>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ADVENTURE.

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT I'M IN FOR TODAY, BUT I'M STANDING HERE WITH LOUIS AND NATALIE LEE, AND WE HAVE MET BEFORE.

LET'S EXPLAIN HOW WE GOT TOGETHER.

>> YES, I'VE BEEN MENTIONING THIS TO MY WIFE HOW IT JUST SEEMS LIKE FATE WHERE WE FIRST MET LAST YEAR AT THE L.A. TOFU FESTIVAL, AND WITH THE SPECIFIC INTENT OF SAYING, "I NEED TO MEET HUELL HOWSER JUST, IF, FOR NOTHING ELSE."

AND SURE ENOUGH, WE WALKED UP, LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES HAD GONE BY, YOU WERE TASTING SOME FOOD AT A BOOTH, AND YOU WALKED RIGHT UP TO ME AND YOU SAID, "HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING THE SHOW?"

AND IT SORT OF WENT ON FROM THERE.

>> SO, IT WAS FATE THAT BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER.

>> NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES.

>> AND THE LAST TIME WAS AT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM.

>> MUSEUM, YES, TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> AND YOU ALL CAME OVER--YOU CAME RUNNING OVER AND SAID, WHAT?

>> HI!

REMEMBER ME.

HAHAHA WE'RE JAVA DOG.

>> JAVA DOG.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU INVITED US TO VISIT YOU AT YOUR COFFEE ESTABLISHMENT HERE IN GARDENA, AND EXPLAIN TO US WHERE WE ARE, 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INSIDE A VERY INTERESTING PLACE.

>> IT'S AH, WE TRULY FEEL, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, THAT IT'S UNIQUE.

THE BUILDING IS FROM GROUND FLOOR UP.

>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

>> RIGHT.

AND JUST REFLECTING A LOT OF THE ASIAN CULTURE, NOT JUST PRIMARILY JAPANESE, BUT AGAIN, THE KOREAN, THE HAWAIIAN, AND CHINESE FOOD ITEMS AND THEME AS WELL.

SO, WE FEEL IT'S UNIQUE IN GARDENA, PERHAPS EVEN THE SOUTH BAY.

IT'S NOT A RALPHS.

IT'S NOT A LUCKY'S.

IT'S A ONE OF A KIND MARUKAI.

>> WELL, NOW THAT YOU'VE ALIENATED RALPHS AND LUCKY'S-- >> SORRY RALPHS.

>> WE CAN GO INSIDE.

THE NAME OF THIS WHOLE COMPLEX AGAIN?

>> MARUKAI FORUM.

>> SO, WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE, AND OUR WHOLE MORNING IS GONNA BE SPENT WITH, YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOU LOU, BECAUSE LOUIS IS TOO CLOSE TO LUIS, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE-- >> WHATEVER'S GOOD FOR YOU, LUIS OR LOU.

>> SO LOU AND NATALIE AND I ARE GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY ON A TOUR OF THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.

AND I BET OUR FIRST STOP IS THE JAVA DOG.

>> HAHAHA.

>> RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> HAS TO BE.

HAHAHA.

>> OKAY.

BOY DOES THIS PLACE HAVE A NICE FEEL TO IT RIGHT OFF THE BAT, AND LOOK IN HERE LUIS, THIS LOOKS LIKE--WHAT IS THIS IN HERE, LEE?

>> IT'S THE GENERAL MARKET WITH ALL SORTS OF SUNDRIES, COOKIES, FOOD ITEMS FROM PRIMARILY ASIAN FOOD PRODUCTS.

>> SO, WE'RE GONNA GO IN THERE IN A MINUTE.

>> SURE.

>> BUT, FIRST, AS WE SAID, WE'VE GOT TO GO TO JAVA DOG.

>> YES.

WE'VE GOT TO GO TO JAVA DOG FIRST.

>> AND THIS IS JAVA DOG RIGHT HERE.

>> WELL, WE'RE-WE'RE PROUD OF SOME, YOU KNOW, THE BAKERY PASTRY ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THESE ARE HOMEMADE PASTRIES.

WOULD YOU GRAB ME A PLATE RIGHT THERE, JAS?

>> NOW, WHAT IS THIS?

>> AND THIS IS A STRAWBERRY JELLO CHEESECAKE WITH A HONEY GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST, AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF IT, IT'S OUR BEST SELLER, AND YOU GOTTA TAKE A BITE, AND I'LL HOLD THIS MIKE IF YOU WANT.

>> WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, I'VE NEVER USED A FORK BEFORE, I'LL JUST PICK THAT UP.

NOW, WHAT IS IT AGAIN?

>> IT'S A STRAWBERRY JELLO CHEESECAKE WITH A HONEY GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST.

>> NOW, WHO CAME UP WITH THIS?

