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"Nice place to shop. But all fresh and easys are great! This one in particular has a friendly staff. I will also credit the people from the…" read more »
I am SO happy this place is back up and running (albeit it under a new name and ownership). Apparently, and much to the Little Tokyo cultural surmise, a Korean investor bought the whole mall and grocery store, but I can't complain because so far -so good! This grocery store if better than any 99 Ranch store or hole-in-the-wall Asian grocery you have ever been to. I literally drive here all the way from the Valley for the fabulous selection. Favorites include: POCKY!; dried seafood (for the husband); fresh fish deli; lots of inexpensive produce; Chinese beer; sushi bar; Japanese bean-filled sugar donuts; noodle cafe; makeup vendors; upstairs kitchen and clothing selections; and all the free samples!
This is definitely worth the trip, especially since they validate parking! The staff is so kind and the experience is truly one-of-a-kind. I recommend bringing your out-of-town guests here, or even your Friday Night date!
I don't know how I managed to spend $120 here last week but I did.
I went through the produce section and noticed a lot of the Korean greens were wilted looking but stuff like green chard and lettuce were fresh. I did buy some crown daisies though and they cooked up well in a soup. I did find some deals on cuties, the tiny clementines. $3 for 3 pounds? Sure, gimme!
I was looking for dumplings and found them in four different areas. It was odd. I think they need to organize that a bit better.
That cheap kimchi I saw before? No longer on sale but $7.99 for a big ass tub was still a better deal than I've seen before. Too bad I didn't like the banchan I picked up as well. The radish and cucumber were particularly bitter. I ended up re-pickling everything with vinegar to round out the flavors.
I also got a "medium" package of assorted sashimi for $7.99. Oh man, was the yellowtail great in this.
Do you love green tea or red bean ice cream? Come here for at least four or five brands. But if you're looking for "regular" flavors, they only carry organic Alden's and four flavors (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and erm, one other).
I'd totally come back but maybe not go so overboard on the produce. I still don't know how I managed to spend so much without buying any meat.
Yeah, I'm one of those people who remember when this used to be Yaohan and then Mitsuwa. The lay out… Read more »
Maybe it was the high expectations and my tunnel-vision for fruit, sushi, and some quick food, but I was pretty disappointed with this market. Although it was pretty large with a huge selection of items, I was primarily excited about the organic fruit. I found a good portion of the fruit over-ripened (is that a word?) so I bought fruit that I thought would be ok (a couple of the nectarines, Korean pear, mango, oranges, and strawberries).
The past couple days, I actually ate the fruit and was disappointed to find the nectarine had a bit of rot in it, the mango wasn't sweet, and the oranges were dry (old). I spent close to $20 on the fruit and am kinda regretting it now.
Then there's the sushi selection when I was looking for a quick dinner (as I typically like to do in Japanese markets). While the sushi was definitely reasonably priced, when I looked at the quality, it was lacking. The tuna roll was more rice than tuna. The spicy tuna roll looked like it was 2 days old. As cheap as it was, I was worried I would get sick so I didn't get it.
Instead, I did get some cheap and decent tempura udon and tried my friend's octopus croquettes. The udon, I've had better elsewhere. The tempura was breaded instead of having the tempura flakes that I love. The broth was ok, but again, I've had better.
In terms of Japanese markets, this is pretty low on my list because of the fruit, sushi, and quickie meals. Only 3 stars here with its saving grace is the large selection of other products, decent prices, and good parking.
Okay, this is such a different review than last time. I left this place today very upset.
I live in an asian neighborhood so I'm use to bad service but whenever I go to Little Tokyo I'm usually always happy with the overall service.
Since my last 4 visits here, the Japanese items here have slowly disappeared. This place has turn into a 100% Korean market and the surrounding stores inside the market as well as 2nd floor have also turned Korean--both in products/food and staff. Even the much love Mochi store is gone. The food court style restaurant still serves ramen and chicken teriyaki, and curry but it doesn't taste the same. I order the chicken bowl and it was dry and salty.
One young male staff cashier was so rude to me, when I asked him a simple question and instead of helping me find the item I needed he just shrugged and said he didn't know and turned away.
I was really hoping this place would make good on their promise to incorporate both Japanese products and Korean products together...They made a promise to maintain the quality and service....but truly, they have failed in my eyes.
