Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:40:39 GMT

Thanks so much agnesrob...and thanks so much for all the great advice that inspired our trip. Santoka Ramen is indeed a great experience and the salt ramen delicious!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:24:41 GMT

Happy Birthday to your daughter! Glad to hear you had a great time at the festival!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:22:07 GMT

Took the family to Midsuwa in Edgewater yesterday for the yearly festival. It was my daughter's request for her birthday. What a great day. We parked , as suggested here, in the neighboring shopping center lot by T.J. Max, after circling the Mitsuwa lot for twenty minutes or so trying to secure a spot. Very short walk, so that's the way to go on a busy day.
     The festival, in the area behind Mitsuwa was great. Games music and such. My son and I loved the many Japanese drummer groups that played all day. Sampled Japanese foods and desserts.
    Ate our main meal inside Mitsuwa market. My wife and son loved the Tempura they got, and my daughter and I returned to the Ramen place, I tried the Salt ramen after listening to the positive comments here. And I must agree, it was the best!!
    We enjoyed shopping again in the actual market area. I purchased two 12 packs of Sopporo Beer on sail that day for $18,00. Am enjoying that purchase. My daughter enjoyed shopping in the book and video store.
      We finally purchased a green tea cake in the bake shop, came home late, but sliced up that exquisite cake for my daughter's birthday.
       Will try to get some pictures up, when my daughter shows me how.
       What another great day at Mitsuwa Marketplace!!!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:54:32 GMT

Mark, Thanks for the info. That looks like it should be our next mini trip. I can't wait to show my son the picture of that collection!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (doggydaddy)

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:26:17 GMT

I'll give you a quick and fun Roadfood afternoon excursion. Head to Pomme Frittes and right next door, you will find Toy Tokyo. It is quite possibly the largest and most unique store of all things Japanese:

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Overview/4173/pommes-frites

Hundreds of dollars worth of Gojira.

You are close enough for Crif Dogs:

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Overview/5308/crif-dogs

...and very close to Economy Candy. No photo:
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Overview/5202/economy-candy
I know that there is even more going on down around there.....

mark

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:49:52 GMT

doggydaddy

I would go to that shopping center for the exact reasons you showed. My dad lived in Fort Lee and West NY,NJ. The supermarket is amazing, ...very amazing!!!! My best memory of that store was the pickled vegetable stand, and I would probably never eat half of it. As far as packaging goes, nothing beats the Japanese. I would walk around that center for hours.
http://images.wikia.com/s...s/6/66/Mr._Sparkle.gif

Your closing photo of Godzilla is the second part, as I spent hundreds of dollars there. I even have Godzilla chopstick holders.

mark

Wow, My son would love the Godzilla chop stick holders! I'll have to keep an eye out for them! He owns quite a few Godilla movies, mostly in Japanese with English subtitles.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:46:19 GMT

Nancypalooza

agnes, you had me at plastic food. I irrationally love those plastic food displays. And I'm so jealous you have this nearby; I would be there all the time.

Yes, I'm facinated by the plastic food. It's so realistic looking!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:43:25 GMT

mar52

Now I want to try the Ramen. At my Mitsawa there are several cafes, all selling Ramen. Do you know the names of those you tried?

I used to go to a privately owned place called Yokohama Ramen that sold. I've not yet been able to find a place that replicates the mabo ramen that they served.

Mar, The name of the shop is Santoka Ramen. If you check mitsuwa.com you can check to see if your location has this restaurant. Of the one's we tried the salt ramen is definately my favorite!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (doggydaddy)

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:04:27 GMT

I would go to that shopping center for the exact reasons you showed. My dad lived in Fort Lee and West NY,NJ. The supermarket is amazing, ...very amazing!!!! My best memory of that store was the pickled vegetable stand, and I would probably never eat half of it. As far as packaging goes, nothing beats the Japanese. I would walk around that center for hours.
http://images.wikia.com/s...s/6/66/Mr._Sparkle.gif

Your closing photo of Godzilla is the second part, as I spent hundreds of dollars there. I even have Godzilla chopstick holders.

mark

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (Nancypalooza)

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:15:54 GMT

agnes, you had me at plastic food. I irrationally love those plastic food displays. And I'm so jealous you have this nearby; I would be there all the time.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (mar52)

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:40:17 GMT

Now I want to try the Ramen. At my Mitsawa there are several cafes, all selling Ramen. Do you know the names of those you tried?

