Its a gem. Just like being in Japan! As you walk in, right side is filled with freshly prepared hot foods. Some are in bento, others, you grab it. They have it all. Sushi, sashimi, hot bentos, meat, fish and tempura. Not just few here and there but many options from small to extra large portion. They also have lot of items from Japan. Unique items. Definitely a place to explore. read more

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The store tends to get crowded around mid-day on weekends, but parking is plentiful. I've been here multiple times and to eat usually buy their teriyaki chicken plate! There is also a sushi variety sampler with one of different types of sushi; I reember eel, salmon, tuna, tamago, and ikura, but there is at least two more, all for less than $20. Some items, however, are absolute no's for me (the veggie sushi roll, which tasted like it had been left out for far too long). Make sure to ask the cashier when you check out for utensils/soy sauce! There are microwaves at the dining area. The cashiers are usually nice; but on occasion I don't have a great experience at their check-out area (about 3 of the 7 times I've been here). The store feels safe with 1-2 security personnel in the store at all times. If you decide to visit, make sure not to bring an oversized tote bag or duffel bag as the store will prohibit entry to anyone bringing this into the store. This policy was not in place when I first visited. read more

This was my first visit to this Tokyo Central location, and I was happy with the parking. The store itself was bright and welcoming. I didn't like the layout quite as much as the newer Torrance location, but I was still able to find most of the things I was looking for and enjoyed shopping here. The prices are also cheaper than another Japanese grocery store in the area. Of the three Asian grocery stores I've visited in this area over the past two days, this one is the best overall in terms of ambiance, selection, and prices, so I would definitely come back. Unfortunately, I had another problem with their prepared foods. This time I bought the pork katsu, and the meat tasted off, like it wasn't fresh. I had to spit it out and regretted buying it. I'm probably going to stop buying prepared foods from Tokyo Central because I've also had problems with the prepared foods at the Torrance location during my last two visits. That makes issues with prepared meats on my last three visits to Tokyo Central. That said, I'm still a fan of their fresh sliced meats. I picked up packages of thinly sliced pork and beef to use this week, and I can always find some of my favorite Japanese cookies here. Overall, I like the store and will return, but I'll be sticking to the fresh groceries rather than the prepared foods. read more

Fresh wasabi root is now available frozen or refrigerated. I like to check produce at Asian markets for their selection of mushroom varieties. The first thing we did after checkout was eat onigiri in the car. There were three kinds of melon pan in the bakery section. You can choose between five different packaged unagi, but the cheapest is canned. read more

This location is smaller than the larger one Gardena. Unfortunate that this place is not as well stocked the other locations. Food is okay here. Service great, but not phenomenal. The selection of their ready made bentos are not as extensive due to the size of the store. But I'm glad they have a location here in Costa Mesa. read more

On a Saturday morning in August, my sister and I came to check out this location. Plenty of parking outside. Inside was clean with the security guard at the door. All the aisles are clean and lots of ads posted. We waited for karaage chicken to be available in the hot food area. By 9:30am, it was available and it looked good. Overall it's a good Japanese market in the area. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Gift boxes of cookies - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Update since my last review... back in 2015! Tokyo Central is where the old Marukai used to be. Everything has been upgraded - the store is newer, brighter, shinier! Sure, prices have caught up with inflation - but not by much. Prices here for fresh sushi/sashimi are very competitive compared to your sushi restaurant. The biggest draw/benefit since the Marukai rebrand/refresh? THE EPIC FOOD COURT! Literally, one of the best Japanese/Hawaiian prepared food offerings in Orange County. You've got everything from fresh sashimi party trays, to fresh cut sushi and hand rolls, all sorts of Japanese style sandwiches (egg salad, chicken katsu, etc.), fresh bakery breads, mochi, bento boxes featuring teriyaki chicken to chicken karaage, ramen bowls (these are amazingly good for store-bought ramen), poke bowls, and a hot food buffet bar - $10.99/lb. Service is always a plus, from the friendly security guard (whose been there since they were Marukai), to the cashiers that remember to offer you chopsticks. Store environment is clean, uncluttered, plenty of spaces to roam around. Parking sucks - especially if you come during lunch time and/or the weekend. Check out my photos! read more

