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Well, damn, since we’re covering all the axis participants in WWII (Italian food has been covered so many times already, anyway), I’ll throw my two cents in for Mitsuwa in Torrance. Mitsuwa is a chain of Japanese grocery stores, but their flagship is located in Torrance, on Western Ave. Outside of alphabetically neighboring J & K towns, Torrance is home to the pinnacle of both food cultures. The reason is, of course, a large community of Japanese ex-pats who work for Honda, Toyota and Nissan, all headquartered in Torrance.

Because Mitsuwa caters to new arrivals, temporarily relocated families, and semi-permanent Japanese with work-visas, the quality of this particular store is unsurpassed in its expansiveness and quality. There is no other grocery store I have been to that the sushi counter is so cheap for the quality sushi…and it is restaurant quality. The fish used is shipped in fresh each day to the seafood department in back, so the fish you buy in the grocery store, and the fish you buy in the food court (although the Sushi counter isn’t really part of the food court) is superb.

Overall, Mitsuwa is the perfect destination for the Nippophile. When I worked in Torrance up until three months ago, I went to Mitsuwa at least twice a week. Because of the complexity of offering, I can only talk about each department in generalities. There is a bakery, Italian restaurant, curry house, sushi bar, dessert counter with bean pastries, fish section, and standard Japanese/American groceries.

Food Court: It does constantly change, and I was overcome with grief when Panda shut down, because I always got a huge bowl of #1 spicy. Don’t ask me what it was, I called it #1 spicy. It was seafood soup with noodles. There is a disgusting looking, yet delicious Okonomiyaki joint. This is fried batter with savory toppings that looks like the result of Suge Knight throwing Vanilla Ice off the 15th floor balcony. It tastes better than that, I can assure you. And the sushi, yeah the sushi. Eight pices of sushi and six rolls…$7.95. The most expensive sushi combo is $14, and that is all nigiri including eel, salmon roe and urchin. Great value! Finally, even I got caught up in the rapture of seeing Musashimaru Koyo in one of his later matches, because they broadcast major Sumo championships on the 9 screen diamondvision in the courtyard.

Grocery Store: All the staples are here, Japanese curries, dried noodle bowls (you don’t know that intricacies and elaboration of pre-packaged food until you’ve had an assemble-youreself Japanese noodle bowl), soy, sesame oil, bonito, candy, pop-ball sodas, anime adorned mayonnaise, pickled everything…it is like stepping into Osaka. They even get Matsutake mushrooms, which cost more than heroin or saffron, at certain times of the year. Something that expensive is directly related virility, dontcha know.

But the allure, the main attraction, the gravitas Mitsuwa has with me is the fish section. You can’t find fish of this sushi grade quality, this reasonably priced, anywhere. I can’t get Geoduck Clam anywhere else, can you? Bulk Salmon roe? Pre-marinated mackrel? Whole eel? Are you crazy? No, if you NEED Japanese food, don’t waste your time going anywhere else (Nijaya market doesn’t have the cleanliness or quality, sorry). This is THE place to be. Even the other locations in Costa Mesa or Centinela don’t have the sheer quality and expanse the flagship does.

A quick note related to the other postings about dessert. I’m not into bean filled pastries, but the counter at Mitsuwa has the Godiva equivalent. Tastefully wrapped and crafted, just looking at them makes me wish I were a fan. And I’ve choked one down and it wasnt half bad. Expect to pay a HUGE premium, some of these are $25 for three pieces..and I assume its worth it. There is also a small tea hut for traditional tea servings. Additionally, there are a few gift shops, complete with an automated toilet for $400 that automatically heats on a timer, raises, lowers, flushes and rinses. Sounds wierd here, it’s the norm there.

By Zteve (see more of his posts). You can find more of Zteve's writing at his own website Gastrologica