Saturday, July 4, 2009

☞ SHOP: Katagiri on 59th Street



Japanese groceries are really hard to find uptown and we were surprised to see JAS Mart on West 110th Street close down three weeks ago because of an increased rent dispute. We then remembered that two stops on the express train could get us to Midtown East in 15 minutes and to the oldest Japanese Grocery store in New York City. 

Katagiri & Co.,which was opened by the Katagiri Brothers in 1907, has remained in the same storefront for over 100 years. What one will find is a compact grocery store with the best daily-made sushi assortment and a custom soba/udon shop with a great selection of tempura at a bar up front.  They were even giving away free frozen pork fat in their freezer isle on the day we visited.  JAS Mart sometimes feels like an American chain franchise, but Katagiri feels more like the real thing. Take the crosstown bus if you are coming from West Harlem and get on the 4,5,6 train at 125th street to get to East 59th Street in less than 15 minutes. 224 E 59th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenue. Tel.(212) 755-3566. http://www.katagiri.com/

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