Suruki Supermarket - San Mateo, California

Hana E.

Today, I picked up a pack of salmon sashimi from the market. It tasted just as I expected, it was filling and fresh. Not bad at all for lunch. At first I thought I would need more than one packet of soy sauce, but it ended up being more than enough. They have a wide range of groceries and food items you can find with ease, especially for the size of the store. Not to mention that the employees are quite friendly. Overall, good vibes and good food, 4/5.

P

My first time here and I like their sushi selection. The fishes were really good quality. They also have a decent selection of desserts. I really liked their creme brulee selection.

S L.

Suruki Supermarket is an absolute gem - the establishment (although not this particular location) has been a beloved neighborhood staple since 1974. Identifying a need in his local community, Shuji Suruki started the first door-to-door Japanese grocery store on wheels bringing the flavors and nostalgia of his home country to the greater San Francisco Bay Area. In 1990 their brick and mortar store moved to its current location in downtown San Mateo in 1990.

Suruki is noticeably smaller than your average grocery store; however, what it lacks in size it makes up in flavor. They boast fresh product, Asian snacks, high-grade sashimi, grab-and-go meals, and little Japanese trinkets as well. Suruki is truly a one-stop shop for any of your Japanese grocery needs and more if you're looking for some ready-to-eat food.

We decided to browse around the supermarket while waiting for lunch and we were immediately taken aback by the wealth held within its walls and walked up with many more items than we had expected to - including some mochi, salad dressing, condiments, and an onigiri mold. If we hadn't already made lunch plans, we would have been extremely tempted to try one of their ready-made food options like their chirahi bowl or their bentos.

My absolute favorite find of the day was handmade mochi from Osaka-ya in Sacramento! I moved from Sacramento back to the San Francisco Bay Area six months ago and something I definitely missed from my old home was the deliciously soft and flavorful mochi from Osaka-ya. Imagine my absolute surprise and delight when I discovered that Suruki stocks their goodies in their store, promoting their small business and giving back to the community.

Suruki truly is a local treasure and I'll definitely be coming back the next time I'm in the San Mateo area (or to be honest I'll probably make a dedicated trip down just to go to Suruki) to pick up some more grocery items and hopefully enjoy some of the food!

Kayla V.

Conveniently located at the corner of E 4th Ave and San Mateo Dr, a few stores away from the famous Taishoken Ramen and in the heart of downtown San Mateo, Suruki Supermarket is a must-checkout location when you're in the area. You can find parkings (with fees) easily either in front or just 1-2 blocks away from the supermarket. Highly recommend you avoid lunch hours though as it's harder to find parkings.

At 10am in the morning, you can see a line of people outside the store, waiting for the it to open. They're all here for the fresh, of high quality and reasonably priced bentos, bowls, sushi, and sashimi dishes. As soon as you walk in the door, all the deliciously-looking food on the left side of the store will capture your heart. You'll see aisles of hot food first, freshly prepared daily and presented with care. As you walk on and make a right turn, you'll see a sea of endless sashimi, sushi and nigiri varieties. The hardest thing for me every time I come here is to not buy everything LOL.

The quality of their food is top notch. Today I bought a set of salmon sashimi and a chirashi bowl with uni and otoro (fatty tuna). The fish are exceptionally fresh and melt in my mouth! Something could cost me $$ to $$$ if I ordered in an expensive Japanese restaurant. But here at Suruki, I can get similar quality sashimi for a fraction of the price (typically $12-16).

Another best kept open secret is that you can actually order party trays of sashimi here from the store. Simply go to the back of the store where you'll see display of fish fillets and inquire there with the staff.

Like every other Japanese restaurant, Suruki also carries all other Japanese-related stuff like shampoos, skin cares, snacks, wines, etc. Everything is well-displaced and the store looks clean and well-kept. Suruki is a small store but I enjoy the coziness of a small store over a huge supermarket anytime.

Lastly, all the cashier staff here are friendly and accommodating, highlighting the hospitality of Japanese cultures. I always have a great time every time I shop here and highly recommend you check this out if you're in the area.

Mark L.

I would definitely say this place is a staple of the Downtown San Mateo scene. They have built a strong reputation for being a solid lunch spot and certainly live up to it. As a result, I have met many coworkers that have eaten here and would gladly come back for lunch.

I used to go here everyday for lunch a few years ago. I’m quite pleased to find out they still maintain their very high standards for quality. My favorite thing to get here is the Chicken Karaage. Though, the Salmon Rolls are a close second.

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. They are very hard-working and follow an extremely impressive standard for organization and cleanliness. As a result, the aisles are often spotless, well stocked, and organized.

I actually had the honor of meeting the owners of the place. They are very humble and kind. However, they are quite serious when it comes to their sushi. Down to even the quality of rice used.

Although the food is half price at 4PM, I strongly recommend arriving between 12-2PM. This ensures that you can avoid the hectic large crowds and that you get the food item you want.

edwinduerr

Great Japanese grocery store. Good prices, ramen that costs around $1.50 at Safeway was 95 cents here. Good selection of hot and cold to go items and a really fresh fish counter if you want to make sushi. Good selection of staples as well as a selection of kitchenware and sundries.

Kimberly I.

Came here for ordering sashimi because house party for 10 .
I think here is the best deal for raw fish !
I only spent around $100 ,but made a lots of nigiri & roll , and of course sashimi .
Here also has wasabi chopped, soft shell crab , fresh soba , fresh udon and fresh Ramen .

Damon T.

They pack a lot in this great little store. Excellent to go meals.