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Heather s. said: "Thanks Yelp! for directing me to Dr. Lai and his office! The phone receptionist was friendly and worked with my schedule to find me the next available appointment within the week. The store/office is small but clean and you're…" read more »
134 reviews for Ichiban Kan
Review Highlights
"cute japanese goods starting from a DOLLAR."
(in 72 reviews)
"I am obsessed with the hi-chew candies and they are the..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Yeah, what's with the "Men's Chocolate" Pocky Sticks."
(in 13 reviews)
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134 reviews in English
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Review from Annie T.
2/16/2009
God I love this place.
On a lazy afternoon when you have a few hours to get lost somewhere and find twenty new trinkets that somehow improve your quality of life in a way you never thought possible.
I am not joking.
They have this amazing japanese brand body wash called "Naive" - it's GREAT and will leave your skin smooth and moisturized. You also only need one pump on that adorable animal loofa thing that they sell - duck, seal, or frog - and can now not live without.
Definitely pick up some melanine sponges... you know, those amazing magical do everything kitchen arm and hammer magic sponges but are sold here for a dollar?
You'll end up going again and again and will always find something new and useful. -
Review from Jennifer C P.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2009
After a wonderful and very filling dinner at Kingfish, I asked my companion to walk with me and enjoy the sunny day. Our walk found me shrieking at the doors of Ichiban Kan because it was still open and I wanted in! No one was going to stop me . . .well maybe the little old lady who wasn't as dramatic before she pushed the doors open to walk in.
I bought a bag full of stuff for under $20! I got bento boxes, chopsticks, hair barrettes, pocky, and hi chews for my younger daughter and I got a really cool air freshener for the car that the scent is called "laundry" - it smells like dryer sheets!
Oh come on now, you know the idea of driving in your car that smells like dryer sheet turns you on a little bit! You know it does.
They are moving closer to my home base as they set up shop in Tanforan Mall. That can only mean one thing: car air fresheners that smell like dryer sheets for everyone I know!
See! I can cure road rage and create a more peaceful environment . . .one dryer sheet smelling car air freshener at a time!Listed in: Fabulous Finds in 2009!, Fun Shopping For Less!
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Review from John L.
Mountain View, CA
4/20/2009
I've been a customer at this store for the last 3 years. Usually stopping in every 2-3 months when it's time for new auto air freshener or hair products. The prices are very competitive and are always cheaper than other Japanese stores I've been to.
Their last day at this location was 4/19. I should've known something was wrong last month when they were out of stock of my favorite auto air freshener. The good news is they are moving to Tanforan Mall in San Bruno, expected opening is in July 2009. -
Review from Nance W.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2007
This place has tons of Japanese imported stuff for around a dollar.
I were only in here for 40 minutes and I think I could've stayed half an hour more if I could! I wanted to look at everything! They have things you won't find in other stores.
My favorite part is the back of the store. They have SNACKS!! And WTF is Men's Pocky? It's bitter chocolate Pocky. So ummm, where's the Pocky for women?
You walk in here and you fill your shopping basket with a crapload of stuff. Hey, it's only a dollar right? When you walk out you'll realize they just robbed you for 50 bucks. -
Review from Matt G.
1/31/2008
After picking up my lunch, I had time to kill so I went next door to this Japanese store that sells imported accessories from Japan. There is also a Yelp-sticker on the main-entrance.
There is another location in San Francisco's Japantown and I've never been to that store. I'm not too sure if they are connected, but this San Mateo store has some cool items. This store carries Japanese and authentic dinnerware, stationeries, cute clothing, snacks and other miscellaneous items at "dirt" cheap and affordable prices. A large majority of the items are written in Japanese, so following instructions or reading the products can be a challenging task, if you don't read the language.
I bought a Japanese robe for wife. The $15.00 Japanese-robe is shorter in length and made to look for wife to look like a sexy geisha at a massage parlor. When the weather gets warmer, I can't wait for her to put the silky robe on to warm us up at night. I also bought an $8.00 black tee-shirt with the Chinese symbol of "strength". And indeed that is what I need: Power!
