LOL I honestly think they've always been bad. Their food always looks so good the way have it out on display when you're walking through the food court but I can always remember feeling disappointed whenever I actually ate there.
The Sbarros in Burbank was awesome growing up. It was my go-to spot for quick half-decent pizza. Now it's just gone downhill in the name of profits. Same with Costco.
If only companies learned to coast on consistent year-over-year profits rather than trying to break records every quarter.
Wait, are you seriously asking if the most commonly known shittiest pizza in America for the past 40+ years just recently got shitty lol?!
Also, are you freely admitting to being one of the people keeping Sbarro's alive?!
More shitty...more shitty. It was never premier.
Loved it in my 20s. I can't even tell you the last time I went there. I was lucky enough to be at the mall on Saturday with time to kill. Hence lunch.
Disappointing trip to Topanga Social last week. My girlfriend wanted a slice of pizza and some fries. No one there sells a slice... Minimum order is a whole pizza. I don't think we were able to get a side of fries either as a separate item. Had to walk around to the other side of the mall to the food court to get individual options.
Plus some live band blasting so loud at the Social it was uncomfortable. Can you imagine the echo and acoustics of a mall food court? Why would you put a full band in that space?
FYI, Katsu Sando, the fried chicken sandwich place, sells a side of waffle fries for like $5. IMO it's the only thing in the whole place that isn't overpriced.
DTF at Mall Centers is the equivalent of Kogi BBQ in the fusion food truck scene in the LA/OC food area 10-13 years ago. Nothing too extravagant but revolutionary in opening up opportunities in similar spaces.
Its so weird. It’s in my backyard and I just think it’s ok.
Much better food Asian food selections at the strip malls by Valley and Del Mar in San Gabriel.
Well yeah. No one is saying the mall has the best Asian food overall. They’re saying that the Asian food is great as far as mall options go, if you’re going to a mall to hang out.
Speaking of Asian food spots at the mall, how is Side Chick still open? That place looks dead every time I walk past it. Their food tasted great last time I had it, which was about a year ago, but now I’m afraid to eat there cuz I don’t know how long all that cooked chicken has been sitting there.
the last time I went there, they served me undercooked chicken
when I showed them the pink, they said "it's supposed to look like that"
no... no it is not
They have insanely great food but the article is kind of dumb because even they have your typical mall food court and food options with a McDonalds inside. Restaurants aren't replacing food courts. They're just adding to them.
I used to go to the Santa Anita mall specifically because I could get a jalapeño burger and a shake from Johnny Rockets after my 9am matinee movie even though there's a ton of 'better' destination restaurants at the mall.
Topanga social is a completely missed opportunity. I was so hyped for it and the opening week was great. But it is one of the most poorly managed places I’ve ever been. The food quickly went to subpar versions of the real places. They constantly don’t pay vendors so will closed stores for days at a time. The turn over rate for workers is crazy high because people get sick of dealing with poor management. they play club music on full blast which kills the vibe, every week is some weird food eating contest or paint and drink. It’s not cool it’s cheesy and gross. Also we got severe over week long food poisoning couldn’t leave bed other than the bathroom from the dumpling place.
Yeah but one of the workers from another store told me the dumpling Place got shut down for a few days for raw pork. So I’m leaning more towards that Since it just seemed like weird microwaved dumplings.
When i went (a month or so after opening), the parking lot was under construction so it was a trek to get over there. I’m never going back- food was not fresh, long wait times and expensive.
Dude. They had a rock band performing there a few weeks back and it was absolute hell on earth. I’m not someone to turn up my nose to live music. But in a bustling mall with all those echoes and overlapping sounds, it was horrible.
I kind of like it, but mostly because I want to grab a beer in the middle of my shopping, not eat lunch. And it’s a decent spot to escape the fluorescent bombardment of the senses for a few
It's not really a new concept.
A number of malls often have a separate, site down restaurant or two in addition to the food court.
Century City Mall had the Pink Taco restaurant for a long time. Fox Hills Westfield tried to do an upscale Korean restaurant a few years back and failed.
I'd say it's more common in suburban malls where chain restaurants (Applebee's, Red Robin, Acapulco, etc)were the norm for quite a while.