>> AH, THE LADY BASICALLY WHO'S BEEN BAKING, AND -- >> IS THIS A JAPANESE, AH -- >> WELL, IT'S BEEN PASSED ON IN HER FAMILY, SO IT'S UNIQUE IN THE WAY SHE PREPARES IT, AND I THINK YOU'LL GET A DIFFERENT FLAVORING OF SWEET-- >> HMMMMM.

>> IT'S GOOD, ISN'T IT?

HOMEMADE TOO.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> HOW ABOUT A LITTLE SHOT OF COFFEE HERE?

>> SO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE COFFEE WITH THIS -- >> AH, TO WASH IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND WHAT ELSE DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?

WHAT'S THIS?

>> WHAT PEOPLE DO IS GET JUST A VANILLA CREAM PUFF, AND IT'S GOT LIKE A FILLING INSIDE, YOU TAKE THE TOP OFF.

IT-- THERE'S A LITTLE COFFEE TO WASH IT DOWN WITH.

>> OH, HERE'S THE COFFEE.

>> JAVA COFFEE.

AND IT'S NOT TOO SWEET.

>> I'D BETTER HOLD OFF ON THE CREAM PUFF TILL LATER ON.

>> OH YES, WE'LL... HAHAHA.

>> I'LL HAVE TO GO TAKE A NAP SOMEWHERE IF I EAT ALL THAT SUGAR.

>> I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, INTRODUCE RUBIO WHO'S BEEN WITH US FOR 18 YEARS.

>> HOWDY!

HOW YOU DOIN?

>> RUBIO, THIS IS HUELL.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR, AND WHO'S THIS GUY?

>> THAT'S JASON.

>> HI, JASON.

IS THAT THE JAVA DOG RIGHT THERE?

>> OH, THERE'S JAVA DOG.

HE'S PARY OF OUR JAVA DOG.

HAHAHA.

>> ALL RIGHT NOW, THE DEAL IS, JAVA DOG, YOU KINDA GOT THE POWER POSITION RIGHT HERE.

YOU WALK IN, THERE'S JAVA DOG.

BUT WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT OVER HERE?

>> AND, IT'S A SMALL FOOD COURT, BUT AH-- >> GOOD MORNIN', GOOD MORNING.

HUELL HOWSER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ARE YOU ALL JUST HANGIN' OUT HERE TODAY, OR DO YOU WORK HERE?

>> NO, I DON'T WORK HERE, I JUST HANG OUT HERE.

>> DO YOU HANG OUT WITH YOUR FAMILY HERE?

>> YEAH.

HAHA.

>> IS THIS YOUR FAMILY?

>> HI, HUELL HOWSER.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK AT WHILE WE'RE HERE.

HAVE WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD TOUR GUIDE HERE?

>> YES, YOU HAVE VERY GOOD TOUR GUIDE.

HAHAHA.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE OUGHT TO SAMPLE WHILE WE'RE HERE?

>> AH, COFFEE.

JAVA DOG.

COFFEE.

HEH HEH HEH HEH.

>> OH, BOY.

LADIES, HI!

HUELL HOWSER.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

WE CAME FROM SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

>> REALLY!

>> YES, WE LIKE MARUKAI, ESPECIALLY JAVA DOG, AND ONCE A WEEK I AM COMING TO SHOPPING AROUND HERE.

>> REALLY!

>> YES.

BECAUSE I'M KOREAN, BUT I LIKE JAPANESE STUFF, NO?

>> OHH.

>> YEAH.

>> NOW, ARE THESE YOUR FRIENDS FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY?

>> YEAH, MY FRIEND.

YES.

>> HELLO, HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND ARE YOU FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY?

>> I'M GERMAN.

>> FROM WHERE?

>> I'M FROM GERMANY.

>> OH, YOU'RE FROM GERMANY!

HOW DID YOU FIND THIS PLACE.

>> WELL, I COME HERE EVERY DAY.

>> OH.

BOY, THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP HERE.

HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING.

>> WE ARE FROM KOREA.

>> UH-HUH.

>> YES, SO LONG TRIP TO COME OVER HERE.

>> WOW.

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

I'M GETTING--THERE'S A-THERE'S AN ENERGY IN THE ROOM, ISN'T THERE?

>> IT REALLY IS, YOU HAVE SUCH A CORE GROUP OF CUSTOMERS THAT COME IN EITHER ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A WEEK-- >> UH-HUH.

>> --TO SHOP AS WELL AS EAT, AND IT BECOMES AN EXTENDED FAMILY.

WE MUST HAVE AH, 1500, 2000 CUSTOMERS THAT USE OUR CARD ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE STAMP THEIR CARDS.

>> WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WE'VE GOT OVER HERE.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

THERE'S ONE DISH THAT I THINK YOU'LL FIND, AH.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS CALLED "THE EXPRESS."

>> THE EXPRESS, THE EXPRESS, AND IT'S JUST -- >> HI, LADIES.

>> HELLO!

>> HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT GOOD FOR US TO SAMPLE OVER HERE TODAY?

