Takahashi Market
About
Takahashi Market is listed on FindALoco in San Mateo, CA with address, phone, website, and map location. Common services and related keywords include Asian Grocery Store.
Takahashi Market is a longtime neighborhood Asian grocery store in San Mateo, CA, serving shoppers from 221 S Claremont St, San Mateo, CA 94401. With a 4.7-star rating across 849 reviews, it stands out for the kind of practical, everyday value that locals remember: a compact market, a takeaway counter, and a friendly, slightly tucked-away feel near downtown San Mateo. It may not be the biggest Asian supermarket in the area, and some shoppers note that the shelf assortment can be narrower than larger Japanese markets, but that is part of its appeal. The store feels approachable, useful, and easy to come back to when you want familiar Asian pantry items and quick food in one stop.
The signature draw is the prepared food, especially the generous musubi that customers describe as almost brick-sized. Look for favorites such as unagi musubi, crawfish unagi musubi, spam musubi, and other rolls that make a simple lunch feel satisfying without being fussy. Takahashi Market is also known by reviewers for poke, spam options, and loco moco with gravy, giving the market a casual island-Japanese comfort-food identity alongside its grocery shelves. The kitchen can make this a convenient stop for quick takeaway, though customers have noted that kitchen availability may vary, so it is wise to plan with a little flexibility if you are visiting specifically for hot food.
Shoppers often call Takahashi Market a hidden gem because it sits in a quieter spot rather than the most central stretch of downtown. That location helps give the store a local, word-of-mouth character: small, charming, a bit unexpected, and less polished than a large chain. Prices are frequently described as more affordable than some nearby specialty markets, which makes it appealing for anyone stocking up on snacks, Japanese and Asian grocery basics, or grab-and-go meals. Parking is available in a small private lot, which customers appreciate, though the space can require patience and careful maneuvering during busy moments.
For San Mateo residents, nearby office workers, students, and Bay Area visitors searching for an Asian grocery store with ready-to-eat food, Takahashi Market offers a dependable local option with personality. It works well for a quick musubi run, a casual poke or loco moco craving, or a short grocery stop when you prefer value over a massive aisle-by-aisle selection. The experience is humble, practical, and very local, which is why many reviewers return even when flashier markets are closer to the center of town. If you are exploring food spots in San Mateo, CA, Takahashi Market is a worthwhile stop for Asian groceries and comforting takeaway favorites.
Ratings & Reviews
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Sign in to reviewThis Asian supermarket is away from the center downtown San Mateo. So I think it might be a little overshadowed by the other Japanese store, Suruki, which is located in the center of downtown. It lacks some assortment on the shelf, but the prices are much more affordable. I would go there more frequently if they provided easier access. Not to mention the helpful staff. They are very friendly, including the carrier. I noticed that there are many Hawaiian stuff selling there. I like Hawaii, so I really felt easy there. I really hope they can have more space and products to choose from, and a better location.
Takahashi Market is a charming little hole-in-the-wall. It may seem unexpected, but the one thing you absolutely have to try here is their brick-sized musubi. You’ll find them along the far left wall as soon as you walk in. My personal favorite is the crawfish unagi; creamy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced in portion.
What a nice little hidden gem in downtown San Mateo! Great selection of musubi, poke, and spam. The loco moco with gravy was delicious, as were several of the other musubi rolls. So glad they have been around for over 100 years. Parking lot is a bit small and will require some patient maneuvering to get in and out.
asian supermarket with kitchen so quick takeaway food! unfortunately the kitchen was closed when I went but tried their unagi musubi which hit the spot. would recommend and come back to try other dishes
Takahashi Market has its own charm despite being small and located at a lesser popular spot compared to other local Japanese markets. In fact, you'll love it when you find out they have their own private parking spots which can host around 10 cars. I came on a Monday at 11:40am and I can find parkings right away. There are a few tables and chairs set right in front of the market for you to sit down and enjoy your lunch if you opt to. As soon as you walk in, friendly staff will greet you with a smile. If you're like me and you're interested in their poke selection of the day, proceed straight to the back of the market, where you'll find ample poke selections to satisfy your fresh poke crave. You then can head straight up to the front area to grab a 7-inch-long hot musubi or two. There are so many options for everyone, ranging from salmon, chicken, crawfish, loco moco, spam, to Ebu tempura, Kuala pork and unagi musubi. I was like a kid in a candy store and couldn't decide which one. Eventually I picked the unagi musubi and it didn't disappoint! The musubi is 7 inches long as mentioned earlier and has lots of well-seasoned unagi (eels) in it. The rice was well cooked and has nice texture. I love that the musubi is cut in half, making it easier to share or to save for later. The portion was so generous that I could only finish half. The price for my musubi is $11 which is very reasonable, in my opinion. The pokes here does not disappoint either. I'm especially impressed with the freshness of the salmon poke. It tastes exactly like what I've experienced before in Tokyo, Japan. Reasonable pricing for the poke as well as a small poke ranges from $8-$10. Though being small, Takahashi market is organized, neat and clean. They even give you a cute Japanese milk candy at check out and free cooked rice to go with your pokes (with 2 options of either brown or white rice). Overall, I enjoy my experience here and will come back for their poke and hot musubi the next time I'm in the area. Highly recommend!
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