27 replies to this topic

[kurl]

Sorry if this has been posted before (couldn't find anything), but -- prompted by a recent visit to Morimoto -- I'm looking for a wine store with a good selection of good sake. Obviously decent prices and a helpful staff would be a plus.

Any tips?

Thanks!

[raji]

Not sure if you can do better than Mitsuwa in Edgewater. Worth the trip for the price savings...

But, there are a few liquor stores in Midtown east that stock Sake extensively to serve that neighborhood - I'll get an address for you....

[pkeibel]

These have been recommended to me from previous egullet posts. I've been to the first and they had quite a good selection


Ambassador Liquors
1020 2nd Avenue (54th St.)
New York, NY

Sakagura
211 East 43rd Street, B1
New York, NY 10017
(Between 2nd & 3rd Avenue)

Landmark
on 23rd, between 6th and 7th

[raji]

I think Sakagura is only the sake lounge/restaurant...

[M.X.Hassett]

I think Sakagura is only the sake lounge/restaurant...

Yes you are right no take out sake.

[raji]

Ambassador Liquors
1020 2nd Avenue (54th St.)
New York, NY

Yeah that's the one - friend of mine manages a few of the piano (hostess) bars in the neighborhood - all those mysterious Japanese places with a single chinese character on the door and a buzzer, and they go through a lot of sake and schochu - so if I ever need either he told me he gets 20% off...

[Todd36]

Landmark on 23rd Street is probably the best, he probably has 200+ kinds and seems to have tasted them all.

[Mambwe]

I'm looking for a wine shop with a nice variety of Sake. Anywhere in NYC or Long Island is fine. I'm looking for a specific Sake called Meisousui, but I am also interested in looking at other types.

[feedmec00kies]

My boyfriend has somewhat been getting into sake, and it seems that many places have overlap - no one location seems to carry everything.

That being said, Astor Wines and Liquors has a pretty good selection. I searched their site, but didn't find the one you were looking for, unfortunately. I don't suppose you know who the distributor/importer is, do you?

[feedmec00kies]

Oh wait, look what I found: clicky

All the way downtown - 9 Broadway (hence the name "New York Wine Exchange"). No idea what their selection is like otherwise, but a category search for "sake rice" (why "sake sake" and "sake rice"? no idea) brought up at least 50-something results.

Edited by feedmec00kies, 10 December 2007 - 08:38 AM.

[raji]

Yes the larger retail stores have a selection. Also, some liquor stores in the east 40s and 50s around lex and 3rd have expanded sake selections to service all the japanese night businesses around there. But I would say it's totally worth the toll to hit the Mitsuwa in Edgewater, they have an entire aisle and much better prices. for that one in particular just google the name and buy it mail order, but I would find an analogue at Mitsuwa

[pkeibel]

You can also try Ambassador Liquors (1020 2nd Avenue nr 54th St.); Sakagura (211 East 43rd Street); and Landmark (on 23rd, between 6th and 7th). I've tried the first and last and both had excellent staff that was helpful

[I_call_the_duck]

I passed by a shop in the East Village 9th Street (between 1st and 2nd aves.) that looked like it just sold sake. We were late for our next appointment so we didn't stop in, but it looked like a really nice store.

[Mambwe]

Wow!! Thanks for the replies.

feedmec00kies...Thanks for finding it. I've been looking for a while for it with no luck. I post on Egullet and someone finds it within 30 minutes.

Has anyone been to Mitsuwa?? I've never heard of it before. The one perk of my job is that I drive around and can go to many places. Coincidentally I will be in NJ tomorrow so I will try and stop by.

[Vinotas]

Has anyone been to Mitsuwa?? I've never heard of it before. The one perk of my job is that I drive around and can go to many places. Coincidentally I will be in NJ tomorrow so I will try and stop by.

Mitsuwa is a fantastic and enormous Japanese store on the water in Edgewater. That said, be prepared to pay through the nose for pretty much anything, though the quality will be top-notch.

If you go to Astor, ask for Greg, he's been a great help in the past. Tell him I sent you. But many of the stores mentioned should be able to assist you as well.
Cheers!

[Bexb]

The east village place is called sakaya. They're really into their sakes and super helpful so even if they don't carry the particular sake you're after i'm sure they can either find something similar or look into placing a special order for you .

the blog:
http://www.sakayanyc...blog/wordpress/

[raji]

Mitsuwa is a fantastic and enormous Japanese store on the water in Edgewater.  That said, be prepared to pay through the nose for pretty much anything, though the quality will be top-notch.

