Japanese knives in SF (or area)

[jsaimd]

Besides Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma, anyone have a suggestion for a purveyor of good quality Japanese knives? Bonus if they stock any left handed knives. Looking for good value (price to quality ratio)

We will be in the city tomorrow but live in the Peninsula/South Bay

[wolfe]

Hida Berkeley.
http://www.hidatool.com/shop/shop.html

[BernalKC]

I am no expert on Japanese knives, but I have browsed the goods at Hida Tool & Hardware and was pretty blown away by the collection. Clearly, the proprietor is deeply into it, and offers tools and knives I'd never seen before.

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Hida Tool & Hardware
1333 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA

[Shane Greenwood]

Try Soko Hardware across the street from Japantown Center. I've seen them there and Soko usually has good prices. Not sure about what brands they carry but I did notice a selection of Japanese knives last time I was there.

[wubai]

Soko carries Japanese knives, but they are priced higher then other places.

[roster]

Japan Wood Worker in Alameda has the best local selection of those listed above.
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/page.asp?content_id=10045
Free sharpening for life on whatever you buy is a good deal too...

They are terrific, but the absolute best selection I have found is actually in Seattle, called
http://www.epicureanedge.com/

you can see what both have online.

[OldTimer]

I've shopped at Japan Woodworker for over 30 years...it is superb. Good prices and only the highest quality tools.

[Shane Greenwood]

Went to Soko yesterday and their knives ranged from $100 to $300. About the same as the prices at Sur La Table, but the selection of brands at SLT was a little bigger.

[Melanie Wong]

Perfect Edge in San Mateo has a number of Japanese knives, and everything else as well, if you want to comparison shop.

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Perfect Edge
1640 Palm Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402

[virtualguthrie]

I'll second Perfect Edge in San Mateo, an amazing selection of knives and they're on the peninsula so nice and convenient for you.

[Melanie Wong]

As Sushi Monster suggested below, Perfect Edge is a good place to start. The customer service is very good there, which can be lacking at some of the other places suggested.

[escargot3]

Hida in Berkeley has an amazing selection of knives and other tools from Japan. Outstanding, really.

I recenlty bought a friend a b'day present of a fab vegetable cutting knife from there -- & it was really appreciated.

[Robert Lauriston]

I think Hida is in a class by itself.

[roster]

Is there a special section behind the counter, or something I missed, because I was there about a year ago, and did not find their selection to be better than Japan Woodworker.

[Steveberkeley]

Hida is a really good store. I live a couple of blocks away, know their stock well and have bought several knives and stones there. Japan Woodworker has a larger selection. Both are equally good but if you want to see a lot of different knives, Japan Woodworker is the place to go. This is especially true for single edged knives. The sharpening service is much better at Japan Woodworker as well, although more expensive. If you're at Hida, go across San Pablo and make a right to Tokyo Fish Market in the middle of the block. They also have quite a nice selection of knives that is different from either of the other two stores. If you're looking for a double edged, western handled, stainless knife, the Fujitake brand at Hida is a great bargain and a great knife, beautifully balanced. I have 11 gyuto (Japanese versions of western chefs knives) and often find myself reaching for the Fujitake over knives that cost three times as much.

[BernalKC]

adding some links:

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Tokyo Fish Market
1220 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706

Woodline Japan Woodworker
1731 Clement Ave, Alameda, CA

[roster]

Agree with above, forgot about TFM. Actually when I was there, I saw a nife I purchased elsewhere for 20 bucks more, so they may generally be very competitive on pricing.

[Sushi Monster]

A left-handed yanagi (japanese willow blade knife) is going to command a premium price and may even be a special order item. The Perfect Edge in San Mateo would be a good starting point for you. They can also instruct you how to sharpen it. (Nothing more ghastly than ruining the edge of a $500 implement with a few thoughtless strokes.) Some of the most interesting hochos right now are the dual-steel "sandwiches," with carbon core and stainless or some exotic hybrid outside.

Sushi Monster