Hatoya Mart Japanese Food Grocery Since 1992 — Attraction in Pineville

Took a trip to Hatoya Japanese Mart and was pleasantly surprised by the endless variety, along with the store staff being very inviting and friendly as well.

I originally came shopping for spring roll sheets to create a Philippine dish, but found so many hidden gems that had me in the store shopping for everything from Japanese Anime to Japanese wines. Within each aisle, there are collections of goods and merchandise labeled with English and Japanese kanji, so for those interested in learning the Japanese language, it is a great place to shop. Their book and dvd selection is also massive, so it would be an excellent place for gifts, presents, etc.

If I had to make any suggestions, definitely give yourself enough time to search around, as the aisles can become slightly overwhelming with so many options and when shopping with a time constraint can be very tough. I spent a good 40 minutes browsing through the store and still didn’t see all that I wanted to see. Currently the stores hours are until 7 PM, so if you’re going in early, you can make the most of the time.

I will definitely be visiting again soon to shop for more food items and find more great things....

Update to previous review: Hatoya has moved just a few doors down to a larger and more inviting location. Product selection and variety have expanded. After becoming more familiar with the store, it is easy to avoid the overpriced products. The overpriced products are mostly things like Japanese Kit-Kats which might tend to draw consumers to the store who aren't interested in purchasing much else. Produce selection and prices are excellent. I enjoy trying to prepare authentic Japanese foods, and Hatoya carries every obscure ingredient you can imagine. Upgraded my review from three to four stars. Staff are always very gracious, polite and thankful for the business.

Varied selection of authentic Japanese products. Staff is always friendly and attentive. Prices, however, border on gouging. Other Asian markets in the area carry similar/same products for lower prices. In some cases you can even find the same products at large chain stores now for a fraction of Hatoya's prices. A small selection of Japanese novelties, kitchen, and beauty products rounds out the inventory. You should visit if you're interested in...

I’ve been there a few times and I think it’s a cute shop! I like the wide variety of items to choose from that I’d never see anywhere else. It’s always fun to go in and just buy a bunch of stuff and it always feels like a learning experience. However, I don’t like the silent attention given to me by some of the employees my last visit. Silent. Watching. Suspicious? Uncomfortable? My husband and I learned how to make mochi, and we were in there looking for items to make it. I’m not sure what set your alarm bells off since I was only a customer from my perspective. If a customer looks “suspicious”, please watch them on your cameras, or ask kindly if they need help. Don’t obviously follow them around the store. I like your store, but It’s kinda hard to want to give my cash to a shop where I experiences that. If someone in your shop looks different, they’re probably not trying to steal from you; they’re trying to experience culture outside of their own because they see these cultures as valid and worth respecting. So please try to respect all of...