Mitsuwa Marketplace food court serves Japanese cuisine, more
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) -- For years, the Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights has been a source of Japanese culture and food. But most first-time visitors see just a grocery store from the outside.
"And then they come further into the building and they find the food court and they say 'wow you can eat here, you can shop here, you can do everything here,'" said Manager Masato Takai.
And you can eat extremely well. Not just Japanese - although the Santouka stand, straight out of Hokkaido, is one of the most popular with its milky white, pork-laden tonkotsu broth, filled with your choice of crunchy bamboo, soft chasu - or cooked pork belly - and of course, those fabulous egg noodles from Japan. But there's also a Chinese menu next door, at Jockey Express, where you can sample steamed dim sum dumplings or large plates with roast duck, bok choy and rice. Further down, Korean fare at Mama's House, where a stone bowl of bibimbop is jammed with vegetables and rice, while thinly-grilled kalbi, or short ribs, pair up with white rice.
Kayaba is strictly Japanese, with its elegant plates of tonkatsu, or breaded and deep-fried pork, served with miso soup, rice and sweet dipping sauce. There's even a burger joint called Gabutto.
"It is a burger but it is something that is more popular, style in Japan, maybe Japanese-style burgers," Takai said.
There's beef, tofu, even softshell crab with crunchy cabbage; they also make delicate souffle pancakes, stuffed with cream. And speaking of sweets, the Matcha caf features green tea softserve - a rarity in Chicago - as well as a fully-loaded parfait with rice cakes.
"Anything you can find for the family. We see father eating ramen and the mom eating Chinese food and the kids eating the burger it's family friendly I guess," said Takai.
And here's the great thing about Mitsuwa, after your lunch or dinner, visit the adjacent grocery store and do a little more shopping this holiday season.
Mitsuwa Market
100 E Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights
(847) 956-6699
Store open until 8 pm but most of the restaurants close by 7/7:30 p.m.
