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Categories: Grocery, Seafood Markets, Ethnic Food [Edit]
Neighborhood: International DistrictMon-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"This place looks like an ordinary small grocery store or bakery from the outside, but what you don't know is that inside, they have some of…" read more »
How can you not love this store? I wonder around in there for hours buying things that I have no idea what they are. Once I get home and open them half the time I still don't know what they are! Great import selection of beer, soda, and sake. If you've seen Anthony Bourdain drink it on "No Reservations" you can probably get it here.
The food court is nice as well as the attached book store. Parking can be a challenge but at least it's free if you buy something.
Great place to take all of your out-of-town guests, but their prices stear me to the asian local markets instead. This grocer is always packed day or night. Good selection of foods, gifts, books and small fast food section. My LA Japanese friend Kay enjoyed the name of this shop the best: "uwji-mama"!!!
I will always have a fondness of this shop b/c it has been with me since I was little. I remember when there was a site at the Southcenter Mall and my mom always treated me to rice candy. The Renton location freaks me out!... its like "look at me, I'm Japanese grocer/gift market" but really it will always be Thirftway with a different smell.
Uwajimaya is the Disney World of Asian mega grocery stores. They have er-vry-thang! Sur-y-us-ly.
I don't even know where to begin... In one corner, there's a large Japanese bookstore with cute little impulse items that require blinders to walk past. Then at one side of the store, you will find all kinds of kitchen gadgets, of which most are Asian imports. Egads, I did not know an electrical rice cooker or beverage water boiler can cost so much! My guess is that they offer quality to go with the price tag, but I would never know... In the same section, more Japanese imports like toiletries, greeting cards, craft items, and kimonos are found.
Then the part that begins to take on the feel of a shopping mall is their food court. A diverse Asian variety is offered here that include Chinese, Korean, Thai, and more. Because of Uwajimaya's proximity to the Hawks and Mariners stadiums, it gets pretty crowded on game days, in case you wonder why in the world you can't find a seat after taking an eternity hunting down a parking spot.
I had no idea there were so many styles of Asian breads! It's intimidating to pick something from the massive selections I've never come across. Then there are the beverages. There are sooo many of them. They're pretty much all Asian brands. It truly feels like I walked into Uwajimaya via a passport-required entryway. The seafood area is large and never overwhelming in a way seafood departments tend to be (such as fishiness and chlorine). It is mind-boggling to see that the variety of soy sauces and packaged teas on their shelves. There's a section devoted to Asian brands of chocolate and sweets as well, as if I've entered a duty-free shop.
I have a love-hate relationship with the nut vendor that's always outside their parking lot entryway. I love the fact that they make wonderful sweet-encrusted peanuts and yummy toasted chestnuts. The aromas are especially tantalizing on a cool day. What I hate is that I usually over-spend in the store. Then when I've almost made it to the safer confines of my car, I have to battle my haste on whether to part ways with my last dollar bills.
Uwajimaya is not just a grocery store; it is more of a mental passage into Asia without having to drop a grand on airfare and tote around a passport with your mugshot.
Any time i need to go grocery shopping you know I am sure to go here! this place has the best prices and an excellent staff. Any time the folks down at Uwajimaya need a tooth cleaning, Oak Tree Family Dentistry is sure to help. Just ask for Michael Huynh DDS.
I love Uwajimaya. My only wish is that items they don't specialize in were more reasonably priced so that I could make it a one-stop shop rather than having to hit multiple grocery stores. For example, their organic eggs are $4.69 for a brand which is $3 at Madison Market... same for the organic yogurt. I'll still hit multiple grocery stores if I have to, though, 'cause a trip to the waj is always worth it.
Be careful if parking in their lot. If you become too enthralled with the myriad of fascinating items or linger in the bookstore too long, you'll go over the 2 hour validation limit... and it's $7.50/hour thereafter. Ouch.
Now that I'm learning Japanese, visits are even more exciting. I attempt to slowly translate every product and end up being in there for ages.