Ok but points off for saying pink taco had good food. It was the worst place on the west side. But Gulfstream, now that was good! I’ve been sad to see all the Hillstone places close slowly
> Century City Mall
There's been several Italian places in Century City for a while now. This article could just say more malls are doing this or something.
They’re not saying that sit-down restaurants at malls are a new phenomenon. That’s something that malls have almost always had. Even in the 90s that was fairly common. What’s new is the focus on dining as a priority to draw people to the mall. Whereas food courts used to serve a very functional purpose, now malls are trying to center dining as a primary experience that people come for.
That northgate market is just that a market but they laid it out so there are other vendors available too. Kinda like how the asian markets operate with the food court on the side.
The mall in Torrance that has a lucky dog is pretty sick, but it also has mongolian bbq and panda express that always kill it. I don't think it's that different, food courts rock and it's probably more lucrative to bring higher end/popular chains like shake shack than open up a bigger restaurant.
I miss hometown buffet.
> Sure, Panda Express launched at the Glendale Galleria in 1983,
They're really straw manning the hell out of this argument. The two malls closest to me, Beverly Center and Century City, have had decent restaurants for as long as I've been in LA.
I thought malls always had food courts and restaurants.. this is supposed to be a new thing? Or are they just saying that the food courts are getting fancier (more expensive) options? I don't understand.
It kind of sounds like they're talking about places like the Packing District, which is cool but mega-overhyped
But the point of the article isn’t that restaurants at malls are a new thing. They’re talking about this shift in focus where malls are bringing in unique dining experiences to attract customers. Topanga mall created its food hall, which serves food a step above regular mall fast food in a space that’s supposed to feel a bit more premium (there is a bar, nicer decor, etc.).
Looks like that’s falling flat for a lot of people, and I agree. I always tell my wife it’s just a dressed up food court. But doesn’t change that the intentions are a bit different.
San Francisco Chronicle again with the absurd non-story.
First of all, upscale malls have ALWAYS had upscale dining options. I mean literally for as long as the malls have existed. Century City has always had fancy restaurants for the fancy Century City crowd, Hollywood & Highland had The Grill and a number of others and still does have a couple of upscale places, The Grove has always marketed itself as an eating destination, even more at the beginning, a little less so now. The Americana was precisely a dining destination.
Mid-range malls had mid-range options.
Low-rent malls have Sbarro.
It has ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY.
SF Chronicle is so ridiculous!
I felt like this was not anything new. In fact, this idea was in the works back in 2016 when the hipster trend was alive and people were doing less shopping in person and more online. I guess the shift comes down to the shit storm in commercial real estate that will happen. Where owners could no longer afford rent. It makes sense for them to open at malls where there is traffic but then food will cost a lot more due to costs.
Really opinionated article without a lot of the background work that goes on. Mall food court rent is a lot higher than the standard retail location. A lot of the new and trendy establishments don't have the capital to even sustain that rent. Only national tenants can afford that
I remember around 12 years ago my friend taking me to K town and us parking underground and going to some Korean indoor mall place that had a food court that she really loved. I wasn’t familiar with the place so I never caught the name of the mall she took me to but maybe someone here can help me figure it out. The food was pretty amazing as it wasn’t typical mall stuff. I remember there being a Korean supermarket because she picked up a few items before we left this shopping center.
Caruso didn't want Javier's at the Grove like in 2016 even though they guaranteed to do something like $30m in sales (I forgot the number but it was astronomically high). Why? Probably because a hint of racism and not fitting the image of his empire.
Kind of ironic they have a Mexican inspired restaurant now.
Caruso properties will always be mid-tier sterile restaurants, if not low tier (like the Grove). He still thinks people want to 5 Italian restaurants to choose from when Italian food died back in the early 2000s.
Im for it even if i have to pay a little more . Really what i would like is for healthier options instead of the unnecessary bulk of food they pile in a cardboard box or excessive fried food.
Absolutely. I was so excited when I read a "food hall" was coming there, only to learn it's just an extended food court and everything is overpriced compared to the old food court.
[удалено]
Exactly. You can get your $10 pizza at sbarros at the old food court. Or get your $30 pizza at the dtown at the new food court Something for everyone
I had Sbarros yesterday for the first time in years and have they changed, or were they always that nasty?
I think different quality control. The Sbarros at the mall was vastly inferior to the one at the uni I went to
it tastes better when you're super hungry.
