Mall Food

Since I travel a lot, I do most of my shopping on the road. The easiest place to do this is usually as the mall which nice ones seem to be in almost ever city I visit.

Most mall food is below average although I have found some establishments to be above average and some really good. One in particular that I like very well is "Sakkio Japan". Their specialty is teriyaki chicken. They cook it fresh and hot right in front of you and they do their steamed veggies at the same time. They serve it over rice and you can request extra sauce if you wish at no charge. It is served hot, fresh and it is extremely tasty.

It is at our mall in Knoxville which is owned By Simon. I have seen it at several other malls. I do not know how many establishments they have , but I assume many.

Another place where I have discovered good mall food is at the mall of American in Minneapolis. One food court in particular has walleye on a stick and cheesecurds. We do not have either in Knoxville.

I am certain that roadfooders can think of more as I will. Some in the food court will give you free samples of their best sellers. I have always made a couple of circles to get these free goodies as an appetizer

Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN

The Tacoma Mall has an outlet of Ezell's Fried Chicken, a local company that will make you say "Colonel *Who?*" after a bucket. It's one of the few local places to have a mall outlet that I'm aware of.

Pioneer Square in Portland used to have a fantastic turkey sandwich place in their food court; fresh-roasted turkey (including dark meat! oh joyous day!) and homemade stuffing, on homemade bread. Slathered with cranberries and gobs of mayo, it was the best bet for lunch downtown. Sadly, it seems to have disappeared and been replaced by a McDonalds.

Eric

I don't know much about mall food.....but I've had some mighty fine lunches on the days when Costco has their samplings!

Ontario Mills outlet has a Kenny Rogers Roasters that had amazing food. We were shocked at how good it was. Then we tried a few other Kenny Rogers around So Cal and they were awful. I suspect some of these franchises have people who can actually cook and care about quality and might go a little off the standard recipes.

you got to know when to baste 'em

know when to waste 'em

know when to wok away

know when to bun

Hahahahahahahha Kangolpimp...you're killing me!

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

One in particular that I like very well is "Sakkio Japan". Their specialty is teriyaki chicken. They cook it fresh and hot right in front of you and they do their steamed veggies at the same time. They serve it over rice and you can request extra sauce if you wish at no charge. It is served hot, fresh and it is extremely tasty.

I think they had one of those at Mayfair Mall in Milwaukee, and it was quite good. Cherry Creek Mall in Denver had a Sfuzzi and a California Pizza Kitchen--a little pricy but very nice. I, of course, have had an evil Chik-fil-A jones since about '89. It's probably the only fast food I ever eat. Something about the pickle interacting with the chicken--and the lemonade too.

With all due respect, I avoid malls for shopping and especially eating.

quote:

Originally posted by BBQ Barney

With all due respect, I avoid malls for shopping and especially eating.

With all due respect, we already knew you were a far superior life form than the rest of us, but truly, we're not so completely stupid that you need to constantly REMIND us.

Well I guess BBQB, that is the reason that there are shops and there are malls, there are food courts and there are restaurants.

Unfortunately I have a heavy travel schedule and malls are convenient and admittedly most mall food is not that great. I started the thread because some are good and I tried to give a couple of examples why I believed that. Sakkio just happened to be one of my favorites.

In addition, some malls are entertaining to me personally. One of my favorites is the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

When we are racing with NHRA in Pomona, I always enjoy Ontario Mills and all the surrounding shops, restaurants around it.

Actually it comes down to convenience which I need and time which I don't have.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by VibrationGuy

The Tacoma Mall...

Eric

I'm going way off the subject, but this thread could use a laugh. Last night I was hanging out with my nephew and brother, who is sometimes "between jobs" and "between apartments". My brother started picking up on a girl and she asked where he lived. My nephew whispered to me:

"Where do you live?"

"Tacoma"

"Washington?"

"Toyota"

Paul, Although I am sure you don't need it as much as I do...Ontario Mills has a JC Penney Store that has a LARGE (pun intended) Big Man's Section. Since it is a Penney's outlet the prices are more than reasonable. To contribute to the eternal circle of weight control, it is logical that the Penney's Store is on the corner of the Mall closest to the Farmer Boy's that I have described elsewhere.

Mayor, I have been in the Penny's store many times. Best I recall, they have and entrance to the parking area.

Restaurants are opening almost weekly around the mall and the entire area is expanding exponentially.

When we are at the Residence Inn at Ontario, we trek almost nightly over to the mall area. It is a magnet for good things to eat, see and do.

Paul E. Smith

I love the Sakkio teriaki chicken. It is very fresh and hot, made while-you-watch.

We also have a Luby's cafeteria at the Baybrook mall which is always a good choice.

