Marukai Market Little Tokyo

The problem is it’s size. It’s small. I asked if they had corn starch and they only had potato starch. They’re both thickeners but one ends up being clear and the other opaque. I found out these are the most important differences between them on google much later because I had poor reception there. I’m not sure if Japanese cuisine rarely uses corn starch as opposed to potato starch or something but it wasn’t great that there was no corn starch. All in all I was very frustrated. Maybe I deserved it because, alas I was going to make orange chicken lol. Getting stuff for orange chicken at a Japanese grocery store? Well, I must admit that I chose this store because it had one of my favorite items. Ponzu sauce. The ponzu sauce was made in Japan and it was not terribly expensive. I always look for items that are made in Japan as opposed to China. Items like wakame. Yeah, some of it isn’t produced in Japan. Of course the Japanese stuff is more pricey but it’s worth it. I like to think the Japanese stuff will be less carcinogenic or something. I found everything besides the corn starch. Chef grade soy sauce, Kadoya sesame seed oil and ponzu. The store is overflowing with snack foods. Maybe they could calm down with the snack foods and bring in other things? Just maybe, so I can maybe find corn starch next time? Lol Parking in the underground structure is validated.

A very densely packed market with a great selection of Japanese goods among others. You can tell this spot is popular among locals as the general shopping center is often seemingly abandoned compared to the Village just a block east always packed shoulder to shoulder with tourists, but this market is still bustling with local customers and the occasional Little Tokyo visitors who wander beyond the Village

Nice place with lots of selections. No restrooms. Parking is the one directly below called Parking Weller Court. Free one hour with purchase of $25 or more.

Marukai feels exactly like a grocery store in Japan. They have it down with the daily fresh sushi and rolls, signage, and employees that will greet you in Japanese. I had to visit a couple of times before I felt comfortable walking around the store to and figure out what I wanted. It can feel like you’re going in circles cause you are, but the layout does make sense after a few visits. Sushi and bento boxes are 20% off after 7PM. Parking is free with $25 purchase for up to 1 hour. Personal checks are no longer accepted at checkout. Alcohol sales end at 9PM. They have a self check out and a regular check out, and microwaves by the exit to heat up meals. You can get all kinds of specialty groceries, frozen food, Japanese snacks and fresh produce here. The price points are similar to that of a Ralphs or Vons.

Great selection of Japanese products from Japan and embodying Japanese culture. Picked up a few snacks to go. Area is busy at all hours. Great diversity in snacks, produce, and home goods. There is plenty of English translation and labeling to help understand what products are.

This is the only shop in Little Tokyo that truly made me feel like I was in Tokyo. Instead of souvenirs, they offer the real things you would expect to find in a Japanese grocery store in Japan. Authentic and affordable.

Malee, love this place. I just told them that it takes a lot of maintenance for the green areas to clean and wash, especially, the fountain in between because it sucks of rotten water. They need it. Do painting require gardening maintenance? They need attraction. Their logos in premises.

It’s a nice market but they are very inefficient. They shut down entire aisle to restock while the store is open! Everyone was just waiting around while they stocked carts and carts of items. Maybe, I don’t know, let people grab items while you’re restocking?

I love Marukai- this little shop packs a lot into their small space. It carries a variety of food and personal care items from Japan. You can also find items from Hawaii like Aloha Shoyu and Lion Coffee. They also carry wonderful bread from Monmoth Bakery and awesome Fugetsu-Do Mochi. I've been coming here for years and it's always consistently great. If you have seen videos on social media about the store called, "Don Quixote" in Japan, this is part of the same company. You can find many of the same items in those videos here at Marukai. The vibe here is a lot less hectic and merchandise is much more organized than the store in Japan. The prepared food section carries a selection of food that is very similar to what you would find in a typical Japanese "Konbini" or convenience store. Onigiri, sushi, egg sandos- they have it all! Whether you need to stock up on Japanese groceries or you're interested in trying out stuff you have seen on social media, Marukai is a great place :)

This entire establishment feels like they're just trying to make a buck off you. Definitely one of my biggest pet peeves. A lot of everything happening all the time in this market. Parking's a poor idea - the garage is stressful and the idea is to get you in and out as fast as possible. Security is always super present and staring (god forbid I bring a personal bag into the store). Half gimmicky, half legitimate spot to get Japanese groceries. I like their prepared foods to go, and they provide chopsticks, napkins, and other condiments to go at checkout. But there are so many drawbacks to coming here (especially with a car) that deter me. Why would I keep coming back if I'm followed around the store and surveilled all the time?? There are plenty of other Asian supermarkets that act normally. I don't need to be here.

