Get the most out of your food court experience with these tips!
Do you love food? Do you love food court restaurants? If so, then you’ll want to check out these tips for maximizing your food court experience! Read on to learn how to make the most of your trip to the food court!
Get a food court job instead of a campus job
Because food courts don’t require you to be on-site at specific times, they can be a great place to find flexible employment. This is especially true if you have early morning classes and want to work evenings or vice versa. Furthermore, many food courts offer opportunities for extra income outside of your main responsibilities as a vendor employee. If you serve customers, for example, many venues allow employees to earn commissions on top of their hourly wages. Whether you’re looking for a low-commitment way to earn money or are interested in gaining restaurant experience before applying for off-campus jobs, there are lots of ways a food court job can pay off.
Buy what you want, when you want it
it can be tempting to take a load off after a long day and just buy food from whatever food court you happen to find yourself in. But if you've never been there before, it can be hard to know whether that's really where you want to eat. The good news is, with a little planning, anyone can have an enjoyable time eating at their local food court without having to worry about buying too much or not enough. If you're considering hitting up your favorite mall's food court but haven't been before, ask around – even if they don't go there often themselves, chances are one of your friends has at least had some familiarity with it.
Don’t ask questions
No matter how hard we try, food courts are noisy places. This makes it tough to ask questions or even get a staff member’s attention. Instead, remember that many vendors offer sample sizes of their products—that's an easy way to taste before you buy. If you want to ask questions but aren't sure who to ask, a few minutes doing research ahead of time can be helpful. Most food courts have at least some form of online presence, whether it's a website or social media account where you can find contact information for individual vendors and sometimes even menus!
Avoid the long lines
Shopping at a food court can be fun and tasty, but often times you might have to wait in line for over half an hour just to get a quick bite. We’ve all been there before and know how frustrating it can be. To avoid long lines at your favorite food joints, try visiting them around closing time when lines tend to shorten or buy something on their secret menu. Most restaurants will sell items that aren’t on their standard menu and are typically faster than ordering something off of their normal offerings since they already have everything prepared.
Wear comfortable shoes
Everyone knows how cramped a food court can be, especially during rush hour. That’s why it’s important to wear comfortable shoes, like sneakers or flip-flops. Not only will they offer more comfort than heels or high-top boots, but they’ll help you navigate around crowds and food carts a lot easier—and let you get back to work that much faster. It’s also a good idea to wear something breathable (like cotton). Even though many food courts have air conditioning (which is amazing), you want to make sure your outfit isn't preventing air from circulating all over your body. This means wearing as little layers as possible, plus light fabrics like silk or rayon.
Use Google Maps
When you’re in a food court, use Google Maps to get an idea of where everything is located. This can come in handy when you have only a few minutes to spare but still want to eat something tasty. According to Android Headlines, if you just enter food into Google Maps and then search for restaurants or food courts near you, it will show suggested places on a map along with estimated walking times from your current location. The app also shows top-rated restaurants and user reviews as well as ratings for things like value for money and whether it has outdoor seating. With all that information at hand, it should be much easier for you to choose which place is best suited to your needs.
Carry cash
You don’t have to have cash, but you’ll be paying a premium if you pay with a credit card. Food courts are all about impulse purchases, and they know that offering customers an easy way to pay is an incentive for them to buy more food. Using cash can shave up to 10% off what you spend on food—not bad when it only takes a few minutes for you to walk in and out again. Carry change: Change isn’t as widely accepted at food courts as it used to be, but if you want to save money from using cash then carry quarters or dollar coins rather than dimes or nickels.
Buy some water from the vendor outside
You may be tempted to buy a drink or ice cream at your food court, but you'll pay way more than it's worth. While you're in line, grab a water bottle from any nearby vending machine—they're usually free and it will save you money. You can also try buying drinks that use their own cups, like coffee. Once inside, make sure to go easy on soda or sugary drinks; they aren't only expensive but can also make it hard for you to keep tabs on how much you’re consuming throughout the day. If you want to splurge, opt for a juice (typically fruit-based) over an energy drink or soda because at least there are actual vitamins in them and not just sugar.
Split food if it’s free (if you can eat it in one sitting!)
There are tons of food courts, both in malls and at airports that offer free samples to entice you into buying. Do not—we repeat, do not—be seduced by free food samples. Chances are, they’re not just giving away food for fun; they’re also hoping you’ll stop by their restaurant later in order to fill up on more free samples and get yourself full-sized meals there. While splitting a meal may seem like a kind gesture, if one person doesn’t finish their share, it only encourages them to purchase an entire meal later. Do yourself (and other people) a favor and don't buy into these marketing ploys by accepting free food when you can’t eat it all now.
Eat at peak hours
I mentioned above that food courts tend to get really crowded—and it’s not just because people love their food; it’s also because they love saving money. So, be sure to eat at peak hours (just before lunch or dinner rush) so you can make sure you're getting a quality meal without spending too much. Also, make sure to check in on Yelp (or another site) before hitting up a new place. The reviews will give you an idea about how long a wait time is likely and what items are recommended.
Check out websites dedicated to food court reviews.
Before you even step foot in a food court, start your research. If there are a lot of restaurants offering similar menus, look up reviews to find out which are worth trying and which should be avoided. You can also turn to websites dedicated to food courts. These sites will often post pictures and descriptions of every vendor so you know what’s on offer before you ever set foot in a food court. Keep in mind that even though a menu may sound good online, different locations may not have ingredients or preparation options that suit your taste buds. Before making any purchases, make sure it’s exactly what you want by checking that everything is available at the location where you plan to eat—and double-check prices if possible.
Choose the right lunch spot with these tips
At food courts, everyone is looking for a good deal. So, that means it’s tough to find a spot where there isn’t some kind of long line. If you're short on time, use one or more of these strategies to get in and out fast: Look for entrances that have fewer people around them. See which lines are moving fastest by watching which cashiers are serving customers at the same time (if lines intersect and split again, that means several cashiers can serve at once). If you're going to order ahead online through an app like Just Eat or GrubHub, download a mobile ordering app for one particular place rather than using each vendor's app separately.
Don't worry about getting the best food
Usually, if you’re at a food court, it’s for convenience or price. Worrying about which vendor has better food is a waste of time. Instead, just choose one and get in line (order from somewhere else if there are long lines). You can always try different places on your next visit to a mall or food court. And remember, even though high-quality food might be an option at a restaurant within a mall/food court, you're usually paying for atmosphere and service as well. Most restaurants also have higher prices than what you'll find in a food court.
FAQS
What is a good tip or trick to get the most out of your food court experience?
In today's world of fast food and instant meals, this is a handy little hack to make your food court (or restaurant) experience much more enjoyable.
What is your favorite food court food item?
How to choose a favorite food court food item. Everybody loves food. But, sometimes it is difficult to make a choice which is the best option for you.
What is your favorite food court place?
America's favorite casual dining destination, the food court is a staple at malls, airports and shopping centers across the country. Guests can choose from familiar American brands such as Applebee's and Subway to more diverse options like Panda Express and Froyo World
What are some tips that you have for maximizing your food court experience?
We are making every effort to provide an excellent experience for you during your visit with us. The following tips will help you maximize your food court experience: [include the following bullet points]
What's the best part about working at your job?
Here at Jobs, we get to build elegant vehicles that help people get from Point A to Point B. How rad is that? Job's Not Done Even if you have a decent meta description in place, you're still far from being off the hook
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