Terminal C’s cheapest hot meal sits opposite Gate 16.
Carl’s Jr. / Green Burrito in Terminal C by Gate 16 is the straight-up fast-food option at John Wayne, with burgers and tacos instead of $18 salads. It’s post-security, so you can order after TSA and walk to the gate with a bag of fries in under 3 minutes. The crowd skews towards Southwest and Alaska flyers using the nearby C gates.
Menu is standard Carl’s Jr. plus the Green Burrito board: Famous Star and Western Bacon Cheeseburger, basic breakfast sandwiches, plus tacos and burritos. Expect burger combos to land around typical airport pricing, roughly a couple dollars higher than street locations. Portions track with regular Carl’s Jr., so a single combo usually covers a real meal before a 2–3 hour hop.
Food comes out fast, often under 5–8 minutes even when there are 6–8 people in line. This makes it one of the few spots at SNA where a 25‑minute window between boarding and security exit is still workable. Grab‑and‑go drinks and coffee are at the counter, so you don’t need a second stop at the Hudson stand next door.
Seating is typical Terminal C food court style with shared tables a short walk from Gate 16 and other C‑gate food. Many people just take the paper bag to the gate chairs, which are less than a 2‑minute walk away. If your flight uses a Gate 13–15 jet bridge, you can still see your boarding line from the nearby seating while you finish fries.
Tip: If boarding starts in 15 minutes or less, skip anything custom and order a standard Famous Star or basic burrito; they move those faster than special builds when the C‑gate banks hit at the top of the hour.