JFK Terminal 5 Serves Up Nom Wah, Halal Guys and Melt Shop

JetBlue flyers at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 5 just got three very New York reasons to show up hungry. Nom Wah, The Halal Guys and Melt Shop have all opened inside the terminal this month as part of an ongoing refresh of the busy hub.

What Opened and Where

The newcomers include a sit-down Nom Wah outpost, a Halal Guys counter and a Melt Shop grilled-cheese shop, all tucked post-security near Gate 25. Together they offer a mix of quick counter service and sit-down dining for travelers, as reported by Time Out.

Airport hospitality operator OTG announced the openings in a press release, saying the new units bring “authentic, high-quality dining experiences” to T5, according to PR Newswire. Practically speaking, that means travelers can now grab a quick grilled-cheese fix, a platter of halal chicken and gyro or a round of dim sum before takeoff.

Part of a Wider T5 Refresh

The restaurant additions are part of a roughly $100 million refresh of Terminal 5 led by JetBlue in partnership with Fraport USA and the Port Authority. The program is set to bring more than 40 new concessions and over 18 locally focused food-and-drink concepts, as outlined by JetBlue.

The broader refresh also includes public art installations and a redesigned center concourse inspired by New York City’s parks. All of it feeds into a larger, multi-billion-dollar modernization of JFK overseen by the Port Authority.

What Travelers Will Find

Melt Shop brings its downtown grilled-cheese menu to the terminal, with gooey sandwiches, tater tots and hand-spun milkshakes on offer, according to Time Out.

The Halal Guys location leans into the brand’s famed platters of seasoned chicken, gyro and its signature white sauce, a combo that first put the company on the map from a Midtown cart, as reported by TheStreet.

Nom Wah’s airport outpost features a curated dim-sum menu alongside an airport-friendly bar program tailored for travelers, per Nom Wah.

Local Brands, Airport Reach

OTG CEO Matt King said, “Our goal is to create dining experiences that feel authentic and memorable,” while Fraport New York’s Jose Cuevas added that the openings bring “real depth and energy to T5’s culinary program,” according to PR Newswire. The strategy is part of a broader push to spotlight neighborhood names inside airport terminals and give travelers a more distinctly New York experience.

For JetBlue passengers, that likely translates to a few extra minutes of browsing and a lot more eating between security and the gate. If you are flying through T5 soon, arriving a bit earlier might be the only tough call. Leaving hungry probably will not be.