9 Mall Food Court Chains That Should Make A Comeback And 9 We’re Fine Without
Not all mall food court memories are created equal. Some spots served meals that were forgettable at best, while others packed enough flavor to stop you mid-shopping spree.
From soggy slices to cult-favorite smoothies, the food court landscape has seen its share of flops and legends.
Whether you miss that teriyaki bowl or still can’t figure out why anyone liked that one taco place, this mix of forgettable flings and comeback-worthy champions has range.
1. Hot Dog on a Stick
Those rainbow-striped uniforms and the rhythmic pounding of lemonade makers created an unforgettable mall experience.
Founded in 1946 on a California beach, Hot Dog on a Stick wasn’t just about food—it was performance art! Their hand-dipped corn dogs and fresh-squeezed lemonade made waiting in line worthwhile.
Though some locations still exist, they’ve vanished from many malls across America, taking their cheery atmosphere with them.
2. Orange Julius
Nothing quenched mall-induced thirst quite like that frothy, creamy orange concoction.
The signature drink—part smoothie, part milkshake, all delicious—was the perfect shopping companion during the height of mall culture.
While Dairy Queen absorbed the brand, the standalone Orange Julius kiosks with their bright signage and simple menu have largely disappeared.
The original experience—watching them blend that magical powder with ice and orange juice—was half the fun!
3. TCBY
Before the froyo explosion of the 2010s, there was TCBY (The Country’s Best Yogurt). Their swirly soft-serve yogurt topped with colorful fruit, candy, and hot fudge made mall trips extra special.
TCBY introduced many of us to the concept that dessert could be “healthier” than ice cream yet still taste amazing.
While standalone stores exist, those convenient mall locations where teenagers gathered after school have mostly melted away from food courts nationwide.
4. Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
Named after a British actor, this chain brought English-style fish and chips to American malls with delightful authenticity.
Their crispy batter-dipped cod and thick-cut chips (fries) offered something different from the usual food court fare.
The malt vinegar bottles on tables and nautical-themed decor transported shoppers to a seaside fish shack.
Now with just a handful of locations left, this unique alternative to burger joints is sorely missed in today’s homogenized food courts.
5. Great Steak & Potato Co.
Sizzling flat-top grills loaded with thinly sliced beef, onions, and peppers created an irresistible aroma trail through the mall.
Great Steak brought Philadelphia’s famous sandwich nationwide, becoming the go-to spot for hungry shoppers craving something substantial.
Their loaded baked potatoes offered a unique alternative in carb-heavy food courts.
With portions generous enough to fuel an afternoon of shopping, this chain’s dwindling presence leaves a cheesesteak-shaped hole in mall dining options.
6. Koo Koo Roo
Before healthy fast food was trendy, Koo Koo Roo was serving up flame-roasted chicken, fresh vegetables, and cornbread in mall food courts.
Their skinless chicken and veggie-forward sides were a godsend for health-conscious shoppers. The signature chicken—herb-seasoned and impossibly juicy—developed a cult following in the 90s.
Founded in Los Angeles, this chain offered a welcome alternative to greasy food court options before vanishing almost entirely from the American mall landscape.
7. Manchu Wok
Steam billowing from giant woks and the theatrical tossing of noodles made Manchu Wok a food court spectacle.
Their assembly-line Chinese food might not have been authentic, but those heaping styrofoam containers of orange chicken and chow mein fueled countless shopping sprees.
Founded by a Hong Kong immigrant in 1980, the chain expanded to over 200 locations at its peak.
Though some outposts remain, particularly in Canada, their distinctive red signage has disappeared from many American malls.
8. A&W Restaurants
The mall version of this American classic brought frosty mugs of root beer and juicy burgers to tired shoppers.
A&W’s food court incarnation may have lacked the drive-in charm of standalone locations, but those signature root beer floats tasted just as heavenly.
Founded in 1919, A&W pioneered fast food decades before McDonald’s existed.
While the brand continues in some formats, their mall presence has diminished significantly, taking with it the perfect sweet treat to enjoy between shopping sprees.
9. Corn Dog 7
Before artisanal food became trendy, Corn Dog 7 mastered the art of simplicity with hand-dipped corn dogs fried to golden perfection.
Their limited menu—primarily corn dogs, fries, and drinks—represented food court efficiency at its finest.
