Asian markets in and near Palo Alto

Many Palo Alto households cook Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian or Vietnamese food at home. Mainstream grocers carry soy sauce, rice and noodles, but for fresh tofu, thin-sliced meat for hot pot, a wall of instant ramen or a good rice cooker, people head south. The big Japanese supermarkets sit along Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino and Saratoga Avenue in San Jose.

Inside the city, our directory lists one dedicated Asian market: Yutori on El Camino Real. Because that is fewer than a full guide needs, this page widens to nearby towns and says where each store is. Every store named here was checked on its own website or store list, or in our verified directory, in late October and early November 2026. For Indian and South Asian groceries, see our separate Indian groceries guide.

Asian markets at a glance

In Palo Alto: Yutori

Yutori at 3375 El Camino Real is a Japanese cafe, konbini, market and dinner restaurant under one roof. The cafe serves matcha, coffee and pastries. The konbini case holds bentos, sandos and onigiri made each morning. They often sell out, so go early. The market shelves carry Japanese pantry goods and ceramics. In the evening the restaurant serves shared plates and cocktails, with dinner reservations through OpenTable and walk-ins at the bar.

Yutori is not a supermarket, so do not expect a fish counter or a rice aisle with 20 brands. It is the place to pick up miso, furikake, a good bottle of soy sauce or a ready lunch without leaving town. There is extra parking behind the building.

At Stanford Shopping Center

Two Asian specialty shops at the center make good gift stops.

• K. Minamoto: the US name of Minamoto Kitchoan, a Japanese confectioner known for wagashi. Its signature fruit-shaped sweets change with the season. The company says everything is made in its own factories in Japan and shipped to its stores.
• Wanpo Tea Shop: a Taiwanese chain known for boiled tea, brown sugar boba and seasonal fruit teas, listed at 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Suite 721.

Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers parking and the rest of the stores.

Japanese supermarkets in Cupertino and San Jose

Tokyo Central, Cupertino

Tokyo Central is a Japanese grocery chain whose store list is mostly in Southern California, with Bay Area stores in Cupertino and Emeryville and one in Hawaii. It gives the Cupertino address as 19750 Stevens Creek Boulevard, with hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Expect produce, meat, seafood, snacks, drinks and household goods. The website also lists party trays, local delivery, weekly ads and Japanese regional fairs.

Mitsuwa Marketplace, San Jose

Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese supermarket chain with stores in several states, including Hawaii. Its San Jose store is at 675 Saratoga Avenue. The San Jose page lists daily hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and says the store is open 365 days a year, with a note that hours can change without notice. Mitsuwa runs frequent regional and brand fairs. In early November 2026 its San Jose page announced fairs for Glico snacks, Ito En tea, Sapporo Ichiban noodles and Zen-Noh from November 6 to 19. An appliance fair at all mainland stores runs from November 6 through December 31, a good time to shop for a rice cooker. The San Jose page also lists shops inside the market, so check what is open before you plan lunch.

Both stores sit near Interstate 280. From Palo Alto, take 280 south. The drive is about 20 minutes outside rush hour. For a longer Japanese-themed day, combine Mitsuwa with San Jose Japantown or the Japanese Friendship Garden.

Korean groceries

Palo Alto has no Korean supermarket of its own. H Mart, the Korean American chain, is the name most people search for. Its store finder loads only in a full browser. We could not confirm a store address or hours near Palo Alto from the company's own pages for this update. So we do not list one here. Check the finder before you drive. The same site posts weekly ads.

Until then, the Japanese supermarkets above cover much of a Korean shopping list. Short-grain rice, tofu, thin-sliced meat, sesame oil and nori are staples in both cuisines. For restaurants, our Korean food guide covers what Palo Alto has.

What to buy where

Stocking an Asian pantry

New arrivals often ask what to buy on a first trip. A short list of shelf-stable basics covers a lot of home cooking and keeps for months:

1. Short-grain or medium-grain rice for Japanese and Korean meals. Buy a small bag first to see which brand you like.
2. Soy sauce, mirin and rice vinegar, the base of many Japanese sauces and dressings.
3. Miso paste and dashi for soup. Keep miso in the refrigerator once opened.
4. Gochujang and doenjang, the Korean chili paste and soybean paste used in stews and marinades.
5. Dried noodles such as udon, soba and somen, plus a few packs of instant ramen.
6. Sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds and nori for finishing dishes and making rice balls.

Fresh tofu, kimchi, frozen dumplings and thin-sliced meat can wait for the next trip, once you know how much freezer space you have.

Chinese and Southeast Asian groceries

The South Bay also has large Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino supermarkets. We could not confirm current store details for them on their own websites in time for this update, so they are left out here rather than listed on old information. Their store finders are the best place to check before a drive.

Tips for a market run

• Plan a loop. Tokyo Central in Cupertino and Mitsuwa in San Jose are both close to Interstate 280, so one trip can cover both.
• Eat first or eat there. Food courts and ready-made meals at these stores make an easy lunch.
• Check fairs and weekly ads. Mitsuwa and Tokyo Central post their sale calendars online.
• Ask about cuts. If you do not see the thin slices you need for hot pot, ask at the meat counter.
• Learn from a guide. Visitors who want a tasting walk through a city food scene can browse San Francisco food tours.

For restaurants serving these cuisines in town, see our Asian food guide.

Frequently asked questions