If you’re living or staying long-term in Santa Monica or West LA (the West Los Angeles coastal area), ‘Asian supermarkets’ and ‘international markets’ are indispensable for enriching your daily home cooking and diet.
In the high-cost LA area, familiar Japanese seasonings and bento boxes, authentic spices cheaper than large supermarkets, and affordable food courts that cure cooking fatigue are lifelines for students and locals alike.
This article dives deep into the charm and practical use of five carefully selected stores around Santa Monica that you absolutely need to know, from a Don Quijote-affiliated Japanese supermarket perfect for daily use to a Persian market with amazing weekend-only food stalls!
Nijiya Market
📍 Address: 2130 Sawtelle Blvd # 105, Los Angeles, CA 90025, United States
This is a Japanese supermarket located in the heart of ‘Sawtelle,’ one of Los Angeles’s premier Asian gourmet towns. The area is bustling with ramen shops and boba tea stores, offering an excellent location to quickly pick up Japanese ingredients after dining or having fun.
Nijiya’s biggest draw is undoubtedly the overwhelming variety and high quality of its bento boxes and deli items. From classic Makunouchi bento to Sanroku Onigiri, fried horse mackerel, sushi rolls, and battera sushi, you’ll feel as if you’re in a Japanese department store food hall or convenience store. Bento boxes are discounted late at night, making it a savior for students and long-term residents looking to save on food expenses.
Another feature is its extensive selection of organic vegetables grown at its own ‘Nijiya Farm’ and specialty products from all over Japan (especially items from Kagoshima Prefecture, the owner’s hometown). There’s a dedicated underground parking lot, but spaces are narrow, so caution is advised for large vehicles. Just tell the guard at the entrance you’re ‘going to Nijiya’ for smooth parking.
Mitsuwa Marketplace
📍 Address: 3760 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066, United States
Conveniently located near Santa Monica, this place is more than just a supermarket; it’s like a ‘Japanese food theme park.’ With Japanese announcements and staff conversations echoing throughout the store, stepping inside transports you completely to Japan.
The main highlight is the food court, which offers incredibly cost-effective options even by LA restaurant standards. It gathers famous eateries like ‘Ramen Santouka,’ a renowned Asahikawa ramen shop from Hokkaido, ‘Hannosuke’ for tempura bowls from Nihonbashi, ‘SANUKI SANDOU’ for udon, and ‘Nihon Ryori Misasa’ for set meals. With affordable and hearty dishes such as jumbo fried shrimp and miso katsu set meals, it’s always buzzing with both local Americans and Japanese residents. You can save even more by buying drinks from the supermarket section and bringing them into the food court.
Furthermore, a ‘Kinokuniya Bookstore’ is located on the premises, where you can find the latest Japanese books, magazines, comics, and stationery. The bakery near the entrance also sells Japanese pastries and bread, making it a complete hub to soothe any homesickness.
Marukai Market West LA
📍 Address: 12121 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, United States
This Japanese supermarket belongs to the ‘Don Quijote’ group, familiar in Japan, and is appealing for its convenience, offering everything from daily necessities to groceries. You’ll find ‘Do’ branded private-label products, making it a valuable spot for stocking up on seasonings, dried goods, and Japanese snack foods.
Compared to other Japanese supermarkets, prices are generally lower, making it a strong ally for long-term residents and students looking to reduce living expenses. You can find thinly sliced meats, fresh Japanese-style fish, and vegetables like daikon radish, green onions, and shimeji mushrooms that are hard to find elsewhere. You might even discover bargains like clearance items or sale products. However, some vegetables, fruits, and dairy products might be cheaper at local supermarkets, so smart shopping is key to home cooking.
The underground parking lot is a bit narrow, but rarely full, making car access stress-free. It’s an ideal base camp for maintaining a Japanese lifestyle even while in LA.
Indo-Asian Foods Convenience Store
📍 Address: 1713 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States
This is a small Indian & Asian grocery store located along Pico Blvd in Santa Monica. Though it looks like a small independent shop, the shelves are packed with authentic whole spices (like cardamom and anise), legumes, teas, and snacks that you simply won’t find in larger local supermarkets.
The biggest strength of this store is the ‘overwhelming affordability of its spices.’ If you want to try making authentic curries or ethnic dishes at home, this is the place to go. It has a family-run, welcoming atmosphere, and if you mention you’re learning Indian cooking, the owner or staff will be happy to guide you to the necessary ingredients.
A quiet favorite among regulars is the mango lassi and the exquisite pistachio shake, both priced at just $2.99. A small fee applies for credit card transactions, so it’s smart to bring cash for purchases or maximize savings by buying spices in bulk.
Tehran Market
📍 Address: 1417 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States
Established in 1987, this Persian (Iranian) & Middle Eastern international market has been loved in Santa Monica for a long time. Stepping inside, you’ll find an exotic array of ingredients neatly displayed, including basmati rice, huge flatbreads (sangak and barbari), colorful pickles (torshi), feta cheese, and baklava.
A must-try when visiting this store is the charcoal-grilled kebab stall that appears in the parking lot only on weekends. The savory aroma of these kebabs wafts for blocks, making them highly popular among local residents. When you order juicy ground meat Koobideh or lamb chops, they come with lavash bread, grilled tomatoes, onions, and pickles (rice is not included). The system is to buy a ticket at the cash register beforehand, then pick up your freshly grilled food from the stall in the back parking lot.
There’s also free dedicated parking behind the store, making it easily accessible by car. It’s a hidden gem that allows you to experience the vibrancy of the Middle East and delicious local food right in Santa Monica.
Supermarket Shopping Guide for Students & Long-Term Residents in Santa Monica!
To smartly navigate home cooking in the high-cost Los Angeles-Santa Monica area, ‘supermarket differentiation’ is the most crucial skill.
First, staple fresh produce (vegetables, fruits, milk, etc.) should generally be sourced from nearby local supermarkets (like Ralphs or Whole Foods). On the other hand, for ‘Japanese food essentials’ like thinly sliced meat, Japanese curry roux, miso, and mirin, buying in bulk at ‘Marukai Market West LA’ will help keep expenses down.
For evenings when you’re too tired to cook, aiming for discounted bento boxes at ‘Nijiya Market’ or heading to the food court at ‘Mitsuwa Marketplace’ offers the best cost-performance meal route. And when you start to feel bored with your daily meals, you can fully enjoy LA’s diverse food culture by stocking up on spices at ‘Indo-Asian Foods Convenience Store’ or taking out a weekend treat kebab from ‘Tehran Market.’
To integrate into the local community and enjoy a smart, delicious life, be sure to utilize the unique markets introduced in this article!
