Road Trip - Marukai Gardena and Harry's Aloha Chop Suey

I made my way to Marukai Gardena from the Torrance Farmer's Market. When I got there just at opening time, it was already quite warm, seems like it was going to be a "hot one".

Almost as big as an airplane hangar, Marukai Gardena is located right on Artesia Blvd. I remember the first time I entered this place; it had almost everything I needed. I had indeed reached the Ex-Pat food "Mecca". Redondo and Purity Portuguese Sausage, S & S Saimin, frozen Zippy's Chili, Diamond Bakery Soda & Creme crackers, and Aloha Shoyu, to name a few, can all be found here. One of the first things you'll notice when you enter is that for a place so large, it's really somewhat cramped.

It can really get crowded in here, so we always plan to get in and out ASAP. The "wall of snacks" here is daunting.

There's just so much here, I won't go into it in too much depth. Just enough to say, it was a quick stop today, no maguro, no ogo for me. Just some snacks and alot of nice memories. Marukai is a membership market, but a daily membership ($1.00) is available - it's cheaper than Disneyland, and almost as fun! So I shopped quickly loaded up my bounty, and headed back to my hotel room for a quick rest and to check out.

Marukai
1740 West Artesia Blvd
Gardena, CA 90248
Summer: Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. & Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Winter: Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

*** Harry's Aloha Chop Suey has closed

I than decided to hit Harry's Aloha Chop Suey for a quick bite before hitting the road.

The definition of "hole in the wall", with only 6 tables, Harry's has a small menu featuring hot table combinations (beef stew, fried chicken, etc.), cooked items (chop steak), and Saimin and Won Ton Mein. Call it a case of saimin insanity, today I decided to order what's probably the most expensive item on the menu - a large size "Super" Saimin ($9.00).

There was a ton of Char Siu, several slices of kamabuko, what probably amounts to half a head of napa cabbage, carrots, and won tons. The best thing about the dish were the noodles, perfectly cooked, saimin (not ramen) noodles. The crunchy texture triggered many a memory of bowls of saimin and teriyaki beef sticks. The broth on the other hand was nothing to write home about, weak and almost flavorless, shoyu was a necessity. The other item I was thankful for was the watery "chinese mustard", just like back home. A swirl with the chopsticks to get a bit of mustard on it, place into the spoon, grab noodles and place in the spoon, consume - delici-yoso! I finished just about everything, enough to get a comment of "you did pretty good".

So great noodles, not the best broth, great service, and everything under $9.00 (actually most items are under $6.50). Not as good as I remember from my last trip here, but still worth the culinary trip down "memory lane". Enough so that I was willing to eat this even though the weather outside was clearly "heatwave" in nature.

Harry's Aloha Chop Suey
1721 W Redondo Beach Blvd
Gardena, CA 90247

Comments

[Jo]

I thought we taught you not to thing! ::Grins wickedlY::

[Jo]

duh... THINK! ::sigh::

[Kirk]

I think everybody has a case of Milly-fingers....

[Jo]

Milly Vanilly Dilly Fingilly?

[milgwimper]

the song should be I will survive! hehehe the case of the rent-a-fingers ala Milli has invaded! Muahahaha! You know I never have this kind of problem when I'm writing papers for school. Hmmmm...."Things that make you go hmmm..." -Arsenio Hall

Jo,

No would not Itake a bath in the live crab tank. Hmm... Maybe we can open up a public bath house nearby.

[Jo]

OH YEA! There you go! but... ::very softly:: ummm... ::clears throat:: are we gonna have some of "THOSE" saunas?

[Kirk]

Geez, I knew I shouldn't have asked the soundtrack question.....at least you didn't pick Pinch Me by the Barenaked Ladies or Rock Lobster -dum,dum,dum,dada-dada-da-daaa

[Alan]

Any readers out there that can help me improve my website? I assume that some (or a lot) of you are expatriates from Hawaii. I need some help improving my website www.hawaiianspecialtyproducts.com. Also, anyone interested in exchanging opinions regarding great restaurants in Honolulu or Las Vegas for Hawaii-type grinds? Drop me an email message.

[Dave]

Marukai is great. I remember when they were on Vermont, then they built the big place on Artesia. Best place for Japanese stuff. But also has good Hawaiian stuff like char-shu and tuna poki. The bento isn't bad either, and Sushi Boy is there. I haven't ever been to Aloha Harry's. I reaaaaaaaaaly miss Tin Sing. There aren't any more old fashioned chop suey restaurants around anymore. My family used to drive all the way up to Little Tokyo to eat at Far East on 1st Street. But since closing and reopening, the food isn't as good as it was. I was very disappointed. I just want a place that can give me a good plate of hamyuk, char-shu, almond duck, and sweet and sour pork. Is there any place left that serves this stuff?

[Kirk]

Hi Dave - Welcome and thanks for taking the time out to comment. Unfortunately, Harry's has closed, and I need to update my posts.

Why don't you give New Formosa Cafe, located at 2415 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033 a try.
I've heard that the son of original Owner's of Far East Cafe runs the place.