Mitsuwa Marketplace

May 11, 2008
I have only been to a place that didn’t really sell anything with an english label a few times...this is one...fantastic fish section (Otoro even!!!!!) Sake selection was not extensive...a solid and vast selection for sure, but not the best I have ever seen...I did ask them to try and get one for me that I know is not distributed here, so we shall see....

September 11, 2007 [ Updated October 7, 2007 ]
Beer-wise it has Asian beers with the usual BMC stuff. The sake selection is extensive. The food court is nice because each stand is from a different country; Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, etc. The food is standard fare but the fruit smoothies with the black tapioca are very good. The sushi is where this place really shines. Inexpensive, high quality, and a very nice variety. While the whole store may be the size of Woodman’s remember it is a marketplace so there is a bookstore, travel agency, video store, the food court, and a display for small appliances. The actual grocery part of the store, while all Asian, may be the size of old Jewel. I think there maybe 15 aisles most about 20 feet long, some longer. Still an impressive display. I saw the same show Substance noted and the quote that got my interest, aside from the sushi, was that people come from out of state to shop here. I figured they must get some unusual ingredients, and they do.

April 15, 2007
Place Rating #93. So we saw this place on Check Please, the Chicago area public access food show and they reviewed it because of the large food court and grocery. Let me tell you, if you are interested in pretty much any asian food this place will have it. Imagine a Woodmans or a larger Dominick’s but with the lables being mostly in Japanese. The food court is large with at least 10 different options. What is interesting is that anything that you purchase you can eat in the food court including the freshly made Sushi. Sushi is inexpensive and includes DATE and TIME that it was made. They roll it in the open and it looks like they were taking requests. Prices, for example, an 8 pack of Philidalphia Sushi was 3.25 Others ranged between 3-10 dollars.

Their liquor section is in the middle of the place and is freestanding. Bordered by a cooler on one side, 2 racks and a wall made of beer and wine boxes. They do have American macros and no American Micros. But oh my Sake everywhere. Stuff that I have never seen before. There must have been over 100 different Sakes to choose from. Prices ranged from $3-100. Most of the labels were in Japanese with a tag under for English translation.

This place is definately worth a stop by if in the area. If you are into Sake it looks like this is the premier place in Chicago area to go.