KITCHY EATS

One-stop-shop is usually a dubious moniker. Do you really want to eat at the same place you buy your tires? Maybe if you're eating ribs, because somehow that seems like an organic combination. Donuts too. Anyway, my cousin Erica introduced me to the Japanese one-stop-shop on Centinela, Mitsuwa Market. I've always driven past it, curiosity peaked by its monolithic size and my secret yearning for a Momoko doll (they look eerily like those Cobrasnake girls from Silver Lake/Los Feliz), but never explored it. Similar to the mysterious Mitsuwa Market, I was also unaware of Erica's astounding, abounding (ha, assonance) knowledge of Japanese cuisine. Why this was surprising I'm not really sure, because Erica studied Japanese in high school rather than Spanish or French. Going around the market she'd pick up a package, stare at it, and maybe murmur "huh" before moving on. I thought she was doing what I was: staring at the bright colors and creating pretend dialogue between Koala Yummies and Hello Kitty snack packs. I figured out that she was actually reading the products when she said a perfect "arigato" to the clerk as we left. Damn she's slick.

The food stands are just as impressive as the market, magazine shop, and video rental (all under one roof, mind you). The four cash-only stands serve completely different fair, but all delicious with clean, bold flavors one would expect from good Japanese cuisine. The Ramen stand is the most popular, but since I've been on a ramen kick, I decided to mix it up. I went with the soba noodles in broth with scallions and shrimp tempura next door. You make your choice from the plastic encased bowls on display, pay up front, then wait for your number to be called over the intercom. I went back later in the week with my boyfriend and his roommate; they went with the bento boxes next to my soba place. All of our meals were about $7 (Yayo, the roommate, spent about $9, that money bags) and were more than we could eat. The bento boxes came with a cup of green tea, miso soup, a side of tofu, plus the main. The meat was aromatic and rich, brimming with flavor. My tempura shrimp stayed crispy on the inside, despite sitting in my savory broth. The punctuation of scallions brought that crisp spiciness I love so much in Japanese cuisine. So so so good. Please do yourself a favor and swing by this place, great food and fascinating wares. Enjoy!