Market City Shopping Center

The parking here is atrocious, and the only good place in the lot is café kaila. 5 stars for that place! Call for takeout cause the line is huge! Toritos is okay good but horrible service, foodland is a really weird store, but if you’re a regular I bet you can find your stuff there. I have a super hard time finding my things at foodland though.

This shopping center is easily accessible off Kapiolani Blvd, Harding Ave and Kaimuki Ave. It has restaurants, a grocery store, a pharmacy, banks, wireless providers, craft store, coffee spot, wine shop and storage all in one place. I find this place very conveniently located with a bit of everything you would need in a small shopping center. Keep in mind that this is across the street from Kaimuki High School and it’s swarming with teens after school.
With all this shopping center has to offer, it gets very busy and crowded. It’s not that they lack parking stalls because you can park on the upper or lower level, it’s just that some of the stalls are small and very tight. Even with all the parking stalls they have, all of them fill up during busy times. Many people complain about the parking situation because when it does get busy, you are forced to park in small and tight stalls. You ask why would someone want to park in a small and tight parking stall? It’s because there is no parking after circling around many times! Imagine looking for parking at a mall during the holidays and you know the parking situation here.
If you are able to find parking while avoiding shopping carts, mopeds, motorcycles, bicyclists, pedestrians and crazy drivers then you are in luck. So much facilities to enjoy at Market City but be warned, the car ding fairy might leave you with a surprise before you leave.

What I like about this shopping center:
— It’s close to home.
— There are several places I enjoy eating at (Toritos, Win Sputino and I just tried Nabe Maido… still need to make it to Café Kaila).
— Ben Franklin
— Foodland
— Walgreens (I shop at Longs more but it’s nice to know that this is so close)
What I dislike:
— This little mall gets really busy and parking can be hard to find! I’ve experienced «traffic» trying to find parking or get out of the shopping center.

I like this place because some of my favorite restaurants are here! One of my all time favorite cheap eats, Gina’s BBQ has been here for decades! They’re always very consistent with their food quality and quantity for a low and reasonable price. I also really like Café Kaila. I have yet to try a dish there that I am not happy with.
Another thing that I like is how you can get your grocery shopping done when you’re here. There’s a Foodland Supermarket here too.
One thing that I do not like is the parking. Sometimes it is hard to find, especially in the evenings and weekends. Still, I keep coming back because I love the restaurants here so much.
Other places to eat here include Anytime Café, Duck Lee, Formaggio, L & L Hawaiian Barbeque, Nabeya Maido, Phở Kitchen, Sumo Ramen & Curry, Thai Issan Cuisine, Torito’s Mexican Restaurant, and Win-​Spuntino.

Market City Shopping Center is home to a few of my favorite places like Gina’s BBQ, Foodland, & Café Kaila. There are actually two entrances from Kapiolani Blvd and from Kaimiki Avenue, a back street across Kaimuki high school.
In spite of being home to a few of my favorite places, they are plagued by a poor parking lot which has seen better days. There is a huge banyan tree growing out of the middle of the parking lot causing cracks and when it rains heavily it can be full of puddles.
I drive what I think to be an average size car, a Toyota Camry, but the stalls seem narrow to me. Also, the parking close to Foodland has got to be one of the most poorly designed areas. It causes a huge backlog during busy times so of course I recommend grabbing the first available stall and just walk a couple of minutes. I like Foodland but I avoid going to this location because of their poor parking.

I find myself at Market City Shopping Center on the regular. The mix of stores and restaurants is perfectly balanced and it is convenient with a capital C.
My spots include:
Ben Franklin (about the only craft store in town-​sorry friends, Walmart doesn’t count)
Café Kaila (delicious breakfast!)
Foodland (open 24 hours-​what more could you ask for?)
Formaggio (amazing service, wine and food-​one of my favorite bars)
Gina’s (possibly the best korean food)
Duck Lee (their pork hash is amazing)
Up next on my places to try are: Thai Issan, Nabeya Maido and Anytime Café.
Yes the parking can be tough but is there a place in town worth going to that has good parking? Nope. Think about it. Ala Moana is a nightmare, Walmart/Sam’s and Costco are just as bad. The good thing about Market City is that there is a constant in and out flow of customers so with a little patience and a touch of understanding you’ll get a spot.

Parking is always a problem when I come here, people don’t know how to drive in this parking lot, other then that I like most of the stores and restaurants.

The circus of a parking lot always discourages me to come here. The only reason we do frequent this place is to go to Gina’s Korean BBQ or Foodland.
It doesn’t matter what day of the week, or what time of day you go. Just be prepared to circle the tiny lot at least 3 times before you find an open parking spot. The parking stalls are very small, so if you have a slightly larger car like we do… you’ll either have to let your passengers out before parking, or if they are Chinese contortionists you should be good to go.

This place is another destination center. Meaning you go because you want to visit a store or restaurant.
Some of my favorites:
Foodland
Duck Lee
Fun Factory
Ben Franklin
It helps that sekiyas is next door hehe.
The parking sucks but if you’re lucky or drive around a couple times a stall opens up. The stalls can be small but if you need to go somewhere it’s worth it.

The parking here can be an atrocity.
It’s VERY cramped… most of the time.
Watch your doors!

Parking is a nightmare and spots are tight. Restaurants there are good. Taco Bell open late.

Overall they have a good variety of restaurants but the parking stalls are small as well as the lot. During peak hours traffic in the lot area is common. The food keeps me coming back.