I never seem to get out of the waj for under $100. Tiny crackers in flavors I've never tasted, little cookies with adorable printed cat faces... something silly always finds its way into my once-purposeful cart. However, they do now have a special where it's 10% off for college students with student ID on Friday nights from 6-10pm. Hooray!
This is my favorite place in the world to buy groceries. Sometime over the years, I developed a strong liking to Japanese food, and this is the only store I can find many of the things I consider essential to have at home, and they also provide a lot of choice for those things.
I love that the produce I frequently buy is a bit cheaper here than it would be in a suburban Safeway or QFC, if they carry it at all. Shiso, nira, ginger, nappa cabbage, baby bok choy and choy sum, many kinds of mushrooms, tons of exotic and local fruit...
They also have a pretty great deli in my opinion, and I love treating to myself to their Vietnamese sandwiches. There is also tons of sushi and sashimi, spam musubi, ume onegiri, sukiyaki, tonkatsu, udon, miso... so much good food to choose from.
They have an aisle that is more than 50% ramen, the rest of it dedicated to noodles like soba, somen, shirataki, rice vermicelli, even pasta. It's pretty great.
And they have lots of sweets and snacks! For the last three years they have carried Melty Blend (Melty Kiss in Japan), they have tons of daifuku(pineapple!) and mochi to choose from, dango, roll cake, a big selection of Pocky, anpan, tons of hard candies and soft chewy things, interesting flavors of gum, chocolate, rice crackers of all kinds, shrimp chips, potato chips... mmmm.
The frozen/refrigerated section also has a lot to choose from. Mochi, local ice cream brands, azuki and green tea ice cream, gyoza, won-tons, croquettes(including curry!), takoyaki, natto, umeboshi, miso pastes of all kinds, packages of instant udon and yakisoba...
The seafood area is fun also, but I've been avoiding it because I stopped eating blue fin tuna, and I don't want to tempt myself. But it is still cool! They have tanks with live dungeoness crab, lobster, fish, oysters, geoduck, and lots in general to choose from.
They also have tons of kitchen stuff, from bento boxes to rice cookers to chef's knives to sake sets...and lots of interesting Japanese kitchen tools in between.
They also have more than just Japanese food. There is a decent selection of Thai, Indian, Chinese, Korean and Philippine... and a small selection of American and European things here and there.
JAPANESE GUMMY CANDY!
I rarely buy actual food here, I just like to come here to play. I buy way too much Japanese candy, Hello Kitty crap and Japanese fashion magazines. I always leave with a smile.
Need Japanese bowls, rice cooker, fresh uni, live oysters, sushi, live watercress, Maneki Neko or a quick serve lunch plate? Uwajimaya has it all under the same roof.
A clean Asian superstore that does NOT have 'fresh, live' fish floating sideways that you see in other Asian stores.
A fun place to browse with an attached bookstore. So, you can check out a recipe and get everything in the store.
Impressive.
This place is a bit overwhelming; there is just too much to choose from, and I don't know where to begin. After careening and maneuvering through many aisle ways, you will ultimately find something that strikes your fancy. I stumbled upon a shrimp sushi roll and some pastry stuffed with some sort of chocolate cream. It was all pretty good; however, I fill so unfulfilled. There were hundreds of other goodies and treats calling out to me.
Unfortunately, I couldn't try them all today; however, I suppose that means I have an excuse to head back here again and experience the same conundrum all over again.
Incredible collection of just about every Asian food product you could imagine, a fresh and varied selection of produce and extremely yummy ready-to-eat offerings. All are very reasonably priced.
The staff is amazingly helpful. I asked one person for help locating a certain product. He was not sure if they carried it, but conferred with several other staffers to see if they knew if the store carried it. Still not finding it, he offered to take my contact information so he could do a bit more research and let me know what he could find out. THEN, he tracked me down elsewhere in the store because he'd found something similar to what I was looking for and was wondering if it would meet my needs.
