Blog

Our annual Holiday Gift Guide is here with ideas for everyone – from your hard to please in-laws to your silly office mates. Explore all of gift categories! Under $25 Under $50 Under...

Raw oysters are ranked among my top five favorite foods of all time, and we have pages of blog posts on this subject throughout the years, from around the world. They are packed with nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, potassium, and more....

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! I like a good challenge. I also really like desserts – so when I came up with the theme, "The Great Dessert Challenge," for this...

In November, my donabe (Japanese ceramic pot) gets dusted off and starts working in full gear through April. I use it nearly every week during the cold nights, to bring warm food to the table and get my fill of vegetables, tofu, and meat. I rely on...

As a follow-up to our Sakqueso! event over the summer, we partnered with Ramen Shop yet again for Shochu Happy Hour, a few weeks ago. We had a nice crowd of shochu novices and enthusiasts come out and had a great time talking to folks about shochu, Japan's distilled beverage!...

Last year, my husband Johnny and I took his mom on her first trip to Japan. We had been talking about it for years and we were finally able to make it happen! When planning for the trip, we thought about going on the usual tour of Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto, but I wanted...

Both sencha and hojicha are common teas that you will come across everywhere in Japan. Unlike matcha or gyokuro (shaded green tea), sencha and hojicha are every day teas, poured into cups all day in homes and offices. Sencha vs. Hojicha Sencha, is often simply...

We are lucky to go to Japan every year to visit makers, artisans, breweries, and factories to see where our products are made. On our last trip in April, Yoko and I visited one of Kimura Glass Company's factories, right in the middle of Tokyo. Here's what we saw! Kimura Glass...

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! The current sake trend in Japan is everything fresh and fruity. It's all about the nama-namas, namachozo, namazume, and shiboritate. But we are never ones at Umami Mart...

Did you hear about our Pop-Up at Ace Hotel Chicago October 26-30? We are popping up at Ace Hotel Chicago with our greatest hits, including Japanese bar tools, glassware, ceramics and more. We'll also be having a few events during our stay in the Windy...

The Bricks Tabletop Collection combines modern design with time-tested durability to create a distinctive tabletop setting. Made with special Shigaraki red clay, blended exclusively for this series, the copper-toned trim provides an earthy accent against bold glazes. These versatile porcelain pieces are hand-glazed, and inspired by ancient Japanese wa textures and nostalgic Americana...

Come one, come all, to our upcoming Shochu Happy Hour! at Ramen Shop in Oakland on Saturday October 13th! Discover the wide range of flavors that shochu (Japan's distilled beverage) has to offer, alongside a special menu of crunchy and savory snacks. Try two...

We're celebrating Oktoberfest here at Umami Mart with a few new beers in stock in the shop and online!ECHIGO FLYING IPAEnjoy the newest style from Echigo, Japan's first micro-brewery, offering an American-style IPA. Flavor profile includes...

Chicago, we are coming for you!!! Catch us at Ace Hotel Chicago for five days only in October with our greatest hits, including Japanese bar tools, glassware, ceramics and more! Stay tuned as we announce related events in Chicago in the...

Umami Mart seeks a friendly and responsible Temp-to-Hire Holiday Shop Assistant, with the potential to become a long-term staff member after the holidays. Retail experience required. This position will be for at least 3 shifts per week, under the direct supervision of Chris C., the Shop...

We have a slew of new products from Japan – that's kitchenware, sakes, beers, glassware, and more! Here are a few that have been especially popular. ALUMINUM COOL STRAW Enjoy your next iced tea,...

Order a bottle of Den Sake today! I met Yoshihiro Sako back in 2014 for the first time when I dined at Yuzuki in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, where he was the Sake Sommelier in the early to mid 2010s. Even back...

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! Honjozo is a style of sake made for those who love to drink (like me!). It tends to be crisp, dry, and...

75 grams of liquid soy sauce is condensed into 20 grams of Crystallized Shoyu, making it a potent condiment that can be shaken on grilled meats, pasta, pizza, rice, or toast. This naturally fermented condiments has one-sixth the sodium of its...

These all natural hashi (chopsticks) are made with wood from Persimmon, Mandarin, or Peach trees and finished in beeswax for a silky smooth feel in your hands. Unlike hashi sealed with synthetic lacquer, these won't...