So, when we moved to Munich, we found a great Japanese restaurant just a few blocks away from the apartment. The name was Shoya, and though they didn’t have the best sushi in town (good, but not the absolute best), they had a fantastic selection of other Japanese foods that you can’t really find easily even in the states – things like natto (fermented soybeans), shi-sha-mo (grilled salted smelt), and favorites like ramen, soba and udon. But late last year, they closed down for “renovation”.
Every few weeks we would walk by, but the renovation just seemed to keep going on and on and on. One of those renovations that would eventually drift into a closure.
Color us surprised when we walked by and it was actually open! So, a few weeks ago, we went in to see how the renovations had ended up. The interior is essentially the same, but the menu, the waitstaff and the management were new. The food was just as good – with the shi-sha-mo, gyoza (potstickers) and natto ranking in the top we had ever had… but what caught our attention was a small sign in Japanese and German on the wall advertising the opening of their new supermarket.
Munich has no shortage of good Asian grocery stores, but though they are good for getting Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai foods and condiments, they usually skimp on the Japanese section. You’re lucky to find even the most basic sauces, and the rice is usually limited to one generic sushi rice (plus Thai, Chinese and other long grain rices). A Japanese market is usually very clean, orderly, without a strong aroma (due to the lack of the pungent southeast asian fish sauces found in other Asian markets), and a good selection of Japanese candies and pastries.
On Saturday, we ended up at Viktualienmarkt, and we decided to stop by the market to see if it was really a Japanese market or just another Asian Supermarket.
The Shoya Supermarket is truly a Japanese Supermarket – in product, ownership and staff. In the first room you have a selection of spices, sauces, candies, noodles and other Japanese snacks. Oh, and the rice selection – Nishiki, Tamanonishiki and 5 or 6 other brands of high grade rices. Finally! The second room had sushi grade fish, frozen foods, sake, shochu, and a good selection of teas, coffees and even Calpico Water! On the way out, they even had An-pan (cakes filled with red bean paste). And if you just have that craving for sushi after buying all of that great food, just cross the street to the Shoya Imbiß for takeout sushi and sashimi.
The new Shoya – Imbiß and Market at Viktualienmarkt, Imbiß at Platzl and the restaurant on Gabelsbergerstr.
