I fell in love with this place the moment I walked in. Yes, it's narrower aisles (and if you have a stroller with you, you'll definitely want to leave it outside, as I saw one other person do), but not a tiny hole-in-the-wall place by any means! There are TONS of things to buy here from freshly prepared foods, frozen fish and dumplings, snacks, sushi ingredients, accessories and the like. I picked up a tube of prepared wasabi, 4 rice balls (YUM), a chocolate bread-like pastry, and several snack items. Also found a cool sushi-making "roller" where you just pack all the ingredients in a long tube, press down, then quickly roll in seaweed and viola---instant sushi rolls for people with me with no sushi-making talent. I mentioned to the cashier I'd discovered them on Yelp and her face lit up instantly and she started to explain the frequent buyer card (she also pointed out that if I ever forgot to bring the card, they can stamp the receipt so I don't lose any credit for purchases bought---just a tip for other Yelpers) Will be returning next week for more goodies when I have more time to shop :) read more

I love how this place sells onigiri. It has spicy tuna, salmon, and seaweed as options. I see Japanese curry, pickled ginger, bento boxes, and other delicious flavorings for rice. So many different soba noodles fill the shelves, and I spied some ramen (e.g. Ichiban brand) packages for those can't wait for something to fill your stomach asap. In the store, there are also fresh produce as well sashimi worthy of making into sushi rolls. I also found some snacks and goodies that are sure to be a hit with younger ones. I would definitely come back. read more

Sakura Ya - Dinner with curry and ramen! - Grocery Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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When I need to get my Japanese fix of foods, grocery, or just snacks. I come here! This is the only spot in Queens that I know of that we luckily have. The workers there are super nice and you get to earn points! I know it's no comparison to Mitsuwa Supermarket in Jersey. But this is my 2nd best spot! It has practically anything and everything you would need to make what you need to make. Given some stuff are a bit pricey. But that's because it's imported! read more

Sakura Ya - Grocery Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

I'm so happy there's a Japanese grocery store near me!! As with all other Japanese grocery stores, the place is small but crammed with items - from affordable rice bowls, $2 crunchy onigiri (rice balls), sashimi, to noodles, frozen tempura, dumplings, etc., you can get it all here! What's more, they offer a stamp card where you get 1 stamp for every $10 spent. You need to spend $1,000 to get $20 off though, but hey that's still something right? The rice bowls are a winner. For under $10, you get your cheap delicious Japanese fix! Gyudon, eel don, I forget what else, it's great value! Even prices for sashimi is not bad, around $6 for a slab which you can cut into 8 generous slices. They have yellowtail and uni too. read more

It's difficult to find the fresh and reasonable price of Japanese market in Queens.Everyday stopby! They have different kind of foods, kitchen stuff, Rice balls, drinks, noodles..etc. All made in Japan! I really love the small portion and super fresh vegetables and foods! However,Only cooked teriyaki salmon is a bit hard! read more

Sakura Ya - Grocery Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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No need to travel to the city, they have plenty of food, snacks and drinks. Love Berkshire sausages. read more

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I can no longer support this store that I have used since it opened. The owner is cheap with the refrigeration. When in the store, I noticed the ice creams are sometimes melt. Unfortunately, I didn't think about the frozen dumplings. Once cooked they have a strange texture, before I realized it was melted and then refrozen. A possible health hazard. I am warning customers here and possibly calling the health dept. read more

Love Sakura, every week stop.. snacks , quick bite. My son enjoy anchovies and noodles. Which they made more food;) read more

Lovely Japanese grocery store with a few good takeout/to go options as well ie pre-made potstickers, inari, and poke are a few favorites. Always well stocked and easy to find what I need. read more

The beef teriyaki is fire and only 5 bucks ! I bought of ton of Japanese stuff in this store to cook with too.