This place also have kid's item, and if they are free this weekend, I'll without a doubt bring them here to see what they like.
I paid my items in cash, but they do take credit cards with a minimum purchase of $10.00. -
Review from Bryan K.
San Mateo, CA
2/4/2007
I've been here 3 times in the last 2 days. When my bro visits we always come here... its an addiction. Besides the snacks, my special addiction is the baskets...
I have baskets in my bedroom, in the closets, in the bathroom, in the kitchen... my dad used to store everything in little boxes. I'm upscale, I got baskets.
Go for one thing, end up with 10 things... minimum 10 bucks to use credit card so what the heck. -
Review from luis m.
Oakland, CA
7/1/2007
Thank you for allowing me the option of not having to fly all the way to Hawai'i to pick up some One Drops...
*clicky*
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
...because it's not like I need any more excuses to go there anyway.
I bought 4 bottles of the stuff today for $4.99. Kobayashi brand. I have strong poop, ask somebody who knows. -
Review from Joon Y.
2/7/2009
Not to take anything away from Daiso, cause Daiso is a great store, but Ichiban Kan has more useful items versus useless knick knacks I.E Banana Keeper from Daiso http://farm4.static.fl....
Not everything here is a bargain but still some great deals. I found a great deal on these fruit/jelly dessert cups which usually costs about $1.50+ at Daiso or Mitsuwa etc. for $0.25 each!! You can't beat that!
The store is smaller than Daiso, a little cluttered, and customer service isn't as friendly as Daiso, but all and all great store, and as useful as a bargain store gets! -
Review from KarenG P.
San Anselmo, CA
3/18/2007
It's funny, you can blow hundreds or even thousands of dollars on one item, but in a dollar store, you start thinking, 'Maybe I should only buy the bamboo mat and not the rice bowls...I don't really need them. Maybe I'll only buy a couple of the bowls, but no more than four.' Why is that???!!
This place is great for bamboo mats and rice bowls, and also eyelash curlers (when they have them) and oil blotting pads--all for around a dollar or so.
I love this place. (I think that I'll go here today.)Listed in: Places to Stalk Me, Born to Shop
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Review from Jennifer Thanh-Mai T.
Saratoga, CA
8/2/2007
What a cute store with so much "kawaii" kitschy knickknacks! The items range from cooking utensils and Japanese snacks to stationery, thumbtacks, and facial soaps and shampoos! I bought a cute striped thick beanie hat for $1.50. It keeps my head warm and cute.
I have to warn you, though. If you see something cute, you might not want to wait and buy it later. There were boxes of round adorable thumbtacks that I wanted to use for an art project - but I came back a month later, and they were gone. Things come and go at this shop, and they ship in new things every so often. I wish they had more variety in their more popular items, such as bags and stationery. If I lived near this store, I would definitely go there often.
If you like thrift shopping, this is the cute little store for you. -
Review from Vicky L.
1/30/2008
I come here to pick up Secret Santa gifts. Who can go wrong with a cute teapot set for less than ten bucks!! And made in Japan too! The little hi-chew candies that I have a bad addiction to are around 1 dollar here! Score!
They have a cute selection of random kitchen gadgetry and storage basket/containers. Be careful of the food selection; they'll have stuff for super cheap because it expired a month ago. -
Review from David P.
3/27/2008
- Cheese Kurls
- Pokey
- Nori sembai
- Curry mix
- Instant noodles
- Extra long chopsticks for cooking
- Some distinctive chopsticks for guests
- Bento container with a separate stacking section for stew and another for rice
- Mentaiko spaghetti mix
- Miso soup mix
- Bottles of Sweat
So goes my recent shopping expedition to Ichiban Kan. Maybe I should change my last meal on Earth to Sweat and Kurls... -
Review from Jen L.
