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Izumi-Ya Japanese Marketplace
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Caterers, Grocery, Ethnic Food [Edit]
7971 Alderbridge WaySte 160
Richmond, BC V6X 2A4
Neighbourhood: Golden Village
(604) 303-1171
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 7 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Izumi-Ya Japanese Marketplace
15 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa C.
Richmond, BC
This is a convenient and quick place for me to pick up some Japanese essentials. Parking is easy, the store is neatly organized so you can be in and out, and the service is very friendly with smiles - Arigatou gozaimasu!
The usuals for me are their fresh and sweet tasting Wakame (seaweed) salad. And at 1.99/100grams, it's one of the cheapest you can find! I really love their udon bowls - once microwaved in their microwavable safe container, the broth is perfectly seasoned with dashi, the udon is chewy and good, the ingredients are plentiful - soft meat (beef, chicken or cha siu), quail egg, seaweed, tofu, imitation crab meat, and green onions.
Note: When you come 30 minutes prior to their closing time, they have a discount on their ready-to-eat items. I always enjoy the hunt for $0.50 - $1 off my udon bowls, unagi sushi, and takoyaki! Discounted food always tasted better!
If you're stomach can't make it home, they have a small eating area inside with a microwave and japanese newspapers so that you may enjoy your goodies ASAP. -
Review from Simon K.
11/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
We came here on a whim, of food shopping in Richmond, and was advised of a Japanese supermarket. After going to the Nikkei fair a week back where one of the vendors, who was selling fresh mushrooms, said that they sold their product here. Keeping this information handy, and looking for an opportunity to come, me and my partner ventured, and came out with some stuff to munch on.
I was told by my partner that this place used to be smaller, that they didn't have all this room. It does look a little empty with the newly acquired room they have, but it does mean for comfortable shopping, as you won't have to tip-toe and maneuver yourself between people's and tight isles. The prices here were exceptional, where I did not find to be that expensive, and also very cultural, where some you know this stuff was imported as even the instructions on the box were all in Japanese.
I ended up buying a beef musubi and an unagi one too. They had packages of curry potato croquette, which I quickly grabbed off the shelf! Also was able to find the 4-pack of the black sesame short bread that I found at the Nikkei fair. My partner bought some Japanese mayo, and okonomiyaki mix, where we had a fun time making at home. They accept all kinds of payment, and the parking lot is big. I will be back to try out more of the goodies they make here, as well as shop for new cooking items, glad to learn about this place! -
Review from Katie F.
7/23/2011
I would have saved myself a lot of work if I had come in sooner for some chili oil that took me awhile to find in a mainstream grocery store!
It's not that full so I hope they can carry more imported items (bring in the lemon and blueberry cheesecake Kit Kats that I miss from Japan!!). It's stocked with a small produce selection, a decent amount of bento boxes/sushi, and a variety of noodles and snacks, etc...
The prices are fine and I picked up a few snacks for myself. Smooth checkout and enough on-site parking. -
Review from Amanda H.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
We have been here on several occasions and each time we leave happy. The pre-made food is pretty fresh and tasty and I usually have no trouble finding the things I want, even though I can't read or speak Japanese. :D
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Review from Joseph H.
Richmond, BC
1/23/2011
I visited Izumi-ya because of the reviews here on yelp. And I am so pleased that I did. This is the most authentic japanese market you can find in Richmond. As soon as I walked in, I noticed how exquisitely clean and bright-lit the store is, in stark contrast to T&T and Superstore. The air inside smelled clean and odorless. In most other places, you would smell something from the air conditioning or deli or produce sections. Its really big, but the space isn't utilized very well yet. What they do have is sufficient I believe for almost any kind of japanese cooking you want to do.
There's something about the way that ethnic japanese make their food, which I rarely see replicated. The taste is different, the spices, the condiments, the precise way the fish is sliced, the careful restraint in the preparation, the quality, the discipline, the philosophy of kaizen - there's just so many minute details that factor into the experience of true japanese cuisine. So I am overjoyed when I find a genuinely japanese restaurant or in this case, a true japanese supermarket.
The prices are reasonable, and the selection is adequate. There are a lot of stuff here that I would be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Richmond. They had more varieties of katsuo bushi then anywhere else I've seen. They also had a wide selection of japanese snacks and candies, some of which I've never seen before.
The food in the deli here is amazing. Its worth the trip here, just to chow down on the food. The quality is exceptionally high. It tastes like the food you would buy on the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan. This is a compliment. In other words, it is as authentic as it gets in Vancouver. I can never buy the so-called japanese food at T&T deli anymore after tasting Izumi-ya's deli.
My only concern is that I have some doubts that Izumiya can be a profitable business. Its obvious that every japanese person in Richmond and the surrounding area knows about Izumi-ya, and comes here to shop ever so often. But in order for this store to survive, they're going to have to attract a much more diverse and larger clientele. I hope that more yelpers interested in Japanese culture and food could go to this supermarket and help support it. Spread the word. This is a great store and deserves more business. -
Review from Larry L.
Izumiya is growing and it's great news!
The addition of La Chocolaterie and more and more stuff from Japan and local communities.
Japanese style and imported meats from Nikuya and Sugiyama.
Fresh Veggies
Instant ramen and bottles of sauces.