Since I told the shop in the past I found a shoplifter and the shoplifter ran away, somehow a guy (maybe the shop owner?) follows me while I shop there. I think he must doubt I'm a shoplifter or crazy person. He followed me outside today! Disgusting! If the Tokyo Market in the neighborhood has a better selection of Japanese products, I don't want to shop at Sakuraya anymore. When I go to Manhattan for work, I shop at other Japanese supermarkets in Manhattan. However, when I suddenly need Japanese food, I have no choice, so I shop there. I found shoplifters once again, however I didn't tell them about it anymore. Even if I find other shoplifters in the future, I won't say anything anymore. I'm sure they should set more cameras or hire security guards. I just use the store once a month or less, but I found shoplifters twice at the shop. Too easy to be stolen? shoplifters heaven? That's because of the store's negligence. I hope another Japanese store will open or Tokyo Market will have better selections. read more

I have been frequenting this place for almost a decade and it has never let me down. A short walk from the 71st or 75th ave stations, this store is very convenient for those living near this part of Queens. Often, I end up buying boxes of curry, kewpie mayo, japanese pasta sauces, matcha powder, chocolates, canned coffee, and of course onigiri. For the onigiri, coming early is best so you have access to a wider selection - they usually run out by late afternoon, early evening. Customer service is very polite and friendly. My one qualm is the teeny tiny space. When it gets busy or when they restock items, it is difficult to navigate the narrow aisles. Despite this, the wonderful selection and convenience of this location cannot be beat! read more

Hubby and I always go here once a month to restock our supplies of awesome goodies. It's clean and organized. You only need to walk through the whole place once to know where everything is located. It's not a big store but they definitely carry a great load. Also, they have amazing bowls that are always fresh. They make it that same day or even in the last 2 hours. The onigiri are also fresh. We definitely recommend. read more

500th review goes to Sakura Ya Japanese Market! I walk and drive past this market almost every single day. It's right off Ascan Ave and Austin St. I finally stepped foot inside for the first time a few days ago and was pretty pleased to find one of my favorite Japanese candies (Hi-Chew) for a cheap price. A single flavor stick of Hi-Chew is only 99 cents! The variety pack is $1.99! In Manhattan or in Williamsburg, I usually see single flavors priced at $2.50 or more. I walked around the store for a bit, saw a lot of Japanese brand products obviously. They sell a variety of Japanese crackers, chips, and more candy. Towards the back, they have a different kinds of instant ramen, and noodles. There's also plenty of Japanese hair care products as well as skincare. In their fridges, they carry some pretty awesome beverages that you won't find in any other asian markets. I saw some commonly found Sapporo and Kirin beer but also saw other ones that I have never seen before. They also sell Calpico and a few other sweet drinks that I enjoyed when I was kid. The owner and the employees are all definitely Japanese. It's not a Chinese or Korean market that is posing as Japanese. The service is very nice. They're very well mannered, respectful, and just super polite. The aisles are a little cramped and I could see that they're constantly working on something but Sakura Ya is a real gem in this area. It's not everyday where you can find yourself a legit Japanese market in New York. I've been to one in Astoria years ago, and the other would have to be Mitsuwa. It's pretty nice to have a small Japanese market in Forest Hills. If you're in the area and like Hi-Chew as much as I do, check them out. They got some pretty bangin unique flavors. read more

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A small Japanese deli on Austin. Japanese supermarkets are a rare occurrence here in Queens so if there's one near you, feel blessed. Like what I said its small so do not expect to find fresh raw seafood here. They do have those packets of ramen that's way better than that orange one you're used to. And some other Japanese treats. It's always worth to come and check this place out. read more

After reading all the other reviews I decided to give this place a try since I was looking to buy some Asian groceries. I just moved into the neighborhood from flushing and I have to say I am quite disappointed with this store. =( My mother was with me and as we walked in. The manager/cashier were not friendly. The store is quite small/cramped, few selections, quality were moderate and priced quite high. Cooking is my life and I know prices and quality and this was not what I expected from the reviews I read from other yelpers. My only compliment would be that they had a huge corner section dedicated to Japanese DVDs (film, dramas, anime and so on) and the snack and sweet aisle had an abundant amount of choices. Before leaving my mother wanted to try some of there pastry goods since it looked fresh enough since they were just delivered to the store. I stood there in front of the cashier for about 3 to 5 minutes before she assists us. I could only assume she was checking inventory in her little book she was holding. Didn't say anything, took my money gave me change and that was it. Once we got back to my apartment, my mother and I tried the "twisted raisin bread" first. It was a bit on the bland side, firmer texture than what I am use to but there was plenty of raisins. Overall it was okay as a snack until I bit into it and there was a crunch sound and I spat the rest of it out. YUCK. My mother on the other hand found a hair in hers. Double -YUCKO! After reviewing the bag that the pastries came in (shipped from NJ) I just threw the rest out. =P Yes, yes enough of my complaining about this Sakura Ya Japanese Market. There is just one thing you need to know from this review. Let me put it to you this way: If I was extremely desperate for some Asian groceries I would make my purchases here, but most likely I would rather find the time, at least once a week, to take the train to Elmhurst, Jackson Heights even Flushing to buy my groceries in advance. read more