3/1/2009
Nothing spells success like 2 sushi musubi molds, 2 pairs of stay-in-your-hair hairpins, and 2 pairs of appropriately sized Japanese slippers greeting you hello...and all under $20. Kanpai!
PS. Also those dangerously sweet Hi-Chews for those of you with sugary taste buds.Listed in: Enjoy being a girl
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Review from Earl G.
4/13/2009
One of my favorite stores to pass time in San Mateo is closing.
Last day is April 19th. -
Review from Erika T.
Half Moon Bay, CA
7/19/2006
I like to call this the Japanese Dollar Store. It is great. You can find everything sooo cheap. I get my rice and soup bowls here; chopsticks and sake sets; snacks and other odds and ends. One of the best kept secrets is that you can by bulk sized Shiseido shampoo and conditioner! They don't even sell this stuff at Norstrom, Macy's or Sephora. People always ask me how I keep my hair so long and healthy and I always say it's the Shiseido shampoo and they think I spend a fortune on my hair. The truth is, I get it for cheap, cheap, cheap at the Japanese Dollar Store.
You can also get house slippers, garbage cans, toilet seat covers, stationary, kitchen gadgets, flower pots, Japanese tampons - I'm not kidding.
There this one in San Mateo and there is also one in Japan Town in San Francisco. -
Review from stephanie i.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2006
In an attempt to keep a clutter free existence, I try to steer clear of this place. I know that if I walk in, I will load up on tons of cheap Japanese-y stuff like Onsen bath salts, kiddie plastic hashi's, really cute plastic fly swatter or odd and cutesy stationary or note pads. All of which I do not need.
But how can you help yourself when it is all so cheap & cute.
One thing I have found here are those crazy eye drops that they sell in Japan. Visine it ain't. These are supercharged with menthol or something. It's like mouthwash for your eyeballs! Oh I almost forgot, it's also great for picking up inexpensive gift bags. From time to time they stock some really cool wrapping and gift bags.
Pack rats enter with caution. -
Review from Peggy w.
10/11/2006
I like this place a lot! My bf gets all sorts of instant ramen here for $1 or less. I get all the gummy chewy goodness candies here for less than at supermarkets.
I also buy their shampoo at BULK. American stuff dries out my hair like no other and Japanese shampoo is uber expensive everywhere else but here.
I like to come in and feel domestic (cuz I'm not) and daydream about what life would be like if I actually can cook and utilize these cute housewares and whatnot. They also have great plastic paper holder thingies for $1 that are great to use in the office and come in all sorts of colors too.Listed in: Sweets! Desserts! Yums!, San Mateo Eats
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Review from CeCe C.
4/13/2009
It's not like Daiso
Can it be that tiny inside?
How can the shelves be empty?
I've been "Daiso spoiled"!
Been there, done that
A disappointing state
Not impressed
This is a tiny store compared to Daiso. Not as much merchandise here. I think we're spoiled in the south bay. haha Some things are cheaper than Daiso, and yet some things are more expensive. They do have more selection of plastic bento boxes for cheap. But other than that, this place was sadly a disappointment. :( I was hoping for better when I had read the reviews and was totally looking forward to my visit. -
Review from Sally T.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2007
Small store compared to Daiso. What's so great about it? I skipped the back where all the food is, since the Ichiban in SF JTown sells expired foods. Who wants to eat expired Pocky and have to pay for it? If its old and wrinkly... it shouldn't go in anyone's mouth! At the very least, it should be free if its expired.
Daiso has everything this place does but 10x more variety! Why pick btw 3 plastic thingies when you can pick btw 50 plastic thingies!
I think I only picked up like 2 things here. Won't be making a return trek to here. -
Review from Ken K.
10/14/2006
Tons of everyday household items, snacks, pots/plates/bowls/chopsticks and even very simple toys all at very low prices.
