Japanese grocery stores in California

General notes on California: Due to the large Asian-American population and sizeable expat communities, Japanese grocery stores are quite plentiful, especially in the Los Angeles area, but throughout the state generally, and there are even more Asian groceries.

Is your favorite store missing? Let us know about it in the comments! Once the information in a comment has been incorporated into the main article, the comment is deleted to avoid very very long page syndrome.

Statewide chains

99 Ranch Market
Chinese and English web site
Chinese chain. General Asian food supplies. Many locations throughout California, one in Las Vegas, two in Washington State, one in Georgia.
Marukai Market
Japanese and English web site
Japanese chain. Operates membership stores and non-membership stores throughout California, one in Hawaii. They also operate some 99 cent shops, and have a cooperation with Daiso, a leading 100 yen store chain in Japan. (You can pick up a lot of cheap bento supplies at 100 yen shops.)
Comments: "There are large supermarkets in Torrance, Gardena, Glendale, and Covina. Membership is $10, but they’ll give you a one-month pass for $1, as many times as you want. Housewares, furniture, and cultural icons (tansu, kotatsu, hanten, etc) as well as food."
Mitsuwa Marketplace
Japanese and English web site
Japanese supermarket chain. Took over the former Yaohan Plaza locations when the Yaohan corporation went belly up. These are fairly large supermarkets (some larger than others), with a good selection of Japanese groceries, a food court, and attached mini-mall. There are seven Mitsuwa locations in Calfornia (two others are in the Chicago area and northern New Jersey). Besides groceries and prepared foods, sells housewares and more (selection varies by location).
Nijiya
Japanese and English web site
Japanese grocery chain with several stores in California (and one in New York). Groceries, prepared bentos and sushi to go, etc.
Vien Dong
English and Vietnamese web site
Vietnamese mini-chain with general Asian products.
Zion Market
Korean and English web site
Korean market with three stores in southern California.

Los Angeles/Orange County general area

Ebisu Supermarket
18940 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 962-2108
Under construction website
Comments: "nice market"-(anon)
Granada Market
1820 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90025
310.479.0931
Mitsuwa Costa Mesa
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
665 Paularino Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 557-6699
Mitsuwa Little Tokyo
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
333 S. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-6699
Mitsua San Gabriel
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
515 W. Las Tunas Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 457-2899
Mitsuwa Santa Monica
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
3760 Centinela Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 398-2113
Mitsuwa Torrance
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
21515 Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782-0335
Nijiya Market
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
2130 Sawtelle Blvd. #105
Los Angeles CA 90025
310.575.3300
Comments: "Japanese American chain, mostly in California, but with one shop in New York state. Sawtelle shop: Small shop with wide range of standard goods, organic produce, fresh meats and fish, extensive bento selection (better than Mitsuwa up the street). Open until 11.45 pm!" - (santos)
"In addition to the Sawtelle one that Santos mentioned, there’s one in Little Tokyo (not very big) and a much larger, nicer one on Grant Ave. in Mountain View (San Francisco Bay Area). " - (meg)
Safe and Save
2030 Sawtelle Blvd
West Los Angeles CA 90025
310.479.3810
Comments: "Small family-run market with all the basics, baked goods, snacks, produce, fresh meat and fish counter. Not as well stocked as the larger markets on the same street, but the prices are competitive, the staff is super-friendly, and the atmosphere is more relaxed and convivial. Free parking lot in the back." - (santos)

Sacramento area

Kims Market: Asian Food
636 4th Street(Between F and E st.)
Davis, CA 95616
(530)753-5916
Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 12:30pm-6pm
Comments: "A very tiny cramped store, but it has practically everything you need to stock your basic Japanese/Korean pantry. Most of the stuff sold is in the dry/frozen goods category, but they do stock some of the more unusual fresh veggies (yamaimo yams, negi, and daikon.)They also sell some imported snacks, appliances, and household supplies. Everything is on the slightly pricy side for an Asian store, but its the only place where you can find unusual food items that American markets rarely stock. A plus is that they also sell marinated short ribs, in-store made pickles, and fresh kimbap (korean sushi)." -(Ami)

San Diego area

General comments on San Diego area:

"[Marukai and Mitsuwa] are in the Kearny Mesa and Clairemont Mesa neighborhoods of San Diego. [Nijiya and Zion] are in Linda Vista and City Heights neighborhoods, respectively. My Filipino family has been shopping at all of these stores throughout the years and all of them offer an interesting variety of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino foods, among others." -(Lorena)

99 Ranch
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
Tel: (858) 974-8899
Comments: "This is a Chinese market, but they many Asian staples." -(Lorena)

<

dl>

Marukai Market
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
8151 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111
Tel: 858-384-0240
Comments: "This is a non-membership store and is located in the same plaza as the recently opened Daiso store and Marukai Living store. This is the newest Japanese market in San Diego, having opened in January 2008." -(Lorena)

