Almost no one reviews it, but Ciao Gourmet Market sits right at Gate 17 in Terminal C.
This is the Italian-leaning market by Gate 17 in Terminal C, post-security at John Wayne Airport. Think cold case, packaged snacks, bottled drinks, and quick bites you can carry on board. It’s one of the last food options before the C17–C18 cluster, so it matters if you’re flying Southwest or another carrier using that end of Terminal C.
Expect typical airport pricing, roughly $4–$6 for bottled drinks and $8–$15 for sandwiches or salads. Since there’s no good data on standout dishes, treat it like a functional grab-and-go stop, not a sit-down Italian restaurant. Seating around C17 fills up fast during the 6:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–7:00 p.m. banks, so plan to eat at your gate if you pick up food here.
Hours at SNA vendors shift with flight banks, but spots in Terminal C usually open around the first departures near 5:00 a.m. and taper off after the last evening flights. If you’re on a late flight after 8:30 p.m., don’t assume hot food is still available at Ciao; grab something earlier in the concourse if you see other kitchens closing their grills.
There’s no strong intel on quality from FlyerTalk or Reddit yet, so use visual cues: check how full the cold case looks, look at freshness on salads and wraps, and aim for high-turnover items near the front. If something’s dated or the case looks sparse, stick to sealed snacks and drinks instead of prepared meals.
Tip: if you’re in Terminal A or B with time and a C-gate departure printed on your boarding pass, walk down to C17 about 20 minutes before boarding, hit Ciao for last-minute food, then head straight to your actual gate.