I didn't realize there was a Japanese market in the area! I wanted to make poke nachos, but didn't want to drive to the fish market in Albany. I was able to find almost everything I needed at this market. They have sashimi, seaweed salad, imitation crab sticks, packaged and prepared food, meat, snacks, etc. It's a nice little store with a lot to offer. I'd come back again. read more

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This is a small, what looks like a family-run spot, that I really enjoy visiting. The staff are consistently polite, welcoming, and always happy to help, which makes a big difference every time I stop by. I usually come here to pick up snacks, and it's become a favorite for my little one, they absolutely love the Meiji chocolate, and this is the closest place where I can reliably find it. Even though the store is on the smaller side, it should meet your daily needs. You'll find essentials like dairy and fresh fruit, along with more specialty items like miso paste and a variety of Japanese seasonings. It's compact, but thoughtfully organized, and has most things you will need without feeling overwhelming. read more

I was driving through El Cerrito and had a craving for something Japanese that wouldn't break the bank, so I decided to check out Yaoyasan. I'm glad I did! The market has a good-sized parking lot, which made it super easy to stop by. Inside, the space feels clean, organized, and surprisingly open for a small Japanese grocery store. They have a solid selection of staples like everything from pantry items and frozen goods to drinks and snacks. I even noticed they carry baked goods, fresh bento boxes, and sushi in the refrigerated section, which was a nice surprise. It feels like one of those neighborhood spots where you could grab a quick lunch or just wander the aisles and find something interesting to take home. The staff were really friendly and welcoming, and I thought the grocery prices were quite reasonable, especially compared to some of the bigger-name Japanese markets like Nijiya. I ended up picking up a few snacks and a sushi box just to try it out. Unfortunately, the sushi wasn't really for me. I came on a weekday, so maybe it was just bad timing, but the fish didn't taste very fresh and the rice was hard and underseasoned. I even let it sit for a bit hoping the texture would soften and the flavors would come through better at room temperature, but no luck. That said, I'd still come back here, but just not for the sushi. I'm curious to try their baked goods next time and will definitely swing by for snacks, drinks, or a quick bento. It's a cozy little market with good vibes, and I'm glad I found it. read more

Yaoyasan - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Such a cute grocery store! There's a convenient parking lot right in front, too. Aisles are a bit narrow, but overall I enjoyed the selection of stock. Loved the multiple dango options :] read more

I checked out this market and although there is limited selection, you will be able to find Japanese staples here. There's a beauty section, kitchen section, and they even have fresh meats and produce. They even have fresh bento boxes and sashimi grade fish. It is located in a plaza so parking can be limited depending on what time of the day you go. Overall, I'll be back if I'm ever in the area! read more

After reflecting on places we visited frequently last year, I wanted to give a shout out to Yaoya-San for helping me toward some of my health goals. I want to eat all the foods, but my doctor says I need to slow down a bit. Yaoya-San has a ton of things that are tasty and good for you, but I will just be highlighting things for one of my favorites - poke bowls. They have plenty of sashimi-grade fish options in small portions - yellowtail, tuna, fatty tuna, salmon and other fish options. There are tail-on shrimp as well. 3 types of fish eggs including tobiko and masago. For veggies - butter lettuce, mung bean sprouts, pickled daikon, and sushi ginger There's also all the random other elements that you'll find at a typical Asian grocery store - rice, seaweed salad, soy sauce, wasabi, sesame oil. Overall, I like the selection and the freshness of the ingredients at this grocery store. It's also in a location with lots of restaurants I like, so it makes for a convenient stop for us. read more

Cute local Japanese grocery store. Brightly lit, has a nice selection of sake, dried and canned foods, as well as sashimi in the back. Came here in a pinch to look for soup base! Would stop by if I'm in the area. read more

Not to be dramatic but one of the greatest grocery stores in East Bay. If you're in the area this has to be the place to shop at now, it's actually affordable, the staff is nice, the selection is great, the food is fresh. I seriously cannot recommend it enough. read more

Great Japanese market, super convenient also! Wide selection of chilled drinks, fresh fish, 6 kinds of furikake, among many other things!

