Minamoto Kitchoan, wagashi-ya, opening on Market St

[david kaplan]

Minamoto Kitchoan is a much-loved shop for wagashi, the sweets traditionally served during the Japanese tea ceremony. I passed by their sign on Market Street today, on the even-numbered side near Kearny (or was it Montgomery?). Workers renovating said the shop plans to open Friday or Saturday.

I believe this would be Minamoto Kitchoan's second location in the U.S., after one in New York.

See previous post on the dearth of wagashi in SF: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/339336 .

[Xiao Yang]

The wagashi-ya was, in fact, open today at 648 Market, between Kearny and Montgomery Streets when I wandered by. I can't vouch for the confections, as I don't have a sweet tooth, except to note that they are very cute. I bought a box of Ankoro Mochi for a friend, a pack of Beika Goma rice cakes for myself and shot a few pictures:

http://is.gd/2F9VP

[DandySF]

I dropped by the store today and took a couple of pictures. The sweets, presentation, and packaging are gorgeous. Very brave of them to open in this economic environment.

http://thesluicebox.blogspot.com/2009...

[choctastic]

I've actually been to a Minamoto Kitchoan branch in Costa Mesa, inside the Mitsuwa Market. I think they might be in all the Mitsuwa markets. Quite expensive, though the packaging is nice. The wagashi is a little on the old side, especially considering that in SoCal we have other places that do it in house and same day.

[Robert Lauriston]

There's also Nippon Ya in Japantown.

http://stores.shopnipponya.com/-strse...

I'm pretty sure one of the shops in the San Jose Mitsuwa sells Minamoto Kitchoan stuff.

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Mitsuwa
675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA

[e_tsai]

Yep - they have a Minamoto Kitchoan counter right when you walk in, adjacent to the Satura Cakes counter.