Nijiya Market in Hawaii
I first read about Nijiya Market in the local blogs back in August. The pictures and posts looked and sounded great but for some reason or another I forgot about Nijiya…until just this past week.
I don’t want to write too much about it because I feel like I’m one of the last people to finally visit Nijiya Market. But just in case you’re like me (love Japan, Japanese food, etc.) yet haven’t been here yet, be sure to write down “Excursion to Nijiya Market” on your next to do list.
I really felt like I was back in a small market in Tokyo. Everywhere you look you see Japanese writing on the packages, people speaking Japanese on cell phones, and clerks saying “irasshaimase!”
And if that doesn’t convince you that it’s a pretty hip place to visit (maybe not do your entire week’s shopping, but at least pick up a few things), I also saw one of my favorite fine dining chefs doing his shopping there. Hmm, maybe if I had peeked into his basket I could’ve figured out the secret ingredients that go into his wonderful dishes!
Anyway, here are some pics of what they have to offer…
Bentos (with microwave to reheat)
Miso Paste
Fish
Crab, shrimp, and more fish
Renkon (Lotus Root) and Takenoko (Bamboo Shoots), prepped and ready to cook
Gobo (Burdock Root)
Daikon (Radish) and Naga-negi (Japanese Long Onion)
And for those who like to get their drink on…a nice selection of Japanese beer, umeshu, shochu, and sake!
I don’t have a picture of it, but one of our favorite aisles is the snack aisle. Tons of Japanese chocolates, senbei, cookies, etc. I try to hold back, but it doesn’t always work!
Nijiya Market is located in Puck’s Alley, right next to Curry House on University Avenue. Also, an important point for me – they validate parking.
Nijiya Market
1009 University Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: (808) 979-8977
Website: www.nijiya.com
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6 comments - January 9, 2009
Oh my, they all look so fresh.
I am one of those people who love to walk around markets and just browse for hours, even if I don’t buy anything. Bonus if it is something fun/exotic like Japanese products.
Hey sugarlens,
I like to do that too. I think it’s more fun to browse around in a cool market than a shopping mall !
Hauoli Makahiki Hou! For starters let me say that I appreciate you posting about this because I’ve never heard of Nijiya Market. Maybe the next time I make the odyssey over…
Speaking of which, I enjoyed your previous posts on the no-knead bread. Looks awesomely tempting and delicious! Your husband has a fab sense of humor telling you that it was rocks from outside regarding the Creuset. If I had more space in the kitchen…how I wish I could have one of those for myself! Only thing though, he wouldn’t be able to say rocks from outside because packed snow and ice would simply melt!
aw don’t feel bad, I didn’t know about it until reading it on other blogs, I hope to check it out the next time I am home.
Hey rowena,
Happy New Year! Glad you’re back, hope you had a fun vacation!
Hey kat,
Our friends from Tokyo were saying the prices were just a little takai compared to what they see in Tokyo, but not too bad. I wonder how it would compare to Osaka prices?
Whoa those rows of stuff are mind boggling. I would be so lost! That’s a heck of a place.