Mitsuwa

Although I've never been, Mitsuwa looks pretty interesting. Anyone know if it is worth the drive there?

Mitsuwa is most certainly worth the drive, though of course it helps to know a fair amount about Japanese ingredients before you go; it is a supermarket for Japanese and only mildly newbie-intelligible. This thread has a bit of a primer. Here's a thread about what kind of a place it is. This link has more pics of the same event:

http://www.trentland.com/mits/

Here are a few mentions of Asian groceries in the city, although wasn't there a whole "Asian grocery accessible by bus" thread? I can't seem to find it, anyone remember it?

Mitsuwa is what you are looking for. It can accurately be termed a supermarket. I'm told Japanese communities for hundreds of miles coordinate bus trips to Mitsuwa. There's a fair-sized food court there as well.

Mitsuwa
100 E. Algonquin Road,
Arlington Hts., IL 60005
(847)956-6699

When I hear "grocery" I think of fresh fruits and vegetables. If that would happen to be your main priority, I'm not entirely sure Mitsuwa is the place for you unless it's a convenient trip. The selection of fruits and vegetables is good but in my opinion not outstanding. I was there the other day and they had no scallions! What's up with that? They have also started packaging the fresh wasabi in huge pieces. (To be fair, I didn't ask anyone for help.) If you want Japanese food more generally, though, I'd say it's definitely worth it.

bibi rose wrote:They have also started packaging the fresh wasabi in huge pieces.

Bibi,

Do you happen to remember the price per pound? Last time I saw fresh wasabi was at Nijiya Market in San Francisco's Japan Center for $99.99/lb.

Nijiya Market (2/05)


Enjoy,
Gary

Mike G wrote:Mitsuwa is most certainly worth the drive,

Mike,

In addition to Mitsuwa, I'd suggest Tensuke Japanese Grocery. What I especially like about Tensuke is the fact that they will slice fresh filets from the counter, just to the right of the sushi area, for sashimi. My favorite is to pick a $8-10 dollar pack of toro, motion for one of the chefs behind the glass, and ask them to please cut for sashimi.

What is $8-10 of toro at Tensuke, pristinely fresh by the way, would be at least $20, if even available, at a good quality Japanese restaurant. If the package contains more toro than you wish indicate the amount you would like, unless you speak Japanese some pantomime may be necessary.

Enjoy,
Gary

Tensuke (True World)
3 Arlington Heights Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
847-806-1200

bibi rose wrote:When I hear "grocery" I think of fresh fruits and vegetables. If that would happen to be your main priority, I'm not entirely sure Mitsuwa is the place for you unless it's a convenient trip. The selection of fruits and vegetables is good but in my opinion not outstanding. I was there the other day and they had no scallions! What's up with that? They have also started packaging the fresh wasabi in huge pieces. (To be fair, I didn't ask anyone for help.) If you want Japanese food more generally, though, I'd say it's definitely worth it.

Mitsuwa doesn't necessarily have a great stock of commonly-found produce like green onions, but it is excellent for less common items: real wasabi (as you said), many mushrooms (including masutake and maitake), tons of fresh daikon, fresh lotus root, and a lot more.

Gary,
I think I remember the wasabi at Mitsuwa at either $80 or $90 / lb. It was definitely less than $100.

Best,
Michael / EC

eatchicago wrote:Mitsuwa doesn't necessarily have a great stock of commonly-found produce like green onions, but it is excellent for less common items: real wasabi (as you said), many mushrooms (including masutake and maitake), tons of fresh daikon, fresh lotus root, and a lot more.

Gary,
I think I remember the wasabi at Mitsuwa at either $80 or $90 / lb. It was definitely less than $100.

Best,
Michael / EC

Point taken, thanks. The mushrooms especially.

I was going to say the wasabi was cheaper, like under $70, but I think now I must have been wrong. In the past I've bought small pieces, about enough for four people, for under $10, if that helps. It really is excellent.

Anyway, Mitsuwa is a great place to shop overall. I like the food court too.

bibi rose wrote:I was going to say the wasabi was cheaper, like under $70, but I think now I must have been wrong. In the past I've bought small pieces, about enough for four people, for under $10, if that helps. It really is excellent.

