Cooking Chinese food in Japan with supermarket ingredients

简体中文

Japanese supermarkets sell more Chinese seasonings than most people expect: doubanjiang, oyster sauce and dumpling wrappers are everywhere. A few items need a Chinese grocery shop or a simple swap.

Where to shop

Every supermarket has a Chinese seasoning shelf (中華調味料) with doubanjiang, tianmianjiang and oyster sauce. KALDI and Gyomu Super (業務スーパー) carry Shaoxing wine, Sichuan pepper and Chinkiang vinegar. Chinese grocery shops in Ikebukuro, Nishi-Kawaguchi and Yokohama Chinatown, and online shops, have the rest.

What to look for, and swaps

Doubanjiang (豆板醤)
Chinese seasoning shelf at every supermarket
Tianmianjiang (甜麺醤)
Chinese seasoning shelf
If not: Red miso (赤味噌) with a little sugar
Oyster sauce (オイスターソース)
Every supermarket
Shaoxing wine (紹興酒)
Liquor shelf at large supermarkets, KALDI
If not: Japanese sake (料理酒)
Sichuan pepper (花椒)
Spice aisle or KALDI; sometimes sold as 中華山椒
If not: Japanese sansho powder (粉山椒)
Chinkiang black vinegar (香醋)
KALDI, Chinese shops
If not: Japanese black vinegar (黒酢)
Fermented black beans (豆豉)
Chinese shops, KALDI
If not: Red miso (赤味噌)
Five-spice powder (五香粉)
Spice aisle at large supermarkets
If not: Cinnamon with a pinch of black pepper
Rock sugar (氷砂糖)
Baking aisle at every supermarket
Dumpling wrappers (餃子の皮)
Chilled section next to tofu, every supermarket
Garlic chives (ニラ)
Vegetable section, every supermarket

Good to know

Thinly sliced pork (豚こま or 豚バラ薄切り) saves the knife work for twice-cooked pork and stir-fries.
Japanese ラー油 is milder than Sichuan chili oil; 食べるラー油 adds crunch and garlic.

Ingredient guides

Turn any dish into 3 steps with what Japanese shops sell

Lazy Recipe sees that you're in Japan, picks swaps from Japanese supermarkets, and your shopping list shows each item's Japanese label and aisle. Type a dish or snap a photo.

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