> and it only really works in a dense urban environment

I wouldn't consider Georgetown (Penang, Malaysia) as a dense urban environment.

Despite this food courts there are numerous, immensely popular and fantastic to get a cheap, ultra-delicious meal.

> I wouldn't consider Georgetown (Penang, Malaysia) as a dense urban environment.

I can't say I'm familiar with Georgetown (unfortunately due to COVID, I haven't been able to travel through Malaysia just yet). Interesting that they also manage to work in the less-populated areas though. Look forward to seeing it first-hand (hopefully 2021).

There are food courts in Australia. MLC Centre, Australia Square, Eating World, Central, the Galeries and more. None of them have any security guards or have any issues with drinks, thieves, or generic shit heads.

Not sure why you think they don't exist in Australia.

I'm assuming you haven't been to Singapore hawker centres, because they're nothing like the crappy corporate foodcourts in Australian office towers.

First, the food quality is much, much better and considerably cheaper.

Second (and I assume related to the first), the stalls are much smaller, meaning they can be properly independently run.

Third, they're regulated (after a fashion), so ma and pa stalls aren't competing with Subway.

Fourth, the majority of people here don't cook, so eating hawker food twice or three times a day isn't just normal, it's probably common.

Fifth, they're generally stand-alone buildings and smoking/drinking is permitted.

Sixth, they're usually open from 6am until 9pm (some are even 24 hours).

Seventh, they're a staple of literally every neighbourhood, not just CBD office towers.

> the hawker centres here are amazing.

I lived in Singapore 2010-2012. 100% agree with you. Quality and taste of food, especially price-wise, is so good!