What's Your Favorite Food Court Stop?
Over at Chowhound there's a great thread about favorite food court eats—like Hot Dog on a Stick, or Manchu Wok, or the now-defunct (but apparently once beloved) Hot Sam's Pretzels.
I was always, always a Cinnabon girl, even after the day I realized they packed about half my daily recommended caloric value. Gooey cinnamon treats trump just about everything else in my book. In all honesty, if I were given a month to live, I would probably start every one of my remaining mornings with a Cinnabon.
But there's a whole world out there of shiny, colorful food court booths. What's your favorite stop at the food court?
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56 Comments:
Bourbon Chicken - Food Of The Gods
redfish at 7:49PM on 07/16/09
Wherever theres' a food court, you can usually find real food within spitting distance from that stuff. I'll go for the cookies & Ice cream though...
tinytim at 7:57PM on 07/16/09
My favorite is It's Greek to You at some of the malls locally. Shallow menu, but what they serve is done well.
Cajun N Grill has addictive bourbon chicken, but something I can only consume once a year.
Of course, Orange Julius at Orange Julius are yummy when I am parched after shuffling all over the mall. I prefer to make them at home though.
Cassaendra at 8:00PM on 07/16/09
@redfish, YES! bourbon chicken was the lifeblood of my long island malling days. haven't had it in years!
jbrach at 8:07PM on 07/16/09
Orange Julius or an Auntie Annie's pretzel (even though I'm in Philly and have access to real hot pretzels)
gingercookiewithlime at 8:15PM on 07/16/09
Used to love Orange Julius, but I work in a mall, so it gets old. My favorites in our mall are Hibachi-San and Red Mango. I'm sure I could eat Red Mango forever.
amanda0730 at 8:26PM on 07/16/09
This place called Salad on a Bun at the Citadel in LA.
beth1 at 8:29PM on 07/16/09
"It Only Looks Like a Waffle" from Broadway Mall in Hicksville, NY circa 10 years ago. Essentially belgian waffles (of different varieties, to boot) covered with simple syrup (or something). Always worth it back then, and I'm sad to see that it was, apparently, a one-of-a-kind storefront.
First Chair at 8:58PM on 07/16/09
Of the above, I'd have to pick Cinnabon. When I see Sbarro I laugh because I knew the original Sbarro family who had the store on 17th Avenue and 65th Street in Brooklyn. Whichever of them sold the name was a genius.
therealchiffonade at 8:59PM on 07/16/09
I like Hot Dog on a Stick's lemonade. The red kind especially. And Orange Julius is great, I like their smoothies better than Jamba cuz they're a lot easier to drink and usually smaller. Unfortunately, I the only one I know of in San Jose closed like 10 years ago, so I miss them. I found one in Seattle, so that was great.
geenersaurus at 9:19PM on 07/16/09
I love Cold Stone Creamery.
FryPrayEatPassOut at 9:22PM on 07/16/09
Tacone, Sbarro
runnereater at 9:36PM on 07/16/09
Sbarro, Cinnabon, and Orange Julius
caramel at 9:44PM on 07/16/09
No Orange Julii (is that the correct plural?) around here for years. But my darn stepdaughter intro'd me to Auntie Anne's, and I rue the day. Love 'em.
lemons at 10:25PM on 07/16/09
Orange Julius wins, although I have a HUGE soft spot for greasy Sbarro's. Oh, and Hot Sam's pizza pretzels.
worldcupfever at 10:50PM on 07/16/09
Yogen Fruz, though I think that's a Canadian thing.
piccola at 11:03PM on 07/16/09
Love Manchu Wok, love Cinnabon -- though I can only eat about half of one.
Skythe at 11:04PM on 07/16/09
Greek food, bourbon street grill, and anything with ice cream. Yum.
@Skythe, do you get the small cinnabon or the large?