Customer service like that does not come around every day!
How happy for me that Uwajimaya is conveniently located in-between where I live and where I work.
One of the best supermarkets in town, period, but stocked with an amazing array of asian items. Fresh and packaged foods, kitchenware, and a couple of unexpected additions, like a big food court and a bookstore. You can spend hours here.
The meat and produce are all solid, so is the fish. Plenty of stuff nobody carries outside the ID. Plenty of spices nobody carries outside the ID. Good prices. Friendly, helpful service. Tons of kitchen items that aren't widely available outside the ID. Big parking lots nearby, though they cost. If you're planning to cook Asian, Uqajimaya is an amazing resource, and you can do the rest of your shopping while you're here.
Your one stop Asian grocery, right in the heart of the ID.
They have a huge selection of Asian grocery items. The largest you will probably find in the PNW. The fresh seafood selection is great, with live shellfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, and some fish, ect. Plus they also have all the normal fresh cut fish. The produce selection is vast and fresh. They carry hard to find ingredients that you can not find at your local markets. All which is very reasonable and most of the time cheaper than the local groceries, unless you are trying to buy an Americanized item.
If you need to do any type of Asian cooking, come here to pick up your supplies. They not only carry groceries but kitchen hardware/utensils, a food court, bank, and more. Plus it's just a fun place to visit and take a look around.
A very efficient, friendly, and clean environment. If you are a local and enjoy to cook, you have no excuse to not frequent this place.
The flagship Uwajimaya store is great. It is conveniently located in the I-District and is large and clean. Something that can not be said for some I-District grocers. It definitely has helped to destigmatized Asian foods. There are several vendors in the same building like Daiso, Samurai Noodle, Kinokuniya, Chase Bank and the food court which makes it a super one-stop place to go.
The produce selection is excellent and I like they have a meat counter which carried marinated meats. They also have an extensive seafood selection and deli. The Bellevue location is closer, but I go to this location for a better selection. Yes, prices here can be a little high. But I think the ambiance here is good and I usually look at the weekly flyer to see if there is anything worth making the trip to Seattle for before going. In closing, it is not a real trip to the I-District without a visit to Uwajimaya.
When I first visited Seattle job hunting two years ago, this was one of the first places a buddy of mine took me to. It was love at first sight! I knew then and there that Seattle could be my new home. All the asian delights that you could find sans the sketchy odors and sanitary conditions usually associated with finding such things. This is like the Epcot center of asian markets. They have stuff from the Philipines, Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. Where else can you find that beef tendon,, geoduck, pig blood and fish roe as easy as finding soda and chips? They boast a staggering aray of items from asian crackers to mochi balls to rice cookers and woks. I can't seem to escape this place without buying something!
The food court is pretty good. They have a wide variety of asian themed food venues (chinese bbq, hawaiian, thai, vietnemese, zen noodles, burgers, frozen yogurt, etc.) The free parking validation with a purchase over $7 (including food court) is also a good deal especially in the International District.
Words can't describe how much I adore this place. Not only is it the perfect time suck for a lazy Saturday morning, but there's literally hours and hours worth of browsing to be done here (especially if you wander to the bookstore). I love that I can buy sushi grade fish in the same building as a book on modern graphic design, and pick up some pocky on my way out!
i think there's something genetically coded in me to fawn over tiny, cute, useless trinkets, and there's always some cellphone charm or vinyl toy that catches my eye here. but my favourite thing they stock here is the wine in cat-shaped bottles (the name of the brand slips my mind at the moment, but you can't miss them).
ALSO..Vegans and allergic folk:
Be careful if you have allergies to certain ingredients or are vegan/veggie. The Japanese to English translations on food products are not always correctly translated verbatim.
I once made the mistake of purchasing a food product and relied on the English ingredient label and upon coming home, had an allergic reaction. After peeling off the English label, the Japanese ingredients were not fully disclosed.
