As I’ve previously mentioned, I love going to markets, especially ethnic markets - to get a sense of what’s important to the expat locals. If you browse enough Japanese markets, you’ll see a trend: Japanese people like miso soup and rice, curry and dried squid too. You’ll also see a whole lotta cute.
Before moving west, my dad raved about a Japanese supermarket here in LA: Marukai. ‘The sake selection is bigger and better than any I’ve seen in Japan!’ he’d say. What I found specific to Marukai in Los Angeles is they definitely acknowledge the west coast expat rather than an east coast one, like all the Hawaiian spices and foods, which you’d never see at Sunrise Mart.
You can shop at Marukai without being a member but you should become one if you plan on shopping there on a regular basis (there are member’s only prices for some items). My hot water kettle I found cheaper elsewhere but right now, I don’t know anywhere else to get gyoza wrappers so I stocked up. One of other things I noticed at Marukai was the Japanese trend for young women to look/dress like dolls. Go figure. Maybe it’s a west coast thing.