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT GOOD--OH, LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT CHOICES HERE, LUIS.

THEY'VE GOT 'EM ALL.

OH, MY GOSH.

WHAT HAVE YOU, WHAT IS THE FAVORITE THAT PEOPLE GET HERE?

>> THIS IS FAMOUS, IT'S UNAGI, IT'S EEL.

>> UNAGI.

>> YES.

>> EEL.

SO, THIS IS KINDA LIKE SUSHI.

>> YES, YES, SOME GRILL UNAGI EEL, A KIND OF EEL, SO YOU GOT A GRILL, YOU GOT A SAUCE.

>> AH.

>> WITH A SOUP.

>> THESE ARE SOUP.

>> AND THE SOUP, TOO.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE RAMEN NOODLE.

>> OH, THE NOODLES.

>> AND TEMPURA UDON.

IT'S A FAMOUS NOODLE.

>> YEAH.

>> YES.

>> THESE ARE YOUR DISPLAYS OUT HERE, WE CAN'T EAT THEM.

BUT YOU GOT SOME GOOD--WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT THIS GUY'S GETTIN'.

GOOD MORNING?

WHAT ARE YOU EATING HERE FOR LUNCH?

>> AH, NOODLES.

>> NOODLES, AND WHAT KINDA MEAT IS THAT IN THE NOODLES?

>> I THINK IT'S PORK.

UH-HUH.

>> PORK?

>> THERE'S A MIXTURE OF EVERYBODY--HOUSEWIVES.

EVEN PEOPLE COMING FROM IRVINE, CYPRESS, THEY ALL COME HERE.

>> NOW WHY WOULD THEY COME ALL THE WAY FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OR FROM IRVINE OR FROM CYPRESS FOR THIS?

>> THERE AREN'T--I GUESS THE VARIETY, THE EXTENSIVE VARIETY OF FOOD ITEMS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE--I MEAN ONE OF THE UNIQUE FACTORS ABOUT MARUKAI IS THEY HAVE ONCE A MONTH BUS TOURS I MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER FROM FAR NORTH AS SAN JOSE AND SOUTH AS SAN DIEGO, AND THEY TAKE TOUR BUSES AND THEY BRING GROUPS HERE TO SHOP, EAT, AND GO BACK HOME.

>> JUST TO HAVE THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND KIND OF MOVE AROUND THE BUILDING.

>> WELL, LET'S SEE, WE GOT HERE SUSHI BOY DOWN HERE.

NOW, IS THAT A AH, IS THAT A CHAIN OR IS?

>> YES, IT IS, YES IT IS.

THEY I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SIX OR SEVEN THROUGHOUT TOWN.

>> HERE'S A GUY WHOSE LOADING UP ON, WHAT ARE YOU LOADING UP ON TODAY?

>> AH, TODAY IS MY SECOND TIME I'VE HAD SUSHI, SO RIGHT NOW, I'VE GOT SPICY TUNA ROLL.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, THE SECOND TIME YOU'VE HAD SUSHI TODAY, OR THE SECOND TIME YOU'VE HAD SUSHI IN YOUR LIFE?

>> NO, SECOND TIME TODAY.

>> REALLY?

HOHO.

BOY.

I NEED TO BE HANGIN' OUT WITH YOU.

I LIKE SUSHI TOO.

THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO EAT?

>> VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.

>> NOW DO YOU WORK AROUND HERE?

>> YEAH.

WE WORK OVER AT THE RALPHS CENTER, OVER AT RALPHS A FEW MILES AWAY.

>> SO, YOU JUST COME OVER HERE TO EAT AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

>> EAT IT, ENJOY IT, AND THEN GO BACK TO WORK.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> BOY, YOU'VE GOT A, A REAL NICE ARRAY OF STUFF OUT HERE.

HE'S A BIG GUY.

HE'S BEEN BACK TWICE.

>> HE IS A BIG GUY.

I JUST NOTICED THAT.

HE'S BIGGER THAN YOU, HOW--HUELL.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> AND WHAT'S OVER HERE?

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE MIXTURE.

IT'S CALLED KOW-KOW, AND WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF HAWAIIAN BREAKFAST FOOD ITEMS AS WELL AS KOREAN FOOD ITEMS.

>> SO WHERE WOULD BE A HAWAIIAN FOOD ITEM THAT I COULD LOOK AT?

COULD YOU GET A LITTLE FOR US, SO WE CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON A PLATE?

YEAH.

WHAT IS IT CALLED?

>> IT'S A KAHLU SHREDDED PORK.

>> SHREDDED PORK.

>> YES.

>> AND THIS IS A HAWAIIAN DISH.

>> ALSO, WE HAVE HAWAIIAN STYLE NOODLE.

>> OH.

HERE.

HERE WE GO, LUIS.

THIS IS HAWAIIAN STYLE NOODLES.

WELL HERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE.

HOW YOU ALL DOIN'?

>> FINE.

