Do you know there are very good Japanese markets (grocery stores) in San Diego? Here are the list and my favorite things to buy at each store! If you love Japanese food, you can get ingredients for cooking and/or bento & Sushi there!
Japanese Grocery Stores in San Diego
Great Accessibility
One of reasons why I love living in San Diego is accessibility to Japanese foods/ingredients! You can find most of things here in San Diego, and also you have an option going to L.A. if needed. How can I express how happy I am with that? Because i had experienced the difficulties in other states (NV and UT).
Decent Price
I’ve also lived in NY (Manhattan and Brooklyn), but the price is cheaper here in California (LA and SD, as long as I know). Simply it costs if they need to carry further, but it’s more expensive in Hawaii except for something that they make(produce) there.
Let’s compare the price of Natto (A set of 3 packages)
- SLC, UT : $3.50 – 4.00
- Las Vegas, NV : $3.80 – 4.50
- Honolulu, HI : $2.00 – 3.00
- NYC, NY : $2.50 – 3.00
- San Diego, CA : $1.50 – 2.00
I even have found them $1 for sale in L.A too!
Partnership & Empowerment
You can find a lot of different products in each store. Some products are only available on a specific store, so that you have reason to go there! I like their partnership to empower each other’s business. I’d love to support Japanese businesses so let me introduce some of them below.
Convoy Area
All grocery stores that I go in San Diego is located in Convoy area where you can find a lot of Asian restaurants/cafes. There are some Japanese businesses in the area I would love to introduce some time soon!
Nijiya San Diego
Nijiya might be less-known for non-Japanese people since it’s a bit hidden, I’d say. But this is actually my MOST favorite Japanese grocery store in San Diego where I go EVERY weekend. It’s smaller size comparing to other Japanese markets here, but still they have a lot of good stuff.
Locations : SoCal & NoCal and Hawaii
They have multiple locations in the State of California and Hawaii.
- 6 in Southern California – San Diego, Torrance, West LA, etc
- 4 in Northern California – San Francisco, San Mateo, San Jose, Mountain View
- 2 in Hawaii – Honolulu
Nijiya Farm
It has own farm and grow organic produce there. It looks good too. I often buy their Mizuna for salad, nabe, etc. Daikon radish for simmered dishes. Shiso leaves for adding on sashimi, etc. I’m glad that I can buy these good quality of products.
What You Should Check in Nijiya
Nijiya Products
They have their brand products and I would say these are pretty good! It covers a lot, soy sauce, dressing, vinegar, nabe soup, dried fruits, powders, etc.
I think the quality is pretty good, and they sometimes discount them for limited time, that when I’d buy a lot of them.
Also “Cherry blossom” is their bakery brand. My husband (American) buys a bread loaf every week, and bring it with him for his lunch on weekdays.
Kayanoya
They sell the products by Kayanoya which is famous for Dashi (broth). I love their Dashi, but it’s a bit pricy unfortunately. So I use them for special occasion or something good. I made Osechi on New Year’s with Kayanoya Dashi.
You can also buy their products online Kayanoya Official.
Cake Kobo
Personally I like their cakes because it’s not too sweet and cheap. For special occasion, my best cake by Japanese business is Sage French Bakery which is located some doors aside from Nijiya.
What to Buy at Nijiya
I recommend you to try
- Sashimi
- Seafood Bowl
- Bento & Deli
- Nabe soup (Nijiya brand)
- Meat – good selection, wagyu, thin-sliced meat, etc. (not cheap, but good quality, in my opinion)
Information : Nijiya San Diego
9am – 9pm
Mitsuwa Marketplace
Mitsuwa Marketplace might be well-known, since it’s huge and easy to find!
What You Should Check in Mitsuwa
Bread from Hamadaya Bakery
You can get some breads by Hamadaya Bakery which has multiple locations in LA and Orange County. Their muffins are good! (assorted one is fun!)
Santouka Ramen
It’s not something you can buy at Mitsuwa, but you can find Santouka – ramen shop from Hokkaido (North part of Japan) right next to Mitsuwa. I sometimes eat ramen there, and one of my friend from Tennessee loved it, too.
Cosmetics & Daily products
If you walk around to the back, you can find a lot of Japanese non-eatable products there. Rice cookers, water bottles, bento boxes, cosmetics, shampoos & treatments, etc.
I don’t know if you are interested in, but just let you know you can buy them there.
What to Buy at Mitsuwa
These are what I always check,
- Weekly sale items!
- Breads from Hamadaya Bakery
- Daily use items (shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc)
- Can make Tokyo (Cosmetics brand)
Information : Mitsuwa San Diego
9am – 9pm
Marukai, Tokyo Central & Main
I think there is a thing that gets people confused; Marukai has 2 (separated) buildings next to each other, and there is one more building which is “Tokyo Central & Main”. And you need to pay in each building. I know it’s a bit pain but it’s not a big deal!
A Big Company
All three businesses below is a group.
- Marukai
- Tokyo Central
- Tokyo Central & Main
According to their website, now they have over 1,000 employees in 13 California locations. Wow quite big!
What You Should Check in Marukai
Fugetsudo
They have Japanese confectionary by Fugetsudo which is the oldest Japanese business in L.A. I strongly recommend you to visit and try their sweets at store, but you can also get them at Marukai.
Snacks & Sauces
There are many kinds of snacks and sauces at Marukai, I can find most of everything I need to cook Japanese food as I used to in Japan.
Ichiran Ramen
Some of you might know Ichiran Ramen which is very famous ramen shop in Japan. You can buy their instant ramen at Marukai. (They have a website, too)
It’s not cheap, however the price goes down sometimes, so keep it on your mind if you want to try Ichiran’s Tonkotsu ramen 😉
What to Buy at Marukai
What I usually buy
- Snacks – a lot of kinds and cheap
- Tea bags
- Sauces / dressings
- Natto
- Japanese confectionary by Fugetsudo
- Japanese beer and Sake
Information : Marukai Market in San Diego
8am – 9pm
Hope I introduce you well & enough of Japanese Markets in San Diego where you can find & get Japanese food, ingredients, and products so that you can enjoy exploring and getting to know Japanese food and culture!