The one in SF Japantown is bigger and offers more variety but I am grateful they have one in downtown San Mateo.
The best buy here that got tons of mileage, something like $1 something for 5 colorful plastic balls with lots of holes in them. If you are a parent get these for your infant, they will have hours and hours of fun with it (and they use these kinds of balls at Gymboree classes too).
There are several spinoffs of this kind of store, but they pretend to be Japanese dollar stores but are actually mainland Chinese knock offs at marked up prices. Sounds just like the SF Chinatown skanky night market. Ichiban Kan is the real deal. -
Review from Steve L.
1/31/2007
Great place to walk around after eating at Hotaru. Good variety of Japanese snack food, plastic goods, cleaning items, etc. Hit or miss on what they would have in stock....could be there one week, gone the next.
Crazy items as well, such as a kimono shaped wine bottle cover.
Yeah, what's with the "Men's Chocolate" Pocky Sticks? -
Review from Christine K.
Menlo Park, CA
4/17/2008
Ohmygoodness I love this store!
From the gorgeous dishes to the interesting and fabulous cosmetics to the myriad of flavors of Pocky to the random Hello Kitty stuff this place has it all.
Spending an hour browsing through here makes for a great afternoon or lunch break :)Listed in: Me Likey to Shop
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Review from Stacey C.
San Mateo, CA
10/30/2008
Ah, Ichiban Kan.
Purveyor of cheesy Japanese import items for cheap - how I love thee.
This is a great place to go and poke around on a Sunday afternoon - as I tend to do, living within walking distance. I had been living at my current address for months before actually going into this place, even though I passed it a million times. It took my (part-Japanese) best friend moving into my building for me to actually go and check it out.
They have great little knick-knacks for cheap - man, from this store, I have to surmise that the Japanese are an extremely organized people, because they have storage and containers in this store for everything imaginable (being a hyper-organizer myself, I adore this.) I love their Kasugai fruit gummy candy (in bags on the back wall of the store) and I also purchased an awesome children's cup that is a bear - complete with ears, and feet - who's name is BoBo (it's on the front of the cup) - and best of all - BoBo's head is the LID of the cup and is removable, so you know, I store things in BoBo and always get a juvenile chuckle when I remove his head to access my chapstick.
My friend and I also get a serious laugh out of the many sets of stationary with mis-translated English phrases that make no sense - "Happy lunch everyone is happy" and such. We buy these items just because we love the non-sensical phrases.
Yay for Ichiban Kan! Cheap fun and headless bear cups. :)Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Kimiko Q.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2009
Cheap asian snacks.
Cheap ceramic dishes.
But nothing really "useful" here. Anything I buy here usually falls apart in about a month.
But, it's cheap!
Good if you like 'spur-of-the-moment' items.
Not good in the long-term.
Then again, it's cheap! -
Review from tamara w.
Irvine, CA
9/7/2006
This is one dangerous store! But i've found so much cute, useful, and interesting stuff here that I have to give it 5 stars. I usually end up buying a lot of stationery, desk supplies, and random containers here. I think every time I go, I have to buy at least one of the Japanese bath towels. They are much cheaper than any of the others i've seen. I agree with Amy D., the laundry bags are great. I've started using them as separators for some of my clothing items when I have to pack and the fact that they are so cheap makes it even easier!
AND this store saved my sanity recently. I was in search of nice but inexpensive trays to use for table arrangements for a wedding. Happyness! They had almost exactly what I needed and at $4 each, they were very affordable and made the bride and groom happy. Yay! -
Review from Linda X.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2008
HAHAH I came here with my mom and her sisters.. we have one in San Francisco right across from the Japantown Center. I found this Shiseido shampoo and conditioner that my friend's sister uses. Only my friend lives in Southern California.. I couldn't believe my luck in finding this shampoo. I was so happy. Lots of snacks and Ramune (Japanese bottled soda with a marble inside) in Original, Lychee and Strawberry. I was pleasantly surprised by the last two flavors lol. The best part was that I didn't have to pay for it =p the perks of going shopping with my mom. ^_^b
To Danielle L... the super spicy Korean noodles? Go to Kukje Market off Junipero Sierra in Daly City.. its a Korean Supermarket and has a wide variety of instant noodles and snacks (especially Pockey) hehe -
Review from Cookie Monster z.
