Whether you’re looking to enjoy a quick bite or you’re in the mood for a full meal, NYC has you covered with its array of food courts. These establishments offer delicious food in an environment that’s fun and vibrant.
Mott Street Eatery
Located in the heart of the most tourist-clogged stretches of Chinatown, Mott Street Eatery is a food court that caters to both locals and visitors. In addition to traditional Chinese dim sum, the food court offers a variety of Western and Taiwanese dishes, sushi, and bubble tea.
A former space for Joy Luck Palace has been repurposed to create Mott Street Eatery, a new communal food court in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Featuring four main vendors and room for more, the 98-seater offers Cantonese dim sum classics, congee, BBQ, and more.
The menu also features a variety of traditional Asian-inspired flavors, such as black sesame, red beans, and Thai iced tea. For dessert, there’s a douha dessert.
During a visit to the 89 Eatery, I found that I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. Roast meats such as steamed chicken, crisp-skinned baby pig, and bronze-skinned roast duck are among the best in the area. Besides these dishes, the menu includes several more conventional flavors, such as siu mei, jian jian, and sweet char siu.
Although it’s a new venture, the Mott Street Eatery’s success seems to be a foreshadowing of future Chinatown food courts. Its location is ideal for tourists, and it has a surprising amount of local patronage.
The escalator installed in the restaurant makes it easy for customers to access the second and third floors. Billy Liu, who owned Tokyo Bay on Duane Street for 18 years, offers an omakase menu that’s worth making a reservation for.
Gotham West Market
Among the many restaurants, bars, and shops that line the blocks of Manhattan’s west side, the Gotham West Market is a retail marvel. Not only is the food court one of the largest in the city, it also features one of the best selections of high-end beer and wine. And, if you’re looking for a one-stop shop, the market also offers a full-service NYC Velo bike shop.
The market boasts an impressive eight food stalls and the aforementioned one-stop shop, which also happens to be a multi-screen movie theater. But, what truly sets this place apart is its sheer size. The market occupies more than 15,000 square feet of prime real estate.
It is also the home of the world’s most elaborate public art exhibition. It is also home to the first-ever day and night market in Hell’s Kitchen. And, if you’re looking to dine out in style, the aforementioned Gotham West Towers, is a stone’s throw away from the market.
The food court also has a slew of enticing restaurants. The best of the bunch include a world-class ramen restaurant, a taqueria, and a sushi parlor, as well as a handful of other establishments worthy of a visit. A good time to go is the night before a show. Moreover, the area is rife with entertainment options, from a live performance stage to a bar to the aforementioned nightclub. The market is also a convenient hub for the NYC subway.
Brookfield Place
Located in the Financial District in Manhattan, the Brookfield Place food court is an excellent choice for a lunchtime treat. The 30,000 square foot food court is stacked with upscale dining options.
The posh mall is filled with high-end designers, including Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Saks Fifth Avenue. It is also home to the city’s largest waterfront ice rink. The complex also offers a multitude of amenities and services, including quality child care and valet parking.
One of the newest additions to the posh mall is the Hudson Eats food court. The 30,000 square foot food hall features a number of upscale eateries, including Blue Ribbon Sushi, Dos Toros Taqueria, and Umami Burger. The new food hall is also part of a $250 million renovation of the mall. The new features include white marble finishes, tall windows, and a host of other perks.
While the new Hudson Eats food court is not the only gimmick in the Brookfield Place complex, it’s a pretty good indication of what to expect. The food court is filled with high-end dining establishments, including Parm, which is a two-star Italian-American bistro, and Num Pang, which is a Cambodian sandwich shop.
While the posh mall offers an impressive lineup of luxury retailers, the real highlight is the array of restaurants. From a traditional American diner to the hottest new culinary trends, the posh mall has something for everyone.
Queens Crossing
QUEENS CROSSING has a new curated food court, and it’s not just about a fancy nameplate on the front of the building. The new fangled food hall features 32 different ethnic food vendors serving up the requisite fare, from sushi to ramen. In addition to the usual suspects, the food court is a foodie’s delight with a wide array of artisan ice creams and yummies.
A good food court should not only satisfy the hungry consumer, but also provide a little education along the way. The food court’s newest occupants include a few edgy eateries, such as The Dough Club, a small but mighty chain known for its light hearted take on Japanese mochi donuts. It’s also home to the most popular burger in town, and the tastiest taco in the neighborhood.
One of the new food court’s more upscale offerings is Wonjo Soon Tofu, a Korean restaurant boasting the best tofu soup atop the tristate. The food court also has a glitzy new glass-fronted restroom suite. The food court also has a plethora of tables and chairs, allowing visitors to sit down while grabbing a bite to eat. It is also conveniently located on the second floor of the building, making it easy to get to and from the rest of the ten floors.
City Kitchen
Located on Eighth Avenue at 44th Street, City Kitchen is a new upscale food court. Its industrial-style marketplace offers an array of local and international eats.
The food court’s design features reclaimed wood, custom signage, and stained glass mirrors. The design also includes a bistro-style seating area.
There are nine permanent vendors at City Kitchen. Some of them include Azuki (fresh-made sushi), Gabriela’s Taqueria, and Luke’s Lobster Rolls. Others are seasonal pop-ups, including doughnuts from Brooklyn-based Dough. In addition to the food court, there is also an online ordering platform. This allows for users to place their orders from multiple restaurants in one checkout experience.
The menu is eclectic and unique. It’s a great way for visitors to sample NYC’s best dishes.
Some of the food court’s offerings are local businesses, while others are national chains. The food is clean, and prices are reasonable. However, some items, such as the shaved snow, are overly sweet. It’s also a little too crunchy.
The main entrance is on 8th Avenue. There’s an elevator to the second floor. The restrooms are located two floors down. The food court is open from 6:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. every day.
This food court is a must-try, and visitors can even get a discount if they dine here. The menu is full of American cities-inspired cuisine, as well as a selection of over 50 wines by the glass.
Turnstyle Underground Market
Located at the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station in New York, the Turnstyle Underground Market is an innovative, underground food court. It features local and national recognized brands, retail stores, restaurants and catering. It was built from a formerly unused retail corridor nearby the subway station.
The Underground Market, along with other businesses, closed for six months after Hurricane Sandy. But, various industries have started to reopen.
The mall at TurnStyle, which cost $14 million to build, is located below grade on land owned by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). The Mall is designed to appeal to young people, and it has more than 35 retailers. It features an eclectic mix of locally owned and nationally recognized brands. Most are small, independent businesses. Some of the stores are micro-restaurants.
The underground market is home to 20 food-based venues. It includes the Yong Kang Street Cafe, a gourmet, Asian-inspired eatery. The menu features items from popular brands like fried rice, hearty noodle soups, and more. It also has a rotating menu of seasonal milkshakes.
The restaurant and retail stores at the Turnstyle Underground Market feature a mix of snacks, grab-and-go specialties, and dinner. It’s open for breakfast and lunch. In addition to its food, the market features retail stores, kiosks, and catering. It also offers free Wi-Fi. It is accessible from 57th/58th Street and 8th Avenue.
The mall at TurnStyle was developed by Cadence and Oases Real Estate, with funding from Goldman Sachs and the Urban Investment Group. It is considered to be New York City’s most unique shopping corridor.