I usually love this place! However had a really bad customer service experience today. I was working at the Moca so I had to leave my ID in order to park. I was not paying for anything mind you my bf was paying. He had two beers for himself and a sake Jell-O shot.The cashier (she was actually nice) and other cashier named Victoria told me I would also need to show my ID. I explained that I would have to walk all the way back to Moca to get my ID and come all the way back. So I did. They said they would hold the alcohol and that I just need to bring my ID. Mind you my bf's ID had already been verified and he was paying. It was an entire hassle to walk back to the Moca parking lot get the parking pass walk to Moca office to get my ID then walk all way back to the market and wait in line again. My bf also had to walk back to the car now that the parking pass had to be turned in for my ID. After the arduous walk back, I finally get back to the register and Victoria who I had seen maybe 20 mins earlier looked at my ID very closely realizing I'm of age and then asked to see my BF ID again. Mind you he is not with me and is at the MOCA parking lot watching the car. I asked why I wasn't being sold the alcohol even though I brought my id like I was asked and she said cause it was my bfs alcohol on hold? I asked for a supervisor bc this was insane.... After the supervisor heard my side of the story and realized the nuance situation asked me to grab a new supply of the previous haul. He also tried to warn me that after buying this alcohol I would be responsible for whatever happens after. AGAIN I had to even ask my bf to send me a picture of his id so he could be assured I wasn't lying...bc the way Victoria treated me was unacceptable. I am of age and have been so for 10+ years and have never experienced such bad customer service around the purchase of alcohol. Sorry I look young? So what's the policy for a mom and her 18+ child??? What about a married couple and the wife or husband happens to be getting their ID renewed? This is a terrible policy especially considering how busy this area is. Their staff isn't trained properly to deal with nuanced customer service issues and have terrible communication. This should have been an easy issue to address and communicate on next steps as I'm sure it is not the first time this has happened. The policy is the policy however I didn't appreciate that I did what was asked brought my ID and then was immediately hit with another no by the cashier (Victoria) who was aware of the issue bc she is the one who put our alcohol on hold and acted like she didn't know what to do....very odd power trip for a cashier position. I'm thankful that the supervisor was understanding and recognized me and my bf are legally allowed to purchase alcohol. I love this market but this policy and their training around this is policy is terrible. Do better! Great market! Bad customer service training. make sure your whole party has ID's if you're buying alcohol cause the staff are not good at explaining their policies.

love their extensive selection of everything from food to mystery blind boxes and bags, and beauty and home section! a bunch of items that are normally only found exclusively in japan! love coming here to browse everything and find interesting items that I normally can't find in person! The donki music playing in the background is so cute as well lol love their ready food section of cold noodles sashimis and sushi options as well as bentos! they have a microwave for customer use after checkout to heat up items and utensils at checkout. There's so much fun stuff to look at here!!

What a great market. I have never seen such a well-stocked Asian market before. Checked into the DoubleTree Hilton earlier today, needed a market to pick up a few things. Turns out Marukai Market is right behind the DoubleTree. Biggest problem is they have too many choices. I settled for: HIYASHI CHUKA $7.99 This was a delicious cold ramen noodle salad. It's a Japanese version of a chef's salad with soy sauce dressing. It was delicious. Flavors were fresh. INARI SAMPLER $7.99 Amazing! Wish every supermarket could offer a tasty dish like this for $7.99. It was fresh, bursting with flavors I never experienced prior. Guaranteed I will buy this delicacy again. I need a couple of hours to explore this market better. Wish they were closer to my home. I could easily make them my go to supermarket.

Great Japanese grocery store and market with a fun easy layout! The food selection is stellar. Especially for pre-packaged and pre-made eats. I love the more than affordable tofu, snacks, dry food, frozen goodness and drinks, beer, spirits and of course wine selections. I'm not in Little Tokyo too often and usually can't get as much as I want living in the valley, but I definitely indulge when here. Love the friendly service, local vibes and convenience of it all. Even though Marukai is inside the epic multi-level Weller Court plaza it still feels like an inviting neighborhood place to stock up on essentials, grab a ready meal, heat up some noodles, sip a beverage and find a spot in the court out front to enjoy it all. Parking is $2 for every 15 minutes, but Marukai Market is also a 10 to 15 minute stroll from the nearest LA Metro Rail/Subway stations (Civic Center / Grand Park Station, Historic Broadway). The entrance is just off 1st Street on Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka Street which is between San Pedro and Los Angeles Streets (closest to 1st/Los Angeles). Don't forget your reusable bags!

