United Airlines is adding meat lasagna, grilled rack of lamb and roasted pumpkin to its international business-class menu as it battles rivals to make premium air travel more appealing. The new dishes debut Nov. 1 and will be available to United Polaris passengers through Dec. 31.
The airline created 30 new dishes with chefs connected with Chef’s Table, the culinary brand behind the Netflix series. The menu includes contributions from chefs from cities across the United States as well as London, Tokyo and São Paulo.
A standout is spiral meat lasagna with passato and taleggio sauce, from Los Angeles chef Nancy Silverton. Passengers in San Francisco will be treated to grilled rack of lamb with carrot barbecue sauce, cured carrots and chicories by chef David Barzelay.
The London-inspired menu features roasted pumpkin with rosemary stracciatella, pickled apples, spiced pumpkin seeds and hazelnuts. Other choices include duck leg enchiladas with queso Oaxaca, char siu pork with celeriac and potato puree, and roasted chicken stuffed with chicken and mushroom mousseline.
Not all United flights will have the dishes. The airline will showcase each chef’s menu on eligible lunch and dinner flights out of the city the menu is from.
How United’s New Menu Compares With Other Airlines
United’s new menu offers passengers more specific choices of dishes instead of the same standard across its network. That said, business-class dining crafted by chefs is already a hallmark among the major US carriers.
Delta Air Lines serves chef-curated meals in its Delta One business-class cabin, as well as plated desserts, fruit and cheese selections, and wines selected to pair with the food. The dining program is part of a larger premium experience that includes lie-flat seats and upgraded amenities.
American Airlines also offers chef-designed meals in its premium cabins, with menus reflecting international destinations. Eligible passengers can order meals online up to 30 days before departure, allowing them more time to plan their meals than United’s five-day advance ordering period.
On the United website or mobile app, Polaris guests can choose from the new Chef’s Table meals, five days before departure up until 24 hours before departure.
The practical appeal is knowing more about the meal before boarding, especially on a long-haul flight where the onboard dining experience can be an important part of the journey. But the new menu alone does not prove that one carrier serves better food in business class than another. Actual choices vary by route, city of departure, and available service.
United says the Chef’s Table menu program will continue with seasonal rotations into 2027, so passengers can expect further changes beyond this two-month lineup.