Famima!!

Continuing on the journey from the weekend Yelp tour at Sunset, made a little quick detour stop to this location.

I wanted to see what's the big fuss about this place. After visiting this place, I'm still not quite sure. I can understand eat healthy and getting fresh food. But at what cost?

That was the big problem for me...the cost.

5 Dumplings cost over $5. It's more than a $1 per piece. You can get a bagful of at least 30 in an Asian supermarket for the same price or less. Some of the other items I thought was grossly overpriced.

Hence, the question I had...was the good people of Hollywood just can't get decent fresh food anywhere else? That has to be it if they have to pay extortion to get something that is freshly made. The portions are not as big and is in a small container bento box. There's sushi (oh gosh, wow! You might as well hit Kabuki and it's still cheaper) and some of the cup'o noodles on the inside.

Beverages of all types ranging from organic made root-beer, lemonade, and the various types of bottled water. I got the lemonade..damnit, it just taste liked flavored water as it has no sugar and I can't tasted the lemon. Can't hold Famima for that as they are just trying to sell the beverages.

But the prepackaged items to the pricing we can hold them to that. The ambiance of the place is nice as you can sit down and eat at that location. They just pop the items into a microwave to heat it up for you. (Wouldn't Healthy Choice in a local supermarket freezer worked the same way?). Like the first reviewer of this location stated, it's like going into 7-Eleven because it's convenient and easy.

So, it got me thinking that maybe all the previous reviewers are living or had lived close to this location when they are writing the reviews. It dawned on me that it's not totally fair to conclude that this place does not serve a purpose as it is trying to give a viable outlet of healthy choices to the resident of this neighborhood. If that was the case, then so be it.

In review, I gave the place of ambiance a star, fresh food a star, and the service a star. But I withheld a star for the price and a star for portions that goes with each of the bento packages.

This has everything you can hope for around midnite when you're hungry.
I was in Hollywwod to see a performance, then in between, I felt like a bite.

Fresh food, and the interior was ok for a convenient store.
There were some other people eating there too.
I will only choose this place as my last resources, for hunger...

Anyway, the overall was great, the floor was not that clean when I was there, BE CAREFUL!! Health Dpt. may walk in any time.

I wouldn't have eaten the awful antipasto salad east from Famima had I known that Famima was here.

Today, we were bravely venturing Hollywood Boulevard on foot. My daughter had the onigiri. I had the ocha. I sincerely appreciated Famima being at this location.

After wandering around Hollywood Blvd, I like to come here to find something scrumptious to nibble on without having to pay the major bucks. Naturally, I totally intended to wander over to the pre-made salads and sushi... and yet... I find myself "lost" in the cookie aisle. What is a girl to do, but to purchase white chocolate macadamia nut and coconut cookies? Don't judge! There's fruit in them...

The cashier was quick and polite. It was tough waiting in line to purchase just one item when I could see all the other delectable goodies available. Oh man... so many different savory baos was just staring at me! The urge to eat more.... so strong....must.... fight it....

I was able to enjoy my totally health conscious snack at one of their tables and save just enough for the walk home. I really recommend this place for cheaply delicious snackums. Nom nom nom nom nom

Given that i've actually worked at this place i know how they treat their products as well as employees. I've had a pretty close relationship with the actual people running the company and by that i mean corporate and what they think of their consumers.

First of all the sushi isn't bad, but that given most people dont know that is just Sushi Boy sushi that is ordered and brought in daily. The sandwiches and other products including the sushi and other products are left out longer that required to help boost sales and get rid of old products.

If your ordering the Bao's be aware that if it's soft its been in over an hour which means it should have been thrown away. Also the fried products can only stay on the shelf for 3 hours which they mostly push to not waste it at your expense. Most of the things in the front like any grocery store are the old ones. ESPECIALLY HERE check the date on what your buying.

Also the Coffee machine in the front needs to have the milk checked and changed some places don't check and the machine dispenses bad milk.

All in All cool products, Bad Quality and Service.

I don't know if I love this place because it's got a Japanese twist, and I also have a Japanese twist, or if because it's absolutely amazing. My roommate discovered it walking back and forth from the Hollywood Highland Center and it has been a joyous experience everytime we have gone.

Famima! is a cute little Japanese market, and if you know anything about Japanese markets, they come with EVERYTHING! Famima! is no exception. With yummy sushi and roll-your-own-hand rolls up front, bento boxes and chashu buns in the middle to a gardening gloves and sashimi magnents in the back, it's a one-stop-shopping center. And best of all it's open until 2am!!

Fresh sushi, rolls, bento boxes! Yum! Fresh pork buns, curry bread and panini they'll grill for you! Delish! Noddles, soup! Damn! Snacks galore (and Japanese snacks too!), huge rows of drinks, stationary, magazines, toiletries and desserts. Simple, modern environment. I adore this place!

Rice and I stopped in here to get sushi and edemame to eat at the Hollywood bowl (everyone around us looked JEALOUS!) and we've visited the one on Westwood Blvd in West LA to grab lunch to-go for a nice picnic in the park.

We need more Famima!!

After seeing a movie at the Egyptian, take a walk here.
You get to people watch & buy freakin' cool munchies ;)

I don't know what's gong on these days but a lot of businesses around me have just been literally doing everything RIGHT.

Take one, Famima, located in the heart of Hollywood.

I am down in Hollywood probably 3 to 5 nights a week for one reason or another, and I ALWAYS stop here, even if I don't need to. It's just great food at ridiculously good prices.

I mean as I type, i'm simultaneously unboxing 8 good size portions of spicy tuna & cream cheese roll sushi and a peach diet iced tea Arizona, and the price tag? Umm, try $6.50 Yeah, I didn't just tell you the time, I told u the price and yeah, in hollywood, that's ridiculous :)

The Staff? Friendly. The food? Tasty. The fact that I can go here anytime from 6a.m. to 2a.m. and never have anything bad to say about it? Priceless.

I heart Famima :)

5/5 stars

Any place that carries Calbee Shrimp Chips (my achilles heel) is A-OK with me! I drop by this Famina location from time-to-time on my way home from work only if a parking spot happens to be free. It's a small place but they have a decent selection of to-go items: salads, sushi (WAY better than Trader Joe's sushi), sandwiches, pastas, etc. Their Little Tokyo section in the back ain't too shabby either. And if you're not into drugstore or grocery type of greeting cards (ie stationery whore), check out their card selection which contains handmade and more elegant offerings.

Parking sucks and prices are eh, but it's a good alternative to the grocery deli.