The long hair Asian guy is extremely rude... wouldn't go back again. Pricing is high too.

Always filling my Japanese delights cravings. This is a small little market wreath and go in and find your Japanese canned goods. Also A wonderful selection of packaged soups noodles bags of rice all the things that you would need to complete your asian kitchen. That was have a nice collection of beer and saki. The refrigerator section keeps a lot of fresh produce that you would find good for whatever meals you're going to prepare from there and also a large. Selection of bento lunches which we weren't in there to get. We are no strangers to their bentos. We made our purchases and we're out the door pretty quickly. They have a lot of people working there so there's no long preach of time waiting in line. We've been going there for some time and it's a good place locally to find what you're looking for from Japan. read more

This is my new favorite market - wow!!! The fish here is OFF THE CHARTS and very reasonably priced. I made chirashi for a dinner party recently and sourced everything here. I can't wait to return and make more. It has a million options for Japanese (and Korean) cuisine. Such a fantastic market! I've shared it with several friends and everyone loves it. read more

i'm thankful that there are grocery stores that sell Japanese products. However, l wish they accepted EBT. all of the staff is wonderful, but the prices of food is a bit high for highly processed Japanese groceries. they do have healthy options that aren't so processed but I wish there were more organic option. read more

A hidden gem that sells beef tataki and fresh ogo seaweed in Berkeley! However, the vegetables and fruits are a bit overpriced.

Yaoyasan is a gem. It's snuggled close to the freeway, and is in a small parking lot. The store has pretty much everything I look for and more. They have a variety of bentos and sashimi moriwase, for good prices. Decent quality, and fresh. If you don't care for how the sashimi is cut, $9.99 is a great deal. I have even gotten uni there for $10/tray. I mainly go there for natto, and they have probably the most variety I have seen in a store. At first I was trying out most of them, but staff directed me to a few of their favorites; which are now among my favorites. Staff has always been very helpful and friendly. The store may be midsized, but it packs so much variety, with good prices. read more

Although I appreciate the fact that this market exists at all, one thing that I would warn customers about is that the workers don't seem to pull items that have already expired from the shelves. In my past visits, I have bought items about to expire in a few days--and, in one particularly egregious case, an item that I bought turned out to have expired four months ago. Therefore, I would urge everyone to look at each item's expiration date carefully before purchase. Otherwise, the market sells a lot of wonderful Japanese products and ingredients that make cooking Japanese cuisine more flavorful and enjoyable. read more

This cute little Japanese store has a lot of snacks and Japanese household items for sale. I came here around noon on a Sunday and lots of the prepared foods were gone. I grabbed a few snacks and some Japanese rice. Service was friendly and respectful. The ladies spoke Japanese. read more

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Super stoked this is my first review of 2025! I love this little market. I love being able to walk to it! I love their selection of sauces, marinades, produce, meats, snacks, and frozen items. I also love that they carry most of the items I would buy living in Japan. Makes it feel like home for me :) also, skincare, bath items, and various cooking items have come in handy! Staff are always so friendly! They are accommodating and helpful when needed. They're super sweet there. The store itself is small but mighty! Keep that in mind if you plan on bringing in a stroller :) get there early if you want sushi or onigiri! read more

Holy crap! I stopped by here because I was too lazy to drive to Ranch 99... best decision I've made all week. They have all my faves here, and more. I will have to try some of their sushi-grade fish next time. I walked away with more than I needed, but they had ice cream here that I can only ever find at the Korean grocery store so I just stocked up. I came here thinking all I needed was some ramen and pork, but ended up finding enough for cold soba noodles in dipping sauce, made some spicy fermented cucumbers to go along with it and some soft boiled eggs. I will be a regular here from now on as it's on my way home. They were also super patient with me as I forgot my wallet at home and was trying to figure out how to get access to one of my cards on my phone. read more

Cutest little ready-made grocery! The food is always fresh and the staff is always friendly and helpful. I love checkingboutbtheir rotating snacks and picking up staples that are always in stock. It's relatively small inside but very easy to find what you need. Definitely come here for milk bread and a nice selection of curry roux ! read more