Otherwise, all around great store! They just need to hire someone who can actually translate Japanese to English on their products correctly.
They do not have everything Japanese here. I came in looking for Hokkaido butter, and they do not… Read more »
When I was a kid, visits to my stepmom's grandfather's apartment meant a trip to Uwajimaya. Now I work across the street and it has outgrown some of the quaintness -- it's "The 'Waj" now -- but I often still get the same tweak and excitement taking a run past the live seafood section. It's another treasure and one of the reasons I can't leave Seattle ... nothing else like it.
I'm not going to lie, I do not love this place. But as it is the closest grocery store to my bf's apartment, I frequent it. They have a strange selection of American items at about a 50% markup from your QFC. They don't have a lot of really basic supermarket stuff so you'll have to haul your behind up to Kress to get that.
What they do right is they have a huge selection of produce at reasonable prices. I always just wander around the produce section until something pops out at me. (I am not what you might call an organized cook.) Sometimes their meat case boggles my mind. They often don't have the cut I'm looking for (if you want something without the skin on it or a "western" cut beware) but I usually find something to substitute for it.
Now, as an Asian specialty shop it is really only okay. It is much, much cheaper to shop down the street at one of the smaller, smellier Asian markets. This is a polished, price-inflated version of the Asian market.
Awesome asian grocery store.
It's like 99 Ranch on 'roids. With a Japanese twist.
There's a bunch of fruits and veggies that can be found at most decent asian markets. Plus a decent sized organic selection thrown in the mix, which was a nice surprise.
Everything is neatly placed, and there are no fishy or other smells, even when you wander too close to the fish tanks.
There's a food court which is small, but has several offerings - noodles, Thai, Chinese, Beard Papa (!), etc. No idea if the food was any good, but like the variety.
Best part? Validated parking. Buy $7 worth of whatever and get 1 hour of parking. Buy $15 and get 2 hours.
Sweet!
Might be my favorite store in Seattle. The produce I find here is top notch and usually I can find some great specials. I love walking the noodle rows to see what new item to try. There is so much to choose from. The Seafood department is very nice, there is great take out food within the store. It's a great place to eat, shop and people watch.
This store is amazing!
They have so many fun items, what an experience it was to walk through and check out the labels. We stocked up on sauces, udon noodles, dumplings, and my personal favorite: green tea cookies. Nice, fair prices and easy to read shelf tags.
Loved the food court area with all of the vendors, we didn't get anything there, but it looked very exciting! Can't wait to come back and try some fun foods.
Free parking for one hour when you spend over $7.
Free parking for 2 hours when you spend $15.
I love Uwajimaya. I ALWAYS have a pleasant shopping experience here. I love the checkers, I love the stockers, I love the butchers and the fishmongers. Heck, I love all my fellow patrons, too.
Why do I gush so? The produce is the finest and at a good price. If your goal is to eat something green every day - this is the place to find variety to do just that. The meats are awesome - high quality and any cut you could possibly want. You want pig blood? They've got it. How about a little uterus? Yep. Just some chicken thighs for you? So simple. So, of course. You can't smell the fish counter - which means it is clean and has high turnover. Yes yes yes.
And then there is all that other stuff: noodles, soy sauce, teas, oils, frozen potstickers, the food court! You want it and it's Asian or Hawaiian - this is the place! Yes, there IS Spam.
Seriously...all Asian grocery stores should be this clean, have this much variety, and be as friendly. Unfortunately, they're not.
Having lived in Japan for six years, I remember the old days where my parents would take me the food court and order my favorite dish - katsu curry for me. Of course, once I got into there, I was quickly treated to a Hawaiian, Thai, Japanese, Korean, and deli style selection all topped off with Beard Papa cream puffs. I quickly grabbed two bentos and some croquettes and alarmed all around me as I proceeded to eat all of the food (minus the rice since I didn't want filler). After devouring everything within five minutes, I went into the store to pick up a few groceries that caught my eye and wistfully go back through memory lane back to my teenage years.
