food court

American  

noun

1. a space, as in a shopping mall, with a concentration of fast-food stalls and usually a common eating area.

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Etymology

Origin of food court

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Halfway through the game, police in Bogotá responded to noise complaints from residents in the apartments around the food court and ordered the operators to turn off the screens they had mounted.

From The Wall Street Journal

What was once a simple food court has been transformed into a loud nook stuffed with a “Big Hero 6” meet-and-greet and gift shop.

From Los Angeles Times

At the end of the day, the women from Ohio made their way back to Union Station, convening in the basement food court to wait for the bus.

From Salon

The chicken bake — Costco’s breaded delicacy stuffed with strips of chicken breast, bacon, cheese, green onions and Caesar dressing — is ringing up for $1 more at the food court.

From Salon

Turns out, the Pentagon food court could rival a suburban mall — or a small college campus.

From Salon