Favorite Japanese shop - snacks, food, drinks, frozen food, etc. The staff are always really friendly and helpful. It's a one stop shop. They have sake and beer also. Sashimi and prepared foods. The selection is really superb. It's just further away from where I live in Oakland so I don't come as often as I'd like to. But a very clean and well run shop! read more

Yaoyasan - Dinner! - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Convenient locally owned Japanese grocery in El Cerrito, CA many regular Japanese food items, meats, frozen and packaged. I go there at least once a week. read more

I want to say that I've been searching far and wide for Japanese Milk Bread and have been unsuccessful until my recent visit to Yaoyasan. Their baked goods are located to the left of the main entrance on a metal rack with additional goodies (White bread, English bread, Aupan, veggie Curry Pan, Taro bun, etc.). Be sure to visit early since they do seem to run out towards the end of the day! read more

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This market has just about everything one needs for Japanese food products. From frozen gyoza to packaged osembe crackers and noodles, to fresh vegetables and meats. Plenty of parking in this strip shopping mall. The staff is very nice, too. I will return for more authentic Asian food products. read more

This is closer to me than 99 Ranch! I like to stop by for Japanese groceries when I don't want to drive Richmond (costs are a bit higher, tho). Their lot is small, but they pack a LOT of variety into their aisles. On top of produce, packaged goods, and home goods, they even sell sashimi-grade fish and roe-- and it's FRESH~! Located in a little strip mall across from 24 Hour Fitness. It previously caught my eye every time I went to the gym (always too tired to go afterwards lol welp), but I finally made the time to stop in-- so worth! I haven't stopped going since. The inside can seem a little dreary (no music) or dated, but the staff are welcoming and courteous. Very grateful for this store. I definitely took my old Sunnyvale apartment for granted when I was 5-20 minutes away from Nijiya, Marukai, 99 Ranch, AND H Mart... Yaoyasan usually has all my necessities in one spot. read more

It's missing more variety, but it satisfies the norm of what I want when it comes to sashimi, such as salmon and hamachi (yellow tail tuna)! My new favorite is the ika (squid)! Stopped by here because I really craved sashimi on a Friday pick me up after a long week and made it in the nick of time! Basic necessity of Japanese grocery goods here are met! read more

Yaoyasan - Sashimi - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

It's been a few years since I moved to the Bay Area and I finally got to visit Yaoyasan. Pros: -free parking lot in front -they have great covid measures in place. Your temperature is taken before you enter and they ask that you use hand sanitizer -they have a good assortment of items, everything from fresh veggies, meats, sauces, sweets, noodles and dishes -I love that they carry a lot of products that are made in Hawaii. In my shopping haul I picked up items like S&S saimin, Portuguese sausage, Arabiki sausage, and manapua. they also have things like NOH products, Hawaiian Sun, zippy's chili, lau lau, Kauai Cookie, takuan, Pietro dressing, and more! -there were no lines! Tokyo Fish Market is closer to where I live but lines are always out the door. I was so excited to not have to wait when coming here -friendly staff Cons: -n/a Overall, great experience. read more

Yaoyasan - Some Hawaii favorites: Portuguese sausage and Arabiki sausage - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I'm not sure why I rated this a 4 before, it's consistently great. The store has expanded into a larger space so now there's even more stuff. Quality and variety! The staff continues to be friendly and helpful, it's always a pleasant shopping experience. As faceless mega store chains increasingly dominate, I value a place that provides curation and care more than ever. Yaoyasan forever! read more

I liked the food and grocery selection and also the ahi blocks was so fresh I will be going back

Yao-Ya San is a Japanese grocery store and it is a true gem. Frequented by East Bay locals and Japanese Expats like; yao-ya san serves up everything you could need for a kitchen. there is a whole wall of different types noodles. another whole wall of snack Mixes. Candy? feast on the many treats including a rotating selection of imported Kit Kats. There is a good , although small produce section (and if you keep checking every once in a while they have legit yuzu fruit); bento boxes, a lovely selection of Teas, tons different frozen foods. there's even a section for Thai, Hawaiian and Vietnamese foods. Also household goods and community bulletin board. While the community bulletin board is more focused on the local expat community and Japanese American community (is often written in Japanese) I've found really informative flyers. Like advertisements for Local Bon Dances; or a Berkeley exhibit on the Japanese American Berkeley's who were forcibly relocated to internment camps during World War II. You don't have to be a master chef of Asian cuisine to find things you'll love. Please check out this local, family owned business with staff that are so dedicated to customer service and who Speak English and Japanese. support this business at all costs. read more

