Not another bloody market kitchen

[Peacemirl]

I love eating out, and trying new places. I like everything from fine dining to (really good) takeaway food. I’ve lived in the city where I currently work for fifteen years and one of the big reasons for moving was the vibrant, varied food scene.

In the last few years, I’ve been less and less enthusiastic about it. There are still some great places, but more and more new openings are generic and “same again” - everything seems to be yet another “market kitchen” concept or more noodles (I like noodles but they’re everywhere).

I get these places must be popular and I’ve had good food in some of them but it all feels a bit uninspiring these days, and less exciting. I also understand hospitality is having a hard time and so bankable, tried and tested models are safer than going out on a limb.

AIBU?? Or am I just getting old??

What is a market kitchen?

It’s a large building where there are lots of different food vendors and you can order from any of them, with seating in for them all in the middle. So you could have a pizza from the pizza vendor and your friend could have tacos from the Mexican vendor. You get the benefit of lots of different restaurants in one location.

As in all separate businesses so you'd queue up and pay at individual vendors but then eat together? Or more like an international buffet type place where it's all one business, and usually all you can eat? The latter I've heard of, but the former is new to me. Sounds like a good idea tbh!

It’s the former - all separate businesses.

They are a good idea. But when it’s the tenth one, all with very similar outlets, it’s hard to get excited.

Appreciate fully this is a very first world problem.

I can understand the frustration though. When I was growing up every 3rd restaurant was Indian cuisine or fish and chips. It just didn't feel like my town was big enough to need more than one, and would have been great to have something different! One Indian was really popular and is still open today, the others came and went. I remember going back to visit a few years ago and being astounded that the variety has increased considerably! So YANBU if they're getting overly common.

Personally haven't even heard of one. May have to seek one out and have a go :)

It sounds like another name for a food court.

Of course! It's just dressed up to sound healthy and interesting. I find in most of these places the food is bland and overpriced.

The seating is usually uncomfortable and it’s inconvenient to go for drinks and separate vendors for kids YANBU ..

I actually think they operated better during Covid when most had app ordering meaning you could mix and match from different places. Many have dropped that now so you have to physically go to the vendors and order; not a chore if you want everything from the same place but if I want a couple of different things and a drink from the separate bar, it rapidly becomes a bit of a pain.

Agree about the seating, generally speaking.

I love them as DH and I have such different tastes in food.

I’ve never heard it called a market kitchen before. It sounds like the food court in the top floor of a covered shopping precinct from 1995-I can’t think of anywhere else I’ve seen one.

They are food courts but often with lots of multi-ethnic choices. As with all such places, a bit hit and miss but there can be some very tasty fare on offer.

More of a food hall than a food court. They're like Mackie Mayor, Altrincham Market House, Kargo MKT (separate to the food court in the same mall), and Stockport Produce Hall in Greater Manchester. They do get a bit samey especially when it's tacos, pies, noodles, etc., but I like them! I've been to ones in Fremantle, Oslo (Mathallen, Bar Code, etc.), Poland (Judah, etc.), Estonia (Balti Jaama Turg), Vietnam (Ben Nghe Street Food, etc.) loads of places. They are similar to food courts, but different. More independents and fewer chains.

If you are outaide London, where arw you?

I never heard the term market kitchen before but we have one near us and I love it! Works for us as we all have different preferences..

Would guess the OP is in London and thoroughly spoiled by the variety on offer there.

You often get this kind of eating experience in food courts in shopping malls - the Oasis in Meadowhall for example.

The indoor market in my local town has a market kitchen with lots of food outlets with a common eating area. They are pretty commonplace.

Sheffield has several market kitchen style food outlets.

What kind of food experiences do you want to open in your town, @Peacemirl ?

Name three.

I kind of know what you mean, away this weekend and while we ate very well, it was all, small plates and they’ll come out when they are ready. I think I, unusually, was hankering a bit just to have my own meal….

The term usually used is “food hall” so I can understand why some folks were confused at first. https://www.restaurantonline.co.uk/Article/2025/07/03/running-the-halls-the-food-hall-sector-under-the-microscope/

I think the main difference to a lot of shopping centre food courts is they are smaller independent places, rather than national chains like subway/KFC etc.

I like the concept and they can be great with big groups, but agree they feel a bit ubiquitous now rather than the novel idea they were a couple of years ago.

We have the Cambridge Street Collective in Sheffield which is brilliant especially for big groups. It means we can cater for all the different requirements and everyone will find something they like.

ah…
so a street food market type of place

Aka, the wanky version of the Bluewater food court

Yes OP Im with you, also 'pop ups' and pubs or places where the entire website seems to be about the owners 'story' and 'journey'.

Oh fuck off and just let me know your opening times, food serving times (which are no where to be found on the website)

We just got one of these and it's great as our town has lots of smaller places difficult to get in spontaneously or in bigger groups . It has a play area and some shops too. They have also started having live music.

There'sno queue for different vendors though as it's all via a website (can order from the vendors if you want to though)

Obviously plenty of people moaning on social media that they miss the old market with it's tripe, leaky roof and pigeons

I know what you mean, but like anything it has its uses.