@piccola have you had the green tea yogenfruz?
ag3208 at 11:20PM on 07/16/09
Kohr Brothers frozen custard
salpico at 11:23PM on 07/16/09
Orange Julius!! Wow haven't thought about them in years--when I was a young'n, I used to love the display of faux oranges under glass at the one in my local mall. I just Googled and found two of them near me...am I going to rock a Julius tomorrow? The answer is yes.
radish at 1:38AM on 07/17/09
Nathan's hot dogs...hands down. Love those crinkly fries!
amiyrah18 at 3:27AM on 07/17/09
@geenersaurus - there is an orange julius at the Westgate mall off Saratoga
droostring at 3:35AM on 07/17/09
Sadly, I'm not in Los Angeles any longer -- maybe for the better? -- because I could go EVERY DAY to Hana Grill in the Westside Pavillion and get the tempura zucchini, served with a dipping sauce I'm pretty sure is some form of liquid crack.
Also, Wetzel's Pretzels - the original, with salt and butter.
kimonkey7 at 7:07AM on 07/17/09
There used to be a place [and forgive me I can't remember the name] that served fresh, sliced turkey with all the fixings - gravy, mashed taters, cranberry sauce or just turkey sandwiches - it was amazing! But it doesn't exist anymore :( It was neat to watch them carve whole, roasted turkeys!
My second choice would be Steak and Potato for the baked potatoes with fixings or Sbarro b/c our local mall has the greatest people working there and the pizza is always so yum!
SkippyMom at 7:16AM on 07/17/09
Rubio's. I still think their fish taco's are the best I've ever had.
kimbodian at 8:07AM on 07/17/09
Auntie Anne's jalapeno pretzel is always a favorite. There used to be a Korn Dog stand at a mall in Plattsburgh, NY that served deep fried pickle wedges with ranch dressing--hands down one of my favorite salty snacks. And at Sbarro, I have always like the broccoli and spinach stuffed pizza.
dhorst at 8:21AM on 07/17/09
after perusing the free samples of bourbon chicken, sesame chicken, and auntie anne's...i'm all about the Pecan Cinnabon!
_greenbean at 8:43AM on 07/17/09
What, no love for Panda Express? They've got my vote.
galoshes at 9:39AM on 07/17/09
Another vote for Bourbon chicken! and Arby's.
Does anyone else ever find that it can be kind of sickening to eat en entire large cinnabon, but is SO easy to eat multiple small cinnabons??? Maybe it's just me :)
minji at 9:45AM on 07/17/09
Great Steak and Potato. Can't beat those fresh cut fries.
DJ Dedd at 9:47AM on 07/17/09
I am guilty of stopping at Sbarro's for a cheese calzone... but the ones in Puerto Rico only - because they FRY them!!!! And the sauce is super good. I just love them even if it kills me in the end... and an ice cream cone from Soft & Creamy - the best soft serve ice cream EVER!! It's a local chain owned by a dairy company, owned by the same owner the malls where they're located. It's just heaven...
MadelynRodriguez at 9:49AM on 07/17/09
i know it's terrible, but taco bell. it's really the only kind of food court / fast food / rest stop type of food that doesn't make me sick
jackgib at 10:42AM on 07/17/09
Chik-fil-A. Until recently around here you could only find them in food courts. The one I used to go to for lunch closed and I've been sadder for it.
And you Sbarro people should hang your heads in shame. It's not even a guilty pleasure. . .
joeqboo at 10:42AM on 07/17/09
The poutine from New York Fries. Hit's the spot for salty, greasy, gravy-smothered cheese curdy fries every time.
cickert at 10:44AM on 07/17/09
We just got an Orange Julius at one of our malls last year. I remember them from when I was a kid in Los Angeles in the 1950's. I love Greek Fiesta, especially their stuffed grape leaves. I have been eating falafel at the mall for almost 30 years now. Place was called Hector's and I have no clue what it is called now. I think Taza, maybe. Anyhow, Raleigh has some really good places that actually are healthy and the food is restaurant quality.
queenbleu at 11:19AM on 07/17/09
Another Orange Julius addict here...
hungrychristel at 11:30AM on 07/17/09
I love, love, love Kohr's Brothers. And if I'm hungover, sorry but a guilty pleasure of greasy Sbarro's is exactly what I want.
cheesebreadbutter at 12:22PM on 07/17/09
-oh also, Boardwalk Fries. mm mm mm
cheesebreadbutter at 12:23PM on 07/17/09
Cinnabon baby!