This is the perfect little market to visit if you are looking for Asian snacks or ingredients. I used to frequent the Baskin Robbins a few doors down but never stepped foot in the market. That is, until I was on the hunt for sashimi, and thanks to Yelp and their awesome reviews, I decided to stop by. I am so glad I did because there is so many options in one place. I love poke bowls and sashimi, but don't always want to drive to my usual spots because they are out of the way. This market sells sashimi grade fish and it is excellent quality. I love salmon (sake) but love the more fatty looking pieces. Each time I have been here, I have found wonderful pieces with the perfect amount of fat to it. The price is great and the quality is even better. They also serve little containers with a variety of sashimi which is perfect for snacking. If you are looking for sake (the drink), they have a good selection as well. More choices than I have seen at the bigger Asian markets. Plus, this is not a chain store, so we get to support local owners. The parking lot is a bit small, but I have never had a hard time finding parking. Plus there is always parking on the street. read more

Yaoyasan - My homemade sashimi platter with everything I bought, minus the salad. Look at the marbling on the salmon! - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I stopped by Yaoyasan on the way back from SF. I really wanted to go to a bigger Japanese supermarket in San Jose but did not have enough time to make the extra miles, so it was perfect this place is on the way back home. The store is rather smal..smaller than what I expected. But if you are just looking for basic Japanese groceries, this place does the job. Prices....not cheap but acceptable. The service is really nice and efficient. I definitely not gonna go out of my way to stop by here but if it is on the way, I might again one day. read more

Ohayo Gozaimasu! I just love these kinds of small Japanese stores all over the Bay Area, and this is another gem of a place. Don't let the size fool you since it might be small, but it packs a punch like Mighty Mouse. Speaking of packing, they sure do pack a lot of stuff into this store. They have so many variety of items here to rival even the larger grocery store chains, and they carry quality items. It only has three aisles, but it's well organized and arranged in a way that there is a flow to how you shop. It's like the Feng Shui here is in perfect harmony that will bring the biggest joy to Marie Kondo. Yup, there is joy in shopping, especially when you find what you're looking for. Green Tea Mochi Fresh Veggies Fresh Fruits Fresh Fish Assorted Sashimi Kimchi Meat Ramen, Udon, Soba Furikake Coffee Sake Rice Cook 'em at home or eat 'em as is, you'll be saying "Oishii" either way. Waa! Sugui ne! read more

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4.5 medium-sized, well-stocked Japanese market Has *almost* everything you need/want in a Japanese market Does have: store-quality sushi/food items, desserts/snacks, ramen, fridge items Produce/seafood/meat: all limited in variety PARKING: Lots upfront COVID: mandatory hand sanitizer before you enter + check temperatures OTHER: About the same size as Tokyo Fish Market, but in terms of food items/offerings/desserts/snacks, I prefer Yaoyasan. If you want fresh cuts of sashimi/sushi, do Tokyo Fish Market. read more

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Small little store that has huge selection of Japanese groceries and needs. I come here to buy sashimi and small prepared food items. Go early if you want prepared food for lunch or affordable to go meals. Because by 2 or so, they are pretty much wiped out. Their sashimi is super fresh and you can find really good cuts and variety. They also have a nice liquor selection. You can find sake, wine, whiskey, beer and even souju. They also have an amazing dried noodle selection where I was able to buy chasoba noodles, a special treat! Don't forget the to check out the snack aisle! Need some house hold items like pans or sink filter? They got it! I highly recommend coming here! read more