I used to go to a privately owned place called Yokohama Ramen that sold. I've not yet been able to find a place that replicates the mabo ramen that they served.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:07:45 GMT

jeepguy

The Mitsuwa in arlington heights IL where i live looks much different. Ours looks more like a giant Japanese house, with blue tile roof. All self contained. Their ground chuck packed in 1lb packages is far superior to anything in the other stores. The butcher told me it's because the scraps from Wagyu, Kobe are added when they grind. It's only like $1.49 lb. This weekend they're having their Summerfest, with dancers etc so we stayed away from the huge crowds. I go there a few times a month, it's a great store!

I agree their prices for many things are very good and the quality is great. I buy my daughter and I a platter of sashimi for allot less than I would pay in a restaurant. I can then afford some extra things to go with it. This past time we got some sushi grade scallops, salmon roe and some thinly sliced whelk, which I have never had, to go along with the platter. I also picked up a beautiful chiroshi bowl which is a bowl of sushi rice covered in beautifully arranged raw fish. We had a reasonably priced feast Friday night!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:02:25 GMT

leethebard

I had the spicy Ramen...very good...not too spicy, but tasty...Do you think if we arrived a little before opening, say 9:30 or so , on festival day, we'd get a parking spot?

Hard to tell. The market opens at 9:00 and the food court at 11:00. Edgewater is so challenging to park in. I've heard from other people that they park down the street at the Trader Joe's shopping center and walk to Mitsuwa. Their website suggests using public transportation. That would be a little challenging to do from Park Ridge. I think we'll pass on the festival.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (jeepguy)

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:28:58 GMT

The Mitsuwa in arlington heights IL where i live looks much different. Ours looks more like a giant Japanese house, with blue tile roof. All self contained. Their ground chuck packed in 1lb packages is far superior to anything in the other stores. The butcher told me it's because the scraps from Wagyu, Kobe are added when they grind. It's only like $1.49 lb. This weekend they're having their Summerfest, with dancers etc so we stayed away from the huge crowds. I go there a few times a month, it's a great store!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:32:26 GMT

I had the spicy Ramen...very good...not too spicy, but tasty...Do you think if we arrived a little before opening, say 9:30 or so , on festival day, we'd get a parking spot?

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:14:42 GMT

I checked out the website. The festival looks like alot of fun! Only problem will be the parking of course. Glad you enjoyed your ramen. The salt ramen is not too salty just seasoned with salt instead of soy sauce or miso. When my kids and I went the first time we ordered a different kind for each of us to try them all. I would like to try the spicy one the next time. I would also like to try some of the other places to eat.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:29:29 GMT

Agnesrob.
It was even better than we thought it would be...felt like I was shopping in Tokyo...Such a very large place...and so much food to try. I thought "salt" Ramen would be salty, so had the Misto Ramen. We're going back next saturday for the Fair!!! Thanks so much for steering us to this great place.
Lee

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:47:55 GMT

Glad you all enjoyed your visit! My brother and I went yesterday for lunch. We both had the salt ramen and a side order of pork cheeks. So delicious! I feel like I always see something new when I go there.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:32:08 GMT

We went Sunday to Mitsuwa...wow what a place. We shopped and ate for hours. Opted to try the Ramen...super..My wife and daughter enjoyed shopping and even got a few Japanese Shampoos and such...bought some great dumplings. Will be going back. A must stop,if you're close by!!!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (EdSails)

Mon, 09 May 2011 05:52:33 GMT

agnesrob

EdSails

Santouka often has a line with 20 to 30 people in it at lunchtime. Miyabitei has big lines too. I've tried the udon place there and it's good but the broth is not as rich as Santouka's. Was it very crowded when you were there? also, do they have the video store? I found that very interesting to look at the video collection they had. I've also tried pastries at the pastry place---they were actually excellent.

We arrived at about 10:30am. Since the food court doesn't open until 11 we explored the grocery store to scope out what we might want to purchase. Also to take pictures, much to my daughter Katie's embarrassment!(she got used to it) It was not very crowded at that time. We were about third in line for our lunch but by the time we finished eating there were lines at all of the retaurants.
I noticed some people just bought one of the prepared meals in the grocery store to eat in the food court. I'm sure on the weekends it's even busier.
Once a year they invite some well renowned sushi chefs(Nobu being one of them as he lives nearby) to demonstrate breaking down and butchering a whole tuna. I would love to see that but I bet it's really packed and parking is at a minimum.