With Hot Dog on a Stick as a close second.
Bring on the calories.
swaaaan at 12:35PM on 07/17/09
L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Can't beat the shortribs and macaroni salad!! Or even a spam musubi as a quick snack. If not, I'd opt for almost any Mongolian BBQ the mall has to offer.
phishfood21 at 1:15PM on 07/17/09
Oh yeah Bourbon Chicken represent!!
My friends and i called it Bourbon Shittin it tasted good but you wanted to make sure you knew the location of the nearest bathroom when you finished.
FrankP at 1:30PM on 07/17/09
#1 Mongolian BBQ at Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, CA
#2 Orange Julius - love the Strawberry Julius drink!
Paula Maack at 1:40PM on 07/17/09
I'm with you on Cinnabon. The pliable, just-chewy softness of the dough...the sugar...the cinnamon...screw calories. I actually REJOICE when I see employees rolling out a new batch, diligently filling each counter-long roll of dough with pounds of butter and sugar :D Cinnamon buns are time-consuming to make at home, especially given I only want them warm and fresh. Also, making them myself makes me cringe at the indecent amounts of sugar and butter and skimp.
Pammeh at 2:42PM on 07/17/09
It's not so much that I like the cookies, but I love the way Mrs. Fields smells. When I was growing up in Hong Kong, the subway station closest to my house had a Mrs. Fields stand, and even before you entered the station, you'd be hit with the warm smell of baking cookies...
Michele Humes at 2:53PM on 07/17/09
Nathan's.
bessfour at 3:28PM on 07/17/09
@Michele Humes - I totally know what you mean! I interned in Hong Kong for two months in the winter, and both subway stations (the one by my house and the one by my work) had a Mrs. Fields stand. I was always SO tempted to treat myself to a cookie after work, but couldn't spoil dinner!
In terms of my usual food court pick, it has to be Veggirama/Choices. They usually have a delicious veggie lasagna which I pair with beet salad and some other salad (pasta, tabbouleh, fruit, whatever mood I'm in) So good and makes me feel less guilty about eating at a food court (haha!)
Vincci at 3:30PM on 07/17/09
My daughter works at Hot Dog on a Stick so yeah.... gotta love them. :)
Karee at 3:57PM on 07/17/09
i haven't been to a mall in years but i usually went with hot sams or taco bell..or ditched the food court altogether and got a sundae at the sit-down friendly's that seemed to be in every upstate ny mall.
sloppy at 5:10PM on 07/17/09
Another vote for Nathan's. And Chick-fil-A.
lynnnj at 5:24PM on 07/17/09
@ cickert - OMG I forgot about the NYF Poutine...I change my answer! Best hangover remedy on the planet
hungrychristel at 5:55PM on 07/17/09
Shrimp salad at Ivar's at the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham...or the fish tacos at Tres Hermanos in the same mall. Sigh.
Marti at 1:07AM on 07/18/09
When I was little, I would go back-to-school shopping with my mom, and our treat at the end of the day was to split a Cinnabon cinnamon roll ... it was a big highlight! Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzels and slices from Pizzeria Regina are also favorites.
poke87 at 11:11AM on 07/18/09
@SkippyMom I think you might be thinking of Cranberry Farms. I think they only exist in college dining halls now.
cunning at 3:32PM on 07/18/09
Waffle fries from Chick-fil-A, but only on the East Coast. I also love Hana Grill or whatever little place does teriyaki bowls. Annie's pretzels with honey mustard dip are my favorite late afternoon snack.
football foodie at 6:56PM on 07/19/09
Roli Boli for the Deli Boli. Not sure if there are any more around but it was a favorite growing up in NJ. Also, I Can't Believe it's Yogurt - used to work there and it was so good.
aem8770 at 12:04PM on 07/20/09
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!, mostly for the name.
candk at 8:30PM on 07/20/09