Btw, don't use their shopping carts with kid's cars attached to them...it will not fit in the pay lanes and you will need to remove everything and leave the cart. WHY HAVE THEM IF THEY DON'T FIT THE LANES??
Won't go back, not worth the drive....
I was sad when I heard this place was being bought out because I come here for the Japanese stuff… Read more »
Organic produce, meats, and products! Wow! And... SO CHEAP! I never came here until a friend brought me, because it's kind of in a giant gray cement block warehouse building. With the rest of Little Tokyo, I never thought of this building as a place with anything in it worthwhile.
The parking structure entrance is on Alameda, and provides 2 hours free parking with a market place receipt.
When you walk into the market, the produce area hits you like a cornucopia of fresh seasonal produce and organics everywhere. LOVE IT! The lighting is bright, and everything is very clean and organized.
Samples! Yes folks, I thought I was at the WeHo Pavilions grand opening... there were ladies offering samples of various items all over the store - dumplings, noodles, grilled meats, etc. Gotta love that!
And did I mention the prices are really great!? You know that the place offers great bargains when you have a bunch of Cantonese peeps there! Everywhere I walked in the market, I could hear some of my peoples speaking the mother tongue, talking about the great bargains.
I was also so surprised to see a whole section of organic/natural shampoos, soaps, and other personal products. Wow!
The K-pop was a little too hyper feeling for me, but I love fresh organic produce, meats, and products, with friendly service, and brightly lit aisles.
This is the Korean Whole Foods!
When people find out that I live in downtown, they always ask where I get my groceries. I used to have to go on and on about Ralph's for some stuff, Trader Joe's in Los Feliz for other stuff, etc., etc. Now I just say, "Little Tokyo Market." They have it all.*
The market is filled with wonderful Japanese and Korean staples as well as live and recently dead fish, thinly sliced meats ready for stir frys or grilling, kimchis, sauces and, basically, a frozen zoo. They have a top notch produce section that is priced too low to believe.
But here's where it gets interesting: They have a cereal section to rival Trader Joe's with a variety of whole-grain, organic twigs and berries. They have a virtual Whole Food's of organic products: Organic milk, eggs, and vegetables, organic agave nectars and sugars, flax seeds, Dr. Bronner's, Alba, Desert Essence... You name it.
I live downtown. This is my market.
*Except recycled paper products. That has to change.
I like this strore as much as Mitsuwa. They have great selection at a very reasonable price. Asian vegetables and fruits are fantastic.. very fresh and cheep; they are usually half of regular price at Marukai or Nishiya Markets in the same area.
Just watch out for frozen Japanese products. I had bad experiences with natto and noodles. I will never get those there again.
Okay, I'll get a couple things off my chest. I don't miss Mitsuwa one bit. I think the people who miss it never actually had to depend on it for food.
Oh sure, I thought the place was neat when I first moved into the neighborhood. But I have worked across the street from Mitsuwa for 12 years and have struggled to find something to eat for lunch every day during that time. It wasn't long before I realized that Mitsuwa had expired Japanese candy, expired "sushi," and not much else. I really felt as if I were giving to charity when I shopped there.
So when the koreans took over I was overjoyed. They have done a very good job with the place. Sure, there are some rotting fruits and vegetables there, in fact I just bought 12 pints of over-the-hill strawberries. But those12 pints cost a total of $2.97. Smoothies!
You can get a bowl of sashimi salad, a container of rice and a bowl of soup for $2.99. I just got a large container of kok doo kee for 99 cents. And so many other good deals.
The place is now owned by people who know about and care about food and I say thank god-ham-ni-da.
-EB
I will start off like many of the reviewers here by mentioning that I *loved* Mitsuwa and really really miss it. And honestly, I was protesting going to the Little Tokyo Market Place after it was taken over by Korean owners. I couldn't get over the fact that a Korean grocery store would be in a mall that's in Little Tokyo called Little Tokyo Mall. But moreover Korea Town is HUGE I was sad that Little Tokyo would have one less Japanese market. With that said, I decided to check it out for first time today.
Admittedly, the new owners did a good job of upgrading the floors, lighting and overall ambiance of the store. It has a more pleasant feel that's along the lines of Whole Foods and less of an Asian market which could turn a lot of people off.
