Fourth of July Week — Uni, White Salmon & Omiyage

Hours This Week — Closed July 4th Only

We are operating at Rice Market DC through the full holiday week. The one exception: we will be closed on Friday, July 4th itself. All other days remain 11:30 am – 8:00 pm as usual.

If you are planning a Fourth of July gathering on July 3rd or 5th, same-day pickup is available. For delivery, you can schedule your preferred hour within the same day when placing your order.

This Week's Fish

The market has improved this week. Current availability:

• Hokkaido Uni — both large and small boxes in stock. Inventory is limited; reservation through the online shop is strongly recommended to secure yours.
• Fujisan White Salmon — a clean, mild salmon with a delicate fat profile, named for the pristine water source near Mt. Fuji.
• Hokkaido Hotate (Scallops) — large, sweet sashimi-grade scallops direct from Hokkaido.

Given limited Uni, we recommend ordering ahead rather than relying on walk-in availability this week.

Omiyage — Japanese Gift Items

Omiyage (お土産) is the Japanese custom of bringing back gifts — typically local specialties — for friends, colleagues, or family. We carry a small selection of premium Japanese omiyage items at Rice Market, which make for excellent Fourth of July or summer hosting gifts alongside an order of fish.

Currently available, while supplies last:

• Baumkuchen — the classic German-Japanese confection, a staple of Japanese bakery culture
• Japanese Rice Kit — premium short-grain rice with seasoned sushi vinegar, ready to cook
• Japanese Pasta Sauce — a Japanese-style pasta sauce, umami-forward
• Latte Kit — premium Japanese latte base, for matcha or hojicha
• Yanagiba Knife — the traditional single-bevel Japanese sashimi knife, ideal for clean slicing

These items are available in-store at Rice Market only, not through the online shop.

Knife Sharpening

Bring your knife and we will sharpen it at the store. This applies to all kitchen knives — Japanese or Western. A sharp knife is the single biggest upgrade you can make to your sashimi experience at home. No appointment needed.

Fresh Wasabi

We carry fresh wasabi — real hon-wasabi (本山葵), not the horseradish paste sold under the wasabi name at most restaurants. The flavor is more nuanced and less aggressively sharp, with a clean heat that fades quickly rather than lingering. It is grated fresh at the table and pairs directly with any of our Nagasaki Bluefin cuts.

Snow Crane Ice Cream Kickstarter

A note of congratulations to our neighbors: the @snowcraneicecream Kickstarter campaign was a great success. We cannot wait to visit the new shop. If you have not tried their Japanese-inspired ice cream, keep an eye out — they are part of the same community of small producers bringing something genuinely different to DC food culture.