I love Japanese grocery stores! There are so many things I've never seen before and have to try! On top of that, there is homemade food at the front at an affordable cost. I wish it was closer to my apartment, but sort of glad it's not because my credit card would not be happy. read more

i haven't seen much other japanese grocery stores in forest hills, but this has to be one of the best. Occasionally, when I have the cash, I come down Austin Street from school to get some onigiri, sushi, or a fried chicken bowl. The service here is great and the workers are so nice. The food seems like it's genuinely homemade, and the store is so clean. Once, I left my water bottle in the store, and I came back to get it the next day with no trouble. There's nothing bad I have to say about the store. If you ask for chopsticks, I'm pretty sure they're free, but if you don't know how to use chopsticks, you can also get a fork or spoon. There's 50 Cent lollipops in the entrance of the store, so if you just wanna do one of the workers a favour and buy something extra, you can get 3 to 4 of those for just two dollars. If not, you can always get more food, because there's nothing in the world that could stop me from eating the food. Once I came from the store, went to the Q 60 bus stop, and the rice ball tasted so good, I went back to get more, even if it was a long walk it was worth it. The rice balls are around $2.49. A fried chicken bowl is around nine dollars. One thing I don't recommend are the pork dumplings, because they leave a bad taste in your mouth and make your breath. Smell pretty bad. It is kind of hard to open the rifles but after a few times you can get it. I know some people who walk by the store every day when they're going home, and they see the smell of the store smells like fresh laundry, but not the intoxicating kind of smell. Overall, i rate this store a 10 / 10, and i wish i could give it more stars. read more

Best Japanese grocery in Forest Hills. They have regular supplies and food, fresh rice balls, and sushi grade sashimi. read more

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Love this place! Small store but carries everything I need! Very friendly staff! Great selection and well stocked at all times.

Natto: $2.99 Dashi Pack: $3.99 Bag of Koshihikari Rice: $19.99 Not having to drive to Jersey to get my Japanese food: PRICELESS! I live a few blocks away from here and so happy that I came across Sakura-ya. They have EVERYTHING that I need and then some. There are a few staples that I require including Pietro Dressing, natto and GOOD rice, and this store has them ^^ Literally this is your one stop shop for any Japanese food and household items you will need. From candy to shampoo to disposable chopsticks to arabiki sausages, everything that this Japanese girl from Hawaii needs, I can find there. They have a frequent shopper's card, but I am terrible at bringing the same wallet. They will stamp your receipt for you so you can bring it in to get your card stamped. Keep in mind that it will take HUNDREDS of dollars to get your bonus. I just kind of gave up XD If you like Japanese TV shows and movies, they also have rentals available as well in a small section in the back. Oh! They also deliver now. $50 and they will go as far as Astoria! read more

This is a Japanese grocery store located in Forest Hills. They don't really have anything that stands out to me. It's also a bit cluttered and small. But it's nice to have a convenient Asian supermarket nearby to get Asian drinks when I'm craving it. read more

Such a hidden gem in Queens! It's hard to find Japanese grocery stores outside of Manhattan or New Jersey. Even though it's small, it's packed with lots of goodies. They have a decent selection of sweets. I missed out on their onigiri, it was sold out around the afternoon. I assume they're pretty good then. They sell other hot foods like gyu son and miso cod as well as potato croquette. Make sure you pick up a stamp card so you can get points for every $10 you spend here! read more