The other thing that the owners did a good job of was keeping some of the Japanese items that were found in Mitsuwa. But of course, the store is stocked with predominantly Korean foods. And they are obviously targeting a wider audience because I also noticed a lot of frozen foods and sauces that shoppers would find in a regular grocery store. For example, I found a row of Kikkoman brand sauces and Amy's brand frozen meals. To me this downgrades the authenticity of the store making it less of a specialty store. But I think that's good for the store's bottom line.
I'm giving it four stars because as a Korean store, it's top-notch. It's much nicer than most markets in K-town. Definitely worth checking out. And I do admit that's it's really convenient to shop here because you could essentially get everything you need without having to go to multiple stores. Because of the variety and the goal of attracting a lot more customers, their prices are good too. BUT if you want the real Japanese deal, go to the Weller Court mall and visit Marukai Market.
I was so depressed when I heard that a Korean investor was buying up the Little Tokyo shopping center and closing up Mitsuwa. Well, coming back to where this once Tokyo market was I was surprised on how much of an improvement the place went through.
First off you'll notice that the place is beyond well lit. What was once florescent lights that showered the place with a boring yellowish color now has whites very white and is extremely clean looking.
You have all the isles well stocked. the fish section, even at 8pm, well stocked with fresh looking fish. Even with fish in bricks of ice, you have them look a lot fresher than anything at Mitsuwa ever was.
The butcher selection is amazing! I mean, literally off the charts amazing. They have Korean BBQ quality and marinated meats. So I don't have to drive to Korea town to get my short ribs on for a BBQ. I'm in love with this new make over.
The veggie section doesn't look like it's a day old and doesn't have flies walking around it. I never trusted the veggies when Mitsuwa was around. But I saw this stuff and I loved it! Great stuff.
There's a second floor that's actually being used?!?! Wow, color me surprise. I mean, even if it's for cheap Korean kitchenware and utensils, it's still really nice to not have to worry that a wave of zombies will come chasing after you from the dark area. I mean, seriously, the old upstairs was completely dark. It was perfect for a horror film. This new lay out is actually really nicely laid out.
This is a standout market in the LIttle Tokyo area. Outstanding selection of produce, drinks, and pastries here. The left side of the market is pretty cool because of the noodle stand, bakery, and Korean food stand. They validate parking for 2 hours in their structure with purchase. For an Asian market, this place is clean.
I don't live in LA but when I go in the future, I plan to make a stop here every time I come back.
I must be space cadet of the year, because I had no idea that (1) this place used to be a Mitsuwa, and (2) that this was a Korean market. This is just a great market, with a huge selection of everything, as well as pastry and cooked food counters. I especially love the produce section: some of the things can be randomly over priced, but they always have a killer deal, like oranges for 25 cents a pound, or a HUGE thing of organic strawberries for a couple of dollars. They're also open pretty late, so I would definitely recommend stopping by if you're having dinner in Little Tokyo!
I was a total fan of Mitsuwa, and before that, Yaohan - to start out with, the new owners really need to come up with a catchier name than this. But, the place looks much nicer than before. I don't know if it needed new owners, or just a makeover, but whatever it was, it's worked.
I like to go for lunch and either eat the pre-fab sushi or the noodles. Now they have a sashimi salad place inside the market that looks and smells good, but I haven't tried yet.
The noodle counter up front is still good, with the same assortment of udons, sobas, ramens and the like, and the prices don't look like they've changed (the people have, though - I really liked the people who used to work back there). This is good but unspectacular, but I never leave at all disappointed.
The sushi counter inside is still just as extensive as it was before, but I have to now ask them to prepare hand rolls for me. That's not a big deal, I'm an instant gratification type of a 5 minute delay is not usually my thing, but when they make them fresh, the rice is fresh and it tastes much better. The prices have gone up a little bit in the sushi area, though, and the quantity is the same or even a little smaller. With the handrolls, they load you up on more rice, and, I suspect, less fish.
Don't go there looking for Katsuya, R23 or Sushi Gen, but you won't pay like that either. It's a nice little simple place where you get a quick, cheap bite of sushi because you have a hankering but don't need to sit down at an expensive but great restaurant.
If I was comparing quality to the above-mentioned places, this would be a 2. But, if you want a quick bite of sushi, sashimi salad or some good noodles. this place can't be beat. And, the decor is much improved over what it was before, so enjoy it while it's still so nice looking.
New owners! I heard about the Korean bought out and had to go see for myself. They sure did, and the place is rockin'! The produce and the meat is almost half the price. The selection has changed a bit, but for the better.
