GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
From sashimi knives and handcrafted cocktail stemware to specialty rice vinegars and Daruma dolls, Umami Mart is Oakland’s go-to for all things Japanese-made. The women-owned shop started as a food blog, but became a mainstay in The Town when it opened a decade ago. Its tightly edited collection of pantry goods, cookware, kitchen items, and barware — including branded collabs with Yukiwa and Ninomiya, two top precision barware makers in Japan — makes it a first stop for unique specialty gifts.
There’s also an expertly curated selection of shochus, Japanese whiskeys, and sake (co-owner Yoko Kumano has cred as a sake sommelier). A secret bar in the back serves up sake and shochu pours, plus meticulously minimal cocktails. Knowledgeable staff will help steer you if you’re interested in buying a bottle — prices range from everyday drinking to special occasion — and the bar will even pour you a taste to try before you buy. –Allison McCarthy
→ Umami Mart (Oakland) • 4027 Broadway • Tue 11a-6p, Wed-Sun 11a-7p.