I'd disagree with that assertion. Everything there is Japanese, which costs more, but you get a much higher quality. for booze, it should be cheaper than anywhere in the city. they are simply the Costco of Japanese groceries. if you buy stuff on sale and in bulk, you can save really big bucks! but even small stuff is cheap. you end up buying more there because the variety is so great.

Read the 'get thee to NJ' thread for more on mitsuwa

[Todd36]

Mitsuwa is a fantastic and enormous Japanese store on the water in Edgewater.  That said, be prepared to pay through the nose for pretty much anything, though the quality will be top-notch.

I'd disagree with that assertion. Everything there is Japanese, which costs more, but you get a much higher quality. for booze, it should be cheaper than anywhere in the city. they are simply the Costco of Japanese groceries. if you buy stuff on sale and in bulk, you can save really big bucks! but even small stuff is cheap. you end up buying more there because the variety is so great.

Read the 'get thee to NJ' thread for more on mitsuwa

Landmark on 23rd probably has a better sake selection than does Mitsuwa. Landmark without a doubt has better and more knowlegable staff.

[Pan]

The east village place is called sakaya. They're really into their sakes and super helpful so even if they don't carry the particular sake you're after i'm sure they can either find something similar or look into placing a special order for you .

the blog:
http://www.sakayanyc...blog/wordpress/

Yes, I see they've opened! These are friends of mine (particularly Hiroko, who is also eGullet member ankomochi, but hasn't posted lately). This is a place dedicated to sake only. These folks are very serious. Do contact them if you're not finding the sake you're looking for elsewhere.

[Vinotas]

Mitsuwa is a fantastic and enormous Japanese store on the water in Edgewater.  That said, be prepared to pay through the nose for pretty much anything, though the quality will be top-notch.

I'd disagree with that assertion. Everything there is Japanese, which costs more, but you get a much higher quality. for booze, it should be cheaper than anywhere in the city. they are simply the Costco of Japanese groceries. if you buy stuff on sale and in bulk, you can save really big bucks! but even small stuff is cheap. you end up buying more there because the variety is so great.

Read the 'get thee to NJ' thread for more on mitsuwa

Then they've lowered the costs since the last time I was there, which, admittedly, was about 7 years ago, when I worked in NJ. Good to know.

[raji]

Vino - Perhaps... Ownership has changed since then -

Todd - I know I've made it a habit to disagree with your assertions, but here too





That's the aisle at Mitsuwa. The sake importers have gotten a lot better at their marketing so now the displays often have "Wine Enthusiast" type tags

[I_call_the_duck]

^^raji, Vino on 27th? Changed ownership?! We were just there a few weeks ago, and had a nice chat with Charles. IIRC, they do have sake, but only one or two varieties.

[raji]

nono - I was addressing Vinotas.

Homeboy's going to jersey today, I hope he goes by Mitsuwa, no debate! argh!

[I_call_the_duck]

^whew! Thanks for clearing that up, raji.

[Todd36]

Vino - Perhaps... Ownership has changed since then -

Todd - I know I've made it a habit to disagree with your assertions, but here too





That's the aisle at Mitsuwa. The sake importers have gotten a lot better at their marketing so now the displays often have "Wine Enthusiast" type tags

The people who run Landmark have actually tasted everything they sell---try finding that at Mitsuwa. I'm also not sure that Mitsuwa has more types of Sake, I was at Mitsuwa a few months ago and they selection didn't look bigger or better than Landmark. Raji, have you actually been to Landmark recently.

[Mambwe]

Well...I stopped by Mitsuwa today and I must say it is pretty neat. They have the largest selection and variety of Sake I have seen. I was able to pick up the sake I was looking for and also tried another one. They have a large selection of both hot and cold sake.

What really amazed me was how clean this place was. Both the Market and food court area looked immaculate. If i hadn't read about people going there 7 years ago I would have thought it was new. Its nice to see this when shopping for food.

Back to the food...

Now, they also have a lot of noodles, fish, meat, sauces, veggies and soy sauces, but I have been to many markets in queens with a similar selection. This is definitely the biggest selection of everything under one roof. I don't live in Manhattan so shopping there would be a bit of a chore for me. I am also not familiar with the shops in Manhattan so I can;t really compare.

The food court is an added bonus. I had Ramen soup and it was quite tasty. It was ramen miso soup with pork. I am no ramen expert, but this was really good.