They're reorganized the layout and it looks bigger. Nice.
I went hungry. No, not a mistake. Good! They had about 10 food demonstrations!!! They didn't know where anything was, but who cares, I'll try some soba noodles! Or maybe some gyozas...oh wait, maybe some pork belly....oh, here is some flax seed with orange juice, um, okay! Sapporo was on sale; the cute Japanese girl had a microphone and was making announcements in three different languages. Here try some fruit...okay...oh, would you like some ramen...sure....
I don't care who the new owner is. I just care about the major improvements they've done on the market.
This is where my wife has been getting groceries lately. They've got fascinating stuff at reasonable prices, but if you're looking for American staples or standard brands, you're in the wrong place. We've gotten the weirdest cheese and bread -- I know, I know -- as well as the most fun ice cream bars and soda pop. Not sure I'd dig shopping here all the time, but it's been novel.
I'M ALIVE!! Thank you Loowdy!!!
After having the worst weekend of my life trying to battle through food poisoning, on the last day, of the last long weekend, of the last leg of summer, I'M DRINKING AGAIN!!! Hoorah...........
Okay.... that first statement has nothing to do with this review but I'm just a lil excited about getting back to my alcohol consumption.
I love living Downtown.
I love the people, the confusion, chaos, the beauty, the ugliness, the twinkilng lights of the skyline, the darkness of the streets at night.
I only have a handful of complaints about living here. One big pain in the a** is not having a place to buy fresh produce and meats. Yes... yes... We have Ralphs and as much as I appreciate it, their produce SUCKS ROTTON BOOTY.
When the Market Place opened up, I was a bit hesitant. The fact that they decided to close down the only full service Japanese market just to open up a Korean one in Jtown just gone done and pissed me off. I thought this was so disrespectful to the community. And... I'M KOREAN.
I was sick, I mean, real sick. Like death can be the only cure, kinda sick. I knew the only thing my tummy would be able to handle is rice porridge and maybe some bananas. The closest market other than Ralphs was The Market Place. So, in my full "I am a celebrity on my way to meet my drug dealer" disguise of baseball cap, and oversized sunglasses, I lug myself over here. "Holy sh*t!!! WOW! Beautiful organic fruits and produce! Red plums! Sweet plums! Italian plums! Oh my!!! Fresh meat and fish! They even kept most of the Japanese products and foods, as well! And it's cheaper than sucky Ralphs!"
I hobble over to the liquor section just out of curiosity. I wasn't planning on doing any drinking, hell... I can barely hold down water but I still needed to check it out.
As I walk down the aisle to check out the sogu and sake.. *gasp* "Wha??"
I rub my eyes to make sure I'm not hallucinating.
They sell my all time favorite sake... *sigh* Kizakura Nigori. Mitsuwa didn't even carry this.
I grab all 5 bottles they had stocked on the shelf (for another time, of course...)
The first smile on my face all weekend.
Oh.. yah... Got my rice and bananas, as well.
I have found my old friend...
and made a new one......
The only reason I deducted a star was for the crappy electronic pop music my people always seem to have the need to blare in shopping centers and restaurants. I'm thinking they're pumpin subliminal messages through the speakers... "BUY MORE FLUFFY RICE...."
I don't get it either. It's annoying as hell.
*Parking in the garage is free for the first 2 hours with validation. Very important when you've morphed into the walking dead*
aka, galleria market of the little tokyo plaza. this is the best place in downtown la to buy fresh produce, meats (from a butcher, if you desire) and seafood at a very reasonable price. don't bother buying your staple "american" goodies here, though, (including spices, canned foods, pastas, orange juice, etc.) those items are way overpriced.
p.s., the galleria market is now a KOREAN market - get over it, people.
This place is definitely for those who are into the Japanese culture-- it has like everything here from groceries to a little gift shop upstairs.
Came here with a friend and had a nice time walking around and shopped a little-- it's like 3 stories. but don't expect too much cause it's not SUPER HUGE, yet not super small-- so I guess it's like a super store for Japanese stuff.
KOREAN PACKAGED SUSHI for $4! MmmM, that was absolutely delicious. And on top of that, there are pretty cute restaurants that I still need to try in this plaza!
The prices here are reasonable-- I'd definitely prefer this place over Mitsuwa any day!
This place is heaven!
Organic blueberries for a $1.29!!!
Huge container of organic lettuce for only $3.99!
One whole aisle just for kimchee!