Fresh food prepped daily Bento style
And a place to eat it too!Listed in: Japanese Food. What it Means…, Asian Noodle Spots in Richmond, Ramen shops worth trying out
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2009
I've been coming here since they first opened up, which at that time was near my office. A quick… Read more »
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Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
3/4/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Bigger and better! They do need to use their space more efficiently however and the layout of the aisles is roughly the same as the small store, so LOTS of space wasted. Hopefully they fill up the room with some more awesome eats from Japan.
The pick-up your bento and quick eats area is still the same as well, but they are slowly offering more items and they seem to be better stocked these days as well.
I usually get a don-buri and a house roll if I'm in a hurry. I also love their brown rice California rolls (Yes I know, California rolls is not "real' sushi, but then putting mayo on your fries is not traditional and could illicit a throat punch from certain people too). Usually any sushi in brown rice is disgusting, but theirs is wicked good and healthier than the white rice option. My wife loves their Avocado rolls, lots of avocado for ~$4 including taxes.
The eating area is still kind of small and could use a few more tables, as lunch time gets crowded.
You can't beat this place for their deli foods and Japanese groceries! -
Review from Jay L.
Vancouver, BC
Izumiyas gone corporate! They used to have a small part of the building but have now taken over the whole block. They've added a Chocolatier shop where they make these delicious bite sized pieces of homemade chocolate. The downside? They seem to be just a tad pricier now. Someones gotta pay for the rent.
Still a great place to buy all your japanese market needs, they have a good fast food selection (which i think they've expanded now), for people who want to come by to grab a quick lunch or snack.
They have a good selection of instant and refrigerated japanese noodles, udon, ramen, and somen. I usually come here to pick up a few packs, and buy some negi onions to bring it home for a quick meal. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
9/26/2009
* A reliable Japanese market *
Granted this isn't a huge place, and granted they don't have a huge amount of stock. But they do have a nice variety of Japanese ingredients that are not terribly over priced. Parking is easy and there rarely are long lines.
While I've just purchased ingredients here, I've always eyed their bento boxes as well. They look quite similar to those you would get at a supermarket or convenience store in Japan. But I haven't tried one yet. They are very reasonably priced as well.Listed in: Vancouver Japanese Food, Best Vancouver food sources
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Review from Grayce E.
3/27/2010
Drive through sushi? Well not exactly but this is what I love about Izumiya, you can pull in, park, grab a lunch, snack or dinner and be out of there in the same time it would take you to go to a food court or drive through. Izumiya is actually a Japanese grocery store and its fun just to walk around and take a look at all the different food products. The sushi, sashimi, salads, and boxes is premade (but fresh) and placed in large open refrigerators. There is a small seating section for people who want to eat there as well.
The extra bonus- be there an hour before closing and you get $1 off each item. -
Review from Sachi M.
I was surprised how big this place is. The aisles are spaced far apart, so it's not like they have TONS of stuff, but they do have lots of variety.
I've never seen Nukazuke (special kind of pickling) kits!! I bought one, and can't wait to try it out.
The back third (?) is blocked off and is where all the prepared food is made. They have all the regular bento and sushi items, but I went December 30, and they had lots of traditional New Year items like Kuri-kinton and Kuromame.
A few years ago, I had prepared Izumi-ya items that I bought at another store (that they bought from Izumi-ya). I didn't like it then... the rice ball tasted like it had artificial seasoning. I was convinced that Fujiya (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) is better at that. The Pickled Napa I got here today was good, though. I might give them another try.
There's a section of tables, chairs, a hot tea (or hot water?) dispenser and a microwave if you want to eat your bento there.
There's also a section of 100-yen store items for $1.89.
The whole atmosphere is warehouse-y, but I didn't find that discouraging. I'm pretty sure I'll be back. The prices seem better than Konbiniya (downtown) and I can find things I don't see at Osaka Supermarket (few blocks up at Yaohan Centre). This is one of those places I like in a utilitarian way, not in an endearing way. -
Review from miss v.
Richmond, BC
7/17/2011
This place is a pretty cool place. It's a japanese supermarket which offers sushi and chocolate? haha their sushi is pretty good, i love their takoyakis and udons. I tried their chocolates before and they're good but not THAT good, just average. Around half an hour before they close everything is on sale (about 50%) for their sushi
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Review from Stephan W.
Langley, BC
3/5/2011 1 photo
Cavernous. I went in here hoping to find the cozy, colorful, jam packed type of grocery store I used to go to in Japan. This is not that. I didn't buy anything (because I couldn't find any Pocari Sweat) but saw some reminders of my time in japan. Hope to re-review after I pick up a bento and some groceries and upgrade this rating.
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Review from Athena Y.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2011
So, so good. We've been coming here for the bentos, to-go sushi, donburi, and assorted Japanese-food needs for years. We usually get the small beef or chicken bento, the potato salad (best I've ever had), the fried or spicy california roll, the katsu-don, and one of the big, nori-wrapped house rolls for about $35. The portions are generous, and the taste is awesome. Japanese food usually doesn't taste great cold, but the food here tastes wonderful even just after they've come out of the fridge. The tamagoyaki here is also very good - light, fluffy, juicy, and delicately sweet.
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Review from Natasha L.
6/3/2009
A great place to grab a quick udon, sushi or bento. My boyfriend loves the sashimi. I personally like their salad, especially with the heat nowadays ( YAYYY!!!) You can also get some japanese instant noodles or sauces. They have pretty basic Japanese foods that you can cook at home too like fish balls or shitake mushroom. The price is pretty fair too for the quality you get.
