Grease Box


September 9, 2013

Event Recap: First Annual Umami Matsuri

by Kayoko Akabori

Umami Mart’s Oakland HQ turned one year old this last month. What a wonderful year it’s been! To celebrate (as we do), we threw a big matsuri (festival) in the street — Broadway hasn’t seen anything like this! We gathered many of our food-tastic friends from San Francisco and Oakland to help make our one-year […]

August 13, 2013

Upcoming Event: Matsuri Festival (It’s Our Birthday!)

by Kayoko Akabori

August is our birthday month! It’s been one year since we opened our doors at 815 Broadway in Oakland, and indeed it’s been an enriching, exhilarating year. Thank you everyone for supporting our vision as America’s premier Japanese bar and kitchenware shop! We could not have come this far without all of you. On Saturday 8/24, we’ll […]

June 17, 2013

Upcoming Event: U-MART Opens 6/25 (Party of the Year!)

by Kayoko Akabori

Conbini is a shortened word for “convenience” which is referred to when talking about convenience stores in Japan. Littered around on any street corner in most cities, conbinis are like a typical corner store, or bodega — but from the future. They are well-lit, sparkling clean havens stocked with freshly prepared foods to-go, nail clippers, […]

January 23, 2013

Grease Box Lunch Box Every Wednesday

by Kayoko Akabori

Lunch boxes by our great friend Lizzy, proprietress of Grease Box, a mobile kitchen here in Oakland, will now be available at Umami Mart every Wednesday. Lizzy makes delicious, finger-lickin’ awesome soul food, that does not skimp on the flavor or love. For example, today’s lunch includes jalapeño hot wings, crispy pork belly, millet biscuit, carrot […]

October 30, 2012

Upcoming Event: First Friday with Grease Box

by Kayoko Akabori

Our great friend (and twice-Umami Mart writer) Lizzy Boelter is popping up at Umami Mart with her mobile kitchen Grease Box this Friday. Lizzy makes super rad soul food of her native Louisiana, all gluten-free! And lucky for us, Lizzy does not skimp on the lovin’ or the flavorin’. For this special pop-up, she’ll be […]