Price Wars……
I was interested to see what the reaction to the opening of Marukai would be. So earlier this morning I decided to do a quick "run". Since Nijiya, Mitsuwa, and Marukai are just within a mile of each other, it will be very easy to "cherry-pick" your way through the 3 markets(and you can include Zion to make 4). Since both Nijiya and Mitsuwa open at 9am, and Marukai opens at 930, the timing is pretty easy as well.
I arrived at Nijiya at about 910am…and probably because of the weather(rainy and windy) and the Super Bowl, the place was relatively empty.
I noticed a bunch of sales, and purchased just a few items:
It would seem to be nothing Earth-shattering….Yama-moto-yama tea bags….not high quality, but good to have at the office. At 2 for $1, a major bargain for me! That’s a shade over 3 cents per tea bag. And the Pocky…well to quote the Missus, "what, regular Pocky? I’ve soooo moved on from that…." Until I told Her…also 2 for $1! I think the sale is only for the weekend, but it seems that Nijiya is taking the competition seriously. I’ll keep close eye on Nijiya flyers in the future.
Arriving early had its benefits, I got out of Nijiya by 925am…and by 930 reached Mitsuwa. The only thing I noticed at Mitsuwa was a giant poster….sorry, but my photo didn’t come out. You get one item free (i.e. miso….) with a $10 purchase.
I arrived in the empty parking lot at Marukai (I took note of the empty parking lot, because this may be the only time I ever see it empty) at 940am. And entered Marukai. As I took a lap around the store, I noticed a few additional things. First, the fish department is up, but it was slim pickins’ at this time of the morning.
There were some great deals:
The only thing I got was this for the freezer…..its good to have on hand, for those days when you feel lazy, and just want something simple at home. And at 98 cents a package, another bargain:
Of course my camera can’t ever resist an "end" display of Spam:
Though if you want something a bit more high-end, there’s Wagyu Beef from Japan:
"Only" $68.99 a pound!
Looks like competition will be a nice thing for us customers, just as prices came down at Mitsuwa once Nijiya renovated and moved to their new location.
Nijiya Market
3860 Convoy St Ste 109
San Diego, CA 92111
Mitsuwa Marketplace
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd Ste 119
San Diego, CA 92111
Marukai Market
8151 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111
And just to make it an even "foursome":
During my trip down to Garden Grove, and after my lunch at Anna’s Mondu, I drove the block and a half down the street, and dropped by Hannam Supermarket:
Though this location was a bit "worn", and the variety was not a great at the Di
amond Bar location, it was still nice to stretch my legs and do some browsing. I hadn’t intended on taking any photos, but I came across this magnificent display of "Spammy goodness", and could not resist. Huge display with almost every version of Spam known to mankind…….amazing! SPAM® Cheese! SPAM® Hot & Spicy! I think I saw all the different varieties, except for SPAM® Garlic(maybe they were sold out…).
The prices were quite reasonable, especially the dried Filefish and dried squid:
The Missus thought this dried filefish was excellent when roasted…it was chewy, but not hard, and had a nice salty-fish flavor, with a slight hint of sweetness. I’m glad I didn’t come home empty handed….Oh, and dried squid, toasted, chopped, and dipped into mayo with a touch of soy sauce….delici-yoso!!!
Hannam Chain Super Market
9772 Garden Grove Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92844
Spam with bacon.
Because the ingredients in “original” Spam are merely “pork and ham”.
We bought the maximum of 8 cans at Marukai on Saturday.
The bacon flavor is not part of the sale price, yet still the regular price is less than anywhere else. I have concluded Marukai is the Trader Joe’s of Asian markets.
Great minds think alike! Just the other day I posted something over on eGullet about watching how the competition shapes up between Marukai, Mitsuwa and Nijiya. (I also linked to your previous post here on mmm-yoso about Marukai.)
That is one hell of a nice store, is that Marukai. I’m definitely looking forward to adding it to my regular rotation.
Hi Cathy – Yes, spam with bacon…kind of completes the formula. I love that analogy…though I shopped at Marukai before I knew of the existance of TJ’s….so is TJ’s mu Marukai of Non-Asian Markets?
Hi Mizducky – Well…great minds do think alike! The prices are right at Marukai, and once I get to know the fishmongers, life is going to get better in the mmm-yoso household.In this type of competition, it’s the customers who win. Now let me go read your post.
Pocky 2 for $1? That’s insane! I was at Mitsuwa recently and it was more than $1 for one so I didn’t get any. Since when did Pocky get so pricey?
Wow, I haven’t had dried squid in a long time (over 20 years). My mom used to cook it straight on the coils of the electric stove. Ah, good times.
do you guys have spam with cheese and spam with honey? Or is that an “old” flavor? I got photos of these and will be posting about it soon. 🙂
Wouldn’t roasting dried squid make it even tougher?
BTW how are the ready to eat nigiri and sashimi prices compared to those in safeway or other american markets?
sure could buy a whole heap of spam for a single pound of Wagyu. Not that the Wagyu experience isn’t priceless.
Hi WC – Don’t know……one day I turned around and the stuff was $1.39!
Hi Carol – Every once in a while…..it is quite addictive.
Hi Kat – I’ve seen Spam with Cheese….not quite sure about honey….you sound like more of a Spam expert than I am. I just like plain old Spam.
Hi Joe – Surprisingly, toasting or grilling develops a crisp exterior, and makes it easy to tear and eat…and it tastes better. As for prepared nigiri…I think it’s a bit more expensive, and IMHO not as good. I stay away from the stuff.
Hi RONW – LOL! That would be a lot of Spam….but the bill for the angioplasty would be pretty high.
The Spam with Honey was a special version, released mainly in Chicago and New York, to coincide with the “Spam-A-Lot” show/play. It’s not that tasty/can’t really appreciate the honey-however, the Spam with cheese, just makes the saltiness…um…perfect!
Hi Cathy – Spam with cheese……what can I say…..
Not to hijack your excellent post, but I have a hopefully related question. I’ve been touring the “healthy” frozen yogurt shops around. Red Berry near Nijiya and Yogurt World up the street a bit. They both have a topping “mochi” and I’m trying for the life of me if it can be purchased the same way as it’s presented at the yogurt places. Do you know?
Hi Daniel – Are you referring to those little balls made with what seems to be glutinous rice? If you are….I don’t think I’ve seen those in stores….but perhaps someone has and can make a recommendation.