If I lived here, this seriously would be my Sunday grocery run. Hands down.
I have shopped many time to both the downtown location and the crossroads/redmond location and this is the place to go for all your fabulous Asian shopping! The downtown Seattle location is much larger with lots of great stuff going on. Along with shopping for groceries you can order prepared food from one of the vendors in the food court...you much try Bearded Pappas for their enormous dipped cream puffs! Or if you need a great cook book to assist in your Asian delights then the on site book store is sure to have what you are looking for in both english and otherwise. My daughters love to shop the crazy foreign candy that you'll find near the checkout line. There is a bank (chase i think)...oh and don't forget to check out the seafood department as it is some of the freshest Seattle has to offer! The prices are super low on most everything here...the staff if very friendly and always eager to help if you ask...and when you go make sure you have enough time to shop and look at everything...you will find some very interesting things. Lastly do not be afraid to park in the PAID parking lot because they will validate (pay for in full) your parking as long as you spend $10-$15 (i think thats right)
Hoo lawdy, I love the Waj. I'm practically apoplectic with my love for this place.
Not only are they great for finding essential ingredients for genuine asian cuisine (haute and home-cooking), they also have absolutely great prices. For everyday items like soy sauce and rice vinegar, this place can easily be 50% cheaper.
Their produce selection is just great. Mangosteen, bok choy, dragonfruit, durian?!?! It's exotic and wonderfully priced. This weekend, potatoes were going for 59 cents/lb and 5 for $1 lemons and limes. I haven't seen a grocery store in the area that can compare.
I peed my pants over the fish. They have sashimi grade yellowtail, which is virtually impossible to find in regular grocery stores, PLUS it was at $19.99/lb. We got three pounds of yellowtail and tuna for just under $50 and stuffed ourselves silly with delicious home-made sushi. The tuna was a little mushy, but the yellowtail was sweet, tender and heavenly. Neither had any sourness.
Their seafood area is epic. The oysters and lobsters are kept live in clean tanks and sold at great prices. The meat section had someone barbecuing some beef to give out as free samples.
My only lament is that I don't understand all asian languages so I could very well be missing out on the best product in the world simply because the english descriptions fall short. "Assorted dried herbs"?...that helps.
I'm going to seriously injure myself here one of these days since I always walk around wide-eyed and slightly dazed at the sheer size and spectacle of the place. There's so much to explore!
This is a Seattle treasure. We are so lucky to be able to shop at this store. It is almost like a field trip going there. I love to eat at their deli before I do my shopping. If you are on a macrobiotic diet, this is the place to shop. What a selection of vegetables!
Why am I torturing myself by always thinking this way after each visit? I honestly think they failed to utilize these 2 blocks (new uwa and former uwa) the best they could. Why? The food court seating area is WAY too small, the bathroom is funky & a little bit small and lacking in adequate sink flow, the dryers are weak and i have to bend down to use either of them (2 are offset for a reason...), the aisles in general are just too narrow, and the former site is just plain gross walking by it. I mean, sure, if it's still standing there because of it's historical value than FINE, but leaving it neglected for maintenance? Really!?!
Uwajimaya, you are still the finest asian superstore around here... I just feel you are a little cramped for the crowds you attract.
There's plenty of reasons to come here. Whether it be the superb selection of sweet Japanese/Asian… Read more »
Having just moved here from Japan, I have to say this is "home away from home" for me. Uwajimaya, thank GOD for your existence. *hugs* o(^ ...^)o
I went to Uwajimaya hoping to find, among other things, some RTD (ready to drink) coffee drinks I'd never tried before. I was successful in my search. I bought one bottle of "Milk Coffee" from the cooler case and two different kinds of Nescafe canned iced coffee. I'll have to go back some other time and try the varieties I missed.