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I only got to come here once during my trip, and honestly that's one of my biggest regrets. :( I wish I had gone back at least one more time. Tokyo Central really took me back to Japan. The workers were Japanese and everyone I interacted with was super friendly and welcoming. Their sushi, sashimi, and hot foods section were to die for!! They had all kinds of hot meals, skewers, and snacks that you could box up yourself and pay for by the pound. They also had separate sections for onigiri, sashimi, and sushi. I got there a little too early, so I missed out on the onigiri, but the sashimi was incredibly fresh and just melted in my mouth. I also picked up some mochi, and it was sooooo good. It was soft and pillowy instead of being super chewy, and I really wish I had bought more. I can't wait to go back to California just so I can visit Tokyo Central again. read more

I have been back to this location and they did good on their word to make sure their perishable products arent past the best by or expiration date from the products I checked. This chain differs from their competitor Mitsuwa in that they are more focused on being a grocery store. As such their grocery staples and their bentos are more varied than Mitsuwa. This probably makes up for their lack of food court. They also carry unique seasonal goods that Mitsuwa doesnt and vice versa. Mitsuwa has food courts and temporary traveling specialist vendors which are always exciting. Mitsuwa probably has a wider selection of more specialized goods tho. That said both chains are a great service to our area and will satisfy any Japanese food enthusiast like myself. read more

This is my second Time at Tokyo central and my first time at this location in Costa Mesa. It is a big market with absolutely everything you can imagine. From the seafood department to the meat department, to the produce department. And so much more. Everything looks fresh and the displays are well presented. I've never been to Japan but i can imagine that i would find a lot of the same products in a Japanese market in Japan. The store is lively with a nice energy. The service is friendly. I did not purchase anything this time as i was accompanying some friends but I recommend checking it out. read more

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I love it here! So many snacks, groceries, and food to buy. I always look forward to the fruit Sandos (10/10) about $5 ish dollars. The hot food is delicious! Service is fast and it's such a fun place to get lost in and explore. They have a seating area where you can eat what you bought. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Fruit Sando - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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For many years, even though the parking lot can be congested and spots very challenging to find, I've shopped here on a regular basis. This Tokyo Central has a better onigiri station than the Irvine location. The onigiri always turns out the way it is supposed to: well-formed so as to avoid difficulty in unwrapping and eating. The same cannot be said about the TC in Irvine. If you're looking for Japanese delicacies, snacks, onigiri, makeup, mochi, rice cookers, cat toys, stuffed animals, frozen gyoza, produce, cat treats, and a more extensive selection of green tea (iced or regular), you have arrived at the right place. The lines seem longer than those in Irvine. Employees are polite and helpful. The store is always kept cold and clean. read more

I work down the street and whenever I don't bring lunch for myself, I end up here. In terms of fresh food, most people go for the sushi (which is great) but don't sleep on the hot food bar! My favorite is the unagi fried rice. Hits every time Another thing I've noticed is they are always well-staffed! So annoying when you go to a grocery store and it's busy but they only have 2 check out lanes open. This tokyo central location always has 4+ lanes open which makes it easy to get in and out for a quick lunch. Appreciate the team here! read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Hot Food Bar Salmon Belly Green Beans Sweet and Sour Pork Unagi Fried Rice - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been shopping here for years, but during COVID, I just didn't have time to wait in the lines that went around the block AND the parking here is horrible and not enough. I used to shop on my Friday off around 3 p.m. before people would get off work and at least I could get a parking spot. However.... fast forward to all the new Asian markets popping up in Irvine, Huntington Beach and vicinity. It's easy to get in and out of Tokyo Central and slide into a parking spot. Most likely NOT a good thing for business here, but for now, it works for me. Everyone has seemed to flock to the new Asian markets. The quality of Asian items here is still good, IMO and they do have a nice variety of whatever you're looking for (not massive, just enough) The to-go fast food items and sushi are always filled and they do discount what's left at the end of the day. Note: Their poke and Hawaiian style (marinated) is always fresh and delicious. Also, poke is poke and the bowl isn't filled with unnecessary non-poke items. You can get a decent bowl (which is packed in a square container) for $13 and with all the poke joints popping up, I'd say $13 is a very reasonable price. At some, I've paid as much as $31 for, which do NOT even compare to TC's $13 option. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Marinated Hawaiian style poke - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This is extremely good ramen in this price range. Bowls range from $9-$13. You pick it up in the prepared foods area and go heat it up in the microwave in the eating area. The tonkotsu ramen is very delicious. It comes with thick noodles, 2 pieces of chashu pork, half a marinated egg, bamboo shoots, and green onions. The broth is surprisingly rich and creamy and the pork has a good flavor and texture. We love to come here for a quick, delicious dinner or lunch. If you come earlier in the day you can grab some of their fresh onigiri. Usually sold out halfway through the day. The staff is always friendly and the environment is clean and relaxing. The lights aren't too bright which is nice for a grocery store. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Tonkotsu Ramen - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Me and my family love this location. We travel from Ontario to this particular location cause of their selection of sushi products and other pre made items in the cooler section. The mini sushi combo is my favorite cause u get a little bit of everything for at the right portion size for the price! Love this place! Great Asian market to shop at for all of your Japanese needs! read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Mini Sushi Combo - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My go to store for shopping for Japanese groceries and hot food. In particular I love the seafood selection. It's a specialty store so few items are priced at a good value. I avoid all of their distilled spirits because they're priced way above market. read more

