Food Courts
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A food court (in Asia-Pacific also called food hall or
hawker centre A hawker centre (), or cooked food centre (), is an often open-air complex commonly found in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. They are intended to provide a more sanitary alternative to mobile hawker carts and contain many stall ...
) is generally an indoor plaza or
common area A common area is, in real estate or real property law, the "area which is available for use by more than one person..." The common areas are those that are available for common use by all tenants, (or) groups of tenants and their invitees.
within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food
vendors In a supply chain, a vendor, supplier, provider or a seller, is an enterprise that contributes goods or services. Generally, a supply chain vendor manufactures inventory/stock items and sells them to the next link in the chain. Today, these term ...
and provides a common area for self-serve dinner. It can also be a public dining area in front of a cafe or diner. Food courts may be found in
shopping mall A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a large indoor shopping center, usually Anchor tenant, anchored by department stores. The term ''mall'' originally meant pedestrian zone, a pedestrian promenade with shops along it, but in the late 1960s, i ...
s,
airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...
s, and
park A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
s. In various regions (such as Asia, the Americas, and Africa), a food court may be a standalone development. In some places of learning such as high schools and universities, food courts have also come to replace or complement traditional
cafeteria A cafeteria, called canteen outside the U.S., is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether in a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a scho ...
s.


Typical usage

Food courts consist of a number of vendors at food stalls or service counters. Meals are ordered at one of the vendors and then carried to a common dining area, often using a common food tray standardized across all the court's vendors. The food may also be ordered as
takeout A take-out (US, Canada, Philippines) or takeaway (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth English, Commonwealth) is a prepared meal or other food items purchased at a restaurant or fast food outlet with the intent to eat elsewhere. A concept found in many C ...
for consumption at another location, such as a home or workplace. In this case, it may be packaged in plastic or
foam food container A foam food container is a form of disposable food packaging for various foods and beverages, such as processed instant noodles, raw meat from supermarkets, ice cream from ice cream parlors, cooked food from delicatessens or food stalls, or beve ...
s on location. Vendors at food courts may also sell pre-packaged meals for consumers to take home. Food is usually eaten with plastic cutlery, and
spork A spork is a form of cutlery and combination utensil taking the form of a spoon-like scoop with two to four fork-like tines. Spork-like utensils, such as the terrapin fork or ice cream fork, have been manufactured since the late 19th century; ...
s are sometimes used to avoid the necessity of providing both
fork In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods either to h ...
s and
spoon A spoon (, ) is a utensil consisting of a shallow bowl (also known as a head), oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery (sometimes called flatware in the United States), especially as part of a table setting, place setting, it ...
s. There are exceptions:
Carrefour Laval Carrefour Laval (corporately styled as "CF Carrefour Laval") is a superregional shopping mall in Laval, Quebec, Canada. It is located in the Chomedey neighbourhood of the city at the intersection of Laurentian Autoroute (A-15) and Autoroute J ...
requires its food court tenants to use solid dinnerware and
cutlery Cutlery (also referred to as silverware, flatware, or tableware) includes any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in Western culture. A person who makes or sells cutlery is called a cutler. While most cutlers ...
which it provides. Common materials used in constructing food courts are
tile Tiles are usually thin, square or rectangular coverings manufactured from hard-wearing material such as ceramic, Rock (geology), stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass. They are generally fixed in place in an array to cover roofs, floors, wal ...
,
linoleum Linoleum is a floor covering made from materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), Pine Resin, pine resin, ground Cork (material), cork dust, sawdust, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a Hessian fabric, hes ...
,
Formica ''Formica'' is a genus of ants of the subfamily Formicinae, including species commonly known as wood ants, mound ants, thatching ants, and field ants. ''Formica'' is the type genus of the Formicidae, and of the subfamily Formicinae. The type ...
,
stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...
, and
glass Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline solid, non-crystalline) solid. Because it is often transparency and translucency, transparent and chemically inert, glass has found widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in window pane ...
, all of which facilitate easy cleanup.