Saratoga, CA
6/25/2007
I'm very happy to find out that there is an Ichiban Kan near where in San Mateo. Now, I don't have to take the 1+ hour caltrain ride to get to SF to buy my $1 trinkets (it'll take about a 30 min caltrain ride).
I think it's one of the best places to visit if you want to kill time while waiting for the caltrain station or don't know what to do while you're in town. Fun shopping for the budget conscious.
Things that may be worth a buy are the dishware, the food containers, kitchenware, facial products by Kanebo, and a few other things.
They sell a lot of random things that you don't really need, but *might* prove useful. I saw a wooden spaghetti serving sizer (that tells you the amount of spaghetti needed for 1-4 ppl).
What I bought:
- a glittery-girly mirror compact with blotting tissues (kinda big mirror, but very useful. the blotting tissue aren't powdery though)
- oval-shaped lunch bento (everyday usefulness and cute!)
- bag of 3D pig-shaped plastic sauce containers (holds my soy sauce in a cute way--no need for soysauce packets!)
- rice mold (cute way to shape your rice!). -
Review from Lisa W.
Sacramento, CA
7/25/2008
This place is HEAVEN!!!
I spent about $100 dollars here buying cute stuff!! Oh, and they have Japanese food and snacks here...so awesoomeeee!!!!
And the staff here is friendly. One of the ladies is Chinese and she overheard us speaking in Cantonese, and she started chatting with us...she was adorable! Love it, I'll come back! -
Review from Cindy C.
3/1/2007
These people have such neat, cheap things. From snacks to kitchen gadgets, from door jams to hair dye, from origami paper to soju servers... the store's not big but it fits a lot of stuff!
I just got a plastic neck massager for $1.25, and a wood shiatsu stick for a buck! -
Review from Danielle L.
San Mateo, CA
1/24/2008
Sometimes this place makes me happy, with all the little cute things to buy. Soooo cute. Soooo happy.
Sometimes it does not, like when they are out of my super spicy Korean noodles that I have only been able to find here. *cry*
Why does it smell like my grandmothers house?
I need some Pockey now. -
Review from Alice H.
San Mateo, CA
2/3/2007
Everything here is cheap most of it is cute. There are 4 main things they carry: dishware, office supplies, beauty supplies, and food.
They have a decent selection of Japanese bowls and plates which are a great price and appear to be great quality. The office supplies are not high end. In fact, they are simple plastic tools that cost about $1 each. Likewise for their beauty products. Their food selection focuses mostly on Asian snacks.
It's fun just to browse. I always leave this store with some snacks and unnecessary knick knacks. -
Review from Mary Grace V.
Pittsburg, CA
6/15/2008
Very cute shop!! A lot of stuff I don't really know what it is.. but it looks AWESOME!!! Bright colors, cute animal coin purses, cool face wash products I wish I knew what the purpose of it was for, HI-Chew candies that are my favorite, and bomb ass scented AIR FRESHENERS (squash is funtastic!) that'll keep your car smelling soooo goood for a pretty long time!
Again, so cute. -
Review from Thuy N.
Fremont, CA
11/23/2008
Ichiban Kan offers items that Daiso doesn't, that being said, mostly bento box options. Like plastic toothpicks, bento box dividers, more onigiri/sushi molds, egg molds, and actual bento box separater containers.
Other than that, there isn't anything else I did find awesome here. Love the fact that there are shirts on the cheap (cheesy Japanese shirts) and even cute plain aprons for cooking!
Big plus: Shiseido shampoo and conditioners for 12.99 (bottle with pump) or for refills, only 9.99.