THANK YOU.

>> WHAT ARE YOU ALL EATING HERE TODAY?

>> AH, CHICKEN KATSU.

>> UH-HUH.

NOW, DO YOU COME HERE SPECIFICALLY TO EAT OR TO SHOP, OR TO JUST HANG OUT OR-- ?

>> AH, TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN HERE.

>> REALLY?

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

>> WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE?

>> MY WIFE.

HAHAHA.

>> AND YOU ALL ARE, HOW ARE YOU ALL CONNECTED WITH ALL THIS.

>> HIS MOTHER.

>> OH, I GOT HER WITH HER FOOD IN HER MOUTH.

MA'AM?

>> AND I'M THE AUNT.

>> I'M HIS MOTHER.

>> AND YOU'RE THE AUNT.

AND HAVE YOU BEEN HERE BEFORE?

>> NO.

>> YOU'RE VISITING FROM?

>> MICHIGAN.

>> OH, BOY.

WELCOME TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THIS IS PART OF OUR WONDERFUL HERITAGE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MICHIGAN, DO YOU?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

AH-HAHAHA.

>> AND YOU'RE BRINGIN' THE WHOLE FAMILY HERE TO GIVE 'EM THIS CULTURAL EXPERIENCE?

>> YES.

>> GREAT.

YOUR NAME.

>> SONAI.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL SEATING OUTSIDE.

WE HAVE OUR PATIO AREA.

>> YOU HAVE AN OUTDOOR PATIO AREA, AND THIS PLACE IS PACKED.

>> IT'S A WEEKDAY, AND WEEKENDS DOES--THEY DO GET QUITE BUSY.

I MEAN PARKING IS HARD TO FIND, AND-- >> YOU MEAN IT'S BUSIER THAN THIS ON THE WEEKENDS.

>> YES.

>> WOW.

VERY NICE.

>> HEY HUELL.

MY FRIEND WATCHES YOU ALL THE TIME ON CHANNEL 28.

>> OH, HI.

HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

>> PRETTY GOOD.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW WHAT'S THE STORY HERE ON YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY?

>> IT'S A BUSINESS MEETING, BASICALLY.

I WORK RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND AH-- >> FIGURED WE WANTED JAPANESE FOOD, SO WE JUST DROPPED BY.

HAHAHA.

>> GREAT.

GREAT.

WELL NICE TO MEET YOU ALL.

>> INSTEAD OF MC DONALD'S, WE CHOSE TO EAT HERE.

HAHAHA.

>> OKAY.

HERE WE ARE, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE STORE?

>> MARUKAI FORUM.

>> OH, OKAY, SO IT'S ALL PART OF THE SAME NAME.

>> RIGHT.

>> I GOT YA.

HELLO THERE.

HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

>> FINE, THANKS.

>> WELL, WHAT DID YOU BUY TODAY?

WHAT DIDN'T YOU BUY TODAY?

>> YEAH.

IT'S JAPANESE FOOD.

MISO AND TOFU AND-- HAHAHA.

>> AHH, YOU LIKE TOFU.

>> OF COURSE, I LIKE TOFU.

>> REALLY.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BLAND MYSELF.

>> HAHAHAHA.

>> YOU COOK IT UP WITH OTHER THINGS?

>> YEAH.

>> GREAT.

SO YOU COME HERE ALL THE TIME.

>> YEAH.

AH TWICE A WEEK.

>> AND YOUR LITTLE BOY'S NAME?

>> BRENDALL.

>> HELLO THERE.

HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

>> HI.

FINE.

>> THIS GUY IS BUYIN-- OH LOOK.

>> OLD DEAD FISH.

>> OLD DEAD FISH.

WHAT ARE THESE.

>> HELL, I DON'T KNOW.

THE WIFE COMES AND BUYS 'EM.

I DON'T-I DON'T EAT 'EM.

>> YOU JUST PAY FOR 'EM.

>> THAT-WELL, THAT'S ABOUT IT.

THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> LOOK AT THIS LUIS.

>> MACKEREL.

IT'S A MACKEREL.

>> I GOT YOU.

>> AND, IT'S BROILED AND IT'S QUITE DELICIOUS.

>> OH.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW LET'S GO THROUGH.

I GUESS WE NEED TO PROBABLY GET IN THE STORE, DON'T WE?

HOW DO WE GET IN?

HERE WE GO?

NOW, LEE WHERE WOULD WE, WHERE WOULD WE START OFF?

>> I THINK THIS WAY, AND WE'LL JUST HUG AROUND THE EDGE OF THE CORNERS OF THE BUILDING.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER FOOD ITEMS THAT THEY PREPPED INSIDE.

THERE'S A KITCHEN.

>> HOWDY.

>> HOWDY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> AND IT'S QUITE POPULAR.

PEOPLE COME IN AND, QUICK LUNCH TO GO THAT'S PREPARED ON-SITE.

>> I GOT YA.

