-
January 2024 by Francine L.
Super cute Japanese supermarket in the Little Tokyo area. I haven't been here for a while but since we had an early dinner and this supermarket was still open we came in to buy a few things from here. Got to check out some mulberry tea, Japanese facial toner, Japanese snacks that are cute in packaging, and also some tasty Japanese potato chips. Overall this market has loads of Japanese imported products that are from Japan. They have food but also house items, bowls, cups, and makeup products. Almost a bunch of random items that you will be happy to have in your home. There is an underground parking lot in this same center that if you buy stuff from the market they will validate it for one hour.
-
January 2024 by Hana O.
**This is no longer Marukai Market. Marukai has changed their corporate name, it's now Tokyo Central** Beware, you need a QUARTER to unlock and use the shopping cart!!! And there's no cart return area in the garage so you end up leaving it by the elevator & you'll lose that quarter that's still in the lock. They do validate parking with purchase but only for the time you're there (those stickers placed on the back of your ticket). This store is still the same small market that has the basics for Japanese groceries. I came here to stock up on groceries to make Osechiryori for Japanese New Year. A good third of the store is Cosmetics, alcohol/beer/sake, and ready-to-eat bentos, sando, musubi & Japanese sweets like dango, daifuku. Their bentos are good. Not restaurant quality but reasonable & easier than making dinner for 1 after a long day. They have a tiny section for small appliances - rice cookers, hot water dispenser, portable butane gas stove (like the ones used at some hot pot restaurants to cook on outside patio dining), Zojirushi thermos of different sizes, pots & pans, hibachi grill. These are all pretty pricey. But I LOVE that they have the Hello Kitty rice cooker! Produce section has basic items - carrots, gobo (burdock root), daikon, shiitake, maitake, enoki, bamboo shoots, napa cabbage, lotus root, potatoes, etc. Just enough variety to make sukiyaki, shabu shabu, nabe. Many different mochi, even ones with the black soybeans in them. Kinako (soybean powder) with or without sugar in it, both smooth anko and chunky anko (red bean paste). Surprisingly, when I got everything rung up, it was about the same as going to Ralph's or Vons. It used to be that Japanese markets were very expensive, but prices haven't gone up as much as American goods. Everything is crammed into neatly stacked narrow aisles, very much like Tetris. LOL! They have an employee who makes these hilarious signs to catch your eye throughout the store! I'm posting these because they're great! Overall, Tokyo Central carries more grocery items than Nijiya Market down the street and prices are the same. Parking's probably easier here though.
-
January 2024 by Julie D.
Hands down my favorite spot to get snacks and everything in between. The biggest perk is that parking is free if you're only there for an hour. This is where I stock up on all things snack related. They even have my favorite Filipino shrimp chips. Their ready made sushi is also really good. My usual go to is the hand roll.
-
January 2024 by Michael Y.
Across California, Marukai (more prominently known in most places as Tokyo Central) has always been known in the Greater LA area, San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego areas as one of the good hotspots for quality groceries and other Japanese products. But despite these offerings, most are not aware of the supermarket's grab and go meals available each day. To that end, I wanted to highlight Marukai as a great place to pick up a bite to eat. The offerings at each location tend to vary from time to time. But for the most part, the food options stay relatively consistent which leaves something for everyone. From the various locations I've visited, boxes of chicken karaage, salmon filets, soba, and gyudon are some of the most recognizable "warm" options. But the ready to eat food section also carry different cold foods as well such as poke bowls, chirashi platters, sushi, etc.. From all of the items I have tried, you can't go wrong with any choice. Prices for these food items can range from a small $4 each to as high as $20+ depending what you select. And to this, the average item has good value for the amount of food given. In an area where good Japanese food can cost upwards of $20 a head, it's difficult to find bad sides to Marukai's hot and cold foods. On top of this, prices can get even cheaper as Marukai applies a 20% discount to all remaining items after 7PM. Just know that choices are not restocked and selection later in the day is not guaranteed. For my particular visit to the Little Tokyo location, I came by at 6PM was able to snag a Katsu Donburi for $7.50 and a Tako Poke for $8.16 which are not terrible when considering other places in the direct vicinity. The white onions and egg in the katsu donburi were sweet which I enjoyed in contrast to the more umami pork and green onions. But even after microwaving the bowl for a good minute, the skin of the katsu remained soggy and the rice was hard. The poke, on the other hand, was refreshing as the octopus was fresh and soft. With the addition of seaweed and onions, the whole tray tasted mostly savory with subtly sweet accents in the flavor profile. In all, the food was overall good with a few hiccups here and there. I would argue Marukai's ready-to-eat food as a whole is worth a solid 4/5. For even though each dish might have a few off-putting flavors or textures, it's very hard to compete with when the average price per item is less than 10 dollars. I believe Marukai could turn a larger profit if they chose to make more of each item each day. But for the current variety and price, I'd highly recommend Marukai for the value and if you're in a hurry and would like some Japanese food to eat.