The number 7 allegedly represented their original menu items, though most mall-goers just came for those crispy-outside, fluffy-inside corn dogs.
Regional rather than national, this chain’s disappearance from southern malls left corn dog enthusiasts with fewer options for portable, stick-based mall dining.
10. Sbarro
Those giant slices under heat lamps might trigger nostalgia, but let’s be honest—Sbarro was mall pizza at its most mediocre.
Founded in 1956 in Brooklyn, the chain expanded aggressively into malls nationwide, becoming synonymous with food court dining. The pizza often sat for hours, resulting in that distinctive cardboard-like crust.
While some locations soldier on, most pizza lovers have moved on to artisanal options or even other chains with fresher approaches to mall pizza.
11. Villa Italian Kitchen
Remember those steam trays of pasta swimming in watery sauce? Villa Italian Kitchen specialized in Italian-American dishes that somehow managed to miss the mark on both authenticity and flavor.
Founded in 1964 near the World’s Fair, the chain expanded nationwide, bringing their particular brand of pasta mediocrity to malls everywhere.
While some locations persist, few tears are shed for the disappearance of their overcooked pasta and bland pizza from food courts.
12. Chick-fil-A
Hold up—isn’t Chick-fil-A beloved? Yes, but the mall versions were typically stripped-down operations missing much of what makes standalone locations special.
Long lines clogging walkways, limited menus, and none of the famous customer service touches made these mall outposts disappointing shadows of their full-sized siblings.
The transition to proper restaurants with drive-thrus and full menus has been a welcome upgrade from the cramped food court versions.
13. Panda Express
Orange chicken that somehow managed to be both soggy and dry simultaneously was Panda Express’s specialty in mall food courts.
Founded in 1983, this chain brought Americanized Chinese food to malls nationwide with assembly-line efficiency.
Their standalone restaurants have improved over the years, but those mall locations were notorious for hours-old food sitting in steam trays.
With better Asian food options now available in most areas, few miss the distinctly mall-quality version of this orange chicken empire.
14. Cinnabon
That artificially pumped cinnamon smell wafting through the entire mall was the original scent marketing. Cinnabon mastered the art of luring shoppers with aroma before they even saw the storefront.
Founded in 1985, their massive, gooey cinnamon rolls packed enough calories for an entire day.
While some locations remain, the excessive sweetness, giant portions, and strategic scent bombing represent peak mall excess that few truly miss in today’s more health-conscious world.
15. Auntie Anne’s
The buttery aroma might trigger mall memories, but these twisted treats represent the epitome of unnecessary mall calories.
Founded by an Amish market stand owner in 1988, Auntie Anne’s expanded aggressively into malls nationwide.
Their pretzels—essentially butter-soaked bread—rarely satisfied actual hunger despite the premium price tag.
While the chain continues strong, their mall-based business model of selling expensive snacks between actual meals feels increasingly outdated in today’s eat-or-shop (not both) retail environment.
16. Wetzel’s Pretzels
Did malls really need two nearly identical pretzel chains? Wetzel’s, founded in 1994, arrived as Auntie Anne’s main competitor, offering essentially the same product with slightly different branding.
Their yellow and blue stands sold twisted dough that was virtually indistinguishable from their competition.
The unnecessary duplication of pretzel options in already crowded food courts meant neither chain could truly shine. As mall food courts contract, this redundant option is hardly missed.
17. Pretzelmaker
As if two pretzel chains weren’t enough, Pretzelmaker joined the twisted dough competition in malls nationwide.
Founded in 1991, they completed the pretzel trifecta that somehow sustained three nearly identical businesses selling the same product.
Their green-branded stands offered the same basic pretzel with minor variations in toppings and dips.
The pretzel oversaturation in American malls demonstrated the excess of ’90s consumer culture. With mall food courts now streamlining options, this third-wheel pretzel purveyor is rarely missed.
18. Sarku Japan
Those free chicken samples on toothpicks couldn’t disguise the fact that every dish tasted exactly the same.
Sarku Japan popularized mall-based teppanyaki cooking with theatrical food preparation and massive portions of teriyaki-drenched everything.
Founded in 1987, their formula was simple: chicken, beef or shrimp slathered in the same sweet sauce atop a mountain of rice.
The dishes started looking tired after sitting in warming trays, much like the concept itself, which feels dated in today’s more authentic food landscape.