I’ve been craving the taste of Japanese cuisine lately, but didn’t want to always eat out at restaurants, so I started researching reliable Japanese food stores in Madrid. After several months of exploring, I finally found several quality shops that I’d like to share with you today.
Japanese Supermarkets in the City Center
Honestly, Madrid has fewer Japanese food stores than Barcelona, but the quality is quite good. Oriental Market is located in the Chueca district. Although the name says Oriental, Japanese products make up a large portion of their inventory. Their fresh food section is excellent, with new shipments of sashimi-grade tuna and salmon arriving every Wednesday and Saturday. Price-wise, a 200-gram box of salmon costs around 12-15 euros, slightly more expensive than regular supermarkets, but the freshness is truly guaranteed. The store also carries various Japanese seasonings - you can find Kikkoman soy sauce, mirin, miso, and more.
Another store worth recommending is Tokyo-Ya, near Tribunal metro station. This shop isn’t large, but the owner is Japanese and very careful about product selection. Their rice is particularly good, offering Akita Komachi and Koshihikari varieties. Although 5 kilograms costs around 25 euros, the texture when cooked is genuinely different from regular supermarket rice. The store also has frozen takoyaki, taiyaki, and other quick foods, which are very convenient when you’re in a hurry.
Price Comparison and Shopping Tips
I’ve compiled a price comparison of common products at several stores for your reference:
| Product Name | Oriental Market | Tokyo-Ya | Taste of Asia |
|---|
| Kikkoman Soy Sauce 500ml | 4.5€ | 4.2€ | 4.8€ |
| Japanese Rice 5kg | 22€ | 25€ | 20€ |
| Nori 10 Sheets | 3.2€ | 3.5€ | 2.9€ |
| Miso 500g | 5.8€ | 6.5€ | 5.5€ |
As the table shows, Tokyo-Ya’s prices are generally higher, but quality is most consistent. If you’re on a budget when applying for a Japanese visa in Madrid, Taste of Asia is a good choice. This store is in the Usera district, and while it’s a bit far, it offers great value. I used to think cheap meant poor quality, but it turns out their dried goods and seasonings are quite good.
Online Shopping is Also an Option
Besides physical stores, there are several websites where you can buy Japanese food. www.sushipoint.es mainly sells sushi ingredients, but also has quite a few Japanese seasonings and ready-to-eat foods. They offer free shipping on orders over 50 euros, with delivery covering the entire Madrid autonomous community. Another option is asiafoodstore.es, which has a more comprehensive selection, including not just Japanese but also Korean, Chinese, Thai, and other Asian foods. The downside is that delivery times can sometimes be unreliable.
By the way, if you want to buy fresh Japanese vegetables like napa cabbage, daikon radish, or burdock root, you can visit the Asian market in Usera on weekends. There are several Chinese-owned vegetable shops there, and while they’re not specifically Japanese stores, you can find many vegetables needed for Japanese cooking at much lower prices than in the city center.
Shopping Tips
Finally, let me share a few shopping insights: First, Japanese food products generally have shorter shelf lives, especially fresh items and tofu products, so always check the dates before buying. Second, if you’re buying heavy items like rice or soy sauce, I recommend driving there or ordering online, otherwise carrying them home is really exhausting. Third, membership cards are worth getting - both Oriental Market and Tokyo-Ya have loyalty point systems, which can save you quite a bit if you shop regularly.
To enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in Madrid, cooking at home is still the most reliable option. These stores can basically meet daily needs, and when you’re missing the taste of home, visiting these shops and buying ingredients to cook is a kind of comfort. If you know of other good stores when applying for a Japanese visa in Madrid, please feel free to share in the comments below.