-
January 2024 by Michelle K.
Closest Marukai market to me and I always love coming here. This store always has what I need and the quality of the produce, food/bentos, etc. are always great. It's usually pretty crowded since it's located in a plaza in Little Tokyo. There's tons of foot traffic in and out of this store. You can find drinks, produce, food, snacks, skincare, and so much more! Pro Tip - Park in the underground lot. You can get one-hour validated parking at Marukai or other businesses in this plaza.
-
December 2023 by Malou T.
Just came in the other day to get some fish cake to make Oden and discovered a plethora of gorgeous delicious food. We've recently returned from Japan and miss prepared food. I ended up buying too much. Everything looked so delicious. They even give you complimentary ice to pack your food. This is the closest Japanese grocery store for us coming from the San Fernando Valley area. Appreciate the free parking validation. So many selections of snacks. Wish the store was larger though because it is so cramped full of stuff that you could barely see what they have and it could be challenging to browse through. But still very happy that this store is here.
-
December 2023 by Helen T.
After going to Hawaii and finding Don Quixote, I desperately searched for DQ in Los Angeles and found that it was somehow affiliated with Marukai so I had to come here. It doesn't measure up to the size and variety of DQ, but there's still a lot of Japanese snacks here. Their bento and fruits look less fresh, but I think it's still a fun place to look around. I would advise you to not buy the Fugetsu-Do mochi here as the actual shop is literally 5 minute walk away and you can get it fresh there. Expensive goods but it's because they are imports. Don't buy Japanese snack boxes online, come here because every snack on the shelf looks so good and will yield more compared to the monthly subscription boxes.
-
December 2023 by Yvette R.
Love this market, there are some super cute finds and lots of great items to try. There are some freshly made food items I can't wait to pick out the next time I go! Try something new every time you go is my advice.
-
November 2023 by Corwin W.
This store was truly exceptional. Their extensive array of Ramune, drinks, food, and teas was impressive, offering a wide selection that catered to various preferences. What stood out even more was the remarkable staff who ensured a delightful shopping experience. Their warm and welcoming demeanor added to the already soul-fulfilling environment. It's evident that the staff takes great care in ensuring customers feel at ease and satisfied. Overall, my visit to this store was more than just a shopping trip; it was an enjoyable and soul-nurturing experience.
-
October 2023 by Rene A.
I buy different items every time, so many options of good food items. Snacks galore, good fresh items in their refrigerated section and so much more
-
October 2023 by Ja M.
We stopped by because we were in the neighborhood and I love a good market. I was looking for some green tea KitKats which they didn't have but I found another one of my favorites. Plum wine by Choya. It was a great price to, I had to make sure I stocked up because they don't carry this brand in my town. The market was very organized and clean. If I wasn't there for a conference I would have purchased more food to take home. The cashier was very helpful and let me know where I could purchase some green tea KitKats. All in all it was a great experience and I am glad we came in.
-
October 2023 by Happy Pham
Really nice market! I loved the selections they had. Personally didn't do any grocery shopping, I did glance at their snacks, but my main objective when I stopped by was to look at their dishware, plush, and make up of which they have a great variety. Definitely recommend stopping by if you're ever in the area.
-
October 2023 by Maruko X.
The downtown Marukai grocery store is disorganized inside, very narrow walkway inside and lack of maintenance. They have minimum purchase requirements to validate parking for one hour.
-
October 2023 by Mike R.
I ended up getting a hotel in Little Tokyo and this market was right next door. I decided to check it out and I'm glad I did. Lots of authentic Japanese products and fresh sushi.
-
September 2023 by Mark O.
Okay, you really have no other choice in Little Tokyo, other than Nijiya which is even smaller and more limited, and the management knows this. Hey management; your cashiers are not friendly. I guess customers are such a nuisance huh? Never smile, say hello or thank you. Anyway, I try to avoid this place and shop at Mitsuwa