History

The second-floor food court at the
Paramus Park Paramus Park is a shopping mall located in Paramus, New Jersey, United States. It opened in 1974, is owned by Brookfield Properties, and has a gross leasable area (GLA) of . Description Paramus Park is located on a plot of land between the ...
shopping mall in
Paramus, New Jersey Paramus ( Waggoner, Walter H, ''The New York Times'', February 16, 1966. Accessed October 16, 2018. "Paramus – pronounced puh-RAHM-us, with the accent on the second syllable – may have taken its name from 'perremus' or 'perymus,' Indian for ...
, which opened in March 1974, has been credited as the first successful shopping mall food court in the United States. However, a food court at the Sherway Gardens shopping center in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, Ontario, Canada, was constructed three years earlier. Built by
the Rouse Company The Rouse Company was a publicly traded shopping mall and community developer from 1956 until 2004, when GGP Inc., General Growth Properties (GGP) purchased the company. It was founded by Hunter Moss and James Rouse, James W. Rouse in 1939. Begin ...
, one of the leading mall building companies of the time, it followed an unsuccessful attempt at the
Plymouth Meeting Mall The Plymouth Meeting Mall is a shopping mall that is located in the community of Plymouth Meeting in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, approximately northwest of Center City, Philadelphia. It is situated at the intersection Germantown Pike ...
in 1971, which reportedly failed because it was "deemed too small and insufficiently varied".Bloom, Nicholas Dagen
"Public Life as Consumerism: American Businessmen Revolutionize Suburban Commerce"
in ''From Department Store to Shopping Mall'' (2005)
The concept has since evolved in the USA in the form of the
food hall A food hall is a large standalone location or department store section where food and drinks are sold. Overview Unlike food courts made up of fast food chains, food halls typically mix local artisan restaurants, butcher shops and other food- ...
which has increased in popularity in the US. In
Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
, the food court has evolved into the food-park concept, where food stalls are located on park like open space. There are several food-parks in Jakarta now. In Thailand, the first food court was called Mahbunkhrong Food Center inside Mahbunkhrong Center (modern-day
MBK Center MBK Center (), previously known as Mahbunkhrong Center (, , ), is a large shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. At eight storeys, the center contains around 2,000 shops, restaurants and service outlets. In 2009, MBK Center management reported d ...
), opened on February 7, 1985, along with a shopping center. It was considered the largest food court in the country. In 2014, it was improved to MBK Food Island.