I LOVE Marukai Market - and this location was no different. Amazing selection of pre-made sushi rolls, my favorite is the inari sampler. My least favorite is the futomaki roll. I have yet to try their poke bowls, but they look very good. Their meat and fish quality are all great. I love getting shabu shabu meats here. They also have an amazing selection of nattos, Japanese seasonings/sauces, and lots of interesting snacks. Veggies and meats are a tad pricey, but the quality is nice. Not as pricey as Mitsuwa, but still pricier compared to many other American grocery stores. There is a parking lot in the back, but also street parking in the adjacent neighborhood streets. The staff here is wonderful - great attitude, super helpful, and everyone is very friendly. I feel safe too because they have a security guard at the door.

Love Japanese food and products? This is your one stop shop! I love showing this place to friends who have never experience a Marukai Market, Tokyo Central or even a Don Quixote. Food From fresh produce to unique products from Japan, there's never a shortage of anything here! I could spend hours and hours here walking through the aisles and intrigued with this place has to offer. In honesty, I probably walked through the same aisles over and over to decide if really need some of these snacks. There is an area where there is a selection of foods ready to eat and some can be heated after purchase as well. I personally like grabbing a tuna onigiri and a lemon tea as a quick snack before explore Little Tokyo more. Service Always top tier here. The cashiers and employees are helpful and patient when it comes to assisting to find a product or offer recommendations to favorite products. Ambiance It is overwhelming at first with its colorful displays but that's what makes this place so unique. If I want to get a taste of Japan or reminisce of my trips to Don Quixote, this is my go to place. This location also has a small store directly across the market which specializes on the beauty products sold in main market. The Weller Courtyard is full of life on Friday nights or even the weekends. Weekday noon are sometimes a ghost town or filled with some city workers grabbing their lunch. Once in a while, there was pop up booths of small businesses outside and it's a great way to see some of their products. Would definitely recommend being careful if you're out late here since Skid Row is nearby. I have accidentally driven there relying heavily on GPS before. Parking LA parking will always be a challenge. If you aren't a fan of tight parking, the parking garage here gives me a sense of anxiety when maneuvering it. Some of the wall have scuff marks on them from previous drivers. There is a valet option on crowded times as well. You are able to get validation I believe with a certain amount when purchasing from the market.

I really enjoyed this place!! I always go straight to the snacks (chips in particular) & I found some Doritos that I don't see at the usual commercial grocery stores. I snatched them up quick, it was a Mild Salt flavor. There's a section where there are bowls to go, sushi, chicken, etc. I kept goin back & forth between the sections, they had so much. I ended up get the Japanese-style Fried Chicken, that I didn't end up getting a chance to try & I gave it to my homie (I'm going to come back for it). The Bibimbap caught my eyes to come back for too. Outside of that, I grabbed some candy (Hi-Chew), tea (that I forgot in the fridge while heading to the airport) & some wheat cracker snacks (seaweed flavor). This is one of those spots I'd make sure to visit whenever I come back to LA.

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.

This supermarket chain is awesome! it's been around for a while and it keeps improving with time. We always visit here to shop for grocery, get a quick bite to eat, or even to just grab a quick cold drink on a hot summer day as we stroll Little Tokyo. The market has been upgraded and it seems more spacious. The food here is very fresh and have lots of ready to eat options as well. They have food from Tokyo Central as well on their refrigerated sections. There are even options for self check out too. Don't forget to ask for chopsticks after you pay if you're planning on enjoying the food as soon as you walk out :) Pro tip. They will let you use their restrooms located on the second floor, but you have to show proof of purchase.

This place has an array of different items you can buy. From food, to house products, to little Knick knacks. I stopped by just to check them out and ended up buying myself a salmon roll, a pocari sweat, and some salmon flakes for my dog. Prices are reasonable and the cashiers were friendly. Lines were long but they tackled it fast. My dog LOVES the salmon flakes!

My friend cut himself on open glass they just had on their display, open low enough for children to touch. Instead of fixing the hazard, the employees went on their break and then made fun of him loud enough for us to hear in their break room

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.