SO DOES THE STORE GENERALLY SPECIALIZE IN FOOD THAT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY APPEALING TO JAPANESE AMERICANS.

I MEAN IT'S, IT'S THAT TYPE OF FOOD?

>> YES IT IS.

>> FOOD THEY COULDN'T GET AT--WHAT'D YOU SAY, RALPHS AND LUCKY'S.

>> RIGHT.

SORRY RALPHS.

SORRY LUCKY'S.

HAHAHA.

WELL, WE'VE GOT A WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD ITEMS.

I GOT THEM PREPARED FRESH AH, YOU KNOW, EVERY MORNING.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND GOT SALMON, YOU'VE GOT MACKEREL HERE.

>> UM-HMM.

>> AH, VEGETABLE CROQUETTE.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY A STAPLE AS FAR AS HAWAIIAN AND JAPANESE, SPAM MUSHUBI.

>> SPAM MUSHUBI.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S GOT SPAM IN IT?

>> SPAM INSIDE, RICE, AND JUST WRAPPED IN NORI OR SEAWEED ON THE OUTSIDE.

>> WOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SELL ME ON SPAM AND SEAWEED.

>> HAHAHAHA.

IT'S AN ACQUIRED TASTE, I THINK.

>> I THINK SO.

WE MAY, WE MAY COME BACK AND TRY THAT ONE NEXT WEEK.

>> NOW, WHAT ELSE--BOY, LOOK AT THIS DISPLAY CASE.

BOY, THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

LOOK AT THE--AND THIS IS ALL PREPARED FRESH EVERYDAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO, YOU'VE GOT MARINATED-- >> KYBEAN.

THAT'S KOREAN.

THAT'S A TRADITIONAL KOREAN DISH, AH BARBECUE DISH.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND AGAIN, AS WE SAID EARLIER, APPEALING NOT TO JUST JAPANESE, BUT A WIDE ASIAN CULTURE, AND IT APPEALS TO THEM.

>> AND WHAT IS--I'VE NEVER SEEN--THAT'S >> SAME.

SAME AS THAT.

JUST PRETTY WRAPPED PACKAGE, READY TO GO.

>> WOW, IT'S A STRANGE COLOR, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S FOOD COLORING, BUT THEY'VE DICED--YOU SLICE IT AND YOU CAN ADD THAT TO NOODLE DISHES WHICH YOU SAW EARLIER AT KOW-KOW.

LIKE A SALMON.

THEY'LL CUT SLICES OF THE PORK, AND IT'S A VERY FLAVORFUL TYPE OF, IT'S LIKE HAM, ACTUALLY.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

I JUST NOTICED THIS.

BOILED PEANUTS.

>> HAHAHA.

THAT'S A FAVORITE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING BEER, COLD BEER.

AND AS OPPOSED TO BEER NUTS, YOU'RE HAVING THESE COLD NUTS.

BOILED NUTS.

>> IS THAT A JAPANESE-AMERICAN THING TOO?

>> AH, YES.

AND KOREANS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> IT'S-IT'S A FAVORITE SIDE DISH WHEN YOU'RE DRINKING BEER.

>> WOW THIS IS, AND I'M JUST NOTICING, LOOKA HERE LUIS, THE-THE WAY THE WOOD IS FIXED HERE.

THIS IS ALL PART OF THE-- >> THE THEME.

>> IT LOOKS VERY TRADITIONAL.

VERY OLD WORLD HERE.

>> YES.

AH, MY FATHER-IN-LAW WHO'S JAPANESE SHOPS LITTLE TOKYO AND ALSO IN JAPAN, AND HE HAS COMMENTED HOW THE LAYOUT OF MARUKAI FORUM SURPASSES ANYTHING THAT HE'S SEEN IN LITTLE TOKYO OR EVEN IN JAPAN.

>> YEAH.

>> NOW, HUELL, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JOHNNY, HE'S THE FISH MANAGER HERE IN MARUKAI.

>> THE FISH MANAGER.

>> THE FISH MANAGER FISH MAN.

>> HOWDY, YOU'RE THE FISH MAN.

>> HAI.

YES.

YES.

>> WELL, SHOW US SOME FISH.

GET US EXCITED ABOUT THE FISH YOU GOT HERE.

>> OKAY.

UM, WELL, SEAWEED, LIKE, YOU KNOW, JAPANESE MARKET, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY HAS, YOU KNOW, EATING LOT OF, YOU KNOW, FRESH FISH WHICH IS SASHEMI--I'M TALKING ABOUT RAW FISH.

SO, WE HAVE LOTTA VARIETIES OF, YOU KNOW, SUSHI BAR--THIS IS, YOU KNOW-- >> OH, LOOK AT THIS SHRIMP.

>> SEE THAT'S AMAI EBI GET AT SUSHI BAR.

THEY MAKE SUSHI OUT OF TAIL, THEN HEAD THEY FRY FOR YOU.