Tokyo Central is a brand of Japanese grocery/market that can be found all over Southern California. Their biggest location is in Gardena; however, this location definitely does the job of filling my need for Japanese food/drink imports. When I come here, it's impossible to leave empty handed. They have Ramen from the Ichiran restaurants in Japan that you can make yourself at home, they sometimes carry the rare/expensive monster-sized fruits from Japan, they have marinated meats and Wagyu, and they have all sorts of Japanese snacks and candies that you can't get outside of Japan. If you want Hawaiian snacks and coffee, they actually carry them here too, so I think that's a nice hidden gem here. The real star of the show are their freshly prepped bento lunches that they stock every morning at 10am. I love their sushi, sashimi, and hot lunches and they're a great deal. When I came in today, I bought marinated tokyo BBQ, a sushi platter, hokkaido scallop sashimi, and tai snapper sashimi. I also got some yuzu paste, shiso leaf, and togarashi seasoning to level up the sashimi. I'll have some good eats for the next two nights! Note that veggies and standard pantry ingredients (eggs, milk, bread) can be quite pricey here; therefore, I strategically come here for specific things. I tend to prefer their flagship Torrance location, which is bigger and more stocked; however, this is a very good specialty market in Orange County, and it has everything I need for a top-notch Japanese meal, made at home, inexpensively! read more

I love going to Tokyo Central and picking up groceries and some of their prepared dishes. Their poke is very reasonable and quite generous with fish for the price. Their hot bar is also very popular ($10.99 per lb - don't miss the karaage chicken), but they are constantly replenishing it. This store is very big, with a huge selection of ramen, sauces, produce and much, much more. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that it's a little on the dingy side and the presentation looks a bit messy. It lacks that clean uniformity of an H-Mart, but I think it's the look that the chain (along with Marukai Market) go for. read more

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If you are looking for fresh sushi, sashimi and poke, this is the place to be. They have a food sold for $10.99 per lb. Personally, I still like Mitsuwa better as they have food stalls inside. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I love the wide selection of bento and Japanese's beverage here! Price is also reasonable. read more

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This was my first time visiting this location. I've only ever been to the Yorba Linda one but I was pleasantly surprised by the ample selection of fresh fish and ready-to-go lunch items here. I picked up a variety of nigiri for lunch, and they even have tables if you want to dine in. I usually go to Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa for fresh fish or whenever we're doing carpaccio night, but I'm happy to see that this location offers even more options. Bonus: they also carry a nice selection of Japanese skincare products if that's your thing. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tokyo Central in Costa Mesa may have convinced me to move to South California. This place was loaded with good premade food. A lot of choices and prices are better than North California. Why is this place so much better than the Tokyo Central in Cupertino? Thank you for blessing us with good food for the long trip back. read more