Evolution

In the 1990s, food courts became a shopping mall staple. Food courts became such an integral part of culture that colleges and universities began to incorporate food-court like settings in their cafeteria, and even brought name-brand franchises (
KFC KFC Corporation, doing business as KFC (an abbreviation of Kentucky Fried Chicken), is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken and chicken sandwiches. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world's se ...
,
Taco Bell Taco Bell Corp. is an American multinational chain of fast food restaurants founded in 1962 by Glen Bell (1923–2010) in Downey, California. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve a variety of Mexican-inspired ...
, Subway, etc.) into partnership with the schools. Soon after, airports, as well as many office buildings, incorporated food court layouts in their public spaces as it allows franchises and businesses to gain a wide spectrum of consumers for profit. In 2010, eating out became more common for an average American in comparison to eating at-home meals. Approximately 47% of their food budget would go towards eating out at restaurants or at food courts. Though food courts still exist, many
food hall A food hall is a large standalone location or department store section where food and drinks are sold. Overview Unlike food courts made up of fast food chains, food halls typically mix local artisan restaurants, butcher shops and other food- ...
elements have been incorporated into food court settings.In order for vendors to succeed in this setting, businesses feel as though they have to keep up with the popularity of fresh food and stray away from the traditional unhealthy, fast food reputation of food courts. In the following years, food courts have evolved in response to shifting consumer preferences and broader cultural changes. One example of this transformation is the Time Out Market, which began in Lisbon in 2014. This food court concept focuses on both convenience and dining experiences of higher quality. Time Out Market was developed to curate a selection of the city's food and drink offerings, bringing together local chefs under one roof. The shift toward gourmet and diverse menus reflects a growing demand for both quality and variety in dining experiences. Time Out Market combines food with cultural activities, positioning the food court as a destination rather than just a place for quick meals. This development reflects an increasing emphasis on quality and experience, which were not traditionally associated with food courts. This trend toward an elevated food court experience is also evident in the rise of entertainment malls, where food courts play a central role. In these entertainment-focused malls, food courts have evolved from supplementary elements to integral parts of the shopping experience. According to the
International Council of Shopping Centers The International Council of Shopping Centers, doing business as ICSC, is the global trade association of what it calls the "Marketplaces Industry" (i.e., shopping centers, shopping malls, and all other retail real estate). History Founded in ...
(ICSC), a growing portion of mall space is now dedicated to food and beverage offerings, as these areas contribute to customer satisfaction. Malls have shifted from being primarily retail spaces to becoming social hubs that combine dining, entertainment, and leisure activities. Food courts serve as central gathering points, helping to create an atmosphere that appeals to a broader consumer base. As consumer demand for variety and quality has increased, food courts have expanded in size and diversity. Modern food courts now include a range of dining options, such as healthier choices, ethnic cuisine, and high-quality dishes. This shift reflects broader changes in consumer behaviour, with many seeking more diverse and nutritious food offerings. Research on consumer satisfaction in food courts has shown that food quality and variety are key factors in attracting and retaining customers. In response, mall operators have curated diverse food offerings to meet these expectations, which has contributed to customer engagement and loyalty. In 2009, mall sales reached an approximated $49 billion, and food courts generally did better than other food services inside the malls. The sales, per-square-foot, for food courts declined only 1.7% during that year, while fast-food outlets and full-service restaurants inside malls declined 4.4 and 6%, respectively, according to the ICSC. For several years, Business Insider named Panda Express as one of the first food court businesses achieving notorious success in the industry. One of the reasons for Panda Express' success was due to their constant change and upgrading of their menu items.
Costco Wholesale Costco Wholesale Corporation is an American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only big-box warehouse club retail stores. As of 2021, Costco is the third-largest retailer in the world, and as of August 2024, Costc ...
has one of the largest and most successful businesses that benefit from the revenue generated by food court sales. While many food court businesses pursue a healthy and fresh image, Costco aligns their food court branding with the stereotypical fast food image. By placing their food court near the exit of their store, Costco is able to generate more revenue, encouraging customers to linger in the store longer and purchase more products. It is one of their main business strategies, since Costco is known for its bulk products, its prices, and its food court. Since the experience of localized and fusion food trends have been very prominent in North American culture, food trucks have recently been a trend in the industry. The local aspect of food trucks combined with the community aspect of food courts has enabled the recent trend of food truck rallies. By using food trucks as a promotional tool, many vendors are able to brand themselves to fit the demand of local businesses in the realm of franchise competition.