>> DIRECT FROM JAPAN BY AIR.

>> YES.

UH-HUH.

UH-UH.

>> OCTOPUS?

>> YES.

>> THE-AH, LOOK AT THE LABEL THERE, LUIS, IT SAYS OCTOPUS BY AIR.

>> UM-HMMM.

>> HAHAHA.

>> OCTOPUS BY AIR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> OH, YEAH.

AND WHAT IS THIS?

OOK?

>> IT'S A FORM OF A KELP.

SEAWEED.

>> YES.

SEAWEED.

IS COME FROM HAWAII, AND YOU KNOW IN THE HAWAII THERE IS MANY DIFFERENT KIND, BUT YOU ONLY CAN GET ONE KIND HERE NOW.

>> THIS IS CALLED OGO.

>> OGO.

YES.

OR SEAWEED FROM HAWAII.

>> SO, YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF FISH HERE.

>> YES.

UH-HUH.

AND ALSO LIKE UNAGI, AND THESE ARE KALACO AND MINTAI WHICH IS PREPARED OR YOU KNOW CARD ROLLS.

>> SQUID LEGS.

>> YES.

READY TO EAT.

>> IT'S ROASTED, YOU KNOW.

THEY ARE GOOD FOR BEER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> OH, EVERYTHING'S GOOD WITH BEER.

WE JUST SAW THE BOILED NUTS DOWN THERE.

THAT'S GOOD WITH BEER TOO.

>> THAT'S GOOD FOR US, HUELL.

WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR BEERS WITH SOME SKUTTLEFISH.

>> I KNOW WHERE I'M GONNA COME WHEN I'M STOCKING UP FOR MY NEXT BEER BUST.

HAHAHA.

HERE.

YOU GOT EVERYTHING HERE.

>> ALSO, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT ON WEEKENDS, WHAT JOHNNY DOES IS AS IN-SEASON AND AVAILABILITY, HE'LL TAKE TUNA, AND UM, 80-100 POUND TUNA RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE CUSTOMERS, AND HE'LL CUT IT TO ORDER, AND THEY'LL BROIL IT RIGHT THERE AND COOK IT TO ORDER.

SO IT DRAWS IN THE PEOPLE RIGHT THERE TO SELL TUNA.

>> SO COMIN' HERE IS REALLY MORE OF AN EXPERIENCE THAN JUST SHOPPING.

I MEAN, IT'S A WHOLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

>> THERE'S OVER 40,000--THE MOST CURRENT NUMBER IS 40,000 MEMBERS OF MARUKAI.

THEY PAY $10 A YEAR MEMBERSHIP FEE.

THIS HAS A MEMBER MEMBERSHIP MARKET, AND THEY PAY $10 AND WHAT THEY DO IS YOU GET A DISCOUNT FROM YOUR REGULAR PRICE.

>> BUT ANYBODY CAN COME IN ANY TIME.

>> ANYONE CAN SHOP.

>> ANY TIME.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR SHOWING US THE FISH.

YEAH, I WANT TO COME BACK AND WATCH YOU CUT UP THAT TUNA SOMETIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, YES, I WILL.

>> TASTE OF HAWAII RIGHT HERE.

>> AND A LOT OF THE JELLIES, MANGOES, QUITE POPULAR WITH THE HAWAIIAN CROWD.

>> BOY THIS IS SET UP SO NICELY WITH THE LANTERNS AND THE MUSIC PLAYING, AND IT REALLY, IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A GROCERY STORE.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT REALLY IS A SOCIAL GATHERING PLACE, YOU KNOW, AWAY FROM THE FOOD COURT.

THE PEOPLE MEET HERE AND THEY SHOP.

IT'S-- >> NOW, WHAT ELSE IS IN THE, IN THE CENTER HERE.

>> WE HAVE THE TRAVEL AGENCY, WE HAVE A JEWELER, WE HAVE AN OPTOMETRIST.

>> THIS IS LIKE A DRUGSTORE IN HERE.

>> AND THIS IS A DRUG AH, DRUG SECTION.

MEDICINE.

>> OH, WOW.

>> WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE WINE SELECTION IN THE BACK AS WELL.

ELECTRONICS FURTHER BACK.

>> UH-HUH.

SO, IT'S LIKE A WHOLE BIG SHOPPING CENTER UNDER ONE ROOF WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

>> YES.

YES.

>> UH-OH.

I SEE THEM.

WE CAN PUT THOSE BOILED NUTS TO GOOD USE NOW.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> 'CAUSE YOU CAN, YOU CAN EAT 'EM WITH MORE THAN JUST BEER, CAN'T YOU?

WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

>> THIS, I GET DIFFERENT GRADES, AND I COULDN'T TELL YOU, I'M NOT QUALIFIED AS FAR AS HOW, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT QUALITY OF SAKE, BUT THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT GRADES AND DIFFERENT QUALITIES.

>> IT'S ALL SAKE, AND LOOK AT THE BIG SAKE.