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store is pretty, eclectic, and cute - a joy to walk in. offers delicious hot food, specialty japanese cuisine. also has prepackaged foods. alot of snacks and bathroom is clean. read more

Wow this place is great!!! I love Mitsuwa Market but Tokyo Central is waaaay better! Great selection of Japanese food items. Great prepared food section. Great fresh fish and meat. Very competitively priced. 1000 times better parking. No food stalls but they do have a great hot food bar by the lbs. read more

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This was one of the first Tokyo Central store I have visited when I just moved to California. I was so floored by the sheer number of people on the weekend and the complete lack of parking. It was actually very very overwhelming. The hot food bar begins distributing items around 10am. The people queuing up for them are quite serious. It's like an extreme sports event. Have they not eaten yet that day or something? Why act so feral and rabid about it? They hover over the poor workers trying to put the incoming stocks on the shelves and everything. It's quite a sight. The checkout line can be also extremely long and onerous. Not for the faint of heart to go there........So I consequently don't frequent this location at all even though it's technically one of the closest one in the area. Whatever you can purchase there, you can purchase elsewhere. Sometimes at a better price and certainly in a more friendly, inviting, and easier to park setting. read more

I love coming here because they have great selections on sushi and cooked foods. I came after 7pm and the sushi was on sale 20% off so I picked up a box of salmon nigiri. Tasted fresh and the salmon slices were thick with a good rice to fish ratio. Awesome place to stop by for food read more

I make a trip out to this Tokyo Central about once a month, and it never disappoints! While it's not where I do my main weekly grocery haul, it is the perfect place to supplement my pantry with specific Japanese staples that I can't easily find elsewhere. Parking is fine for the area and the check out staff are always quick and efficient. I always make sure to grab Ito green tea, Nisshin Canola Oil, and whatever spices I'm running low on. It's also great for picking up rice crackers or an occasional bag of frozen food--there really is so much to browse and buy here. The best part of the trip, though? The prepared foods. If you are ever craving a ready-to-eat meal, their selection is fantastic and makes for an easy, delicious lunch or dinner read more

Tokyo Central is the best grocery store in the Costa Mesa! This specialty Japanese market is fantastic whether you are looking to pick up lunch, looking for quality and diverse ingredients/food, or just exploring! They have an EXCELLENT premade section ranging from high quality sushi, sandwiches/snacks, to a variety of desserts and treats. They have a hot buffet with a variety of fresh made foods. The rest of the store has everything from ingredients, high quality fish/specialty items, lots of cooking tools and kitchen items, and an incredible snack section! The customer service here is excellent and very respectful. You can tell that the employees care about being friendly and attentive. It is a very packed market as well as popular so often times at lunch it is very difficult to find a parking spot in the lot. Because of how many people it services, shopping is very fast paced. During lunchtime if you don't get there early you can get stuck in long lines. Because the cashier workers are trying to be nice and attentive they often sacrifice speed. Some employees are fast but this is something they could work on at people don't have a lot of time on a lunch break. 10/10 highly recommend!! read more

They have a vast selection of Japanese goods!! I was able to stop by today and try the popular egg and soy sauce packet that is really popular in the Don Quijote stores in Japan and it was so good!! They have great prices on meat here and I love how they discount the hot foods in the evening. I highly recommend coming here to try some authentic and tasty flavors of Japan! read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Amazing place for lunch. They have the best sushi selection. Plenty of parking out front. There is a small strip mall near the store with a BookOff. I love browsing the produce and all the Japanese snacks. The sushi you take and cut at home in the fish department is very fresh. This is one of my favorite Japanese markets in Costa Mesa. Happy Yelping! read more

