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.

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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)

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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

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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)

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