Tokyo Fish Market, Berkeley
A trip to Tokyo Fish Market on San Pablo Avenue in Northwest Berkeley will make you want to run straight home and attempt feats of Japanese culinary greatness.
Like our other fave on our side of the Bay, Nijiya Market in San Francisco’s Japan town, Tokyo Fish Market stocks everything you could ever possibly need to cook up even the most elaborate Japanese recipe — noodles, sake, snacks, sweets, frozen and prepared foods, seasonings and condiments… you name it. But what puts Tokyo fish market way over the top is the absolutely gorgeous fresh fish and produce, the friendly and knowledgeable service and the wonderful selection of take away, ready to eat items. If you have any kind of problem with impulse buying at the grocery store, this place might just be your undoing.
In addition to filling our cart with teriyaki roasted seaweed, ponzu, quick dashi and konbu, we caved to the pleas of our kids for snacks in super cute packages, ogled the fresh sardines and sushi grade fish and walked out happily munching some tempura-filled onigiri (rice balls) which were so expertly packaged that they included a 3-step instruction guide for unwrapping. The gift store next door is worth a visit, too. You’ll find a nice selection of books to browse, hand painted kokeshi dolls, tea sets, trinkets, gifts and imported goods.
Onigiri that comes with instructions.
You might also like these Japanese recipes and food adventures:
- Japanese Comfort Food: Harumi’s 3 Topping Rice
- Sushi Making with the Kiddos
- A Taste of Japan in Our Own backyard: A Food Adventure to San Francisco’s Japantown
- A Day Among the Cherry Blossoms at Hokone Gardens (Saratoga)
- Mochi Adventure at Benkyo-Do in San Francisco
- Teriyaki on Everything
Looks so fun! So envious that you have such a great place near you! The closest place for us is across the river in New Jersey.
You know, you can buy those wrappers (with the instructions) and make your own rice balls with fillings of your choice. We love them because they are good for trips — and the seaweed stays crunchy!
Agreed — I was so impressed with the seaweed staying crunchy. That makes the onigiri as far as I am concerned. If you know where we can find those wrappers (maybe online?) I would love to buy some and experiment!