I love Tokyo Central! I could spend a few hours here looking through their assortment of prepared food, snacks and everything. I also love that they have an area where there's more "presentable" food that are packaged like gifts. Great for gifting to friends and family. Also loved the fresh fish options for sushi! Will be back read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I know my name is Jeff but JEFF the department leader is absolutely AMAZING! If you're feeling down and need some heart felt love and happiness, make sure you check out in his register! GIVE HIM A RAISE FOR ALL OF THE AWESOMENESS AND ENTHUSIASM THAT EXUDES FROM HIS PORES! It is amazing and I am going to eat this Wagyu steak even happier than ever with my girlfriend. No other place has vibes like this and it definitely makes me want to come back for quality meat. I'd you like Shibas they have some cute bags also TEAM JEFF! read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I first heard about Tokyo Central opening online but wasn't interested enough to go out of my way. The other day I happened to drive by before the gym, spotted it, and decided to stop in on my way home. What's not to love about a Japanese grocery store filled with all kinds of goodies? They've got snacks, premade meals, a bakery section, fresh fish, and plenty of new items waiting to be discovered. I was excited walking through and definitely found some tempting things to try. That said, I'm docking one star for the beauty aisle. A lot of the non-food products (body wash, lotions, makeup, sheet masks, etc.) were really dusty. I picked up several items that initially caught my eye, but once I saw the dust, it completely turned me off. It made me wonder whether they'd been sitting there for ages or if they were just shelved straight out of dusty shipping boxes. Either way, it didn't feel clean, so I ended up not buying any of them. I'm taking off another star for how expensive and a bit unorganized everything felt overall. The store has variety, but between the higher prices and the less polished presentation, I don't see myself coming here regularly unless Mitsuwa suddenly closed. Oh and they don't carry egg whites or 1% milk, so I had to stop by another grocery on the way home:/ Overall: 3/5. A fun spot to browse for Japanese snacks and meals, but definitely not my go to for regular shopping. read more

The biggest ramen section anywhere! From noodles to sauces, to dry mixes. There's also a large ready-made food section. Lots of fish, and other seafood. Delicious breads and some samples too. A lot of the packaging is in Japanese, so some things I actually didn't know what they were. There was one of the staff members that did speak English though. The ramen and Hawaiian section are my favorite aisles. There will always be new and interesting items to find here. read more

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Buyer BEWARE: The other day at Tokyo Central, I bought what was apparently the last spicy tuna roll. When I went to pay for my groceries, there was no tag on the roll. The cashier asked if I knew how much it was. Really? She asked a manager and he said he did not know. She asked him "12.99?" And he responded that sounded about right. WRONG. $7.99!!! Found out today. Extremely annoyed at that. The fact they didn't take the time to look it up or have a SKU book or commenting, totally unacceptable. Beware deceptive business practices. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - Got charged $12.99 for a $7.99 item. Shameful deceiving practices - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Tokyo Central is a one stop destination for Japanese and Hawaii goods , offering an impressive variety of groceries, snacks, and household items. The store is well organized, making it easy to find everything from fresh produce to specialty products. The fresh fish is already filleted and packaged to go. Hawaiian cooking and backed goods. The huge selection of ramen and udons. The prices are not cheap but it's worth it. Sushi's, the food in their deli is good too especially the Takoyaki, Niku udon only $7.99 . The staff is friendly, and the overall ambiance creates a genuine cultural shopping experience. Whether you're seeking authentic Japanese food or unique gifts, Tokyo Central never disappoints . read more

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The best thing about Tokyo Central is their hot food and pre-prepared meal options. They seriously have so many good options! I came too late so the fresh food bar was already closed by the time I got there, but I got some fresh produce and grocery items while I was here. They carry a great selection of quality meats and imported goods, especially sushi grade fish (which are hard to find). Produce is priced more than local grocery stores, so I would skip on produce here next time. read more

Tokyo Central - Costa Mesa - International Grocery Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tokyo Central offers an impressive selection of Asian groceries and ready-to-eat food options, making it a great one-stop destination for a wide range of cuisines. The overall experience is enjoyable, with well-stocked aisles and competitive prices that add great value. The freshly prepared food stands out the most--when it's hot and freshly made, the quality and flavor are excellent. It's clearly a popular spot, as the store tends to stay busy throughout the day. One thing to keep in mind is that parking can be challenging to find during peak hours, so planning your visit accordingly can help. read more

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I went here and I decided to see if they have stationery. They didn't. They don't have a stationery aisle anymore. It's just an alcohol aisle. However I did like that this place sells ice cream of various flavors. It's almost like that one time back in 12th grade when I ate a lot of red-bean desserts after coming home from school and enjoying them while reading Attack on Titan fanfic. read more