In the comments section of my most recent post on Iron Pig, "FOY" Som Tommy mentioned a recent visit to Marukai and some changes he noticed. I actually thought I'd posted on this several months back….but I guess not…..sigh…."senior momentitus". Anyway, I'm sure if you're a regular at Marukai you know all of this already.
Several years back Don Quixote bought Marukai (and recently Gelson's) and some changes were noticed. Since the pandemic started Marukai on the corner of Mercury and Balboa has shifted what was being sold in the buildings a bit; but the biggest change is that Marukai, at least this location no longer requires a membership. In fact, one of the employees who has been there since the beginning told me recently to go ahead and "throw away the membership card".
As for the shifting of things:
Marukai Living is now Marukai "Japanese Grocery".
This store now focuses on Japanese packaged and non-perishable food and snack items….heavy emphasis on the "snack".
This is where; but for one exception where you can get all your "local kine" stuffs.
8125 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111
Still need housewares, makeup, electronics, or some kind of kawai moisturizing mask?
Well, all of that is now in the Tokyo Central & Main Store.
8111 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111
Marukai Market has all the produce, deli, meats, frozen, and prepared foods.
And also alcohol……and if you just need that $120 melon….well, on this visit it was "just" $89.99!
The bentos here are cheaper than Nijiya or Mitsuwa, but aren't often brought out until 1130 or so…a bit late for my lunch.
And the exception for "local kine" stuffs mentioned above is that all the frozen items are in the market…….
There are items I can no longer get here…..I wanted to make my guava grilled chicken, which uses Hawaiian Sun Guava Concentrate; no moa'. And for a short time they had Parks Brand Kimchee Sauce which I use for one of my recipes, but no moa' dat either.
8151 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111
So, there you go "ST"…..sorry I'm a bit late on this one.
Thanks for the Marukai update. Several weeks ago, I was looking for mirin at the main store, and wondered why they had so few grocery items. I don’t think they had the sign on the living store, or at least I didn’t notice it.
Glad you got some useful info from this post Sandy! I really thought I’d done one earlier!
bummer there are some items you cannot get these days.
It is kind of disappointing not being able to get certain items now Kat!
Yeah, when they did the full-on Don Quixote redo at Marukai, they eliminated many brands and replaced with others I donʻt care for. Iʻve shopped quite a few times since the remodel, but the last couple visits were unfulfilling. We went to Mitsuwa today….If Iʻm craving Portuguese sausage or or S&S Saimin or Hawaiian coffee, Iʻll go to Marukai. Iʻm sad.
I’ve been somewhat disappointed as well Kerri.
Thanks for the updates
Thanks for the reminder ST!
Went by yesterday to check the Portuguese sausage brands. The Hawaiian Suns were in the Japanese Store rather than Market.
Thanks for the info Jarrod. What I was looking for was not the canned Hawaiian Sun, but the frozen concentrate to make a marinade for chicken. I don’t recall seeing a freezer in the Japanese grocery side of things, but I’ll take a look again. Thanks again!