Sake and Shochu Gumi

Welcome to the Umami Mart Bar

Umami Mart has evolved immensely since we first arrived 2007. We were first a food and drink blog, then, in 2010, Yoko and I started importing bar tools from Japan and selling them on our website. From there, in 2012, we opened our brick + mortar store in downtown...

Sake Gumi News

Red Rice Sakes (July 2019)

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! The sakes this month are unlike any sakes you've had before. Some taste like vermouth, others taste like natural wine. If you are the type that likes to explore the fringes...

Sake Gumi Social

Omachi Sake Tasting

We had our very first Sake Gumi Social at Umami Mart last week and it was a blast. Over 40 of our members showed up to taste June's Sake Gumi bottles with us – plus an extra special bottle. This month's theme, sakes...

Seeking Shopkeeper

We're hiring a shopkeeper! Umami Mart is a retail store, bottle shop, and tasting bar that specializes in drinks, design + Japan, seeking a hard-working and knowledgeable team member. This position will be at our shop located in Oakland, California and will be for at least...

The Great Unveiling: Our New Shop!

Did you hear we've moved? It's been nearly a month now that we've been open at our new home at 4027 Broadway. We're still in Oakland, still on Broadway – just two miles up from our old location downtown. This is the rebirth of Umami Mart. When...

Sake Gumi News

Black is the New White (May 2019)

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! This month, we plan to unveil our very first bar. It will be in the back of our new space at 4027 Broadway in Oakland. Since 2012 we had...

We're Open at 4027 Broadway!

After nearly a month of being closed, we are thrilled to announce that we are OPEN at 4027 Broadway! Thank you for your patience these last few weeks as we have been getting our shop ready for you. We lovingly refer to our new space as Umami...

We're Hiring! Shopkeeper + Sake Bar Associate

We're hiring for two positions! We are a retail store, bottle shop, and tasting bar that specializes in Drinks, Design + Japan, seeking a hard-working and knowledgeable Shopkeeper and Sake Bar Associate SHOP KEEPER This position will be at our shop located in Oakland, California and will...

Bay Eats Japan

Teishoku Lunch at Stonemill Matcha (SF)

Last May, Stonemill Matcha opened in the former Tartine space in the Mission. My brother, Keisuke Akabori, was hired as the executive chef of the cafe – a concept from Japan to introduce matcha culture to the Bay Area, complete with sweets and savory dishes for breakfast and lunch. ...

Order Online For Free Shipping!

Did you hear we're moving? Pardon us while we are reorganizing ourselves back here. We are open online but not shipping any orders until Monday 4/22 - and to thank you for your patience, we are offering FREE SHIPPING for orders $50+ from now through Sunday...

Sake Gumi News

Go Gohyakuman-goku! (April 2019)

  Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! Does the type of rice affect the flavor of sake like the type of grape affects the flavor of a wine? The short answer is yes. Brewers will...

Event Recap

Event Recap: Hinamatsuri 2019

Hinamatsuri is one of our favorite events of the year – and we are so happy that the turnout gets better every time we do it. We celebrated a little earlier than usual this year, but both Yoko's and my mom came out, which made this...

A Look Back at 815 Broadway

It was over six years ago on August 3, 2012, we opened our doors in Old Oakland. We had no idea what we were doing – but we had a solid crew that contributed their blood, sweat, and tears to our DIY build out. We had no idea...

Big Announcement: We're Moving!

Yoko and I are elated to announce that we are MOVING our shop! But don't worry, we'll only be two miles up the road, on Broadway, in Oakland!  This is something that we've been working on on-the-sly for about a year now. It's bittersweet for us, as...