What do you call a place that’s not a restaurant, yet serves food of at least thirty-five different cuisines? You call it an International Food Court!
This is the Emeryville, California International Food Court. My daughters, granddaughters and I visited here this week on the return leg of our road trip to Southern California. As you can see from the picture, we had our pick of the best food from India, Greece, Japan, China, and Afganistan to name just a few.
The International Food Court is anchored on one side by a very nice Borders that boasts one of the best music sections I’ve seen anywhere. (Just in case food isn’t enough of a draw.)
What great foods did we choose? Candice knows this food court since she and her husband and Q used to live here a few years ago. (Actually, not in the food court, but nearby.) When we arrived she went straight to the Afgan food stall and picked chicken and spinich and okra with something else I can’t remember. All that on a bed of Jasmine rice. She said it was spicy, tasty and perfect.
Cerrin and Q went to the Japanese food stall and ordered miso soup and veggie tempura with dipping sauce. By the slurps I could tell it was good soup. I ate one of the tempura (sweet potato). The coating was thin and crispy – perfect. I wasn’t fond of the dipping sauce – too much soy sauce.
Lou and I both wanted gyros and fries. I was a little disappointed as the meat was slightly dry and the cucumber yogurt sauce wasn’t very tangy. We ate it anyway because we looove gyros.
For dessert, Q and Lou had a special treat. If you look closely at their cheeks, you will see their jumbo gumballs.
International Food Courts are a wonderful way to try out a variety of foods that are not the norm and are especially good for exposing children to various cuisines. This one in Emeryville has high quality standards and we have yet to eat inferior food here. Most of the food stalls hand out little samples on toothpicks in an effort to tempt visitors to eat their food. I would never walk into a restaurant that serves only Afgan food but that little piece of spicy chicken I tasted, made me want more. If those gyros didn’t have my name on them, I would have had that chicken. Now I have a reason to go back again.
What about you – do you have an international food court near you or a way to sample various cuisines? If so, what’s your favorite food?
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I love the idea of an international food court. And I love the picture of the gumballs (complete with chipmunk-cheeked grandchildren). I remember wanting them so much – and not even because I liked them, but it was just that big tempting globe with all those colors, and you get to turn the dial and a surprise comes out, and it was just great!
How could you possibly go wrong with an international food court that has a bookstore in it? Sounds like heaven to me. There’s a great international food court close to our nephew in Atlanta that is fun to go to.
I went to a conference in Montreal and there was a food court like this under the hotel. It was fantastic because everyone could find something to eat and yet we could all sit at the same table. Now a food court right outside a Borders? Wow.
no we don’t have any food courts here, it looks like an iteresting experience.
How neat. Wish we had one like that here. I would love trying each and every one.
That buffet looks so good. I love a place with lots of variety
Thank you for your incredibly sweet comment on 990 Square! You made my day!
I’d love to try afgan food – I love spicy unusual stuff.
Nice post ;0)
That sounds and looks delightful!! I would love to happen upon an International Food Court!!!
What a great way to try different foods. I don’t even know what Afgan food is, but it looks tasty on the plate. Fun stop
How neat is this?? Not surprisingly, we don’t have anything like this in Alabama, even though we’ve come a long culinary way in recent years. What a great food experience…!
International food court AND a bookstore?? Sounds like heaven…
This was as wonderful as I remembered. Afghan food is really yummy! I love the okra & eggplant. Also, the salad is topped with a ranch-like dressing & ground pomegranate seeds. The naan isn’t the BEST but it’s OK (be sure to ask for the spicy “salsa” that comes on the side.) This was fun to share with my favorite “girls”. I love how absolutely eclectic and yet down-to-earth the Emeryville food court is! When your group can’t commit to all eating the same thing, come here!
sounds so yummy; a great way to try different cultures/cuisines. I love that kind of adventure. And fun to share with all your “girls”.
The Minneapolis area has a place called Midtown Global Market (can’t say where for sure, because I wasn’t driving and I’m bad with directions.) It has lot of little shops, a grocery story, and a food court. The last time we were there, I had African food – lots of veggies and meat over rice, and VERY spicy – it was wonderful! I can’t wait to go back again.
Living in the middle of nowhere, we don’t have access to such delicacies, but just makes us look forward to our “joyfully retired” years
Thanks for sharing.
Everytime I go I always wish to be able to eat more of something…or more of everything.
Lots of food, and books nearby; sounds like a winning combination! Extra special that you could enjoy it with your daughter and granddaughters – those gumball machines are always quite the draw, aren’t they?!