Where can you find mirin in grocery stores?
Authentic mirin is quite a delightful condiment to use, especially on savory dishes. But unless you have someone who buys it for you directly, mirin can be quite a pain in the neck to find.
It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, but this time, you’re searching for a bottle in numerous stores.
Most big retail stores sell mirin in either the international aisle or the condiment aisle. Mirin can be found near the oil and vinegar section. If you still have no luck, check the rice vinegar section. Asian establishments like Marukai, or communities like Little Tokyo might have some stock as well. If you still have no luck in local supermarkets, your best bet is to order online.
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Read for freeLocal stores that usually sell mirin
For mirin hunting, the first thing to check is the nearest Japanese-based Asian supermarket. These neighborhood-oriented stores often have stuff that is hard to find.
Some of the stores you can check are Marukai, Uwajimaya, Nijiya Market, and Mitsuwa Marketplace. Unfortunately, these stores have few branches and locations, so only check these first if there’s one near your area.
Checking your local retail stores is also a great idea, but you might have a smaller chance to find real hon mirin (here’s how it’s different from aji-mirin).
Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger often stock up on Asian condiments.
If you’re really out of luck, there are mirin-like condiments (or mirin-fu) that are easier to find but don’t have alcohol content.
The thing about hon mirin is that you can still enjoy it as an alcoholic beverage. It’s quite harder to find and expensive as well.
Products like Takara Mirin, Kikkoman Kotterin Mirin, and Kikkoman Manjo Aji-Mirin are sufficient when you only need mirin for cooking. These mirin alternatives are easier to find and more affordable.
Read all about the ubiquitous Kikkoman brand origin, products and style here
Good online stores for buying mirin
Amazon – The international version of Amazon can offer tons of condiment varieties, including mirin.
Aji-mirin and mirin-type condiments are easy to find, especially those from the Kikkoman brand. Most bottles are priced at a decent range of $10 to $15. Ohsawa is a good one to consider.
Rakuten or ZenMarket – If you need a more specific brand, your best bet is proxy shops like Rakuten and ZenMarket. These shopping proxy site services buy Japanese products natively and ship them in bulk.
Keep in mind that you’re paying for the package plus the international shipping based on your package weight.
Read next: Can you drink mirin? It is not meant for it, here’s why
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
