Gate-side option in Terminal 1 with 4:00 a.m. openings
The Market on Broad sits in Terminal 1 past security and opens at 4:00 a.m., which makes it one of the first food spots awake at RIC. It stays open through the last departure each night, so you can grab something before the 6:00 a.m. bank or a late regional hop. Expect quick counter service rather than a full sit-down restaurant, with pricing in typical airport territory rather than budget friendly.
This place runs as an all-day dining stop, shifting from early coffee-and-breakfast mode into a basic lunch and dinner lineup as flights cycle through Terminal 1. You’ll usually see hot items in a warm case, pre-made sandwiches in coolers, and some packaged snacks if you just want something to eat at gate level. Credit cards are standard, and most travelers are in and out in under 10 minutes, even when a departure group crowds the area.
Use The Market on Broad as your backup plan if security eats into your time and you only have 15–20 minutes before boarding from a Terminal 1 gate. Food is better right after fresh trays come out, typically around main departure waves at the top of the hour. One practical tip: if you care more about coffee than food, grab your drink here at 4:00–5:00 a.m., then keep an eye out for better food options closer to your gate once the rest of the concourse wakes up.