Pantry Staples

SHOYU

Soy Sauce. You know this.

CURRENT FAVORITE

SAN J SAUCE SHOYU ORGANIC
Good balance of quality and price. No msg. Naturally brewed.

OSHAWA ORGANIC NAMA SHOYU
No added alcohol or preservatives. Certified Organic.

EDEN ORGANIC SHOYU SOY SAUCE
Naturally processed. Traditionally made.

SAKE

Bringing out natural flavor, softening ingredients and suppressing unpleasant odor from fish and meat. Any cheap regular sake will do (avoid unfiltered sake). Adjust the amount of salt accordingly. Alternatively you can use a cooking sake. Basically sake with salt. (That way, cheaper than regular sake.)

CURRENT FAVORITE

TAKARA SHO CHIKU BAI CLASSIC

SHIRO GOMA

White sesame seeds. Sold as whole seeds, ground seeds and paste. Look for pre-roasted or roast your own.

CURRENT FAVORITE

RODELLE TOASTED NATURAL SESAME SEEDS
Only the finest ingredients. Made in Colorado.

KUKI TWICE ROASTED SESAME GOLD
Roasted ground seeds.

JUN KUKI NERI GOMASHIRO
White sesame paste.

KOMBU

Dried Kelp. Rich in minerals and vitamins. Natural flavor enhancer. An ingredient for dashi broth often paired with bonito flakes. Macrobiotic, vegan, raw and gluten-free. What else?

CURRENT FAVORITE

KIMURA SHICHIZO HIDAKA MITSUISHI KOMBU
High quality Hidaka kelp from Hokkaido, Japan.

EDEN KOMBU
Good grade Ma Kelp from Hokkaido, Japan. Hand harvested and sun dried.

MENDOCINO KOMBU
Wild Seaweed from the Mendocino Coast.

MIRIN

Mildly sweet cooking sake. Bringing out natural flavors. Adding complexity and graze (like in teriyaki). Helping maintain the natural texture and prevent  ingredients from crumbling while being cooked. Avoid Aji Mirin.

Check out the recent article from New York Times, “Catching an Elusive Japanese Flavor”

CURRENT FAVORITE

TAKARA MIRIN

Well known brand in Japan with long history. Made from premium Sacramento rice, koji and yeast. Delicious, complex and versatile.

EDEN FOODS MIRIN
Widely available in California. Imported from Japan. No msg.

Also available at edenfoods.com/ Compare the price!

OHSAWA ORGANIC GENUINE MIRIN
Organic. Non-GMO. Traditionally handcrafted. Product of Japan.

RICE VINEGAR

Smooth and mild flavor compared to fruity and tangy white wine vinegar. Works great with Japanese dishes.

CURRENT FAVORITE

MARUKAN RICE VINEGAR UNSEASONED
Traditionally brewed from California grown rice.

KATSUOBUSHI

Dried bonito flakes. Smoky and flavorful. It makes dashi stock as well as being sprinkled on salad, soup, rice and tofu. They will dance on a steaming hot Okonomiyaki. 

CURRENT FAVORITE

KANESO TOKUYOU HANAKATSUO, DRIED BONITO
Company with long history from Toyama. Good quality and value for everyday use.

YAMAHIDE BONITO FLAKES
Good quality and value for everyday use.

MISO

Fermented soy beans. Red miso is richer and saltier. White miso is sweeter. Awase (blend) is somewhere in between. Start with an awase blend, if it is your first purchase. People often buy red and white to make their own blend to deepen flavors.

CURRENT FAVORITE

UMASA MISO PASTE
It is being translated as red on the label, but it is actually a blend. Product of Japan. No msg. Good mid-range choice.

MIKO AWASE MISO PASTE
Product of Japan. No msg. Another good mid-range choice.

MARUMAN ORGANIC RED MISO
Well known brand in Japan with long history. 100% organic. No additives.

MISO MASTER ORGANIC RED AND WHITE MISO
Made in USA. 1 1/2 years aged.

NORI

Roasted sea weed that comes in thin sheets. Ready to use. Rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. It is used for wrapping sushi. It can also be shredded on rice, salad, ramen, pasta etc. Seal the bag to keep it crunchy. Wave it over a burner to bring back the crispness when it apears soggy. Avoid seasoned nori.

CURRENT FAVORITE

YAMAMOTO YAMA ARIAKE PREMIUM NORI
Product of Japan. Well known brand.

YANAGAWA YAKI NORI
From Yanagawa offshore fish farms in Fukuoka, Japan. Only imperfect shape sheets are packed for every day use with better price. Good value.

EDEN SUSHI NORI
Finest grade. Hand harvested and naturally dried. From Ise Japan.

YUZUKOSHO

Citrusy, salty and spicy. Made from yuzu citrus, salt and green chiles. It adds extra kick of heat and flavor to soup, yakitori, sashimi, gyoza, pickled veggies, noodles and hot pot. Use in small amounts. It lasts more than 6 months to a year. Keep it in a refrigirator once opened. 

