Los Angeles Shopping Tips by GracesTrips Top 5 Page for this destination

Downtown LA: Japanese Groceries Shopping in Downtown Review

Japanese food is easily found these days. When I was a little girl, we make a once a week trip to downtown LA to Little Tokyo to do our grocery shopping. These days there are a lot more Japanese markets in Southern California.

Marukai and Nijiya Markets are the more prevalent markets in SoCal. The photos here are from the Nijiya Market in Little Tokyo.

Address: 124 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA

Phone: 213.680.3280

Theme: Food and Drink

No particular store: Suggested Souvenirs

What to buy: Suggestions for souveniers:

Food - Coffee from Whole Foods, roasted nuts from Trader Joes, unpopped popcorn, dried fruits such as apricot, apple slices, pineapples, jams such as roasted garlic onion jam, jalapenio jam or lime marmalade (from the Farmers market at the Grove), tea and honey

For the ladies - bracelets, large flower rings with elastic band (at Macy's), flip flops, socks, hand crafted bar soaps (Lush)

For the guys - shirt, wallet, hat

For the kids - shirt, hat, pajamas, stuffed animals

Theme: Other

It's Sugar: Craving something sweet?

Anything candy can be had in this store including but not limited to every kind and size of gummy bears, M&M's, powdered candy, candy apples and candy inspired clothing/accessories. It's not cheap but the novelty of it might be worth it. Located at Universal City Walk.

What to buy: Candy

What to pay: A Lot.

Address: 1000 Universal Center Dr. #120, Universal City, CA

Phone: 818.506.5184

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.itsugar.com/stores.html

The Grove: Absolutely the Best Shopping Center in LA! The Grove Review

If you could only go to one shopping center in Los Angeles, it should be this one! A combination of modern retail mall experience along with the old original Farmers Market, this place has so much for you to see and do! I love the Farmers Market because you can grab a bite to eat and shop for groceries. You can find sundried tomatoes, vennison sausage, loose tea, caviar, pate, raspberry vinegar, purple potatoes, etc. There's a movie theater, bookstores, coffee shop, Cost Plus World Market (my favorite), Sur La Table (kitchen/cooking wares), Nordstroms, fantastic restaurants, unique clothing stores and so much more!

I can't say enough about this place. You can spend a lot of time here and not get bored!

Address: 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Directions: Third Street and Fairfax Avenue

Phone: 323.900.8080

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.thegrovela.com/

Downtown LA: Little Tokyo Shopping in Downtown Review

You can find all things Japanese in Little Tokyo. Chopsticks, origami paper, bento boxes, kimonos, fans, etc. Fun!

Theme: Gifts

Website: http://www.visitlittletokyo.com/01shopping.html

Premium Outlet Malls: Four in SoCal Outlet Malls Review

I notice a lot of tourists want to shop at outlet malls when they come to Los Angeles. There is only one in town and the others are on the outskirts of Los Angeles. I think you will find the better deals at the various ones outside of LA.

In Los Angeles, the Citadel Outlets is located off the 5 Fwy at Atlantic Blvd. North. Some of the stores you will find are BCBG, Billabong, Calvin Klein, Guess, Kenneth Cole, Levi, Nine West and Tommy Hilfiger. NO Coach, Ralph Lauren or Nordstrom Rack. Website: http://www.citadeloutlets.com/index.cfm

The second closest outlet mall is in Ontario, CA. It's about 30-45 minutes east of Los Angeles and it's so-so. The Ontario Mills shopping center is located just north of the 10 Freeway, exit at Milliken and just west of the 15 Freeway. Website: http://www.ontariomills.com/static/node689.jsp

The better outlet malls are even further out. Going toward Palm Springs is the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon. Located off the 10 Freeway exit at Fields Road and it's about 2 hours east of Los Angeles. Website: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=6

In the other direction is the Camarillo Premium Outlets in Camarillo. Located off the 101 Freeway going towards Santa Barbara. It's about 1 hour north of Los Angeles. Exit at Carmen Drive or Las Posas Road. Website: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=20

Tip - find an information booth and ask for any promotions they might be having or coupon booklet. If you have a Discovercard, you should mention this to them and they usually have discounts for Discovercard holders.

Theme: Other

L.A. Mart: Home Furnishings

The L.A. Mart is not normally open to the public. It's a place where furniture and home furnishings manufacturers will display the products they have for sale. Buyers from retail stores will come here to see what is availble to stock their stores.

Twice a year, the L.A. Mart will have a floor samples sale open to the public. Exactly, what it means - the floor samples are for sale. My boyfriend was in the market for a rug for his TV room. We found a beautiful wool rug that we both liked. The retail price on the tag was $1600 but he was able to buy it for $600. If this was truly the price, this was a great deal. But, I'm usually a skeptic when it comes to marketing techniques by some people. But, $600 seem like a more than reasonable price for the New Zealand wool rug which felt really good on the feet.

Also, it appears every first Tuesday in the month, it is open to the public.

Address: 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

Directions: East if the 110 FWY.

Other Contact: 213.763.5825

Phone: 800.LAM.ART4

Theme: Home Furnishing

Website: http://www.lamart.com/gift/

Hot Topic: Goth at Universal City Walk Hot Topic Review

The kids are into this scene called Goth. They wear nothing but black articles of clothing, have white, white faces with black, black eye treatments and black lipstick, black nail polish, wear skinny ankled jeans, Van tennis shoes, safety pins and silver chains are accessories, body piercings, tattoos, bluntly cut black dyed hair tossled in no particular shape. Well, that's an extreme description but you get the idea and they shop at this store, Hot Topic. A California based store has expanded and appealed to many young adults and teens. My daughter and nieces love this store though they don't live this lifestyle, they just like to look like this once in a while. Ugh! I find it absolutely horrible but I'm not their age or have their fashion sense.

Address: 1000 Universal Center Drive, Universal City, CA

Directions: At Universal City Walk

Phone: 818.762.5633

Theme: Women's Clothes

Website: http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/index.jsp

Los Angeles Sock Market: At Universal City Walk - Socks!

Boasts the world's greatest sock store. My daughter loves this store because of their large assortment of stockings/tights. I'm not big on socks. I like to wear strappy sandals but during the cold season - rainy weather which we don't get too often, I'll wear some boots. You need socks for boots.

Phone: 818.509.1340

Theme: Women's Clothes

Jewelry Mart: In Chinatown Jewelry District Review

There is a very small section in Chinatown with several jewerly stores. They have a lot of jewelry. I'm not sure of quality and price but make sure never to pay what they ask for. They can be bargained down.

Address: On the east side of Broadway

Theme: Jewelry