Terminal B’s Jack in the Box fills the big-name gap
Terminal B at IAH doesn’t have many national fast-food chains, so Jack in the Box ends up as the default burger stop for United flyers on regional flights. It sits post-security in B, so you’re safe to cut it close before boarding a B‑gate commuter flight. Prices track normal airport fast-food: think around $6–8 for a burger and closer to $10–12 if you add fries and a drink.
Menu is the standard Jack in the Box lineup: Jumbo Jack and Sourdough Jack burgers, tacos by the pair, breakfast sandwiches, and curly fries. If you’re racing between B20 and B84, it’s a quick grab-and-go move compared with trekking to Terminal C or E for something better. Expect soda in the usual 16–20 oz range, and basic coffee instead of the specialty drinks you’d find over in E’s larger food courts.
Quality talk on FlyerTalk is blunt: frequent IAH regulars call most B‑terminal fast food “lower‑tier” compared with options in C and E, where you’ve got higher-end sit-down spots and stronger chains. That lines up with what you’ll get here: standard frozen‑to‑fryer burgers and tacos, fine for a 40‑minute layover but not worth building a 3‑hour buffer. Figure 5–10 minutes off‑peak and closer to 15 minutes when multiple regional flights bank at the same time.
Watch out for the tradeoff: staying in Terminal B saves the 10–15 minute walk or Skyway ride to C or E, but you’re paying for it in food quality. If you’ve got under an hour between a United Express arrival and departure in B, Jack in the Box keeps you close to your gate. If you’re landing in B with more than 90 minutes before a long‑haul out of C or E, skip this and eat near your departure gate instead.