438936 Thu Sep 06 19:52:57 -0700 2007 15 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2918408 A while back I recall a listing for a store in SF that only sold sake. Apparently they had one of the best selections in the states. I tried the search function but couldn't find it. Does anyone recall the name? Also, does anyone have a recommendation for other good sake outlets? I'm familiar with Mitsuwa, Nijiya (several locations) and Naks (a small Japanese/Indonesian-Dutch market in Menlo Park but has carefully chosen selection). Thanks! Thu Sep 06 19:52:57 -0700 2007 104871 jcr1 1 2918440 true sake is the name you are looking for.. www.truesake.com Thu Sep 06 20:05:16 -0700 2007 2918408 92412 r32soul 2 2918723 this place is great. since we had no idea about any of the brands/bottles, we talked with the staffperson about what we were planning to eat that evening, what our price range was, and the kinds of characteristics we like in sake. she was patient and probed us for information, recommending a bottle that we enjoyed immensely. Thu Sep 06 22:31:34 -0700 2007 2918440 12336 artemis 2 2919737 I also strongly recommend True Sake. I have been a regular customer for over a year, and the female staffer in particular has been most helpful. If you make it over to Berkeley, my understanding is that Tokyo Fish Market on San Pablo has a decent selection, and Berkeley Bowl has a decent selection as well, but at least for the latter, I doubt you could find anything there you couldn't get a True Sake. What's great about TS is that they have such a broad and comprehensive stock, including the super-fresh releases, unpasteurized, barrel-aged, and sparkling. If you haven't had it before, there's a sake made with red rice that has a particularly interesting, plum-y nose. Fri Sep 07 09:53:36 -0700 2007 2918440 10406 twocents 1 2918736 A couple of years ago I was at a sake manufacturer/importer in Berkley. don't know the name Thu Sep 06 22:39:40 -0700 2007 2918408 62097 paprkutr 2 2918745 That is the Cho Shiku Bai factory - they make a number of items at the plant (sold for full retail - often cheaper at BevMo, Tokyo Fish, etc.) They also have some quite fine imports from Japan, also available at some local stores. If you are in Berkeley or surrounds, Tokyo Fish Market has a very decent variety in a range of price points. Thu Sep 06 22:44:28 -0700 2007 2918736 13471 lmnopm 2 4007004 I was walking by so on impulse did the tasting at Takara (Sho Chiku Bai) yesterday. Fun and educational. The guy said they'll probably start charging so get it while it's free. Open daily 12-6. Wed Sep 03 17:38:56 -0700 2008 2918736 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2919753 I believe that Berkeley Bowl also has quite a variety to choose from with varying price range. Fri Sep 07 09:59:24 -0700 2007 2918408 102410 AntarcticWidow 1 2919801 True Sake's selection is the largest in the country--over 150 sakes. They import a lot of things you won't find anywhere else. Amazing store. http://www.truesake.com/inventory/inventorylist.htm#special The one thing you won't find there is California-made sake. They stock only Japanese imports. Fri Sep 07 10:15:59 -0700 2007 2918408 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2920001 Nor will you find kasu, a sake by-product used to marinate fish and to flavor soup. It comes in sheets or a paste and can be found at the market in Japantown. Fri Sep 07 11:10:06 -0700 2007 2919801 10032 david kaplan 1 2923732 Love, love, love True Sake. I'm relatively new to sake (enjoy it more than wine, even though that ruins my "born and raised in the WineCountry cred" to some I guess. *gryn*) and they are extremely helpful and friendly to sake newbs (and experts and all inbetween alike). I highly recommend signing up for their email mailing list. Beau sends out a highly informative email newsletter pretty regularly. It's how I found out about a sake tasting that is happening on the 13th in San Francisco...apparently the "largest sake tasting event outside of Japan". Check it out, http://www.joyofsake.com Sat Sep 08 23:00:33 -0700 2007 2918408 93480 chocolateninja 1 2924146 TrueSake is the best place to buy Sake if you need help or want something exclusive. If you are interested in more widely available Japanese sakes and know what you want, Nijiya Market, and Uoki Sakai Market, both in Japantown are good sources. Sun Sep 09 08:34:45 -0700 2007 2918408 11277 Paul H 2 4025561 link Wed Sep 10 21:30:07 -0700 2008 2924146 10264 rworange 1 2925230 www.nijiya.com Only one of 2 or 3 Japan towns remaining in the USA is in San Jose. Nijiya Supermarket located at 240 Jackson St has its own rice source from organic farms in southern California. This store is most notiable for its extensive premium sakes. www.kojisakelounge.com Or if you want to go to a Sake Bar check out Koji Sake Lounge located at 48 S. First St. Really cool house music and cooler-than-thou staff Sun Sep 09 17:47:44 -0700 2007 2918408 126038 lauercrnsw 2 4025564 links Wed Sep 10 21:32:00 -0700 2008 2925230 10264 rworange 1 4026746 I had a bad experience at True Sake. I found the staff snotty, and unhelpful. I kept waiting for service and was trying to flag someone down in an otherwise not that busy store. I'll stick to Japantown or BevMo. Thu Sep 11 10:41:14 -0700 2008 2918408 101967 BP71