Came here for quick lunch as I was in the area. The sushi / ready to eat selection was surprisingly wide and reasonably priced for the quality. I was hoping to find the chirashi bowl as I saw from other reviews, but they unfortunately did not have it. I got the 8 piece sushi ($14.99) and triangle spicy tuna onigiri ($1.99) and a bottle of Pocari ($2) Total was around $20. - Sushi was 7/10. Fresh, tasty, reasonable price - Triangle spicy tuna onigiri 2/10. Disappointing flavor, too much rice compared to the filling I would say in the spectrum of grocery store sushi, this sushi is better than Whole Foods but not as good as Erewhon. I also found out if you spend $25 or more, you can get parking validation.

This is my favorite Japanese market! The store is laid out very well and prices are decent. I specifically come for the selection of sauces and the chocolate. *wink*. Check out all the pocky flavors!!! Great selection of canned coffee and Japanese micro brews as well. It's fun to come browse the aisles.

The food selection they have there is incredible and really varies; there are many options there! Also when I had a little trouble with the self checkout machine I was immediately attended to and the problem was quickly solved! Thanks to the great service and quick thinking of the worker there! The ambiance there is very chill and relaxing! If I didn't have an itinerary at the time I would've spent an hour or two in there just strolling and shopping. Like another normal person haha!

great alternative to nijiya market. good range & large selection of products. spicy rice sticks are my go-to salty/crunchy treat. i bought a large sesame mochi cake with red bean paste within. it is excellent & it is lucky i didn't buy multiples, as i would eat them all in one sitting. the three stars for the review is for the tuna sushi, which was questionable: i have never seen ground tuna in a sushi. my assumption is it was chopped to hide a low quality meat. this is an age-old tactic, which in this case, is a red flag. will stick to nijiya for that sushi. found my favorite small-head japanese toothbrush here. they are very hard to track down, so am pleased. will visit marukai again in the future. p.s. i never knew this complex was called 'weller court', which does not appear anywhere either on the building(s) or on a map...

Love this Japanese market with all the imported goods! They have everything from foods to skin care and hair items. If you want quality items from Japan this place is def the spot to go!

Market located in Weller court for the locals. When in a pinch this is the place to go for lunch for anyone who works in the area. Food to go frozen foods drink you name it Marukai Market has it. I always pick up sandwiches for 3.99. A variety of selections to choose from. I go for the torpedo. Note the sandwiches don't come with condiments in them. Always busy when visiting this market. There are self checkout lanes if you're on the go. There is a parking lot for the courtyard. If in the area check it out and I'm sure you'll come out with something.

Not as big as Mitsuwa but still have your favorite snacks and basic groceries. There is also a big section of household items like bowls and cooking ware. The entrance is different than the exit, there is a security guard preventing people from going the wrong way. It's different after 5 pm. This place is conveniently located downtown in Japan town, great for people who live right here needing some groceries. Their futomaki by the pre made food aisle is super fresh! The rice is soft and the ingredients are well put together. Will definitely come by again!

Excellent experience: all things japanese are here. Very expensive but has excellent selection and carries only avove-average quality IMO. Awesome selection of lunch/bento and sushi/onigiri, plus Japanese alcohol (this is where you come to pick out an impressive bottle of sake as a gift for a classy friend), produce, tea products, ice cream, cosmetics, kitchen/cooking accessories, and we'll beyond. Located in the section of little Tokyo with lots of other great places to visit, including a bookstore, karaoke, and lots of traditional Japanese noodle, sushi, and ice cream spots.

MARUKAI Market carries the largest selection of Japanese items plus some exotic produce like a Crown Melon priced @ $119.99. This melon is said to be sweet and juicy. From the day the seed is planted it takes 100 days to be harvested. Carefully being nurtured by monitoring the watering and amount of sunshine of each melon which being grown with the one tree , one fruit method. Marukai offers a variety of Asian snacks and delicacies. I can spend a whole week to be able to finish browsing the whole market. Prepared food packages to go can be warmed up and ready to eat!

Oh Shoot! This market is a hidden gem in Little Tokyo! They offer best Japanese/Asian items you don't see at other markets. They have unique items ranging from ceramics, to beers and spirits. Perfect little spot to go grocery shopping. It's not overcrowded...and super clean and organized. It's located in the plaza adjacent to the little Tokyo place. Great little area to hang out with friends if not visiting the market. You'll find delicious restaurants such as Tokyo Haus, and Korean BBQ house, Shabu Shabu.

