Tustin Marketplace, Tokyo Central, Diho Bakery, etc.

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momopi

Well-known member
My first week of returning to Irvine for work.

For some odd reason, I cannot seem to get too far from city of Cerritos or Irvine. After years being away from Cerritos/Lakewood, I ended up marrying someone from my high school (Artesia High) and moving back to Cerritos area (Norwalk just north of Cerritos) and sending my daughter to school in Cerritos.

I've also lived and worked in Irvine, and even after being laid off my employers in Irvine 3 times I still end up being hired back to work in Irvine (???). I've spent over 2 decades working in Irvine to date and somehow always end up back here. This time, I didn't even apply for the job - I was actively looking for work closer to home. But a recruiter tracked me down and jumped through hoops to get me hired in Irvine, and I mean she re-formatted by resume, wrote the cover letter, sent me 3 page customized interview tip sheet, and kept nudging until I was hired 3 weeks later.

For the past 11 years I've worked across the street from Irvine Spectrum, where the popular restaurants enjoy good business. Now I work near Tustin Marketplace, so I drove there for lunch earlier this week. Went to Which Wich and was shocked to find the restaurant row devoid of customers. The parking lot seemed full but when I looked inside the restaurants by Which Wich, there was hardly any customers. I recall over a decade ago, there was a line out the door for this place I ordered a sandwich and didn't feel the love. Checked out I Can BBQ and it was near empty too, unlike the one by Oak Creek where I used to live.

Later, I went to the new Tokyo Central market. The place was bigger than I had thought, but the back row parking spaces were still small. Sadly, Diho Bakery was closed back in May after 3 decades. I ate many inexpensive steamed meat buns from there over the decades.

I liked the pre-prepared meal section at Tokyo Central, good prices - you can get lunch bentos here for from $8-$12, add a rice ball if you're still hungry. Not diabetic friendly but the price is right.

Does anyone know if any of the Ralphs (or other markets) around Irvine carry Simple Truth Cloudwich sandwiches and Eggo Fully Loaded Chocolate Chip Brownie waffles in the frozen section?
 
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I'm actually shopping more at Mitsuwa since Tokyo Central opened. Less crowded and well stocked. Not sure how long before Mitsuwa goes out of business.
 
I finally visited the sushi restaurant (Waka Sakura) attached to Tokyo Central after waiting out the lines. Walked in for a Sunday lunch and was seated immediately.

Good quality and decent prices for nigiri. I enjoyed the salmon lovers 5 piece for $12. For about $60, the two of us ate very very well, and I thought it was a good value.
 
My first week of returning to Irvine for work.

For some odd reason, I cannot seem to get too far from city of Cerritos or Irvine. After years being away from Cerritos/Lakewood, I ended up marrying someone from my high school (Artesia High) and moving back to Cerritos area (Norwalk just north of Cerritos) and sending my daughter to school in Cerritos.

I've also lived and worked in Irvine, and even after being laid off my employers in Irvine 3 times I still end up being hired back to work in Irvine (???). I've spent over 2 decades working in Irvine to date and somehow always end up back here. This time, I didn't even apply for the job - I was actively looking for work closer to home. But a recruiter tracked me down and jumped through hoops to get me hired in Irvine, and I mean she re-formatted by resume, wrote the cover letter, sent me 3 page customized interview tip sheet, and kept nudging until I was hired 3 weeks later.

For the past 11 years I've worked across the street from Irvine Spectrum, where the popular restaurants enjoy good business. Now I work near Tustin Marketplace, so I drove there for lunch earlier this week. Went to Which Wich and was shocked to find the restaurant row devoid of customers. The parking lot seemed full but when I looked inside the restaurants by Which Wich, there was hardly any customers. I recall over a decade ago, there was a line out the door for this place I ordered a sandwich and didn't feel the love. Checked out I Can BBQ and it was near empty too, unlike the one by Oak Creek where I used to live.

Later, I went to the new Tokyo Central market. The place was bigger than I had thought, but the back row parking spaces were still small. Sadly, Diho Bakery was closed back in May after 3 decades. I ate many inexpensive steamed meat buns from there over the decades.

I liked the pre-prepared meal section at Tokyo Central, good prices - you can get lunch bentos here for from $8-$12, add a rice ball if you're still hungry. Not diabetic friendly but the price is right.

Does anyone know if any of the Ralphs (or other markets) around Irvine carry Simple Truth Cloudwich sandwiches and Eggo Fully Loaded Chocolate Chip Brownie waffles in the frozen section?
The Ralph’s on jamboree in Tustin (Marktplace) has the eggo protein chocolate chip brownie waffles. Just saw them this morning
 
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