I wish we had a Luby's in Knoxville.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

*groan*....Chik-Fil-A. *moan*

I *heart* Chik-Fil-A. It's like manna from heaven. When I first moved to the south, I was not convinced that chicken sandwiches should have pickle on them. I changed my sinful ways right quick-like. The CFA sandwich is a lovely balance of salt, fat, moist meat and sandy coating....it's a darned shame so many of them are in malls, where one must interact with people whose mothers didn't believe in childrearing. CFA also gets props for having diet lemonade.

Hrm. Their website says my closest location is in Utah. Darned shame. There used to be one in the Clackamas Town Center outside Portland.

Eric

I lurve Chick-Fil-A, too. Chicken sandwich, waffle fries, lemonade & their great ice cream (or is it ice milk?) Ah. When I was kid running around in Regency Mall in Racine, Wis., that was the place to eat.

I'm also very sad that Olga's Kitchen went out of existence. I think that was the first place I ever had gyros. A Hot Sam with cheese sauce & then more grated cheddar was a nice treat. Those good fesh cut fries from one Potato Two.

The Grand Avenue Mall's food court is good - diverse, with a few local restaurants selling food - like Saz's. mm, fried cheese :)

Eric- we know have Chick-fil-a drive throughs in the suburbs. You just drive up and get your sack of sandwiches and go.

What is the name of the Pretzel place that sells all the flavored pretzels that are sweet, salty, oniony, garlic, cheese, cinnamon and a few other flavors. They give away little bitty samples and thoses suckers are good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Auntie Anne's. Love 'em. Home office in Lancaster County, PA.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

What is the name of the Pretzel place that sells all the flavored pretzels that are sweet, salty, oniony, garlic, cheese, cinnamon and a few other flavors. They give away little bitty samples and thoses suckers are good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Cheesewit: Auntie Anne's. Right on with colors of white and blue.

Did not know they were out of Lancaster, PA.

Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN

Mall Food and Nobody Mentioned "Corn Dog On A Stick" and now they even have "Cheese On A Stick" If they can just do BBQ Ribs on a stick we could get BBQ Barney back into the Malls! LOL

BigGlenn: In Minneapolis at the Mall of America, they have Walleye on a stick. I have bought it several times and for a mall treat,l it is great. In addition the same kiosk has cheese curd that are fried. I am from Knoxville, TN and I had never had them. I thought they were excellent.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Given that it is Philadelphia, Villa Pizza in Galleria (8th and Market) is good pizza for somewhere on the other side of the Delaware River.

Nathan's in malls is all right.

I have found some pretty good ice cream places in malls.

Chick Fil A-good.

Boston Market is all right but pricey.

Peppertree, do you know about the mall in KOP?

I have been there several times, but I cannot ascertain the quality of mall food there.

Thanks
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

While avoiding mall food if possible, it seems to me that the best bet for mall eating is pretty consistently Chick-Fil-A. Unfortunately, I can't think of a single Chick-Fil-A anywhere which is not mall located. There is a good "sit down and be served" Chinese restaurant in an unusual location in Little Rock - right off the food court area of Park Plaza Mall.
You mentioned wishing you had a Luby's in Knoxville, Sundancer. While I'll confess I'm not a cafeteria fan in general, I've never really cared for Luby's in either Little Rock or North Little Rock malls. Think most people disagree with me about the Little Rock one (it seems quite popular), but have heard a number of other folks complain about the one in North Little Rock. (Maybe its better now; haven't been to it in several years.) The absolutely best cafeteria food I've ever had anywhere is at Bryces Cafeteria in Texarkana, TX (and the new Bryces there, located out in area of their mall, is not as good as was the old one right downtown).

Zooming off topic, we have S & S cafeteria in Knoxville. I rate it a solid 7.5. It is consistant and I really appreciate their veggies. They do not get too far out with their recipe's and once they have found something that folkds like, they stay with it.

They have chicken parma once weekly and it is their best.

I wish they had it more often.

Paul E. smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul, I know you directed this to Peppertree, I also live in the area and am quite familiar with the Mall (actually two malls) at King of Prussia. For the most part, the food in the food courts is below average. Burger King, Taco Bell, chinese food, deli food, Sbarro Pizza, steak sandwich/hoagies. The stores in the mall are above average retailers including Tiffany's, Coach, Nordstrom's, etc. The food in the restaurants adjacent to the mall as you've commented on another thread are above average and include Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's, Morton's, Sullivan's.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Peppertree, do you know about the mall in KOP?

I have been there several times, but I cannot ascertain the quality of mall food there.

Thanks
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Cheesewit: Thanks for your comment. I sorta guessed that the mall food was sorta average. I also enjoyed the other restaurants in the mall complex as bing very good as you indicated.

I sure do like Cheese Cake Factory. Morton's is really good but expensive and Maggilios is really good The others are really good, but expense report keeps me innocent.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul, there's also a TGIFriday's and Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grill just closed. I really enjoyed that spot. It was loaded with memorabilia from American Bandstand which originated in Philadelphia before moving to Southern California. I was very disappointed when I heard of the closing.