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 :)

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 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!

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!

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!

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.