Stopped by here while checking out the nabe. I'd say this grocery is a definite plus for the neighborhood. Aside from japanese groceries they carry sushi grade fish, some fresh vegetables, dvd's and various household items. I got some food and barely contained myself from buying up tons of Japanese candy. They also have a small selection of bento accesories, nothing to go out of your way for but something one is glad to see if one is on the lookout like I am. Friendly cashier/owner? people. And I guess it means something or other that Japanese people were in there shopping alongside me. read more

I was very happy when my friend told me there is a Japanese Supermarket in Forest Hills. I've been living in Forest Hills for over 20 years and yet it took me this long to finally find it. I love Japan and their food so this market has hit my soft spot. They have delicious Strawberry Mochi as well as hard to find drinks. I suggest you get their rice balls. They're pretty good and are cheap. Less than $2 each! I think the Japanese supermarkets in Manhattan are better when it comes to selection, but for a Japanese Supermarket in a non Japanese neighborhood, I can't expect anything more than this. read more

$5.99 for a bag of Green Tea Kit Kat. That's a steal compared to all the other places that sell a bag for $8-9 in NYC. Their spicy salmon rice balls are also delicious, and only for $1.89! Don't care if it's canned salmon, it's some good-ass-canned-salmon. read more

Short story: A Japanese supermarket in a neighborhood void of ethnic marts. Compared to a place like Mitsuwa in NJ, this place is tiny. Compared to most supermarkets it is tiny! it serves its purpose though, which is to provide a nice, neat little Japanese supermarket where anyone can pick up various items imported from Japan. As a bonus, it is actually cheaper then Mitsuwa, by dollars in some cases. Inside you will find: Vegetables, Sushi Grade fish, frozen meats, fresh made rice balls (triangle shaped chnks of rice stuffed with a filling like shrimp or salmon and wrapped in seaweed -- hint: read the label if you don't know how to unwrap it), and fresh baked Japanese bread. This is just a small section of the store though, about one wall in size. They also have a section for Japanese movies and DVDs that I assume can be rented. The rest of the place deals with snacks, frozen items such as gyoza, mochi ice cream, octopus balls, etc., rice in quantity, condiments, oils, sauces, boxed curry/noodles/etc., and household items such as cleaners and gadgets. There is also a section for cold drinks. I personally enjoy the unique (to America) pasta sauces, the mochi ice cream, fresh bread, rice balls, and the occasional purchase of some of the fish (recently bought Monkfish liver from there!). For every 10 dollars you spend you get a stamp on a card, after a certain amount of stamps you get money off your next purchase. read more

If your craving some onogiri balls (steamed rice balls with various fillings wrapped in seaweed) come on down here! Only little Japanese market in queens, they have a nice little ready made food section and a good ramen collection. It's as reasonably priced as Japanese markets go, so expect to pay 25-50 cents more for produce and goods Well kept and clean products! read more

Love this store I love all Japanese STores okay lol They sell onigiris here which are my favourite! Get the shrimp tempura one its gooood. Lots of other snacks and some grocery and of course I got Mochi. Funny thing the owner here is my friends friends dad LOL. Get Mochi! How can you not? read more

My boyfriend was in the mood to eat some onigiri but we did not want to travel out all the way to the city at Cafe Zaiya where I first introduced it to him. Sakura Ya is a great alternative for someone like me living in Queens. Not too far off from the shops on Austin St, this quaint Japanese store is a gem. They have onigiris, bentos, dons, and all the good Japanese snacks. The only con I have is that the croquette we bought was cold. Probably because we arrived there almost at the end of day. Overall, we'll be back to get our Japanese fix. Luckily, it's in the way to his house whenever we get the urge. read more

It's a small Japanese market but very clean and organized. The guy working at the cashier yesterday war seally nice too. It's now my go to Japanese market. read more

Nice selection of Japanese grocery and goods. Most things are very fairly priced. My favorite is their fresh prepared foods, mainly the buckwheat soba salad and chicken teriyaki. They have a nice selection of onigiri, and sushi quality fish. Would recommend to anyone looking for an authentic Japanese mart. read more

Japanese Market in Forest Hills! Yay! A nice place to shop for the Japanese Essentials. I don't have to drive to Mitsuwa. That saves me alot of money. Me in Mitsuwa is like a kid in a candy store. Sakura Ya does not carry everything, and mostly has the "best value essential" type of stuff. You can even buy Japanese Beer...... Get one of the frequent customer cards........ read more

