Uwajimaya was first opened in Tacoma in 1928 by the Moriguchi family. It was re-opened on South Main Street in Seattle after WWII. The Bellevue location was added in 1978. The store carries traditional Asian ingredients in an easily accessible location; the staff here is quite friendly.
Uwajimaya's extensive produce selection offers everything from the standard banana to Japanese and Chinese eggplant, gobo, lemongrass and durian fruit. Visit the seafood counter for clams, crabs, lobsters and oysters--so fresh they're still alive. For a heartier bite of protein, the store has a large selection of beef and pork, including boneless short ribs, short pate and side pork.
The wide selection of Asian beers come from China, India, Singapore, the Philippines and Japan. The Japanese beer selection includes Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Japanese micro-brews. The store also stocks an array of sake bottles in beautiful shapes and sizes.