CAN YOU BUY THOSE BIG BARRELS?

THOSE BIG KEGS OF SAKE?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

IT DOES SAY EMPTY, SO SOMEONE MUST HAVE GOT INTO IT.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

WELL IF YOU NEED TO STORE UP ON SAKE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO-- OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

AND, OH!

LOOK AT THIS.

BEAUTIFUL PLATES.

PORCELAIN PLATES.

>> RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF THIS IS SERVED, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PLATES, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED AH, THE KIND OF DESIGN AND SIZE TO PRESENT IT PROPERLY.

>> AND, WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF-- HOWDY.

HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?

YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDA NICK-NACKS I WANT TO SAY, BUT IT'S VERY NICE STUFF HERE THAT YOU COULD, WITH TEA AND WITH, WITH SAKE AND WITH ALL THE, ALL THE WAYS TO SERVE THINGS.

>> WHEN YOU ASKED EARLIER, WHY PEOPLE DO COME, IT IS SO MANY THINGS AVAILABLE UNDER ONE ROOF.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO FIVE DIFFERENT PLACES TO BUY PORCELAIN POTTERY ITEMS AND BUY SASHIMI AND BUY SAKE.

UNDER ONE ROOF.

>> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

ALL OF THIS VERY ASIAN.

VERY.

IT REALLY HAS THE FEEL TO IT.

>> UM-HMMM.

>> AND DOWN HERE, OH WOW, THIS JUST GOES ON AND ON.

GOOD MORNING.

>> WELL, GOOD MORNING.

>> HOW'RE YOU DOIN'?

>> OH FINE.

>> NOW WHERE HAVE YOU ALL COME HERE FROM TO DO YOUR SHOPPING.

>> WELL, WE COME CLEAR DOWN FROM WEST COVINA.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> NOW, WHY DO YOU COME HERE ALL THE WAY FROM WEST COVINA?

>> YOU CAN SEE MY FACE.

I'M JAPANESE.

HAHAHA.

>> WELL, BUT I MEAN, THERE ARE OTHER STORES WHERE JAPANESE-AMERICANS CAN BUY THINGS, AREN'T THERE?

>> OH, WEST COVINA HAS A LOTS OF CHINESE.

YOU KNOW THE HACIENDA HEIGHTS AND ALL THAT, BUT NOT TOO MANY JAPANESE STORE.

>> SO YOU'RE HERE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE?

>> YES.

>> NOW, WHAT ABOUT--COME OVER HERE WITH ME FOR JUST A MINUTE.

WE WERE JUST OVER HERE A MINUTE AGO.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THIS SAKE HERE.

>> I-I-I I'M NOT A DRINKER, SO.

>> THIS IS ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF SAKE.

>> WE COOK WITH IT SOMETIMES.

>> YOU COOK WITH IT?

>> YEAH.

>> WE COOK FOR THAT.

>> WELL, SHOW ME A GOOD DRINKING SAKE IF I WANTED TO TAKE A SOUVENIR HOME.

>> OH, YOU DO?

HAHAHA.

PROBABLY.

PROBABLY HERE.

YOU KNOW THIS IS AH, LOT OF PEOPLE NOW THEY'RE DRINKING.

>> BOY, THAT'S A LOT OF SAKE.

>> YES.

IF YOU FINISH IT, YOU GOT DRUNK.

>> WELL, I'D BETTER PUT IT BACK.

I'M NOT MUCH OF A DRINKING MAN EITHER.

I'LL JUST COOK WITH MINE TOO.

HAHAHA.

BOY THIS IS SO, THIS IS SO NICE, AND THE PEOPLE HERE ARE SO NICE.

>> THEY ARE FRIENDLY AREN'T THEY?

>> LET'S JUST STAND HERE FOR A MINUTE AND LOOK AT THIS, BECAUSE I GET THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES.

I WOULD NEVER COME DOWN HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HERE.

>> PEOPLE SAY THEY KNOW WHERE WE ARE WHEN WE EXPLAIN TO THEM, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE, OR WHAT THE BUILDING IS.

SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S A, A TEMPLE, A, YOU KNOW, A LUMBER, LUMBER YARD-- >> BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL LUMBER ON THE OUTSIDE.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND IT IS OBVIOUSLY A ALL-PURPOSE, UNIQUE ASIAN FOOD MARKET.

>> YEAH.

WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY GOT THE LOOK.

IT HAS CERTAINLY GOT THE FEEL.

IT HAS CERTAINLY GOT SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE WORKING HERE AND SHOPPING HERE THAT YOU COULD EVER WANT TO FIND.

>> YEAH, I AGREE.

THIS USED TO BE THE OLD "HOME DEPOT" LONG AGO, TOO.

>> REALLY!

>> UM-HMMM.

AND THEY BOUGHT THAT.

YEAH.

>> THEY HAVE THREE BROTHERS THAT OWN THREE DIFFERENT MARUKAIS.

