Design and Strategy Rhonda Crawford offers high praise for the barbecue brand.

“As we celebrate American’s centennial anniversary in 2026, we’re looking forward to delighting our customers in new ways that honor unique regional tastes, beginning right here in our home state through one of the most beloved barbecue restaurants in Texas,” Crawford says. “Our customers deserve nothing but the best, and Pecan Lodge is certainly that.”

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