Gastrolust

Having recently returned to the States from Asia, I’m thinking about all the great noodles, dumplings, and sushi you can get at airports on the other side of the Pacific – not to mention the bento boxes the Japanese take on their trips. And I’m reminded of an odd experience I had last year, transferring planes in my own home city of Seattle while traveling from Orange County to Lewiston. With a mad dash to a connecting flight right in terminal C, I was famished and wondered where to grab a quick bite. Alaska Airlines’ blueberry snack bar just wasn’t going to sustain me. (At least the snack didn’t have religious messages attached to it.)

I’d never had a need to sample Sea-Tac’s food. I like seeing local restaurants in the airport, but I was far from the Marketplace and all its options. Wanting something somewhat healthy, Waji’s was there.

I had high hopes for this Uwajimaya outpost at the airport. Without enough time for a cooked meal (probably the best choice), I glanced at the sushi, but couldn’t find anything fishy enough. So I instead settled for a beef teriyaki wrap, which turned out to be more like a lettuce wrap with scant shavings of carrot and cuke – and very little meat (eliciting memories of Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” commercials).

If I wanted to simply fill the stomach, the $1.99 box of spam musubi would have been worthwhile. But what Sea-Tac really needs is one of those Vietnamese places, with banh mi, bowls of pho, or $3 boxes chock full of food. I would then be excited to eat at the airport, or to bring those good smells on the airplane.

Cross-posted at Examiner.