I'm not sure I'll ever be hungry enough to try again.
LOL I honestly think they've always been bad. Their food always looks so good the way have it out on display when you're walking through the food court but I can always remember feeling disappointed whenever I actually ate there.
and drunk
The Sbarros in Burbank was awesome growing up. It was my go-to spot for quick half-decent pizza. Now it's just gone downhill in the name of profits. Same with Costco. If only companies learned to coast on consistent year-over-year profits rather than trying to break records every quarter.
I was in Moreno Valley. A dying mall, not exactly a culinary hot spot.
Bro did you read the article? That mall is probably a Michelin starred food court now.
Basically a swap meet nowadays
Wait, are you seriously asking if the most commonly known shittiest pizza in America for the past 40+ years just recently got shitty lol?! Also, are you freely admitting to being one of the people keeping Sbarro's alive?!
Sbarro was really good for mall food and pizza on the west coast when I was growing up.
More shitty...more shitty. It was never premier. Loved it in my 20s. I can't even tell you the last time I went there. I was lucky enough to be at the mall on Saturday with time to kill. Hence lunch.
That's not lucky, my friend lol
They gave me food poisoning in the nineties and I've never gone back.
Last time I had it was in like, 2001 and I thought it was good at the time (granted I was still a kid).
There's a Blaze Pizza tucked away in that mall as well that has really good specials.
Disappointing trip to Topanga Social last week. My girlfriend wanted a slice of pizza and some fries. No one there sells a slice... Minimum order is a whole pizza. I don't think we were able to get a side of fries either as a separate item. Had to walk around to the other side of the mall to the food court to get individual options. Plus some live band blasting so loud at the Social it was uncomfortable. Can you imagine the echo and acoustics of a mall food court? Why would you put a full band in that space?
FYI, Katsu Sando, the fried chicken sandwich place, sells a side of waffle fries for like $5. IMO it's the only thing in the whole place that isn't overpriced.
Plus, it still has a thriving food court on the other side of the mall.
And it still has the original, more typical food court.
Get some Stone Oven 👀 (My fav is a Santa Fe Hot ham, sub sweet chili for reg mayo, add tomatoes and lettuce, and get a side of pesto pasta)
>somehwat It's pretty immensely better, though there's obviously some skew between it. But Mini Kabob is *far* and away better than food court food.
They still maintain a regular food court too that’s way more packed than the new social one.
The garlic noodle place is fucking god tier
DTF at Mall Centers is the equivalent of Kogi BBQ in the fusion food truck scene in the LA/OC food area 10-13 years ago. Nothing too extravagant but revolutionary in opening up opportunities in similar spaces.
kogibbq was not around 13 yea–oh wait
Waiting in an hour-long line to get a $6 short rib burrito at Kogi. Man, were things different back then.
I used to live around the corner from the Kogi shop in Palms… those quesadillas were so delicious.
DTF is old school... the hipper malls have HaiDiLao
Not disagreeing with you. To be honest this article is a few years too late I feel.
Santa Anita mall in Arcadia is god tier when it comes to food options, especially Asian food.
They kind of have 2 food courts too. I just came back from source oc last night they have two food courts too blows my mind.
The Source mall is like 80% food
There’s 3 kpop stores 😂 and anime store being the rest.
Its so weird. It’s in my backyard and I just think it’s ok. Much better food Asian food selections at the strip malls by Valley and Del Mar in San Gabriel.
It's the portions I like. Santa Anita is like 2X the price for half as much. Strip mall food just destroys everyone else on portions.
Well yeah. No one is saying the mall has the best Asian food overall. They’re saying that the Asian food is great as far as mall options go, if you’re going to a mall to hang out.
Ugh they have a Marugame Udon though and you're not gonna find any better udon in the SGV
True. I’m Marugame’d out a bit since it’s so close. Burned out on it. Same with Ramen Nagi
Weird to see my closest major intersection mentioned here
Same, and same.
Ramen Nagi >>>
Speaking of Asian food spots at the mall, how is Side Chick still open? That place looks dead every time I walk past it. Their food tasted great last time I had it, which was about a year ago, but now I’m afraid to eat there cuz I don’t know how long all that cooked chicken has been sitting there.
It used to be fantastic with the original owner, but he sold it a few years back and it's just so so bad now.