ONE IN GARDENA.

THE NEXT IS IN HONOLULU, HAWAII, AND THE LAST IS IN OSAKA JAPAN.

>> REALLY!

>> SO, THREE BROTHERS RUN THREE--ONE IS LIKE MORE OF A WHOLESALE DIVISION, AND THEY DO PRIVATE LABELING UNDER THE MARUKAI BRAND, SO YOU HAVE THIS BUYING POWER WHICH REFLECTS IN THE PRICING.

>> DO THEY ALL LOOK AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS?

HAVE YOU SEEN PICTURES OF THE OTHERS?

>> I HAVEN'T, BUT I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT IN HAWAII IT'S VERY NICE, BUT THIS I THINK IS A SHOWCASE.

>> SO, THEY DO IT RIGHT.

>> YES.

>> OKAY, BEFORE WE SAY GOOD-BYE, I'M IN THE--I'M IN THE MOOD FOR A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO TO GET SUCH A THING?

>> I HAVE JUST THE PLACE.

I'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT OVER THERE.

>> WHAT'S THE NAME OF IT?

>> JAVA DOG.

HAHAHAHA.

>> NOW, THIS, THIS IS A SMALL WORLD, ISN'T IT?

'CAUSE I JUST CAME OVER AND INTRODUCED MYSELF TO YOU A MINUTE AGO, AND WHAT DID YOU SAY?

>> I SAID THAT I SAW YOU AT THE HIROSHIMA CONCERT.

>> AT THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM.

>> YEAH, AT THE PREVIEW OF THE NEW WING THEY OPENED.

>> WHICH IS WHEN I MET-- >> THE JAVA DOG OWNER.

HAHAHAHA.

>> SO WE WERE ALL AT THE SAME PLACE.

>> YES, WE WERE.

>> DO YOU KNOW THEM?

>> AH, I HAVE COFFEE FREQUENTLY HERE, YES.

>> BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEM, PER SE.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME, BUT I KNOW HIS FACE.

>> WOW.

>> SO, WE'RE ALL BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

>> YEP.

BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

>> BOY, LOOK AT THIS MEAL.

EXPLAIN WHAT WE GOT HERE.

>> OH, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE MISO SOUP.

>> NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS WHAT?

>> MISO SOUP.

>> MISO SOUP.

IS THAT LIKE EGG SOUP?

>> NO, IT'S MADE FROM SOYBEAN.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> THIS IS-- >> SALMON.

>> SALMON, RICE.

>> AND THEN THERE'S BEAN SPROUTS AND SPINACH.

>> BEAN SPROUTS AND SPINACH, AND YOU GOT, BOY THAT'S-- >> SALMON EGGS AND SHRIMP AND SOME SASHEMI OR RAW FISH.

>> WOW.

SO, YOU ALL ARE GONNA HAVE A NICE BIG MEAL.

NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU AGAIN.

>> AH, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT I'M OPTING OUT FOR THE JELLO CHEESECAKE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> WHICH IS THE SPECIALTY OF JAVA DOG, AND A NICE CUP OF JAVA HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE GONNA GET INTO, BECAUSE YOU ALL LITERALLY JUST INVITED US TO COME DOWN AND SEE WHERE YOU WORK.

>> WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT AND SEEING US, YOU KNOW.

AND HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW IN THE SOUTH BAY CAN TRULY, YOU KNOW, COME BY, VISIT US, AND PERHAPS THEY'LL BECOME MEMBERS.

>> WELL NOW, WE SHOULD PUT A DISCLAIMER ON THIS AND SAY THAT THEY SHOULD TRY TO COME DURING THE WEEK, BECAUSE YOU SAID DURING THE WEEKENDS IT'S SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IN HERE.

>> WEEKENDS, BASICALLY EVERY WEEKEND, IT'S HARD TO FIND PARKING TO THAT EXTENT.

SO WEEKDAYS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO GET IN, CHECK THE PLACE OUT, AND YOU KNOW, MAKE A REGULAR STOP.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, HUELL.

>> THIS HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN.

>> THANK YOU, AND WE'D LIKE YOU TO TRY OUT JELLO CHEESECAKE AND CREAM PUFF, HOMEMADE.

>> I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT, BUT WE'LL STAND RIGHT HERE AND SAY GOOD-BYE.

COME ON OVER, AND WAIT, LET ME GET THE CHEESECAKE.

THANK YOU A LOT.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY HERE AT THE-- >> JAVA DOG AND MARUKAI FORUM.

MARUKAI FORUM.

>> MARUKAI FORUM IN GARDENA.

WE'LL PUT THE ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, AND COME ON DOWN AND ENJOY IT.

IT IS A REAL SLICE OF L.A.

I'VE LIVED HERE 20 YEARS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE, AND THIS IS A REAL JOY.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

HAVE SOME OF THE JELLO CHEESECAKE.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH,CA.

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.