Marukin Market

This small, convenient store located on Liliha Street is operated by a lovely couple. I love how they offer a wide variety of items, from sodas and juices to snacks and baked goods. Since I live nearby, this store really comes in handy when I suddenly run out of necessities. For example, there was a time I ran out of rubber gloves, and luckily, they had a few boxes available. They even sell half gallons of whole milk, which is a lifesaver when my little ones run out of milk and I'm too lazy to drive to a full grocery store. I also appreciate their wide selection of alcoholic beverages and shot options. The couple is always friendly and offer small discounts here and there especially when paying in cash.

As of March 2014 or so, they're no longer serving up plate lunches! :(Their Dynamite Katsu was SO DAMN GOOD, too!!! I honestly hope they bring their plate lunches back because this was my favorite plate to grab lunch in the area (outside of Liliha Bakery)REVIEW #262

I have always seen this market for a while on Liliha St, but just thought it was a typical mom and pop store that sold snacks, drinks and liquor. I was introduced to this place by a co-worker that told me they made plate lunches.So far, I have tried their chicken katsu dynamite, the lau lau plate, the bento, and the pastele stew.The chicken katsu dynamite is delicious. Really crispy katsu that is cooked to perfection (not under cooked or burnt to a crisp). It is drizzled with a house wasabi spicy mayo sauce and served with rice and a imitation crab potato/egg salad.The lau lau plate is yummy too. It's supposedly a homemade lau lau and tastes great. It comes with lomi salmon, rice and the potato salad. My only gripe is I wish they'd give more lomi lomi salmon.The bento has fried noodles, spam, chicken katsu, rice and sausage. Very delicious and a pretty generous portion.The pastele stew however...isn't really what I call pastele stew. Never trust a Korean store that cooks pastele stew! It's more like fried pork pieces with tons of weird spices (almost Mexican in nature) with olives. It was very oily and had no stew like gravy quality. There was no sauce at all other than residual oil. Although, I give them props for providing massive amounts of chunky pork pieces. Definitely not my favorite though.Parking can be difficult because it's street metered parking, but I just take up the non exsistent stall by the fire hydrant - but that's because I'm special like that... :P

This place is right next to my house so I stop by regularly. They started carrying premium cigars so I don't have to drive into town anymore. Super convenient

Came here to get lunch because I heard there was a take out place here. It was confusing since the outside is a Mini Mart you would never expect this place to have take out food.Got the Korean fried Chicken and my boyfriend got the dynamite chicken Katsu. I loved my Korean fried Chicken more than the Katsu but thats why I got it in the first place. I tried the Kalua Pig lumpia with the Poi sauce. It is like an explosion of sweet then salty. You have to find parking to get here, but I secretly parked at L&L next door and walked over.The prices are like $8 a plate with a heafty plate lunch serving. I recommend to call in advance so you can just come and pick it up.

A hidden gem, Marukin Market has only recently been offering plate lunches, but I'm glad I stumbled upon them. One day while walking down the block to find somewhere to buy lunch (since I work near the area), I found a big white dry-erase board with colorful words so it caught my eye. I think it was $8 for a plate, but buyer beware for a $10 minimum if you plan to use your card. Otherwise you can just buy yourself a drink to go with your meal. (I usually get Peace Tea, I say this because yay they have Peace Tea!)They're located next to L&L's on Liliha Street. A little ran down, like typical mom and pop shop that's been around for years, but their food is absolutely delicious. Inexpensive and served with big portions. I mean, who doesn't love getting their money's worth nowadays? Their plate lunches are for those who love local foods. I've tried and love their furikake salmon, dynamite chicken bites and dynamite chicken katsu. I mostly go for their chicken katsu because I've not gotten that anywhere else. :) Street parking is available and you don't have to be lucky because people who go here and to places nearby only come and go in a heartbeat. There's nowhere to sit down and eat, which could be the reason why people only come and go, but that doesn't bother me at all.

I've never heard of this place before until a friend kept posting pictures of their plate lunch on Instagram! (Yes, thanks to Instagram it's LIKE at first sight on all the #foodporn pictures my friends post)I've been meaning to come here for weeks now & well just my luck I was in the neighborhood. Across the street actually, assisting my grandfather at the optometry office. You'd never think this little corner store would have some ono plate lunches. Definitely a hidden gem. It's located next door to L&L (well known for their local plate lunches). I ordered the dynamite chicken bites! Realllly bomb! Comes w/ Mac salad & one giant of scoop rice. They have other items on their menu but that's what I really wanted to try. I'm gonna need to come back & try more -- like the dynamite katsu! Yumm! One thing I would suggest to Marukin for marketing is display pictures of their plate lunches so the customers can see what they serve. I'm such a visual person, if something looks good I'm down to try it!

4 1/2 stars if you may. The new staffing is a huge improvement recently made. They've made this a definite first choice for a plate lunch rather than the l&l next door. The food is great for locals. Real original sauces and recipes make the flavors my favorite part of this mom and pop joint. The only reason I'd give that half star is because I don't believe I've ever been 100% full. Otherwise 5 stars from me. :)

Inexpensive. Fast. LOTS of the main course! 1 scoop rice. 1 scoop mac/potato salad. PAU HANAZ! I've tried the dynamite chicken... Plentiful and tasty... I would ask to go light on the sauce they use, but thats just me. The pastele stew was ono, but a little too salty for me at that moment during the day.Furikake Salmon was good. No complaints there. Dynamite chicken BITES... They were okay... too much breading/chicken ratio... I'd stick with the dynamite chicken regular.That will be all.

Excellent customer service Husband and wife operation #1-Papaya in Oahu big,very sweet and always runs out it's the best