I've seen it for $70 there... ($69.99). This was probably about 6 months ago, though..

I looked at those prices for wasabi and said to my self, "self, what's the story here?--why so expensive?" Now I know: for some really interesting info, and a lead on growing it yourself (?!), check out:

http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/wasabi.asp


Geo

Geo wrote:I looked at those prices for wasabi and said to my self, "self, what's the story here?--why so expensive?" Now I know: for some really interesting info, and a lead on growing it yourself (?!), check out:

http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/wasabi.asp

The opening to that page amuses me, if only because the author is taking sushi, dunking it, and then adding gari and wasabi and eating it all at once. And then is lecturing people to buy real, expensive wasabi when his example doesn't even treat the fake stuff right

That being said, the rest of it looks rather well put together.

Yes, thanks for the article! Not to sound too obsessive about wasabi, but it's not as horribly expensive as it seems per use. A pound is a huge amount. The first time I picked up a piece at Mitsua, it was 7 bucks, I think. (And I'm spending 40 bucks or so on the fish, so why not?) I like the prepared wasabi too but I thought the fresh was really noticeably better; I think that anyone who shops around for good quality herbs and spices would appreciate the difference.

Update: I was at Mitsuwa the other day, and the wasabi is still $69.99.

Also, my recent crankiness about the fresh food department was, I think, based on getting them on an off day the last time-- probably they were due for a delivery. Much more stuff this time.

I recently obtained a small tub* of grated fresh wasabi from Dirk's (in the freezer). At $3 it was significantly less than the cost of a whole root from Mitsuwa, and a good amount for a small home sushi dinner. However, the freezer storage, I felt, had led to some flavour diminishing - so that a slightly larger quantity had to be used. But the 'fresh' flavour was definety there.
Here's a link to an Oregon based wasabi grower: http://www.freshwasabi.com

Mitsuwa is a fantastic grocery store - the selection of fish for sashimi/sushi is great - especially as they are cut into small blocks and packaged. The quality of fruits and vegetables is also very good - the selection of course catering towards Japanese foods and varieties. They do have some interesting fruit in varieties I've never seen elsewhere.

I love the thinly sliced beef (marked "For shabu shabu") - which is great to roll scallions (and/or asparagus, carrots) for negimaki.
I wish I knew of a place not so far North where I could get meat cut this way.

Everyonce in a while Mitsuwa makes for a great day.
It is quite a drive for us so it is not as often as I'd like - and my wallet is greatful for that


*like those that are packed with soy or other dipping sauces - holds about 2 Tbsp or so.

I really enjoy the food court at Mitsuwa too. I try to get there for lunch and have a maguro don or something. (Shopping while hungry at Mitsuwa can be very dangerous!)

G Wiv wrote:

bibi rose wrote:They have also started packaging the fresh wasabi in huge pieces.

Bibi,

Do you happen to remember the price per pound? Last time I saw fresh wasabi was at Nijiya Market in San Francisco's Japan Center for $99.99/lb.

Nijiya Market (2/05)


Enjoy,
Gary

I remembered seeing this post before I left for Mitsuwa today, the price remains a relative bargain here in the midwest:



Regards,

FWIW in response to the orig. question: I have never heard any local person of Japanese origin refer to going anywhere closer than Arlington Heights to get what they need. So I guess, regardless of what one thinks of the particulars, that's pretty much where to go. Although my most recent set of new-to-town Japanese acquaintances were very much taken with what was available right on Argyle and down Broadway. However, I think their thinking is more global than purely Japanese.

Mitsuwa as everyone mentions is great for their market, mail-to-order appliances, pre-made sushi, food court and liquor store. Mitsuwa has better pre-made sushi, whereas Tensuke has superior sushi-grade fish and shellfish. You'll find fresh bluefin toro, big-eye toro, yellowfin, halibut, abalone, amberjack, conch, soft-shell crab (when in season) amongst the regulars like yellowtail, salmon, mackerel, octopus, squid, etc... That's just the sushi-grade varieties. You can also find split fish heads from larger fish like amberjack, sea bass, etc (excellent on the grill). I wonder if they'll ever have big-eye, yellowtail or bluefin heads. Another interesting difference is that the sushi-grade fishmongers/fish handlers at Tensuke are Japanese whereas Mitsuwa's are Mandarin-speaking Chinese.'

