Japanese grocery stores have been a staple in Southern Californians for years, especially in Orange County. Since opening in July, Tokyo Central’s Irvine location has become a hub for affordable Japanese foods and items in the city.
Located on Culver Drive at the Heritage Plaza shopping center, the grocery store had a huge line of excited customers at its grand opening, which featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a taiko drum performance. This is the third Tokyo Central market in Orange County, with others located in Costa Mesa and Yorba Linda.
While the Irvine grocery store is smaller in comparison to its counterparts in Costa Mesa and Yorba Linda, it’s still packed with a large assortment of Japanese food and specialty goods. Besides the usual grocery items such as produce, dairy, and meats, you’ll find a large section of the store dedicated entirely to ready-made Japanese meals including bento boxes, sushi, and sandwiches, as well as hot dishes from the buffet bar. Entrees such as chicken karaage, salmon shioyaki, beef teriyaki, and more can be found here.
There are also sections for Japanese skincare and cosmetics, cleaning products, kitchen items, and even pet products…