CURRENT FAVORITE

GREEN YUZU KOSHO
From Fukuoka, Japan. Their signature produst.

YAMAGUCHI GREEN YUZU KOSHO
Artificial color free. Fragrance free. From Kyushu, Japan.

WASABI

Great for sushi, sashimi, meat, cold soba and even for potato salad for an extra kick. Most products sold as wasabi are typically some kind of horseradish mixture. If you are interested in how real wasabi looks like, check out here.

CURRENT FAVORITE

These are blend options with some real wasabi.

AUTHENTIC JAPANESE SHIZUOKA WASABI PASTE
Product of Japan. Real wasabi blend from Shizuoka. No artificial scents or coloring.

S&B PREMIUM WASABI PASTE IN TUBE
Product of Japan. Real wasabi is used. No artificial coloring.
 

SESAME OIL

CURRENT FAVORITE

KADOYA PURE SESAME OIL
Product of Japan. 100% pure sesame oil. Not a blend.

UMEBOSHI

Pickled plums. Fruity and intense tangy and salty flavor. The traditional red color comes from the red shiso leaves added to the pickling brine. Good for sushi, rice balls, salad dressing, dips, dashi stock soup and shochu.

CURRENT FAVORITE

Paste form is usually a cheaper option than whole umeboshi. First three on the list are paste.

S&B BAINIKU UME BOSHI PASTE
No artificial coloring. Widely distributed and affordable choice. Umeboshi puree comes in a tube.

CHINRIU WHITE UMEBOSHI PASTE
Made from high quality umeboshi using artisanal methods. Product of Japan.

EDEN FOODS UMEBOSHI PASTE
All natural. Made by only traditional methods of fermentation.

CLEARSPRING ORGANIC JAPANESE UMEBOSHI PLUMS
Imported from Japan. A product of a privately owned UK company.

KISHU NANKO PLUM
Good quality umeboshi can be pricy! Premium grade plums from Wakayama, Japan. Soft skin, substantial meat with small pits. Additive free.

NOODLES

We love noodles!  Somen (thinest), Hiyamugi, Udon, Soba (buckwheat) and Ramen to name the most popular ones.

CURRENT FAVORITE

IBONOITO SOMEN
The most popular somen brand in Japan known for its smooth, al dente texture. Product of Japan. Preservative free.

ITSUKI DRIED UDON NOODLES
Product of Japan. Classic Kyushu style. Great texture.

TANDOKORO SPECIAL SOBA NOODLES
Made from 100% soba flour without any use of binding agents. Product of Japan.

If you are looking for thicker/rounder udon common in US, try a frozen section at a nearby Asian supermarket. Frozen noodles could be as good as dried.

KARASHI MUSTARD

Made of oriental mustard seed. Much spicier than the yellow mustard commonly used in the US. Good with fried food, fried noodles, sandwich, natto, oden.

CURRENT FAVORITE

S&B KARASHI PASTE IN PLASTIC TUBE
Product of Japan. No preservatives.

SHICHIMI TOGARASHI

Spice mixture of seven ingredients. Great for miso soup, udon, soba noodles, grilled meat or fish. Makes a great dipping sauce just by mixing with mayo!

CURRENT FAVORITE

YAWATAYA ISOGORO SHICHIMI TOGARASHI
Well known togarashi brand with a long history. Good balance of heat and aroma. Their seven spices include chili pepper, tangerine peel, sesame seeds, ginger, shiso herb, sansho pepper and hemp seeds.

HOUSE SHICHIMI TOGARASHI
Widely distributed here as well as in Japan. Good affordable option. Their seven spices include orange peel, black&white sesame seeds, cayenne, ginger, Szechuan pepper and sea weed.

KATAKURIKO

Potato starch. Thickner, binder and used for deep-frying.

CURRENT FAVORITE

JFC KATAKURIKO POTATO STARCH
Product of Holland. All natural.

BOB'S RED MILL POTATO STARCH
All natural. No sulfites. Not bleached.

PANKO

Dried bread crumbs made of white bread. It gives a crunchy coating for deep-frying and grilling dishes. Also used as thickener and binder.

CURRENT FAVORITE

KIKKOMAN PANKO BREAD CRUMBS
Product of USA. There aren't many options I could find. I am still on the hunt for good panko in California. 

Or look for “Shop in Bulk” section at a supermarket. That has been my best bet so far.

WAKAME

Tender, sweet and nutty sea weed. Rich in vitamins, minerals and iron. It is usually sold dried and cut in small pieces. Good for miso soup, soup noodles, salad, hot pot and marinated dishes.

CURRENT FAVORITE

NADAYA PRE-CUT DRIED WAKAME
Product of Fukuoka, Japan. Additive free. No preservatives.

EDEN WAKAME
Cultivated off the shore of Ise, Japan in the mineral rich arctic currents. Hand harvested.

MENDOCINO WAKAME