My Kitchen

- 2034 West Circle Drive, Valley Stream, NY 11581

Introduction / Overview

For shoppers and visitors to the bustling Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York, My Kitchen offers a convenient and diverse dining experience right in the food court. Known primarily as the My Kitchen Salad Bar, this eatery provides a distinctive, buffet-style service that allows patrons to customize their meals from a wide selection of fresh ingredients. It functions essentially as a "mini buffet at the mall," catering to those looking for a quick, self-serve lunch or dinner while shopping.

Located on Level 2, My Kitchen specializes in a variety of salads, fruits, meats, and vegetables, all served buffet style. This pay-by-weight model is a popular format in the fast-paced New York metro area, giving customers complete control over their meal choices and portion sizes. One customer highlights the "Great food selection" and the diligence of the staff in restocking "foods that are almost empty," which points to a commitment to freshness and availability throughout the operating hours. This focus on variety and replenishment is a significant draw for many local users seeking a customizable meal.

However, as with any pay-by-weight concept, pricing can be a point of friction, and My Kitchen is no exception. A separate customer review expressed considerable concern over the cost, citing a price of $10.99 per pound, which they felt was significantly higher than competitors, particularly those in Midtown Manhattan. This particular patron also reported a negative experience with the food’s quality and an extremely high final bill for a small portion of food, leading to the warning, "They will rip you off if you don’t think wisely." This polarizing feedback indicates that while the selection is a highlight, potential patrons should be mindful of how the weight of their selections can affect the total cost. Patrons are advised to understand the current price per pound before loading their plates to ensure their experience aligns with their budget.

Location and Accessibility

My Kitchen is situated in a high-traffic, central location within the Green Acres Mall, which is a key shopping destination in the Valley Stream area of Long Island.

The exact physical address for My Kitchen is:

2034 West Circle Drive, Valley Stream, NY 11581, USA

This address corresponds to the general location of the mall complex. As a food court vendor, its accessibility is intrinsically linked to the mall itself:

• Mall Location: The establishment is positioned on Level 2 of the Green Acres Mall, placing it within the central food court area, which is designed for convenient stops and quick meals for shoppers.
• Operating Hours: My Kitchen Salad Bar is generally open during standard mall hours, typically from 11 AM to 9 PM, which accommodates lunch, dinner, and late-afternoon snacks.
• Parking and Transit: Being inside the mall, patrons benefit from the extensive parking facilities available at Green Acres. The mall is also served by local bus routes, making it accessible for those using public transportation in the Long Island area.

Services Offered

My Kitchen focuses on a self-service model, centered around its primary concept as a salad bar and buffet. This allows for maximum speed and customization for busy mall patrons.

• Buffet Style Service: The core service model is a buffet where customers select items themselves from various stations.
• Customizable Meals: By offering a wide 'variety of salads, fruits, meats, and veggies,' customers have the freedom to build a meal tailored to their specific cravings or dietary needs.
• Pay-By-Weight Pricing: The pricing structure is based on the weight of the food selected, which is a key service feature that demands customer attention during the selection process.
• Dine-In/Food Court Seating: As part of the Green Acres Mall food court, ample seating is available for customers to enjoy their meals immediately after purchasing.
• Quick Visit: The self-serve nature and food court environment are optimized for a quick visit, making it an ideal stop for a convenient and efficient meal.

Features / Highlights

The primary appeal of My Kitchen is its extensive and readily available selection, setting it apart from typical fast-food offerings within the mall environment.

• Extensive Food Selection: The broad range of offerings—encompassing salads, fruits, various meats, and vegetables—is frequently cited as a major positive, giving customers numerous options for variety in their meal.
• Replenishment and Freshness: One highlight is the apparent commitment to keeping the buffet stations well-stocked, with staff ensuring that 'foods that are almost empty' are quickly replenished, suggesting an emphasis on fresh, available items.
• Dietary Flexibility: The buffet format is highly flexible, allowing patrons who are watching their diet to focus on healthier options like fresh salads and fruits, or for those seeking a heartier meal to select from the cooked meats and vegetables.
• Convenience in the Mall: As a food court option, it provides maximum convenience, eliminating the need to leave the mall for a sit-down meal, thereby maximizing shopping time for Green Acres visitors.

Contact Information

While a phone number is associated with the My Kitchen Salad Bar listing at Green Acres Mall, specific contact information for placing orders is often managed directly at the counter.

Address: 2034 West Circle Drive, Valley Stream, NY 11581, USA (Located on Level 2 of Green Acres Mall)

Phone: (516) 593-0625 (This number is listed for the My Kitchen Salad Bar at Green Acres Mall)

What is Worth Choosing

What makes My Kitchen a worthwhile stop, particularly for those shopping at the Green Acres Mall, is the ability to craft a complete and balanced meal in a self-serve environment. Given the nature of the concept, the best choices are the fresh, customizable components.

It is highly recommended to focus on the elements that embody the Salad Bar concept—the fresh vegetables and fruits. Building a large, colorful salad is perhaps the most strategic way to enjoy the breadth of the selection while maintaining control over the portion size. The wide variety of available meats and cooked vegetables allows patrons to create a substantial meal beyond just greens, offering a flexibility that is rare in typical mall quick-service spots.

However, due to the critical customer feedback regarding the price-per-pound and the potential for an unexpectedly high bill, what is "worth choosing" also includes adopting a mindful approach to portion control. To ensure a positive experience, customers should prioritize lighter-weight items such as leafy greens and fresh produce. Heavy items, while tempting, will quickly drive up the cost due to the $10.99 per pound charge. For a successful and satisfying visit to My Kitchen at Green Acres Mall, the key is to embrace the self-serve customization while consciously managing the weight of the food selected to align with individual budgetary expectations. It’s an ideal choice when seeking an extensive, customizable, and visually appealing meal that is readily available during a mall visit.

My Kitchen

2034 West Circle Drive, Valley Stream, NY 11581, USA