Anthony Bourdain’s “Soul-Destroying” Burger Story Still Echoes Through Airports
Let’s talk about something unforgettable — not for the right reasons, but because of how spectacularly wrong it went. Anthony Bourdain once described a certain airport burger experience as "soul-destroying." And coming from him , that wasn’t just a throwaway line. Bourdain had a poetic way of talking about food — sometimes brutally honest, sometimes reverent — but always thoughtful. So when he called a Johnny Rockets burger at an airport one of the worst meals of his life, it wasn't just drama. It was a gut-punch review, delivered with the kind of raw honesty only Bourdain could get away with.
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The moment happened back in 2016 on “Conan,” when Bourdain was asked about bad fast food. He didn’t hold back. He recalled ordering a burger at Johnny Rockets inside an airport, expecting at least a halfway decent bite. Instead, what he got was a cold burger, barely sitting on its bun, a handful of greasy fries, and a limp pickle. That sad little tray of food — served in a nearly empty restaurant that had a full staff — actually sent him into a "spiral of misery and depression that lasted three days." You could tell he wasn’t exaggerating.
Now, Bourdain wasn’t a fast food snob. He loved In-N-Out. He had a thing for Popeyes mac and cheese. Even KFC’s bright orange, cheese-like goo had a place in his world. But what set this experience apart was the apathy. That lack of care in something so basic — a burger — is what truly crushed him. He had no patience for mediocrity, especially when the staff could have done better and just didn’t.
He didn’t bash Johnny Rockets because it was cool to hate on chains. He did it because he believed that every meal, no matter how simple, deserved respect. That cold, thrown-together mess he was served stood against everything he believed food should be — honest, well-prepared, and made with even a shred of dignity.
And if you think he was being too harsh, a quick browse through Reddit or TripAdvisor will show you he wasn’t alone. Others have echoed his feelings about Johnny Rockets — calling it bland, disappointing, and downright forgettable. It's one thing to have an off day, it's another to serve food that feels like no one cared at all.
So the next time you’re hungry in an airport and spot a Johnny Rockets, just think: if Anthony Bourdain — world traveler, street food lover, defender of the humble meal — walked away feeling soul-crushed, maybe it's best to keep walking and find something with just a bit more heart.
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