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.

**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.

The store is a bit of a mess for a Marukai with narrow aisles and stuff crammed in odd places, but it's a hidden gem for lunch takeaways downtown. The poke bowl was flavorful & affordable. I'd come back. It's on a seedy side of Little Tokyo so I'd avoid the location at night.

One of my favorite places in DTLA to get a quick snack or just to browse in my downtime. This grocery is great. Clean, quality food at a great price. They even have discounts towards the end of the day on their premade foods + packaged meats and fish. Parking is easy as they validate with purchase

NEVER ever received kind attitudes and words from them. and they sell A lot of EXPIRED stuff. Security are LAZy too. I never felt customer service from the shop. However I have felt good customer service from N...ya market in Japan Villege . If you question to their staff, They reied to give answer to me. No Marukai Tokyo Central ( junk shop) Recommend NIJIYA even shop is tiny. Side dishes are Yummy too.

When visiting Little Tokyo for the first time, I had no idea my favorite shop out of them would be a food market, but this shop was fantastic. This store was incredibly clean and organized, unlike the markets we have back home. Also, they are not Japanese-specific like Marukai. The food was all very fresh, well-labeled, fairly priced and they have everything you could need for cooking, health and beauty too. I only wish there were more locations nationwide! Pro tip for those visiting; there is a UPS store one block away if you buy too many oishii snacks like I did. You can ship them to yourself back home!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Good place for snacks and quick food items. They have lots of Japanese snacks, package noodles, Japanese beauty, household goods, etc. Not the best place for produce and meats! Very slim selection, especially the vegetables! They only validate parking with a purchase over $25!

Pretty decent packaged sushi, bentos and sandos. Tasty lunch for our road trip. I honestly have had better at other Japanese Markets. They do however, have a huge variety of other Japanese snacks and grocery items. The bathroom situation at this plaza is not very kosher. Filthy actually! But if you gotta go, you gotta go...to the customer service cashier to show proof you've purchased something and then leave something valuable before they give you the restroom key. The market also validates parking for the underground garage, so make sure you have them stamp your ticket.

I live Marukai-it's been around for a long time and is beloved by its community. I personally go for their large selection of ready-made bentos and snack options. They have a large selection of Japanese ingredients that may be slightly hard to find here in LA. Marukai also has a lot of Japanese sweet bread-or "pan" as they call it, I tried the sweet cream bread and it was pretty good. They also sell cheap waters-99 cents or less (of course they also have more expensive waters too)

Service is not good. Never got a smile from anyone who works here. They must not be treated very well. Today when I asked for an egg Sando that was in the delivery boxes they were setting up they said I had to wait until all the deliveries were unpacked. So much for for going above and beyond for your customer

Awesome little Japanese grocery store where you can find some of the most delectable snacks and authentic tasting sushi! I always try to make a stop here whenever I'm in the area. It's nestled away in Weller Court which is a staple of little Tokyo and has a bunch of cute little speciality shops all around, i.e., Midori Matcha, Kinokuniya bookstore, Orochon Ramen, etc so there's always a bunch to see. I usually run in for some quick to go sushi plates, mochi and then whatever snacks I might be craving that day. It also appears that they have speciality items imported directly from Japan that you won't find anywhere else, so coming here is always a treat whenever I'm trying to explore and serendipitously land on something new haha. Overall, would recommend checking this plate and grabbing a few items whether it be for the day or the week as everything is fresh (and new)! Yes

Hair on my sushi...... I didn't expect this. I think they need more quality control. I feel like the place looks very professional but definitely need quality control

JUST TAKE ALL MY MONEY. Marukai is a small (large for Little Tokyo standards) grocery store with ready to eat meals, bento lunches, sandwiches and desserts. Their packaged meals are reduced by 20% in the evening to clear out food for tomorrow. You'll find common grocery items, limited fruits but lots and lots of Japanese foods and snacks. They have a beauty section of imported goods and I always make sure to grab the cleansing oil. It's such a steal for $6. If you're lucky, they'll sometimes restock the Biore sunscreen essence. If you don't know, it's a unicorn in the spf world. Lightweight, no greasy, no white cast and has a 50 spf. *thumbs up* If you love to cook, they also have this awesome cookware, dish ware, and random appliances and bbq's! If you're on a journey to heal your inner child, there's a bunch of plush dolls and other miscellaneous items for you to splurge on. I absolutely love it here. It's a nice pass time when I'm bored and have nothing to do lol.