Another interesting difference is that the sushi-grade fishmongers/fish handlers at Tensuke are Japanese whereas Mitsuwa's are Mandarin-speaking Chinese.

This may be a strange question, are you sure the Mandarin speaking people are Chinese? They might be Mongolian.

When I visited Takkatsu in Arlington Heights:

Cathy2 wrote:I met CrazyC at Takkatsu last night. It was great to see this restaurant return like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Of course, different location and quite a different wait staff. At the old location, all the wait staff were subdued Japanese, while all the staff at the new restaurant were perky Caucasians. Actually, I was wrong about the staff at the old location I learned last night. The wait staff were not Japanese, rather they were Mongolians. CrazyC pointed out it is difficult to differentiate Mongolians from Japanese.

I found this situation to be quite interesting because I supposed the people who waited on us before were Japanese, though I was wrong.

Food for thought!

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:The wait staff were not Japanese, rather they were Mongolians. CrazyC pointed out it is difficult to differentiate Mongolians from Japanese.

Interesting... Although, I have to say most Japanese would be highly offended at the thought of being mistaken for being Mongolian, my wife had a funny story to relate re: this topic. Turns out my sister-in-law (who is VERY Japanese - by that I mean mannerisms, dress, look, etc) was asked by a Caucasian waiter in San Francisco if she was Mongolian. At the time they thought it was an exceedingly odd question. The whole differentiating what type of "Asian" ethnicity a person is, is a time-honored game most Asians "like" to play. I have to say I've never met any Mongolians, so it would be difficult to say if I could differentiate between a Japanese person and Mongolian solely by looks.

Nonetheless, whether the Mandarin-speaking fishmongers were Chinese or Mongolian, my ability to converse with them garnered me a further discount on the sushi-grade hamachi they were actively pricing down.

Well, maybe it depends on which part of Mongolia, and whether or not you're looking at pure-bred vs. those who live near the border with China. In the far north of Mongolia, you'd be more likely to mistake them for Navajo than Japanese. Farther south, there is a litle more blending with Manchu, Han Chinese, and other groups, so they begin to look more generically Asian. But then again, it depends on the individual. And if they are speaking Mandarin, they are probably from "Inner Mongolia," which is part of China. In "Outer Mongolia," which is what now shows up as Mongolia on maps, they speak Mongolian and Russian, not Chinese. I didn't see a lot of Mongolians in Mongolia who would be mistaken for anything other than Mongolian -- but I was only in Outer Mongolia, not Inner.

My wife, baby daughter, and I made the hour and a half drive up to Mitsuwa today to take a look.

Loved the food court, and the sushi stand. We had some bbq beef which tasted like bulgogi, for $6 and change got the beef, white rice, some potato salad, miso soup, and a fruit cup. not bad. I also grabbed for $8 a sushi sampler that had 3 blue crab claws, a shrimp, lobster salad, white rice, scallop(spelled skarop on the ingredients list), and a couple pieces of fish. Very good as well.

The market area was kind of a disappointment. the produce looked very nice, and had some hard to find items, but the meat, and fresh fish were below average. I did pick up some wagu beef ribeyes which I am excited to try, but I was hoping for live crabs, and some specialty items like that. None to be found(so we had to make a side trip to Costco to get some King Crab legs, and a dungeness crab to pair with the Wagu ribeyes for dinner.)


I will definetely return just to go to the food court area, alot on neat stuff I want to try,.

I was up there today and I thought the produce selection was very good and fresh. I don't know if it has anything to do with it being a weekend? I got some Shanghai Bok Choy, Two types of mushrooms, a Korean Pear, lemongrass and a few more things. I bought some very fresh looking fish as well.

I also decided to try their Organic Eggs, which they were advertising as "Fresh Enough to Eat Raw!".

I'm going to head off to attempt to make Kitsune Udon now.