My regular shampoo from Whole Foods but $3.00 cheaper!!!
I could go on, but the list would be so long.
This place is great! Service is friendly and helpful. They even take the time to write things down that they don't have so they can order it for the future.
Parking is easy and free for 2 hours with a receipt, with a free shuttle service that I am dying to try.
This is the best thing to happen to this area in a long time, and as a Downtown resident (a non-asian vegan at that), I am ever so grateful for the new Marketplace. I never have to go to Ralph's again! And at the rate they keep adding more products, I don't even mind that Trader Joe's has no intention of opening a store Downtown...
With two Japanese grocery stores nearby, Little Tokyo Market Place is definitely a welcome addition.
The store hours are from 8am but it's usually open when I come here before I go to work which is about 7:45am. I find that very convenient. LTMP also offers free round trip shuttle service from your work to LTMP as well as free self-service coffee. I overheard several of my co-workers raving about these services.
Prices are reasonable and to my knowledge, this place offers the most competitive prices for sake and other alcoholic beverages.
This place is going to be a winner. And here's why:
1. It's buzzing with pple.
2. It's lively and pple actually shoved each other for meat and seafood.
3. It's decently priced Korean and Japanese groceries.
It's not that I disliked Mitsuwa. But when they were operating here, even on weekends, the place was dead beat. I would hate to visit the second floor because you might never known if a zombie or two might be waiting to pounce on you.
Way to go with this new take-over.
As a LA native, I was sad to see Mitsuwa go. It was a store I'd gone to since I I was kid.
Out of sheer curiosity, stopped at the Little Tokyo Market place a couple months back. Let me just say, $30 goes a long way here! Produce & meat is insanely cheap and they have a nice selection.
On weekends, they have sampling stations set up throughout the market . Its my chance to try foods and fruits I'd otherwise NEVER try on my own. Now no longer do I feel like the clueless non-Asian wandering the store.
The new staff here is SO nice and so helpful. If the fruit/veggie selection is not to your liking, more than once has the staff offered to check in the back and bring out some more stuff!
great prices, great selection.. what's not to like?
Stopped by the new market yesterday and was very impressed. The fruit and vegetable area was fresh, good quality, and very affordable. There are live fish, like in Chinese markets, and again very affordable, in contrast to the Japanese market before. I really don't understand how Japanese markets sell their foods so much more expensive than anywhere else. I mean, yes they're fresh, they might taste a little different, but it's just insane to pay five dollors for a fuji apple from Japan and .50 for a fuji apple from Washington State! Is the difference worth that?
Anyways, we ate supermarket sushi and a bowl of ramen, and I thought the food was as fresh and as good, if not better, than before. The staff is efficient, if a little curt. If they can keep this up, this would be a very welcome addition downtown. I plan to come back and probably often!
. Little Tokyo Market Place is located in the Little Tokyo Mall, they do validate if you spend I believe at least 15 dollars. This is a great market place with a huge selection of tasty foreign snacks and new things to try. Service is nice. I just love coming here and trying new stuff. The last sale they had was great I payed 3 bucks for 10 dollars worth of stuff. This may be one of the best markets in the area as it's competition are the two Japanese markets nearby and one on Sawtelle.
Alright... I miss Mitsuwa too, but that's no reason to give this fine supermarket a low-ball rating.
After shopping here many times in the last few months I'm finding it hard to remember what exactly I miss about Mitsuwa... it's certainly not the prices. There was that one cashier who was really cute...
The selection hasn't changed, so much as shifted... maybe there's more kimchee and a little less tofu? They seem to have at least 50 kinds of rice in every conceivable grade and size. There is more cheese and dairy products, not as much sake. The beer selection has changed a bit but still basically sucks, though the prices have dropped. Produce sections seems to have more choices and better prices, but you gotta keep an eye on what you throw in your basket. More than a few times I've found stuff rotting in the bins, fruit flies buzzing around.
Overall, I'm just really happy about the prices. Mitsuwa was... *expensive!*
P.S. - The flour tortillas are in the freezer case. I've no idea why.
Koreans invade Little Tokyo and turned defunct Mitsuwa into their own supermarket!!!!
But on a positive note as Korean supermarkets are known to have fantastic weekly specials and savings on everything. I was wowed by the seafood special that I could not believe my eyes. Where else can you get large Black Tiger shrimp - (India 21/25) at $3.99/lb and Argentinian large whole squid and mackerel pike fish at $0.99/lb.? Also got champagne mangoes for $1.00/4pcs. Their specials on fruits and greens are on par with their counterparts Hannam, City and California.