Rating: ³⁄₅
Date visited: 11/​23/​2012, and many many other times.
Great little shopping center. The only thing I would like to comment about is the parking. Too close together. The parking area on the Foodland side is a complete «Cluster F***» when it’s busy.

This place is near the towards the end of Moili’ili and at the start of Kaimuki and Kapahulu. It’s nothing special, but I do come here every so often for things. A bummer to this place is the parking situation. Sometime I have to go around and around in circles to try and find parking!
Let’s start with places to eat… they have Gina’s BBQ (legit Korean Takeout), Café Kalia (good breakfast/​brunch place), Anytime Café (good for late night or if Café Kalia is too busy), Duck Lee (has good char sui and noodles), Sumo Ramen and Curry (like Ezogiku, or most other Ramen Curry Places), there is a Mexican place, but I forgot the name… I do remember liking the salsa there, but that was about it. There are a few other places, but I’m not qualified to review them.
There is also a Foodland there that has a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf attached to it. As far as Foodland goes, I judge them on their poke, and they are the top locations for poke.
Another reason why I go there is for Ben Franklin’s Crafts. It seems smaller than the mapunapuna location, but sometimes this place is more convenient.
Overall, I feel like the parking could be better here, but what can you do. I still come here to eat and grocery shop.
31 UnilocalS REVIEW CHALLENGE #6/​31

Market City has some huge issues with their customer security with the lack of bright lit lights in the area.
There has been a rash of break ins at night inside their lots and its no surprise why it is such an easy target. I personally know of two people who got broken into while parked there. The whole lot is dimly lit. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that criminals like to break into cars love densely parked and poorly lit parking lots. It doesn’t take more than 5 seconds for someone to break your window in one piece and take your belongings.
Calls of complaints to their front office never gets answered. It just keep ringing. I understand the disclaimer that you shouldn’t leave belongings and they’re not responsible but at least quit the penny pinching and add better lighting.
Ever figure why the property has quite a bit of vacant stores?
31 Unilocal Review Challenge
³⁄₃₁ October 3 2012
«Park Safely»

The Market City Shopping Center is not really one of my favorite shopping centers to go to, but it pretty much feels like a strip mall in between Kaimuki, Kapuhulu, and the University area, which is probably the idea for commuters to buy stuff if they are in the area. The parking situation is horrible at best, when there is very limited supply of spaces and, you would have to just go nuts just to try to find a space when you are short on time. It sucks to be able to do this, and I did just that when I wanted to eat at Phở Kitchen and kill time at Fun Factory afterwards.
Market City Shopping Center is anchored by the ever popular Foodland supermarket and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Gina’s Korean BBQ is always a staple there, along with the other restaurants in the complex. I probably didn’t go to the lower level fronting Kaimuki High School, since I don’t feel the need to go there, but there is more parking there. I guess people don’t park there and have to walk up the ramp to go do their business. It’s quite a walk for some. Some of the newer restaurants I should check out since I hear it’s pretty good. Among them are Café Kalia and Anytime Café.
The Fun Factory here seems like it has been here like forever, so that’s not really surprising. There is also a couple of establishments inside the small kiosk between Anytime Café and the Fun Factory. I wonder how do they get business there when they are so hidden. I would admit that I come here once in a while, just because of Foodland, Fun Factory, and Phở Kitchen, but I wouldn’t make plans just to come here, especially when the parking situation is crap. The newer restaurants include Sumo Ramen, Thai House, and Formaggio. This shopping center can satisfy anyone’s appitite for good good and good times.
I have seem near misses when it comes to pedestrians and cars. Overall, I feel this shopping center does serve its needs to the community, especially when its packed on most nights. That’s a tell tale sign that it’s good for business when that happens. This shopping center is well served and hope to be back sometime to try those new restaurants I have mentioned earlier. There is really nothing fancy about this shopping center. Just local wares for local folks.
Sometimes you just need this kind of thing.
Shop local!
C

The Market City Shopping Center parking lot has got to be the epitome of «congestion.»
A person with severe rhinitis doesn’t even get this congested.
BUT, at least there’s parking.
Driving around in circles is definitely worth the bunch of wonderful restaurants and shops. The variety is guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters and shoppers. Café Kaila, Gina’s, Foodland, and Coffee Bean are among my most frequent stops.
There’s also a Ben Franklin for you crafty people.
Unilocal 365 — #092/​365

Although I don’t come to this place as often as I like to, I like the stores they have in here. Especially Formaggio and Ben Franklin!
Unilocal 365 Challenge #83/​365

recently Market City Shopping center had a small event to thank their customers for being loyal, and to attract more attention to the shopping center itself.
honestly — i had no idea they were doing this little event. my friend told me, and she said she heard it on the radio.
ANYWAY — they gave free popcorn, did free crafts demonstrations including making your own Hello Kitty greeting card (courtesy of Ben Franklin), making your own Gyotaku, or fish print (courtesy of Dr. Takaki D.D.S.), making your own paper weight… etc… everyone was super nice!
the shopping center itself has some choice places like Anytime Café, Café Kaila, Gina’s BBQ, Ben Franklin Crafts and the always busy Foodland.
check um out if you’re in the area. but beware — parking is crappy. park in the lower lot where Ben Franklin is!!!

This shopping center is in an odd location. It’s on Kapiolani right at the corner before it turns into Harding Ave.
The parking stalls are a bit crammed and this place is always jam packed with cars.
The only reason I was nice and gave it 3 stars was the fact that they have some really good eateries for such a small shopping center. They have Café Kaila, Gina’s, Anytime Café, etc
^_​^*~