Globalization and variations in cuisine

As a consequence of
globalization Globalization is the process of increasing interdependence and integration among the economies, markets, societies, and cultures of different countries worldwide. This is made possible by the reduction of barriers to international trade, th ...
, food courts across the world have seen an increase in the variations of cuisines offered. One example of this is the expansion of Western fast-food chains within food courts, like
McDonald’s McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American multinational fast food chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea. Brothers R ...
, which provides consumers with a familiar quick service experience. However, Mcdonald's is complex in that it plays into localization. Localization, in this instance, is defined as tailoring the food offerings to align with the cultural, religious, and regional needs of the consumers. In India, the McAloo Tikki Burger, a vegetarian option, was created to accommodate dietary restrictions and uphold cultural values while safeguarding the brand’s identity as an American fast-food provider. Still, some food courts include local cuisine to preserve identity. The flagship location of TimeOut Market in Lisbon, Portugal, demonstrates this approach by maintaining a strong cultural identity. This food court emphasizes local flavours and regional delicacies, including
pastel de nata (; : ) is a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry, optionally dusted with cinnamon. Outside Portugal, they are particularly popular in other parts of Western Europe, Asia and former Portuguese colonies, such as Brazil, Mozambique, Macau, Goa, ...
, Alentejo ham, and
Bacalhau à Brás Bacalhau à Brás (, meaning "salt cod in the style of Brás") is a Portuguese dish made from shreds of salted cod (bacalhau), onions and thinly chopped (matchstick-sized) fried potatoes, all bound with eggs. It is usually garnished with black oli ...
, alongside global offerings. Time Out Market Lisbon also highlights renowned Portuguese chefs, like Henrique Sá Pessoa whose food reflects his Portuguese origins and international cuisine. This food court demonstrates globalization by catering to a diverse audience, including tourists and locals, with its cosmopolitan food options, while maintaining its cultural roots. In food-courts, globalization has enabled individuals to experience new cuisine outside of its geographic origin. For example, food such as sushi that was once tied to specific geographic and cultural context has become a staple enjoyed by consumers in food-courts globally. Vancouver-based sushi chef Hidekazu Tojo devised the
California roll or California maki contains imitation crab (or rarely real crab), avocado, and cucumber. Sometimes crab salad is substituted for the crab stick. In America it comes as '' uramaki'' (inside-out ''makizushi'' roll) and often the outer layer of ri ...
in 1971, and this adaptation has played a pivotal role in popularizing sushi in the West. Today chains like Edo Japan, with over 100 food court locations across Canada, US, and Australia, serve Japanese inspired sushi dishes.


Economic aspects

Some food courts exist in virtue of a
captive market A captive market is a market where the potential consumers face a severely limited number of competitive suppliers; their only choices are to purchase what is available or to make no purchase at all. The term therefore applies to any market wher ...
; a reunion of fast-food chains taking advantage of an economic vacuum where customers need a place to rest and enjoy relatively cheap food. For example, Costco's hot dog vendors exist in a space where their clientele is unlikely to find many other convenient sources of food nearby. These food courts do tremendously well, bringing in US$1 billion to Costco annually.   Increasingly common, though, has been the change to something resembling the British notion of
food hall A food hall is a large standalone location or department store section where food and drinks are sold. Overview Unlike food courts made up of fast food chains, food halls typically mix local artisan restaurants, butcher shops and other food- ...
s, where customers can find more local chains or even artisan restaurants. These become sort of hubs for the mall and eventually attractions of their own, drawing in their share of customers. Traditionally these new food court/food hall hybrids attract younger clientele, now including bars and, in the case of the malls owned by the
Washington Prime Group Washington Prime Group Inc. is an American real estate investment trust that invests in shopping centers. The company is organized in Indiana with its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. From January 2015 to September 2016, the company had the name WP ...
, even adding craft breweries. As an example, in Egypt, this new view of food courts as potent sources of customers for the mall has become quite prevalent. The mall hypermarket, exploding to match population growth, now includes various ventures into gastronomy including food courts. Here this is qualified as a symptom of malls beginning to become less retail-centric and more about the experience and ambiance of going to the mall. Food courts tend to have a complex internal economy. Although the food court functions as one unit, its vendors still exist and act independent of each other. They share one set of customers and they compete for clientele. If one vendor increases the quality of their product, that decreases demand for other vendors at the food court. However, any increase in quality from any vendor also entails a bolstering of the entire food court’s reputation, beneficial for all vendors. This dilemma is not as likely where the food court provides a range of culinary options distinct from vendor to vendor, and vendors are less primed to compete against one another.


See also

*
Food hall A food hall is a large standalone location or department store section where food and drinks are sold. Overview Unlike food courts made up of fast food chains, food halls typically mix local artisan restaurants, butcher shops and other food- ...
*
Cafeteria A cafeteria, called canteen outside the U.S., is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether in a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a scho ...
*
Hawker centre A hawker centre (), or cooked food centre (), is an often open-air complex commonly found in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. They are intended to provide a more sanitary alternative to mobile hawker carts and contain many stall ...


References


External links

* * {{Retail Restaurants by type