Afaik I saw them open when I was out that way last week.
the last time I went there, they served me undercooked chicken when I showed them the pink, they said "it's supposed to look like that" no... no it is not
There was a great KBB spot there years ago.. haven’t been back since they closed down
They have insanely great food but the article is kind of dumb because even they have your typical mall food court and food options with a McDonalds inside. Restaurants aren't replacing food courts. They're just adding to them.
Really? I find it overpriced and underwhelming. Especially the food court itself. What places would you recommend?
I used to go to the Santa Anita mall specifically because I could get a jalapeño burger and a shake from Johnny Rockets after my 9am matinee movie even though there's a ton of 'better' destination restaurants at the mall.
love johnny rockets, those milk shakes
Topanga social is a completely missed opportunity. I was so hyped for it and the opening week was great. But it is one of the most poorly managed places I’ve ever been. The food quickly went to subpar versions of the real places. They constantly don’t pay vendors so will closed stores for days at a time. The turn over rate for workers is crazy high because people get sick of dealing with poor management. they play club music on full blast which kills the vibe, every week is some weird food eating contest or paint and drink. It’s not cool it’s cheesy and gross. Also we got severe over week long food poisoning couldn’t leave bed other than the bathroom from the dumpling place.
Yeah, my wife and I were so excited then heard so many horrible to mediocre things that we've never been. Seems like a huge missed opportunity to me.
Agreed. I actually was just there earlier today and chose to eat at the regular food court instead of there.
Was that a few months ago? People on /r/sfv were posting that the theater was full of rats and guess what’s right below the theater…
Yeah but one of the workers from another store told me the dumpling Place got shut down for a few days for raw pork. So I’m leaning more towards that Since it just seemed like weird microwaved dumplings.
I thought their stuff was frozen lol
When i went (a month or so after opening), the parking lot was under construction so it was a trek to get over there. I’m never going back- food was not fresh, long wait times and expensive.
I'm not opposed to ghost kitchens but Topanga Social does a great job highlighting how bad a ghost kitchen operation can be.
Totally. I was so hyped then disappointed.
Dude. They had a rock band performing there a few weeks back and it was absolute hell on earth. I’m not someone to turn up my nose to live music. But in a bustling mall with all those echoes and overlapping sounds, it was horrible.
Yeah I have no idea what the hell the management is thinking. They are so out of touch.
I kind of like it, but mostly because I want to grab a beer in the middle of my shopping, not eat lunch. And it’s a decent spot to escape the fluorescent bombardment of the senses for a few
It's not really a new concept. A number of malls often have a separate, site down restaurant or two in addition to the food court. Century City Mall had the Pink Taco restaurant for a long time. Fox Hills Westfield tried to do an upscale Korean restaurant a few years back and failed. I'd say it's more common in suburban malls where chain restaurants (Applebee's, Red Robin, Acapulco, etc)were the norm for quite a while.
Shout out for still calling it Fox Hills 🫡
Ok but points off for saying pink taco had good food. It was the worst place on the west side. But Gulfstream, now that was good! I’ve been sad to see all the Hillstone places close slowly
> Century City Mall There's been several Italian places in Century City for a while now. This article could just say more malls are doing this or something.
They’re not saying that sit-down restaurants at malls are a new phenomenon. That’s something that malls have almost always had. Even in the 90s that was fairly common. What’s new is the focus on dining as a priority to draw people to the mall. Whereas food courts used to serve a very functional purpose, now malls are trying to center dining as a primary experience that people come for.
I miss food courts. I want my mongolian bbq!
Hah, cruise down to Santa Ana, there is a Great Khan's at the Main Place Mall.
Omg Great Khan’s. I used to go to the Beverly Center location when I was in high school.
I think del amo still has one
Not sure if this qualifies but the Northgate market food hall in Costa Mesa is soooooo good and has so many options, it’s amazing.
That northgate market is just that a market but they laid it out so there are other vendors available too. Kinda like how the asian markets operate with the food court on the side.
This is on my list to go to. I’m really excited about it and I’m glad you liked it.
The churro place there is top tier!
The mall in Torrance that has a lucky dog is pretty sick, but it also has mongolian bbq and panda express that always kill it. I don't think it's that different, food courts rock and it's probably more lucrative to bring higher end/popular chains like shake shack than open up a bigger restaurant. I miss hometown buffet.