PRO-TIP: If you REALLY need to use the bathroom, I believe with purchase, you can get the key but it HAS to be before 6 PM. It's a nice, decently sized Japanese market located in Weller Court. Another branch of Don Quixote, where most of the ones in California are now Tokyo Central. I love going through these and looking at the cute Donpen character art they have throughout the store. Good place to stop by if you want a drink or snack or if you don't want to bother with the lines/wait for the already crowded restaurants in Little Tokyo. Just grab an onigiri or bento and you can seat yourself outside and enjoy. I believe this was the only location where I have seen Diet Coffee Coke. Haven't seen this at any other Tokyo Central, Asian or Western market. They have a discount corner too that's nice to look through. There's self check out and cashier check out and even on a Saturday evening, the lines moved pretty quickly.

the security gaurd was extremely disrespectful and racist. he accused me of stealing cus I put my purchased items in my tote bag instead of a plastic bag because why would I need a bag if I have a tote bag??? I've never experienced this ever in my life till today not even at actual high end stores would not recommend!

Downtown Little Tokyo is the worst place for public restrooms in Los Angeles...there are none. Weller Court has one that's controlled by Marukai Market. They make you buy something to get the key, then they hold your purchase hostage until you return it. This carousel sells out of product everyday from people who are standing in line to use the restroom! Just plain mean. Next time you visit DTLA, make sure you take care of your business first.

This is a cool place to grab a quick bite. If you're eating downtown on your lunch break the best thing about it is they have two microwaves. You can warm up your items that you buy cold and heat them up right in the store as you exit, not only th

They remodeled (kinda) or reorganize the store! Another improvement is now they provide prepaid (a quarter) shopping CARTS!! Before the shopping carts were stolen from the nearby homeless crowd, so finding a cart to do some shopping was close to impossible - one of the reasons I stopped coming to this Marukai. The meat selection (thinly sliced meat) here for shabu shabu, sukiyuki, or any hot pot is superb! The quality is excellent. Japanese markets are the only place I will buy thinly sliced "hot pot" meats from... other Asian markets cannot compare in terms of quality. From condiments, sauces, snacks, drinks, pre-made "grab n go" foods they have a good selection here. My favorite aisle to browse around are in the household/kitchen section... from silly items to high-tech rice cookers they got it all. Parking entrance is on 2nd ST; in the underground Wellar's Court building. CASH only! Ticket validation available if you spend a certain amount at Marukai.

I didn't realize Marukai is the parent company for Tokyo Central (another Japanese grocery market) just few days ago. This is one of the two Japanese grocery markets in Little Tokyo (the other one in Japanese Village Plaza). [Parking]: The building has a private parking lot, but the market only validates parking ticket for purchases over $25. Personally it's cheaper to park at Aiso Parking Lot instead so that you won't have to worry about buying at least $25 worth of goods. [Selection]: Huge selection on take-out food that rivals Tokyo Central, but if you pay close attention then you will see Tokyo Central stickers on them. Heck you can even find pre-made sandwiches from Giuliano's; however, Marukai Market also have other miscellaneous goods like anime figures, kitchenware, snacks, and beverages to choose from. I don't always visit Tokyo Central because most of their locations are out of my ways. So this is a nice alternative option knowing that I can still get to access a wide array of choices on Japanese take-out food. Marukai Market Little Tokyo is far more superior than Nijiya Market in Japanese Village Plaza.

If you're really set on bento and prepared foods in the refrigerated section, come early. We came around 8pm and it was all gone. Marukai Market Little Tokyo is a fun little market to check our. You can buy your typical Japanese grocery items but they also have and extensive Japanese cosmetic section. Lots of beauty products and fun face sheet masks. Lots of anime and Studio Ghibli goods and stuffed animals and Sanrio items. Lots of Japanese and Hawaiian snacks. You just gotta come and check it out. They will validate one hour of parking underground. Each house is $12 cash so if you park here definitely being or get cash from an atm because the parking attendant does not take. Service was good. We and the cashier were talking about the cool studio ghibli reusable grocery store bags they sell. I got a Kiki's delivery service one. I'm usually team Spirited Away but the spirited away bag features No Face and it's mostly black. Was in the mood for something more cutesy.

I love this market! Great options. And I love the food vendors near by. Our favorite Japanese market in Los Angeles!