Suruki Supermarket
A small, well-chosen fish counter with sushi-quality fish on it, plus the Japanese imports nobody else on the Peninsula stocks. Running on Fourth Avenue since 1974 by the store's own count.
Why go
Jeff shopped here in February 2017 and gave it four stars with the brief attached: One of the best Japanese markets in the bay area. Hard to find items from Japan. Also, a small but well curated selection of sushi quality fish.
A fish counter that keeps a short list at that grade is making a decision, and it is the reason to drive to San Mateo rather than shop closer. The store puts its own start at 1974 and runs a sozai counter of sushi, hot food and bento beside the groceries.1
Order this / avoid
- Order: whatever is on the fish counter, then work through the import shelves.
- Avoid: coming for a general shop. The fish and the imports are the case.
What locals & experts say
- Jeff (first-hand), 4 stars, February 2017: "Hard to find items from Japan. Also, a small but well curated selection of sushi quality fish."
- Suruki Supermarket (its own words):
Proudly serving the Bay Area since 1974.
1
Good to know
- Timing: daytime. Confirm hours on the store's own site before a long drive.
- Getting there: East 4th Avenue, downtown San Mateo, walkable from the Caltrain station. The surukimarket.com address does not resolve; surukisupermarket.com is theirs.
Jeff's take (his words)
- His review (Jeff, first-hand, 4 stars, 19 February 2017): "One of the best Japanese markets in the bay area. Hard to find items from Japan. Also, a small but well curated selection of sushi quality fish."
Verdict
could-visit — Jeff's four stars call it one of the best Japanese markets in the Bay Area and then do the useful thing, which is say what for: hard-to-find imports and a small, well-chosen selection of sushi-quality fish. The store has been running since 1974 by its own account and keeps a sozai counter alongside the groceries. One first-hand voice and the store's own page, which is what the rung reflects.