# Food court gourmandise. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 28, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789 "2014-10-28T19:21:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/21 "2014-10-28T22:57:20Z")
Probably Lebanese, doner kebab or falafel. Chinese dumplings are the latest fad here and they’re OK, but better if you have someone to share with. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/22 "2014-10-28T23:04:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My problem with the mall food court is the seating. I just can’t sit there and enjoy a meal. Sorry. I’d leave the mall and stop for sushi/pizza/burger/whatever and eat without seeing people walking by carrying bags. I’m the opposite. Aside from the plethora of cuisine choices, the people watching aspect is one of the best things about food court fine dining. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/23 "2014-10-28T23:07:10Z")
Apparently I am one of very few people that does not particularly like Asian fast food places (and there’s a Panda Express in a shopping center 1/4 mile from where I live). My choice probably depends on what I’m in the mood for and what I have eaten in the previous few days, but, based on what fast food places I normally associate with food courts: Wienerschnitzel (although I haven’t seen one in a food court in about 10 years) Sbarro Charley’s Steakery Hot Dog on a Stick (would be higher if it wasn’t so expensive - $2.75 for a corn dog? Seriously?) Chick-Fil-A ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/24 "2014-10-28T23:13:59Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’m the opposite. Aside from the plethora of cuisine choices, the people watching aspect is one of the best things about food court fine dining. I bear the misfortune of being strikingly handsome. The parade of shoppers is watching _me_. ☹ [Heh.](http://www.troll.me/images/trolling-einstein/just-fuckin-with-ya.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/25 "2014-10-28T23:18:26Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > If your mall is lucky enough to have one: It’s the place usually run by Asians that are selling Cajun style food in stir fry form. I always get the bourbon chicken. A thousand times this. I don’t know what the story is here, but this stuff is delightful. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/26 "2014-10-28T23:26:00Z")
Lately it’s been Subway because I almost always have my grand daughter with me and she likes the meat and cheese, but until they closed recently, it was a place that had wraps. The Mediterranean Vegie wraps were awesome. I’m not too picky about chinese though, so that’s at least very filling and will usually feed more than one. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/27 "2014-10-28T23:58:14Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > If your mall is lucky enough to have one: It’s the place usually run by Asians that are selling Cajun style food in stir fry form. I always get the bourbon chicken. I’ve never had better food in a food court than the bourbon chicken. If you get enough sauce, it even makes the crappy rice they serve eatable. As a secondary choice, I’d go with Sbarro’s. Forget what it was I’d get - think it was a slice of meat-lover’s calzone, or some personal-sized calzone, along with extra sauce for dipping. A greasy, lukewarm, guilty pleasure. I can’t actually eat wheat anymore, but I’m going by what I WOULD eat if I could. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/28 "2014-10-29T00:28:15Z")
If it’s a generi-mall, then it’s probably the Japanese place that does Teriaki Chicken. If it’s the food court down the road, then there’s an Indian place that does Chicken Biryani with Chana Masala. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/29 "2014-10-29T00:36:12Z")
'Round these parts, there are Thai places in the malls. I’ll go for that. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/30 "2014-10-29T01:39:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I bear the misfortune of being strikingly handsome. The parade of shoppers is watching _me_. ☹ Or is it because you left the house without your pants again?.. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/31 "2014-10-29T01:43:11Z")
Looking at my choices at the nearby Great Mall of Milpitas, I’ll go with Sam’s Kabob and Gyro. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/32 "2014-10-29T06:50:50Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > If your mall is lucky enough to have one: It’s the place usually run by Asians that are selling Cajun style food in stir fry form. I always get the bourbon chicken. I’ll go around and check out all the food places . . . then return for bourbon chicken. Sometimes I’ll go to the mall, just to get some. In a pinch, I’ll get a couple slices of Sbarro pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/33 "2014-10-29T15:59:21Z")
Probably Sbarro, because their calzones are really good (though not what they used to be), and you can only find them in food courts. I might also go with a local chain called Mr Hero, though they’re more often in strip malls than food courts: They have a thing called a Romanburger that’s the delicious bastard child of a burger and an Italian sub. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/34 "2014-10-29T16:06:17Z")
Sarku Japanese. They do a nice teriyaki chicken and a reasonably good tempura. Otherwise Popeye’s or a basic egg drop soup and rice from the local Chinese place. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789/35 "2014-10-29T16:28:41Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Depending on my mood, either Taco Bell, Sbarro, Panda Express, or the no-name gyros place that they always have around here. (It’s called Pinky’s in the food court in the State of Illinois building) Pinky’s is actually really good and also very reasonably priced for the loop. The grill man there knows his way around a grill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-court-gourmandise/702789.md?page=1)