Mitsuwa Marketplace San Diego
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
4240 Kearny Mesa Road
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-6699
Comments: "This location also has a dishware store, bentos-to-go, cafe, bookstore, and “cute” shop." -(Lorena)
Nijiya Market
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
3860 Convoy St., #109
San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 268-3821
Hours: Mon ~ Sun 9:00am- 10:00pm
Comments: "This is a San Diego-based chain and specializes in organic and Japanese food." -(Lorena)
Zion Market
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
4611 Mercury St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Tel:1-858-268-3300
Comments: "This is a Korean market, but they have many Asian staples." -(Lorena)
Vien Dong
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
6935 Linda Vista Rd.
San Diego, CA 92111
Tel: (858)292-7176
Also at
5382 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105
Tel: (619) 583-3838
Comments: "This is a Vietnamese market, but they have many Asian staples." -(Lorena)

San Franciso Bay/San Jose/San Mateo area

Also check out Biggie's San Francisco Bay Area shopping guide for bento things, on Lunch In A Box.

Benkyodo
747 Buchanan Street (Japan Town)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 922-1244
English web site
Japanese confections shop selling manjuu and mochi. In operation since 1906.
Comments: "If visiting SF’s Japan Town, don’t miss [this shop]" -(Greg Wittel)
Ichiban Kan
98 E. 3rd Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401
Tel. (650) 347-1347
Mailorder site (continental USA shipping only - boo), blog
Modelled after a 100 yen shop in Japan. Sells bento supplies, cheap and interesting kitchenware, accessories, toys, and all kinds of things. A '99 cent shop' with a difference. Considered to be a mecca for bento fans. Mailorder store set to open in April.
Also a store in San Francisco in the Japantown mall (see below)
Imahara Produce
19725 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA 95014
Comments: "Family run. Excellent produce (and cheap!) — nice selection of both Japanese and non-Asian produce. Has the usual variety of foodstuffs and snacks. Some fresh fish but the main thing is the produce. Oh, and they sell locally made tofu by the San Jose Tofu company. Probably the best tofu you can get in the Bay Area." -(Greg Wittel)
Japantown shopping mall complex
Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
English web site
A small shopping mall and tourist attraction, with mostly Japanese stores, located within the tiny Japan Town (Nihonmachi) area in San Francisco. (There's a connected building which has mostly Korean stores.) The last time I was here (2005) I found it a little bit disappointing - it's really a shadow of what it must have been once. It looked a bit run down. (If they've renovated since then, let me know!) Still, it has a decent selection of stores, restaurants, plus a Kinokuniya bookstore and gift shop. (maki)
Within Japantown:
Ichiban Kan Japantown
1625 Post St, Miyako Mall 22 Peace Plz, Ste 540
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 409-0472
Mailorder site (continental USA shipping only), blog
Modelled after a 100 yen shop in Japan. Sells bento supplies, cheap and interesting kitchen ware, etc.
Marukai Market Cupertino
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
Comments: "Coming soon to Cupertino. It will be in the shopping center across the street from Imhara’s." -(Greg Wittel)
Mitsuwa Marketplace San Jose
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
675 Saratoga Avenue
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 255-6699
Comments: "Good for food; large but weak selection of housewares" -(anon)
"The Kinokuniya moved out of the store into a building in the same parking lot. The store is larger and carries a few character bento boxes. -(Sandy Wambold)"
Nijiya Mountain View
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
143 E. El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
Tel: (650) 691-1600
Nijiya San Francisco
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
1737 Post St. (Japan Town)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 563-1901

<

dl>

Nijiya San Mateo
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
1956 S. El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
Tel: (650) 212-7398

Nijiya San Jose
Part of a statewide chain. See general listing at top of page
240 Jackson St.
San Jose, CA 95112
Tel- (408) 275-6916
Santo Market
245 Taylor Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Comments: "A tiny family run market that’s been around for over 50 years." -(Linda Y)
Super Mira
1790 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94115
Comments: "Has a great little bakery." -(Linda Y)
Suruki Supermarket
71 E 4th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
Comments: "A busy market on a busy corner of San Mateo. Has a pretty decent deli section (1/2 off after 6 PM), and a great fish counter. Kaz Grill next door is pretty good, and Ichiban Kan is a block away." -(Linda Y)
Takahashi Market
221 South Claremont St.
San Mateo, CA 94401
Comments: "This was the only Japanese market around for many years. Now, it has mostly Hawaiian goods, but still has quite a bit of older Japanese brands. Great plate lunches, and very nice staff." -(Linda Y)
Tokyo Fish market
1220 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94709
Tel. 510.524.7243
Comments: "I’ve been going here since I was a wee one. They originally opened in the 60’s in a tiny storefront and they expanded into a regular size supermarket. Their old location, on the same lot, is a non-food Japanese product store, lots of bamboo kitchenware and typical teapot and cup sets. Tokyo Fish has loads of grocery items, as well as a fresh fish counter and pre-made deli foods. They have an excellent selection of Japanese beer, sake and various ramen brands for noodle freaks like me. Alas, no web site, so no on-line ordering, but it’s more fun to actually go in person anyway if you’re local. Check ‘em out!" -(Maryb)
Uoki Sakai
656 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Comments: "Excellent fish section." -(Linda Y)

(Last updated April 8, 2008)

Filed under:  japanese ingredients shopping equipment and supplies