Fear not Nihonjins as there is abundant fresh and frozen Japanese products as well as groceries. And a sushi deli, too. At last, I managed to get my favourite Ampan (red azuki bean) buns from their bakery.
Ample parking in the adjoining multi-level structure is free for 1hr. Seriously, I'll be back again to shop for more!!!
Nijiya-san and Marukai-san of Little Tokyo, we know you guys are pricey but go with the flow!
You would think it's a Japanese market, but it's just a Korean market with both Japanese AND (mostly) Korean items. apparently the young sample ladies like talking to customers, but I don't blame them. The best part is that over at the baby section there are ANPANMAN GoENKI! diapers!!! I think it's the most awesome thing ever. I bought the milkis soda ($3) for a pack of 6. If you're looking for the persimmon punch in indvl cans, you won't be able to find them. They'll just be in a box of 12-16 for $6 I think. Just don't kill me if I'm wrong. Near the back where the bakery is there are kimbap plates sold for $4-5, sweet rice balls and Japanese food. THe kimbap is really inexpensive and you can see the lady making it so you'll know it's fresh.
I went to the flower market for this first time today and decided to check out this new market since it's so close.
It appears to be like Hannam on Olympic and all the other nice Korean markets in Koreatown.
They had great deals on produce. 3 mangoes for $1. Red and glossy (I went to Grand Central Market afterwards where they also sold 3 mangoes for $1, but they were still green, kind of spotted, and not glossy/as healthy looking).
I also got honey mangoes. 4 for $1.
Good deal on fresh shrimp. Don't remember the price.
I got there too early when the sample ladies were just setting up, so I didn't get to sample any food.
The market was clean. No funky smell. The employees were polite and greeted you when you entered.
I spent about $29. There was a booth just outside where if you show your receipt, they'll give you a little gift. I got a serving of cooked white rice vacuum-sealed. There were other gifts if you spent more. I don't know what those amounts are.
There is 1 hr. of free parking. No purchase necessary.
I got some nice deals, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. I like to try different foods, so I like trying Korean food, but I couldn't eat it every day. It's just too salty. I always wondered if Koreans have high blood pressure from all the salt.
i went to this market a few times before the big change took place, but i'm here a lot more often now with its lower prices and bigger selection. i think the reopening brought new life into this building. before, it was pretty much dead, not many other customers. now, it's crawling with people! there's a new noodle place right next to the market and yummy snack places inside the market too.
i like that i don't have to drive all the way to ralphs to get groceries. i live a couple blocks from the place so i jus walk if i don't hav a huge grocery list. there's a senior apt close by and i see the cute grandmas and grandpas walking back to their apts with a few bags of groceries too. this place is a huge plus to the little tokyo residents.
I love the selection of the meat depertment.
I picke up a pack of fresh beef intestin and cooked it with salt and pepper, and my husband LOVED them.
I live in Little Tokyo, and there was NO place where I could shop for fresh vegetables and good… Read more »
i was really sad to see mitsuwa being taken over by new owners, and was afraid of what was to come in its place....im happy to report that the new market is really clean and the staff super friendly. there are pretty girls giving out samples of food like they do at costco. prices on some items have gone way down. my husband is addicted to these little cans of superstrong japanese coffee, and used to pay $1.99 per can. now they are $1.29 !!! they also have large raw shrimp at just $3.99 per pound, and usda ny steak for $4.99 per pound. you just cant beat it. i really like that they have lots of organic products as well now...
overall, a really nice change.
Back in the 80s, it was Yaohan Plaza. Then Mitsuwa made its way. Now, Lil Tokyo Market Place. You would think a minor name change wouldnt make much of a difference!? A few months ago, a bento box, spicy tuna roll, and a bottle of water or soday would set you back $12 Bucks. Now its $11. Weeeeeeiiii.... Saved a whole dollah...
The place looks the same, but you can tell, they are slowly remodelling on the fly. Wood floors, new color scheme, giant letters that read CATERING, new point of sales machines, new bakery items, outdoor seating for the public, and new staffing. Now on to the food.