Hi agnesrob,
Several times I've bought sashimi in the market and then taken it out to enjoy at the tables. I've also done that with some of the bento boxes they have. So have you decided what you're doing with all the goodies you bought?
I'm going for an appointment close by and will stop at Mitsuwa tomorrow for lunch. What to get for lunch.............and what do I want for dinner? If they don't have something awesome, I will go to the Korean place I went to on Friday. They have almost as nice a seafood section and had nice monkfish tails for $2.99/lb. when I was there. I may go pick up a few of those to grill for dinner.
BTW, most of the time when they do special weekends they are packed. You really have to plan one of those as an all day event!
One thing I found raising my kids, was when I took them to places from the time they were young and had them try other foods, that they found out that it really made them comfortable with other cultures. When they shopped with me at Mitsuwa, Marukai, H-Mart Korean, a real Kosher Deli
or a taco burrito place where you had to order in Mexican, they tried much more to enjoy the tastes and also understand the people. When my daughter was 6 and we asked her where she wanted to go for her birthday dinner we expected the same place all the other kids did----Carl's Jr., McDonalds or Chuck E. Cheese. Imagine my shock when she said (in slightly butchered 6 year old pronounciation) "Dad can we go to Inagiki for my birthday for teppanyaki?
Your kids certainly will fit in when they get more in to schools where there are a lot of cultures. It's a good thing you are doing.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sun, 08 May 2011 06:48:27 GMT

EdSails

Santouka often has a line with 20 to 30 people in it at lunchtime. Miyabitei has big lines too. I've tried the udon place there and it's good but the broth is not as rich as Santouka's. Was it very crowded when you were there? also, do they have the video store? I found that very interesting to look at the video collection they had. I've also tried pastries at the pastry place---they were actually excellent.

We arrived at about 10:30am. Since the food court doesn't open until 11 we explored the grocery store to scope out what we might want to purchase. Also to take pictures, much to my daughter Katie's embarrassment!(she got used to it) It was not very crowded at that time. We were about third in line for our lunch but by the time we finished eating there were lines at all of the retaurants.
I noticed some people just bought one of the prepared meals in the grocery store to eat in the food court. I'm sure on the weekends it's even busier.
Once a year they invite some well renowned sushi chefs(Nobu being one of them as he lives nearby) to demonstrate breaking down and butchering a whole tuna. I would love to see that but I bet it's really packed and parking is at a minimum.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Sat, 07 May 2011 20:04:13 GMT

Yes she has loved Manga, Anime and all things Japanese for years!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sat, 07 May 2011 18:37:32 GMT

leethebard

Thanks for a great report. My daughter is already planning a trip after viewing your report and the web site. That soup looked great!!!!!

Leethebard, is your daughter into all things Asian as my children are??

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sat, 07 May 2011 18:36:25 GMT

joerogo

agnesrob, Thanks for the great report. I will be working in Leonia later this year. I would like to try lunch there.

Joe, If you know a couple ofweeks ahead of time let me know. Company always makes food taste better!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (joerogo)

Sat, 07 May 2011 17:13:08 GMT

agnesrob, Thanks for the great report. I will be working in Leonia later this year. I would like to try lunch there.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (Greymo)

Sat, 07 May 2011 17:07:46 GMT

This store looks beautiful. I go to an Asian market all the time but mine is in a strip mall with another strip mall behind it!

However I love to go there as I can find any ingredient that I am looking for for Asian recipes. Also, they have the most wonderful and huge fish department with all kinds of great fresh fish . The vegetables and fruits are the cheapest in town!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (leethebard)

Sat, 07 May 2011 17:03:50 GMT

Thanks for a great report. My daughter is already planning a trip after viewing your report and the web site. That soup looked great!!!!!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (zataar)

Sat, 07 May 2011 16:19:24 GMT

Very nice report and photos!

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (EdSails)

Sat, 07 May 2011 15:30:39 GMT

Out here, they used to have several of the Italian Tomatoes in the Mitsuwa Marketplaces, as well as a few that were stand-alone locations. They've gradually closed up some of them. Next door to the one in Costa Mesa was a Korean soup place owned by a woman who was on Iron Chef. I tried it when she first opened and it wasn't as good as some of the Korean soft tofu soup places I've been to. Within 3 months she closed the place. The Italian Tomato is still there, although I rarely see any customers at it. Apparently spaghetti is a big thing in Japan but with all the pasta places here I don't see how they survive. I've never tried it there------just seemed really weird concept to me!
Santouka often has a line with 20 to 30 people in it at lunchtime. Miyabitei has big lines too. I've tried the udon place there and it's good but the broth is not as rich as Santouka's. Was it very crowded when you were there? also, do they have the video store? I found that very interesting to look at the video collection they had. I've also tried pastries at the pastry place---they were actually excellent.

Re:Visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace (agnesrob)

Sat, 07 May 2011 06:47:18 GMT

Looks like you have a great selection! Back in the early 80's when my husband and I first got into Japanese food(After reading Shogun together), it was very difficult to find these ingredients. Fort Lee, NJ was usually the place to go.