Visa/MC only with $10 minimum. -
Review from Anita L.
4/18/2005
A store consisting of Japanese-made things for around $1 each. Plastic containers, stationery, cooking utensils, buckets, bathroom accessories, food, etc. Some larger items may cost $1.50 or $2 each, but still a BARGAIN!! However, don't be surprised if at checkout you've spent $30 or more.... very easy to do. Also locations in San Francisco Japantown and one in East Bay somewhere.
UPDATED 07-03-07: WOW they've gotten a lot of new items in here. I spent $60 today. Thank God we live so far away now, otherwise, I'll be broke just coming here week after week buying up everything. -
Review from Amy D.
1/18/2006
Ichiban Kan has lots of little things. Hair clips, brushes, combs, stationery goods, kitchenware, bathroom cleaning stuff, laundry bags, party bags... and even garden ware. Planters are $1-2.
I really like the laundry garment bags. They have bra bags, sweater bags, t-shirt bags that are wonderful. All only $1 each. The more delicate the fabric, the smaller grain the mesh bag.
They've expanded the kinds of snacks and foods they carry, which is a major plus.
** CASH ONLY!! Minimum purchase with credit card is $10. ** -
Review from Aivy C.
8/2/2006
This is a Japanese slightly-more-than-a-dollar store where you can stock up on all sorts of goodies for your kitchen, your bathroom, your pantry... you name it. And the best part is that nothing costs over $10 here.
My favorite section of the store is where they sell snacks, drinks, and those just-add-water soup bowls. I get my favorite snacks here - Green Tea Pocky, those big round sweet Japanese rice crackers that I tear into with a vengeance whenever I have the munchies, and bottles of unsweetened green tea.
They also carry Shiseido and Kanebo bath and body products, which I love. I stock up on green tea facial cleanser [can you tell what my favorite ingredient here is? haha], moisturizer and Salonpas patches for sore muscles whenever I'm here.
Now if only they would open up a store in my neck of the woods! I live in Hayward, I work in San Jose, and I still hit up the store in San Mateo! -
Review from lauren y.
3/25/2007
I don't know what "kan" means in Japanese, but this place is definitely the "ichiban" dollar store in the San Mateo area!
Where else can you find laundry bags for washing delicates for $1? How about washcloths? Or any size and color basket imaginable? Or plastic trays with handles for taking out hot stuff out of the microwave? My grandma and mom swear by it and even bought 20 of them to pass out to their friends and relatives!!
The staff is very friendly and its a great place to walk around after dim sum at Joy Luck up the street.
The ONLY bad thing is though most things are priced at $1, we always end up buying $50 worth of stuff because we really needed that plastic rice scooper, in all 7 sizes... and the holders or it.. and also the little sponges to clean them with... hehe. -
Review from Jen T.
6/19/2007
Ichiban Kan is the epitome of what a dollar store should be like. I always have to stop by whenever I'm in the area and I always end up leaving with a bunch of random cute stuff I really don't need.
I went today and actually caught myself saying a couple times to my friends, "This is so cute. Tell me what I can do with this."
Seriously.
I wish I had known this earlier today when I borrowed a $.50 from my friend to pay for the tax (yeah, I spent the last couple dollars in my wallet here and didn't have enough -__-), but you can use your credit card here for any amount; they just prefer that it's at least $10. -
Review from liz c.
6/27/2007
In here I
Can find
Household products
Including underwear hangers, laundry bags, and bug zappers
But also dishware! Including chopsticks and tea sets.
And can't forget the candy! All for real
Nice prices.
K (nothing starts with K)
Anyone can expect to leave happy
Neatly stocked with new stuff! -
Review from Gloria H.
7/7/2007
It's a fun place to browse and shop. I always manage to find something, especially things I don't need...but what the heck, most of the items here are pretty well priced.
Some of their snacks are actually more expensive than Marina Food or 99 Ranch.