Chicken Karage is now Fried Chicken Bento. Looks the same, but you cant fool me you slick new korean owners!!!! Instead of mirin, you just dabbed some imitation mirin, and SALTY soy. Your potato salad is not creamy, but instead, low grade mayo with funky potatoes. You seem to have kept your croquette in tact, and your rice is definitely not Calrose.
But it gets even better. Your spicy tuna is a pale colored pasty tuna concoction, with tiny bits of red color specks of spicyness. Interesting taste as the heat hits your throat right at the end of your bite, rather than the usual "KAPOW" in the beginning. After destroying the first 5 pcs, i popped the 6th one like i was eating cracker jack. THEN..it came. Something sorta thin...something wasnt right. Did i just chew the lint off my polo shirt while shoving food in my face? NAhh.....so i just kept chewing....then...it just got more annoying.......next thing I know....im pulling a 14 inch strand of hair from my mouth. FUCK ME. Yeah Yeah.... it coulda been worse like Pubes, a worm, roach, bloody band aid....etc.. but 14"....come on...thats effing WRONG! Coulda called the Health, but whats the use? It wont make me feel any better? My stomach was in complete knots afterwards. Jeeeezzzuuzzz..... one of the worst things I ever had. Trust me....i have no beef with the new owners. I could careless....In fact, i wasnt even gonna review, but then i kept gettin reminders of my lunch everytime I burped.....
Sorry Little Tokyo....i heard great things.....this was a major fuckup..... back to the drawing board hopefully!
Not for me. Not pleasant enough for me. Not a good experience unless you are looking for korean food. It is misleading to name such a store Little Tokyo, as it is far from being Japanese. This is not a good place to find Japanese food. It took a ridiculously long time too to find what I was looking for, to weed through all the korean items. It's purely little seoul, not asian fusion either, which would have been an improvement, as there was not much or no chinese, thai, pacific or filipino items. There are some scary looking seafood displays. Ok prices for the frugal maybe. Frustrating on many levels. I'm not going back.
I already love this place, but after Sunday I just LOVE it even more. Thanks for the prize!!!!!
prices have dropped tremendously here and the quality is still up! On sunday a huge sale was in progress and everything from steaks to fruit was on the cheap side- I felt like ralphs was a rip off now. If the prices stay low and the the quality does not suffer- I can see this market being a huge success.
I would die without this market.
sashimi is always fresh! meat quality is good. fruits and vegetables arent as super as the galleria in koreatown but they will do and Im just happy I dont have to drive all the way to koreatown. parking is excellent. And they serve free coffee : )
-good food
-good prices
-good selection (of asian foods but it looks like they're trying to beef up the american products as well)
-good God, there are some cute girls that shop here... srsly, would've never thunk it but sure as a bear poops in the woods, cute girls shop here.
i'm starting to like the changes happening in this plaza... the market, pho shop (right next to the market), visual improvements, etc... hopefully more stores will start opening in the vacant spots here... plus after shopping you can grab some mochi or cream puffs or both.
bottom line, check out the market (and plaza) and don't get caught staring...
I miss Mitsuwa very much....
I made a few stops at this new market and I have to say they have good things going for them: It's clean, good produce selection, large selection of cooked food (sushi, bento box, and Korean style food). I do miss the larger selection of Japanese items...
I have to say though, some of the staffs are kind of rude. Perhaps it is because I am not Korean? I got responses such as "WHAT!?" or just a confused look when I inquired the cashiers.
I hope it's just me...it is not a bad maket. The service can use some improvement though.
i have to admit I was skeptical... nay, uber pessimistic. I was sad when the Yaohan became Mitsuwa, but at least it was still Japanese. When I heard yet another Korean business was invading my little home, I was quite defensive and upset. I loves me some Korean, but I don't think its too much to ask that our 2 block radius remain Japanese ya herd? Wellm, as fate would have it, Koreans just do it better. I am sad to say, but I must give credit where its due and the Market Place is a far better market than Yaohan or Mitsuwa ever were and where else can a green onion fiend like myself get 10 bunches for $0.99??? exactly. the service is also very friendly... much more so than the markets in k-town and the guy who mans the meat counter is especially RAD. love that guy. i go here at least once a week and haven't had a bad experience until today when I opened the milk I bought yesterday, with a 6/3 expiration date, and tasted some rottenness. But i'm taking it back and hopefully they respond well. if so, i wish them great success and hope they are the only korean business to be truly successful in my town.
Cheapest prices on produce, more than half the price of Ralph's.
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