Overall, this is a great market that I will return to whenever in the area.

[feedmec00kies]

The east village place is called sakaya. They're really into their sakes and super helpful so even if they don't carry the particular sake you're after i'm sure they can either find something similar or look into placing a special order for you .

the blog:
http://www.sakayanyc...blog/wordpress/

Yes, I see they've opened! These are friends of mine (particularly Hiroko, who is also eGullet member ankomochi, but hasn't posted lately). This is a place dedicated to sake only. These folks are very serious. Do contact them if you're not finding the sake you're looking for elsewhere.

Oooh, passed on that info to my boyfriend. At the very least he might be able to use them if he does trades/secret santa with other people on RateBeer who rate sake...

[raji]

The people who run Landmark have actually tasted everything they sell---try finding that at Mitsuwa.  I'm also not sure that Mitsuwa has more types of Sake, I was at Mitsuwa a few months ago and they selection didn't look bigger or better than Landmark.  Raji, have you actually been to Landmark recently.

Only seen it from the outside, next time I'll go in; they have quite the Sake corner going. Mitsuwa still has more, and is cheaper, but I would just go to Landmark or Ambassador unless you have a ride or the free time to take the Port Authority (or now the NY Waterway ferry) to Edgewater -

The store I was thinking of serving the surrounding Japanese night businesses is Ambassador and this is what they have:

http://ambassadorwin.../o4z6/Sake.html

Fuki Sake 750 ML
-----------------------------
Fu Ki
Haru Sake
Kyoka Sake
Mizubasho Sake
Ozeki 1.5 L
-----------------------------
Momokawa Emerald
Momokawa Pearl Sake
Momokawa Ruby Sake
Momokawa Saphire
Momokawa Topaz Sake
-----------------------------
Hukusan Sake
-----------------------------
Aramasa 720 ML
Aramasa sake 1.8 L
Bishonen sake 1.8 L
Daihichi Kaiden Sake 720 ML
Gek Horin 720 ML
Gokyo Sake 720 ML
Hakusan Premium Sake
Harushika Sake 1.8 L
Harushika Sake 720 ML
Hitori Masume 720 ML
Hitori Masumi 1.8 L
Kamoizumi Sake 1.8 L
Kariho Namahage
Kahiro Namahage Sake 1.8 L
Koshinohomake Shizuku 720 ML
Kurasowa Sake 720 ML
Kurosawa 1.8 L
Madonoume Hanasaika Sake
Masamune Sake
Meibo Yowanotsuki Sake 500 ML
Mu Sake 720 ML
Nishinoseki Sake 1.8 L
-----------------------------
Minowamon Sake 720 ML
Momijigari Sake 500 ML
Mouriko Sake 500 ML
Mukashizukuri Sake
Nama Sake 300 ML
Nanburyu
Nanbushi 500 ML
Nikko Kiri Furi
Obanburumai
Oh Kagura Sake 1.8 L
Okagura Sake
Oninoshitaburui Sake 500 ML
Rikaauimei Sake 500 ML
Rin Sake 500 ML
Sakemizuki Sake 500 ML
Sekainohana 1.8 L
Shinkun Sake 500 ML
Shoin Sake 500 ML
Suishoka Sake
Tenchi Kaibyaku 500 ML
Tenkyu Sake 500 ML
Tokubetsu Junmai
Yamagata Honten Kaori 300 ML
Yashi Ori No
Yatsushika
Yufuin White Label
-----------------------------
Akita Homare Sake
Ayakiku Sake
IIchiko Shochu 750 ML
Itami Onigoroshi 1.8 L
Kakujo Sake 1.8 L
Kakujo Sake 720 ML
Mutsu Otokoyama Sake
Nanbutoji Sake
Sawanoi Sake
Shirakawago Sake
Shirayuki Sake Extra Dry
Takara Plum Wine
Zen Sake 720 ML
-----------------------------
Sho Chiku Bai Sake 750 ML
-----------------------------
Takaisami
Takinokoi Jyun
Tamano Hikari Jyun
Tamano Hikari Daig
Taru Sake
Tentaka Kokoro Jyun Gin
Tokusen Tamano 1.8 L
Tomio Yuki 1.8 L
Tomio Yuki 720 ML
Ume No Yado 720 ML
Ume No Yado 1.8 L
Ume No Yado Daiginjo

Landmark unfortunately doesn't publish what they have but I believe they have 80 varieties - that's what their ad says in the japanese newspaper

http://www.landmarkwines.com/