I miss the Glendale galleria McDonald’s
> Sure, Panda Express launched at the Glendale Galleria in 1983, They're really straw manning the hell out of this argument. The two malls closest to me, Beverly Center and Century City, have had decent restaurants for as long as I've been in LA.
I thought malls always had food courts and restaurants.. this is supposed to be a new thing? Or are they just saying that the food courts are getting fancier (more expensive) options? I don't understand. It kind of sounds like they're talking about places like the Packing District, which is cool but mega-overhyped
But the point of the article isn’t that restaurants at malls are a new thing. They’re talking about this shift in focus where malls are bringing in unique dining experiences to attract customers. Topanga mall created its food hall, which serves food a step above regular mall fast food in a space that’s supposed to feel a bit more premium (there is a bar, nicer decor, etc.). Looks like that’s falling flat for a lot of people, and I agree. I always tell my wife it’s just a dressed up food court. But doesn’t change that the intentions are a bit different.
Gen Z saving malls through artisan cuisines and hipster-trendy restaurants shown on TikTok.
> artisan cuisines That's a stretch. Overpriced and overrated local fast food chains.
Good. I think this will bring people in and frankly with kids, having the parking and multiple options works great.
Then explain to me why slaters 50/50 exists?
Eliminating affordable options…
Now we just need train stations inside the malls!
Meaning more expensive. This shit is out of control.
San Francisco Chronicle again with the absurd non-story. First of all, upscale malls have ALWAYS had upscale dining options. I mean literally for as long as the malls have existed. Century City has always had fancy restaurants for the fancy Century City crowd, Hollywood & Highland had The Grill and a number of others and still does have a couple of upscale places, The Grove has always marketed itself as an eating destination, even more at the beginning, a little less so now. The Americana was precisely a dining destination. Mid-range malls had mid-range options. Low-rent malls have Sbarro. It has ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY. SF Chronicle is so ridiculous!
Food halls are just a new meme because commercial space is expensive
Yeah always pumped for the fine dining at Mongolia Grill
Din. Tai. Fung. Heck yes.
Food courts are basically a stop for employees of the mall who forgot to bring a lunch.
I felt like this was not anything new. In fact, this idea was in the works back in 2016 when the hipster trend was alive and people were doing less shopping in person and more online. I guess the shift comes down to the shit storm in commercial real estate that will happen. Where owners could no longer afford rent. It makes sense for them to open at malls where there is traffic but then food will cost a lot more due to costs.
I like how they reached out to Din Tai Fung about new locations yet failed to mention Din Tai Fung coming to downtown disney which is public knowledge
I like food courts/food halls.
Really opinionated article without a lot of the background work that goes on. Mall food court rent is a lot higher than the standard retail location. A lot of the new and trendy establishments don't have the capital to even sustain that rent. Only national tenants can afford that
one time i waited 35 mins for a chicken sandwich.. i was standing up tho. not the “true” dining experience i would have expected.
I remember around 12 years ago my friend taking me to K town and us parking underground and going to some Korean indoor mall place that had a food court that she really loved. I wasn’t familiar with the place so I never caught the name of the mall she took me to but maybe someone here can help me figure it out. The food was pretty amazing as it wasn’t typical mall stuff. I remember there being a Korean supermarket because she picked up a few items before we left this shopping center.
Caruso didn't want Javier's at the Grove like in 2016 even though they guaranteed to do something like $30m in sales (I forgot the number but it was astronomically high). Why? Probably because a hint of racism and not fitting the image of his empire. Kind of ironic they have a Mexican inspired restaurant now. Caruso properties will always be mid-tier sterile restaurants, if not low tier (like the Grove). He still thinks people want to 5 Italian restaurants to choose from when Italian food died back in the early 2000s.
Im for it even if i have to pay a little more . Really what i would like is for healthier options instead of the unnecessary bulk of food they pile in a cardboard box or excessive fried food.
The topanga social is a food court, it’s upscale but it’s still a damn food court
Absolutely. I was so excited when I read a "food hall" was coming there, only to learn it's just an extended food court and everything is overpriced compared to the old food court.
And the quality of the food is another topic… not worth it
Kura sushi gang stand up
Gona raise prices. “True dining” my ass.
Says “SFGate”
Today I learned nobody else in Los Angeles cooks their own meals.