I was impressed by the selection of grocery items. I saw a good mix of standard American items and Asian-branded items I'd never seen before. Some of the aisles seem a bit narrow considering the number of shoppers, but I was able to make it through the store on a busy summer afternoon without getting stuck. The food court area could use an expansion, however. There aren't many tables, and a better separation between the tables and pedestrian walkways would be helpful. I got a tasty meal from Thai Place and ended up taking it outside and around the corner to a bench, just to get away from the masses of people.
Parking looks expensive. But Uwajimaya is an easy walk from downtown, in my opinion.
A slightly brighter and more spacious interior is the only thing Uwajimaya needs!
Duh!
Asian grocery with excellent produce and noodoe!
BUT THE FOOD COURT SUCKS ASS.
hands down, the best Japanese/Asian Foods grocery store around here. The fresh fish department is superb, too. Really don't have much more to add to all the great reviews the Waj has gotten by other yelpers.
I should add that Uwajimaya carries a lot of Hawaiian food favorites, like LauLau. I can even find fresh Taro leaves here if I want to make it myself.
Still overpriced- but so damn good at presenting itself I hardly complain but when I read my receipt in the car. I am usually dazzled into a giddy consumerism lull until I reach it.
Oh Uwajimaya- the only place I feel like maybe one day I could be comfortable inflicting my "Japanese 101" on because these guys can take it!
Not because they are primarily Japanese but because I imagine I would not be the first to engage in broken Romanji with anyone of the check out ladies.
They loose a star because usually I only have time for a quick bite and their management of the food court is shaky. The Thai place, my previous favorite is- well, my sister who hates the taste of Thai food says it's perfect. Yeah.
Aloha plates is pretty grodey tourist fare too. I mean slap a surfboard in a restaurant serving baby harp seal, American bald Eagle and silverback gorilla with one sauce and people would still be lulled by the artificial familiarity of the "Americaness" of it.
Long, somewhat weird, story short- I only buy food I will later cook here. Which makes me sad because I can't find good phad thai in Seattle anymore.
I want to live there, and you can. It has apartments. It is a giant Asian specialty complex and I'm… Read more »
I've been coming here for years since I was a kid when it was on King ST then moved to their new location. I still shop here on an almost daily basis too since I live so close.
They have a variety of Japanese goods Chinese etc etc. Their noodle isle is by far my favorite. I've been to many Asian markets and I've never seen a huge amount of packaged noodle and instant noodles. I like their produce and meat section. Very clean and organized. There is also Kinokunya, the Japanese bookstore that is shared with Uwaji. It's a great place to get Japanese magazines, comic books, special ordered books, music, etc etc. Oh and not to mention the food court that serves lots of yummy food.
Beware of it getting busy after Mariners games or any sport games that are near Chinatown, and the weekend rush. It can get really crowded and hectic.
I have always loved you. You and your little gift shop, Kinokuniya Bookstore, food court and validated parking. But I don't think you liked me or my wallet very much because you tried to take it away from me every time I came in.
I always thought you were a tad on the expensive side but yesterday you proved me wrong! All I wanted was 2 or 3 potatoes but $0.99 for a 5 lb. bag I had to have them all. I don't know what I'm going to do with all of them but I will not go hungry (for spuds) ever again. The carrots and onions were a pretty good deal too; was it $0.59 a pound? I can't remember, I'm still floored by your potatoes.
You and I both know this was a love-hate relationship but slowly you're winning me over.. it's a love-love thing now.
This place was awesome. parking sucks.. but anything with parking in seattle sucks.
used to go to the bookstore and get my drift tengokus and option mags.
groceries were expensive.. but shit... its an asian joint.
the food court.. alot of great asian foods.
I was very happy that my host took me here! It is truly a gem of the International District, and when I arrived I felt very much at home. It is very clean for such a busy market, and the booths have very friendly staff, who love to offer samples and feed you!
