Suzuya Japanese Market

Suzuya is a great little store. The pricing is «very reasonable» and they carry items that are difficult to find outside of Fujiya. They have a club card and take all forms of credit and the cashiers are always friendly. This is not a huge store but if you are Japanese, you will notice they carry many core products. I’m sure the neighbouring Japanese senior community must find this place indispensable. Where else can you find a large pkg of Takana for $ 9 and sukiyaki meat from Sugiyama? I noticed that Cake– Ya is now sold frozen so I make the run to Port Moody for their awesome Castella instead now. Overall not fancy but great for basic Japanese staples.
We always pop in after lunch at Hi-​Genki!

Disappointing. This is way smaller than Konbiniya or IzumiYa. More like a corner store to me. There wasn’t much choice for each item (like there is only 1 or 2 types of Japanese chips). I think it was the only place that I saw frozen takoyaki. The lady at the counter was very nice. She asked me if I am a member and if I would like to join. Sorry, I would prefer going to T&T or sth with more Japanese food choices. The main reason I was there because I want to get cakeya baked goods, but there was only a frozen honey cake (don’t know how long it had been sitting) and 2 original crème caramel.

Good place to pick some foods while visiting Nikkei Center.
But do not try Cake from Cakeya.

Another little Japanese gem and this time located in Burnaby.
Suzuya is right beside the Japanese Cultural Nikkei Centre and Hi Genki Restaurant. A little market full of snacks, sauces, udon, ramen, natto and some staple Asian vegetables. This place isn’t as big as Fujiya, but it has a charm I love. Not to mention, The Beatles song «Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds» came on and that just won me over.

I ain’t Japanese, but to me this looks authentic.
I always kick myself that I don’t make it to Fujiya whenever I am in the area. I was planning on making panko crusted pork cutlets for dinner. It would be nice to have Tonkatsu Sauce, but Fujiya is so far away… as I walk to Hi Genki, I see this shop at the Nikkei Centre. While waiting for a table at the always packed restaurant, I tell my lunch mates that I will be right back. I run back to the store and search the shelf for the sauce.
Hmm, which one? There are five types of sauce and they all look the same. I squint, but I can’t figure out which one is the one I poured all over my pork at 29^th Ave Café. I pick up a bottle and on the back is a sticker saying it was some other kind of sauce. Phewf. I keep reading and I see the right Bulldog sauce. I know it’s authentic because besides the sticker stuck on the bottle, there is no English on it… well, Bulldog is in English, but it doesn’t say Tonkatsu Sauce on it (unless I am blind… I wouldn’t be surprised… I am gonna check after this).
I saunter to the register and I think they think I am a Japanese because no English. I guess through intonation that she is telling me the total for the sauce. She gives me back my change and I know she is asking me a question. «Pardon?» «Oh, do you need a bag?» Aha! They did think I was Japanese. I say no and I just stuff it in my bag.
I run back to lunch and we are just being seated. That was fast… I need to go back and see if they have black sesame paste so I can make ice cream. In my brief look, they had an assortment of noodles, sauces… oh and they had some fresh veggies outside. If I lived on Southoaks, I would totally be here everyday.