When the local MSY spots in Terminal 1 are slammed, Chili’s is the safety valve.
This is the chain option in Concourse B at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, post-security in Terminal 1, with a standard Chili’s menu and a rough 3.5-star rating online. Expect the usual burgers, fajitas, and margaritas at typical airport markups, so plan on $18–$22 for a burger and drink. It’s sit-down service, so this is a “real meal” stop, not a 10‑minute grab-and-go.
Hours track with flight banks, usually opening by the early-morning departures and running into the late evening, but exact times shift with the schedule at MSY. Multiple Google and Yelp reviews flag slow kitchen tickets, even for basic burgers and fries, so budget at least 45–60 minutes if you want a full entrée. This is not the place for a 35‑minute connection bite before a Southwest or Delta hop.
Menu is what you know: Oldtimer- or Big Mouth‑style burgers, chicken crispers, fajitas, chips and salsa, plus the usual margaritas and domestic beers. Drinks land around $10–$14, appetizers in the $9–$14 range. Several reviewers call out that prices feel noticeably higher than their home Chili’s, which tracks with typical airport premiums at MSY’s Terminal 1 restaurants.
Regulars play it light here: apps and drinks only, so they can flag the server, close out fast, and be at a B‑gate in under five minutes. A few frequent flyers mention skipping the host stand and heading straight for the bar; bar seats often open faster than tables and checks close quicker too. If you just need a quick margarita and some chips before boarding starts, that bar strategy works.
Tip: If your boarding pass shows less than an hour to departure from any B gate, stick to a bar stool, one drink, and an appetizer; save the full burger or fajitas for a longer layover at MSY.