Murachin Shokuzai (CLOSED)

Hidden among the various food stores in the Ameyoko Center Building, Murachin Shokuzai has morphed from butcher's shop to spice emporium over the years. In response to a rising demand for Chinese ingredients, this grocery now stocks more than 2,000 imported items, a good half of which are Chinese seasonings. You'll also find products from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as a number of frozen foods, pigs' trotters and stewed pigs' ears. As you squeeze past the pungent spices and exotic meats, it's easy to imagine yourself in a market in Hong Kong or Shanghai; many of the customers are Chinese, and they even accept Chinese UnionPay cards. When you’re done selecting your seasonings, visit the affiliated Niku no Hatsune shop next door to choose from a selection of different meats and innards, and complete your recipe.