Man, this was a find! We were driving down San Pablo trying to avoid traffic and saw this little Japanese market! They do their absolute best to follow covid safety protocol. Someone's at the door checking temperature. Multiple hand sanitizer stations. And taped floor guides to walk you through each aisle to practice social distancing. It definitely felt like customers in general were respective of each other's space. I wish this little market was closer to where I live because I probably would've bought more than just the small bottles/packets of seasonings and toppings for cooking. It's kinda difficult to find a specific Asian-focused market in Concord (my go-to is usually 99 Ranch which is a catch-all). They had a decent selection of meats & fish/seafood (all looked fresh and were priced to what I'd expect for it to be fresh, not crazy expensive but not dirt cheap). Everything was organized and clean and sectioned. If you're looking for curry or nori or bonito flakes, or a certain type of frozen food, they had it and had a variety of choices for that specific item. A lot of items were at a better price than I've found in other stores! On a side note, I was a little surprised that there wasn't as much candy selections lol. read more

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Wonderful market with great staff and a great selection of goods! Very friendly and knowledgeable. Felt very covid safe with the masks, sanitizer outside and limited capacity inside. As someone who grew up in Hawaii, I loved seeing a lot of products and brands that remind me of home. Definitely recommend! read more

Yaoyasan - The line outside 12/29 (everyone prepping for New Years). Covid safe and capacity restricted, felt very safe - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This store is a gem. We had just picked up live crab from a crab fisherman and Emeryville marina then made our way to my preferred market(s) typically up a few items. Unfortunately, they all had crazy long lines and I didn't want to stand in them. My husband remembered Yaoya San, so we headed there. This was going to be my last stop regardless of whether I got in or not. Much to my delight, there were only a few people in line. I was inside and shopping within 5 minutes. It has been a while since I last came here. They have expanded to the space next door and really have just about everything you might need - and then some. There's a good selection of vegetables, Jidori eggs, meat and kimchi options, section of refrigerated and frozen goods. There is a large selection of dried packaged noodles and seasonings, several options for Japanese curry. Large selection of rice crackers, nom! They carry fresh made sushi from Musashi and other takeaway bento box selections. There's also a nice selection of non-alcoholic beverages as well as sake, sochu and beer. Hawaiian items - if you're looking for laulaus, poi or Zippy's chili, they got'em here too! The one thing I found very clever is that they do not bag your items, they box them for you. It makes a lot of sense considering that many items come shipped in boxes, all shapes and sizes. I found this to work well for my purchase, and it is little effort for me to recycle the box myself. Masks required. They provide hand sanitizer and check your temperature at the door, and limit the number of guests allowed inside to shop. They offer touchless method of payment as well. read more

Honestly I don't know too much about Japanese market besides the fact that I love them and love roaming around them with happiness and bliss. I had this bookmarked for a while but decided to hunt it down! It's near the near 24 hour fitness in El Cerrito. The parking lot was completely full but people leave relatively quick. The market offered sashimi, fresh produce, bento boxes, shabu meat, rice triangles, pastries and more! Although the store is tiny, you'll find things you need and more! Price is affordable and knowing that this is more of a mom and pop shop makes me want to buy more!! Support local business!! I got the sashimi platter for $4.99, canned baby corn, bamboo, green tea ice cream, jasmine tea bags. Such a cute shop full of items you need!! Ignore the palty dye, I got that next door. read more

Yaoyasan - International Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Love this place and has become my goto for Japanese groceries since I have moved closer to this neighborhood but there are some distinct differences from Tokyo Fish which I an "still" a loyal customer of and will always be since I was a little girl. Yaoya-san does not have an open fish market but does carry a great assortment of Sashimi quality fish packaged fresh daily. I have even seen Toro (fatty tuna belly) when they are able to have it! Yum! Another difference is that I believe they have a slightly larger selection on "just add hot water" bowled Ramen, Udon and assorted frozen items such as frozen Lumpia and seafood line Clams and Mussels that I haven't seen much of at the other place. Lastly and this is a big one for me... They are open until 7pm every day (except Mondays )and even on Sundays so if I need to do any last minute shopping which calls for authentic Japanese ingredients, I can always count on Yaoya-san's to be open! So lucky to live in the area to be able to access both places easily and with parking too! read more