seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Argentina
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from Pakistan
seen from China
seen from Türkiye
seen from Australia
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Netherlands
seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from Singapore
seen from Germany
Tokyo Central in San Diego Stocks Tamagotchi Paradise and Features Lab Tama
image source: artxious on Reddit
Check out Tokyo Central if you’re in the San Diego area of California! They have the new Tamagotchi Paradise available for purchase, and they even have a Lab Tama! They also did a great job job decorating the area that the Lab Tama is in, with a backdrop, and Kuchipatchi as well as Mimitchi festival plushies. Adorable!
image source: artxious on Reddit
Went to Tokyo Central today and saw this adorable Halloween packaging for the tangerines
Gindaco, 1740 Artesia Blvd., Gardena, CA 90248
Gindaco claims to be Japan’s #1 takoyaki chain. It’s located inside the Tokyo Central food court. There are four kinds of Takoyaki. They also have yakisoba. You can watch them make the Takoyaki (octopus balls) on the hot griddle. An order of takoyaki includes 8 balls. By the time I finished paying for my order, they had my order packed and ready to go (super fast).
Scallion with yuzu ponzu (8 balls for $7.50): Their takoyaki balls have the crispiest exterior that I’ve ever had. I guess that’s a good thing…I was surprised by it though. The balls did not deflate. The interior was hot and moist with one tiny piece of octopus per ball, a bit of pickled ginger and chopped scallions. The balls were covered with scallions and thin, smoky bonito flakes. The light ponzu sauce was citrusy and not too salty.
I’d like to try more flavors…
4 out of 5 stars
By Lolia S.
–- tokyo central doggo plushies ♡♡
Marukai Market, 12121 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles (Sawtelle), CA 90064
Most Marukai Markets have been renamed Tokyo Central, but not this one in Sawtelle. It’s an odd building with a hard-to-find entrance. It’s smaller than some of their other locations, with no food court. The aisles are narrow but it’s still a great full size Japanese supermarket. They have an extensive deli with sushi, hot meals (curry, gyudon, unagi, karaage), ramen, sandwiches, desserts, etc. The prepared food is very reasonably priced.
There is no in-store bakery but they have baked goods from other bakeries, including Mammoth Bakery. The produce looks fresh with a good amount of organic produce. They carry Meiji Tofu (made in Gardena). I think they have the best selection of Japanese beverages.
They also have Japanese beauty products, dishes, small appliances, Hawaiian groceries, cute socks, alcoholic beverages, etc. They have lots of things that I haven’t seen at other Japanese markets, like a greater variety of mochi, Japanese Cheetos, croissant taiyaki, muscat jelly, and all kinds of Japanese beverages.
My picks:
Marukai tofu
Milk tea cookies
Tuna rolls: simple, good but no pickled ginger was in the package
Green tea
Mabo tofu bowl ($5.99): very tasty with cubes of soft tofu, lots of ground pork and scallions in a thick gravy-like sauce that coats the steamed white rice nicely
Japanese Cheetos
The displays and signs are cute AND informative. There’s plenty of parking behind the store.
4 out of 5 stars.
By Lolia S.
Tokyo Central, 18171 Imperial Hwy, Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Tokyo Central used to be called Marukai and it was started in Hawaii. I’m trying to go to all their locations. The one in Yorba Linda isn’t as big as the one in Gardena but it is larger than the one in Torrance. It’s the size of the one in West Covina – a full size supermarket with an in-store bakery, extensive deli/prepared foods section, snacks, drinks, sauces, seaweed, rice, noodles, frozen food, dairy, produce, ice cream, etc. There is no food court but they have a nice dining area towards the front.
The deli section included rice balls, sandwiches, ramen, poke bowls, sushi, Japanese curry, gyudon (beef bowls), bento meals, pasta, udon, and more – all reasonably priced. But if you come in the evening, there isn’t much left.
In the bakery area, they had Mammoth Bakery buns, bread, and more, plus fresh mochi. Their in-store bakery makes croissants, Japanese cheesecakes, muffins, and more.
My picks:
Unagi bento ($12) with rice, omelette, pickles: Rich unagi covered in a savory, sweet sauce, very filling
Marukai tofu
Royal milk tea
Matcha white chocolate muffin: Baked in house, moist and a bit sweeter than I expected but good
The market was clean and organized. They have the cutest signs. There’s a sizeable Hawaiian section as well as Japanese housewares, beauty products, rice cookers, etc.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
By Lolia S.
