Partner Love: Japantown
A delicious spread from Ramen Yamadaya.
Here’s a rundown on what our Japantown Tour partners are doing right now. If you’re in a position to support these businesses, they could use all the love we can give them. Looking forward to the day we can return to doing a traditional tea ceremony in the lobby of Hotel Kabuki courtesy of tea master and friend Kanako Nishimura. —Lisa
Shopping for provisions at Super Mira Market with Kanako Nishimura.
Benkyodo: The confectionery store is temporarily closed during the shelter-in-place mandate. Update: The sweet shop is now, alas, permanently shut.
Cha To: Japanese tea & gift shop is temporarily closed; free shipping on tea orders thru 5/31.
Dosa on Fillmore: Restaurant temporarily closed during the COVID-19 shutdown. Dosa by DOSA open for delivery in San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, San Jose, Daly City & Belmont via Caviar, DoorDash, GrubHub, or UberEats. Update: This business is now permanently closed.
Kissako Tea: Open for onigiri (rice balls), udon (noodles), and dangos (dumplings), also coffee, tea and Japanese-style desserts. Stop by or order via Postmates.
Mochill: Japanese-style mochi doughnuts. Check these beauties out here. Open. You’re welcome.
Oji Ramen: Temporarily closed during SIP.
Ramen Yamadaya: Open for takeout; for delivery order via DoorDash, PostMates or UberEats.
Super Mira Market: Open for all your Japanese home cooking and specialty food needs. Ramen, rice, nori, gyoza, bento boxes & more. Rice. Did we say rice?
Takoyaki Yama-chan: Open for Japanese street food takeout. Have you tried these delicious dumplings?
Uji Time Dessert: Open for pick up or delivery. Order pints of their black sesame, hojicha, and mochi ice cream treats for the ultimate comfort in place kit.
YakiniQ: Open for takeout sweet potato latte, matcha tea & snacks; delivery via DoorDash and PostMates.
Find instructions on how to fold origami hearts at GoFOLDMe.
This week in pandemic picks: Support the arts and crafts store Paper Tree, still filling and shipping online orders for your fold-at-home origami enjoyment. And join in their efforts to thank frontline hospital workers by folding origami hearts. Details at GoFOLDMe. Follow Japan Center Malls for updates on delicious happenings in the neighborhood. Find a complete list of openings & closings in the area over at Japantown SF. During SIP, restaurant standout Nari is offering a take-away menu (pickup only) for the first time. Preorder from their abbreviated menu, and add preserves from June Taylor & produce from Dirty Girl Farm. Come on by Japantown for the to-go food, stay for a walk to enjoy the cherry blossoms. ‘Tis the season.
Recipes to add to your repertoire: Have fun with Roy Choi’s instant ramen recipe; it’s quick comfort food in a bowl. Purists might like this Kenji Lopez-Alt tonkotsu ramen recipe. Or try Pim Techamuanvivit of Nari’s go-to comfort food dish rabbit stew. Homemade DIY sushi is always a hit in our house, as you can see.
My son Matthew on a roll for family dinner night, destination Japan.