The frozen yogurt place here (gah, I forget the name but it is truly amazingly the best yogurt I have had in my life!) The grocery joint has decent produce, nothing over the top tho. I'd stick to the places off Jackson street for cheap and plump produce, esp. fruits. They have ramen, roll cakes, soba noodles, soy sauce other than kikkoman, delicate chicken, and nice kitchen equipment - I wanted to buy some but the sales tax made me decide against : /
Don't let the name fool you, there is more than just Japanese eateries here (i.e. Thai, Philipino, Chinese, Viet, etc.)
Viva Uwajimaya!
I've been frequenting this store since I could walk, seriously. As long as I am in Seattle, I will continue to be a Uwajimaya fan for life.
Love Uwajimaya because they have EVERY ingredient I would need for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have Japanese parsley, burdock, tofu of almost all varieties--including freshly made dessert tofu, allll kinds of Asian snacks, etc., etc.
Sure they may be a bit pricier than the other Asian megalomart, but the quality is top notch.
Where else can you get Thai basil, regional Asian vegetables, sauces, sushi, Kobe/Waygu beef, oxtail, chicken feet, and beef tendon?
Nowhere!
I love this Uwajimaya in I.D. because the aisles are nice and big and they have tons of goodness, including a food court and cool gift section.
We've come to rely on their tasty bags of polished rice (can't buy that at Safeway!), chili sauces, and the weird cuts of meats that we love so much.
It can get a bit crowded during their popular hours, but unlike the Bellevue location, the aisles are nice and spacious.
I can believe I haven't written a review for here! I have been going to this market since I moved here. I am a big fan of our Uwajimaya. I think it has to be one of the iconic Asian groceries in the PNW. Yes, it is a bit expensive but service and quality actually costs money. I love Uwajimaya for three reasons:
1. Freshness of the produce
Any day of the week I go to Uwajimaya, I can find the freshest fruit and veggies. Fruit and veggies here look like fruits and veggies in magazines; all clean, green, colorful and handsome.
2. Variety of items
You can find most of items from Asia from Japan down to India here. Walking down the produce isle you will see some strange looking veggies and produces. Every time I go here, I walk though the "Strange produce" aisle wonder "what can you possibly make out that 50lb peanut looking thing?"
I have found some Korean produce here and have been impressed. I do think there can be little more Korean items but it's pretty good. Besides produce, they got millions of different stuff here. Sometimes you see people touring Uwajimaya more than buying; wooing and awing at different can goods. I think they should have a tour service. That would be freaking hilarious.
3. Service
Even though this place can be packed with people (Sunday evenings, it's NUTS!), usually everything moves pretty smoothly here. They open and close cashiers constantly to keep the lines moving. Cashiers are usually very nice. It's always a pretty quick in and out trip to the Uwajimaya.
If you live in Seattle or Portland and haven't been to Uwajimya, that's pretty tragic, I am sorry. Please go check it out. It's even worth just walking though it. You will probably walk out with something with Hello Kitty on it but that's ok.
I love Uwajimaya.
Growing up, my parents were coordinators for student exchange programs. Every summer, for 5 or 6 years, my parents would take on the task of finding host families for 15-20 Japanese exchange students. They would take them on tours of downtown, Mt. Rainier, and various other sightseeing spots around Washington state. It was always so much fun and as a child, I learned a ton about Japanese culture.
During the summers, Uwajimaya became a usual stop to pick up ingredients for dinner or green tea. And more than 20 years later, it's still one of my favorite places to get the foods that I've grown to love.
Usual suspects consist of: chikawa (broiled fish cake), red bean cakes, macha, golden curry, and rice balls with umeboshi plums inside. While the Bellevue location was the one we'd normally frequent, the Seattle location is just as good and hosts a food court if you're interested.
My travels a year and a half ago took me to Japan where I really fell in love with the traditional dishes of everyday life. I know I can find everything I need here to recreate these home cooked meals and that earns Uwajimaya five big ol' red ones.
Neighborhood: International District
Category: Bookstores
Bellevue, WA
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Fruits & Veggies
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Cosmetics & Beauty Supply
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