The other day I decided it was high time to make sushi from scratch. What has been stopping me? My fear of confusion in many (previous) japanese grocery stores that ignore this confused white girl until I walk out. Sakura Ya is pretty much the Mr. Rogers of japanese grocery stores. Come inside neighbor... Also any place that gives me a VIP shopper card on the first visit has my heart forever. They have everything that I could possibly need AND more. The rice balls pack a cheap and delicious punch and are so cheap it's almost silly not to buy one. From their variety of instant noodles to the extremely helpful staff, I was able to find everything I needed for sushi prep (seaweed wrap, sushi mat, sesame seeds).. now once I hone my rolling skills Morimoto better watch out! read more

Great little market and my go-to place when I need some Asian food. Sakura has a fresh little selection of fresh produce, allowing you to purchase everything you need to make miso soup, oyako don, fresh ramen, and a little shabu at home. No time to cook? There's also a section of freshly cooked foods (onigiri, potato croquettes, salads, noodles, etc), baked goods, and sushi fish you can purchase to make your own little sushi haven at home. Some items are marked up a bit, but if you desperately need that little bag of enoki mushrooms and Sakura is only down the block, $1.79 is totally worth it. FYI - it's usually 2/$1 at bigger markets. read more

This is the closest thing to an Asian market in the area. I absolutely love this market. It reminds me so much of Japan and I love the homey feel of the market. It's located on Austin Street but past most of the hustle and bustle. When you walk in, there are specials by the front which change. I've seen siracha popcorn, green tea kit kats, etc. By the register, there are also hot foods such as yakisoba, shrimp shumai, etc. There is a little cooler for Asian beverages like glass jelly soda. There is also a cooler with cold prepared foods like seeweed salads and my favorite, onigiri. They have different kinds of onigiri-tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, etc. The onigiri always sell out by the end of the day, so come early to pick from the selection. It's also a very affordable snack or quick lunch. They have a wide array of groceries including different kinds of Asian snacks, ramen, tea, etc. They have a small selection of produce and fish in the cooler. The employees are very friendly and readily greet you when you enter. My boyfriend wanted to learn how to make his own miso soup and they were very helpful him select the ingredients (they have many different kinds of miso!). There is also a reward program, every $10 you spend, you get a stamp and after 100 stamps, you get $20 off. Side note, they also run a video/dvd rental in the corner. read more

I'll drag Mister here to look at all the cute Japanese packaging and hair accessories I don't need but must have. They also carry a fab assortment of yummy snacks- no, I can't remember the names but the pictures on the packaging say it all. I bought a loofah-like cloth here and a big net bag for my 'fine washables' and I use these every week- LOVE. You waste away some serious time here and the staff leaves you alone. GO! read more

the cutest place in forest hills! Highly recommend their poke bowls and tuna maki rolls. I do sometimes get a bit confused on what they're serving today, because sometimes I dont see the tuna rolls and on other days I cant find any poke bowls. I might just be too late to grab them but it'd be nice to just have a roster infront of the shop as to what they're serving on that day (: read more

Wow, Yelp demonstrates its usefulness once again! I truly never would have discovered Sakura Ya had it not been for Yelp. I mean, a Japanese Market in Forest Hills? What the heck!?! Well, I finally went there for the first time earlier this month and what can I say.... I love it! It's amazing! I immediately filled my basket with packages of frozen gyoza, packs of ramen, seaweed salad, and of course, some Pocky! I was also pretty impressed by their selection of sushi-grade fish and I vow to try that out one day. They also have countless other items on their shelves that I was tempted to buy, but then I had already hit the limit on my grocery budget for the week already! Oh well, until next week! read more

Gem. Sakura-Ya is a small specialty grocery store stocked with Japanese goods. The staff is really friendly and helped me pick out the conditioner I wanted (LUX Super Rich which I had an eye out for since trying it in japan). The store carries everyday brands found in Japan as well as some hard to find specialty items. Waw, waw, waw. Of course they have a DVD niche in the back. How Queens. read more