An airline restaurant that serves in-flight meals on the ground has been such a hit it's expanding globally. Here's what's on the menu.

Sophie-Claire HoellerOct 5, 2020, 22:58 IST

Uncle Chin's chicken rice.Courtesy of AirAsia

Many people think in-flight food is pretty terrible. However, AirAsia bets on the fact that people secretly love it.
The airline opened the first Santan, a restaurant that serves in-flight meals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December 2019.
There are now 15 restaurants in Malaysia alone, and an AirAsia press release says they have been thriving during the pandemic.
AirAsia now aims to open 100 more branches of the eatery around the globe by the beginning of 2022.

There are many things people love to complain about when it comes to flying, from exorbitant fees to invasive TSA practices to long lines. But the one thing people can undoubtedly agree on is that airplane food is terrible.

Or can they? Turns out, some people secretly love in-flight meals. AirAsia, a Malaysia-based low-cost carrier, banked on this fact when it opened Santan Restaurant and T&CO Cafe in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December 2019.

Now, there are 15 Santan restaurants in Malaysia, according to the Malay Mail. The restaurant has reportedly been doing so well during the pandemic that AirAsia announced a global expansion that aims to have 100 more of the eateries open around the world by the beginning of 2022.

Keep scrolling to see what the restaurant, which serves in-flight meals on the ground, is really like.

Named Santan Restaurant and T&CO Cafe, after a type of coconut milk frequently used in Malaysian cuisine, AirAsia's restaurant features a variety of dishes from the airline's in-flight menu.

Santan's flagship restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Courtesy of AirAsia

Named Santan Restaurant and T&CO Cafe, after a type of coconut milk frequently used in Malaysian cuisine, AirAsia's restaurant features a variety of dishes from the airline's in-flight menu.

At the time of the restaurant's opening in December 2019, guests could order online or using these nifty touch-screen kiosks.

Touch-screen kiosks at Santan's flagship restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Courtesy of AirAsia

The restaurant's general manager, Catherine Goh, said in a press release at the time: "We have seen a significant appetite for our in-flight menu offerings beyond our flights across the region and this is our answer to that demand."

Vietnamese lemongrass chicken with rice. Courtesy of AirAsia

The restaurant's general manager, Catherine Goh, said in a press release at the time: "We have seen a significant appetite for our in-flight menu offerings beyond our flights across the region and this is our answer to that demand."

She previously told Insider: "[In 2018] alone, over 24 million Santan hot meals were served in-flight and often sparked positive conversations on social media."

What a meal looks like on an AirAsia flight. Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/Getty

Goh said that the Santan brand was introduced in 2015 as a gourmet in-flight dining experience (all meals cost extra), but that it is now "not just a brand, but a lifestyle."

Santan's flagship restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Courtesy of AirAsia

Goh said that the Santan brand was introduced in 2015 as a gourmet in-flight dining experience (all meals cost extra), but that it is now "not just a brand, but a lifestyle."

According to Reuters, 30% of the menu on the ground came from the airline's in-flight offerings, and that a team of chefs spent nine months coming up with the rest.

The menu on the ground is very similar to the one served in-flight. Lim Huey Teng/Reuters

Beloved dishes from the in-flight menu include Thai basil chicken with rice ...

Thai basil chicken with rice. Courtesy of AirAsia

... nasi padang beef rendang, a kind of spicy Indonesian beef curry with rice ...

Nasi padang beef rendang. Courtesy of AirAsia

... and Uncle Chin's chicken rice.

Uncle Chin's chicken rice. Courtesy of AirAsia

Santan's menu debuted a few items that weren't on the in-flight menu when it opened such as Cambodian pineapple fish fillet noodles ...

Cambodian pineapple fish fillet noodles. Courtesy of AirAsia

... chicken satay with peanut sauce ...

Chicken satay with peanut sauce. Courtesy of AirAsia

... and fried chicken with nam prik mayo, a spicy chili sauce popular in Thailand.

Fried chicken with nam prik mayo (a spicy chili sauce). Courtesy of AirAsia

One obstacle Santan faced? That our taste buds change at altitude. Much like having a cold, our senses are dulled, rendering food bland-tasting.

Food tastes different in-flight than it does on the ground. katso80/iStock

Goh said at the time that Santan adapted recipes accordingly "to ensure that meals taste as good on the ground as they do in the sky."

Mee goreng with ayam goreng (spicy fried noodles with fried chicken). Courtesy of AirAsia

The restaurant serves bigger portions than those offered in-flight, but for a similar price. Meals cost around between $3 and $4 when purchased with a drink.

Combo meals include drinks, such as coconut water. Courtesy of AirAsia

At the time of writing, there are 15 Santan restaurants in Malaysia, which have been doing well during the pandemic, according to a press release from AirAsia.

This location had 4.6 stars on Google at the time of writing. Google Maps

In October, AirAsia announced a global expansion that aims to have 100 more of the eateries open around the world by the beginning of 2022, with an eye on China and the UK to start.

Santan's flagship restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Courtesy of AirAsia

In October, AirAsia announced a global expansion that aims to have 100 more of the eateries open around the world by the beginning of 2022, with an eye on China and the UK to start.

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An airline restaurant that serves in-flight meals on the ground has been such a hit it's expanding globally. Here's what's on the menu.

Named Santan Restaurant and T&CO Cafe, after a type of coconut milk frequently used in Malaysian cuisine, AirAsia's restaurant features a variety of dishes from the airline's in-flight menu.

At the time of the restaurant's opening in December 2019, guests could order online or using these nifty touch-screen kiosks.

The restaurant's general manager, Catherine Goh, said in a press release at the time: "We have seen a significant appetite for our in-flight menu offerings beyond our flights across the region and this is our answer to that demand."

She previously told Insider: "[In 2018] alone, over 24 million Santan hot meals were served in-flight and often sparked positive conversations on social media."

Goh said that the Santan brand was introduced in 2015 as a gourmet in-flight dining experience (all meals cost extra), but that it is now "not just a brand, but a lifestyle."

According to Reuters, 30% of the menu on the ground came from the airline's in-flight offerings, and that a team of chefs spent nine months coming up with the rest.

Beloved dishes from the in-flight menu include Thai basil chicken with rice ...

... nasi padang beef rendang, a kind of spicy Indonesian beef curry with rice ...

... and Uncle Chin's chicken rice.

Santan's menu debuted a few items that weren't on the in-flight menu when it opened such as Cambodian pineapple fish fillet noodles ...

... chicken satay with peanut sauce ...

... and fried chicken with nam prik mayo, a spicy chili sauce popular in Thailand.

One obstacle Santan faced? That our taste buds change at altitude. Much like having a cold, our senses are dulled, rendering food bland-tasting.

Goh said at the time that Santan adapted recipes accordingly "to ensure that meals taste as good on the ground as they do in the sky."

The restaurant serves bigger portions than those offered in-flight, but for a similar price. Meals cost around between $3 and $4 when purchased with a drink.

At the time of writing, there are 15 Santan restaurants in Malaysia, which have been doing well during the pandemic, according to a press release from AirAsia.

In October, AirAsia announced a global expansion that aims to have 100 more of the eateries open around the world by the beginning of 2022, with an eye on China and the UK to start.