THE RESTAURANT
2033 UNION STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
1959-197?
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| Menu |
THE POST CARD
THE RECIPE BOOK
Details
- Paperback: 198 pages
- Publisher: Nitty Gritty Productions; 1st edition (June 1969)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0911954031
- ISBN-13: 978-0911954036
Amazon Listing with reviews of the various recipes. Good Read.
HOMAGES
Stanford Daily Article
June 1977
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At Mingei-Ya, one eats in Japanese country style (i.e. you take off your shoes and sit on rice mats). Prices are high, about $8 or $9, for sukiyaki, teriyaki or tempura. The atmosphere is comfortable, not too ornate, and an older, more restrained crowd frequents Mingei-Ya. Another factor to consider is the menu, which teaches several useful Japanese words, likeneisan (waitress) and n,aneki-neko (beckoning cat).Original version here
I have an older Mingei-Ya menu dating from 1968 that I can scan and post or email if anyone is interested. It is basically the same as the one shown here, except for the prices (o-mizu-taki is $5.95, teriyaki is $4.75, tempura $4.50, etc.
ReplyDeleteHi David I would love to see the menu. I was fortunate enough to visit this restaurant in the 1970's. I loved it so much I took my parents there as well. Please send the menu. Thank you Carol Robinson
Deletehi david~ it is now 2019 and two years since your post. i would love to have a scan of the menu. my father had a lifelong longs affair with japan and we drove into san francisco to eat at mingei-ya when ever family or special friends visited from out of town. i’m not sure if you will get this and/or if i will receive a reply but here it goes. many thanks~ don’s daughter sam
ReplyDeleteH Don's fauvhdaugSam. My mom found the cookbook at a thrift store many years ago and sent it to me. I was dad to see the restaurant gone when I tried to find it . I cant imagine such a fine restaurant closing. I miss going there too. Carol Robinson also 2019, October
DeleteHi there. I’m writing from Vancouver, Canada. I came across the recipe book at a thrift shop on Saltspring Island. I am very impressed by the level of detail, passion, and artistry displayed in this book, right down to the paper selection. It’s a rare find even in contemporary works. I was curious about the author and the restaurant so I’m pleasantly surprised to find this website with some information on him. I’m sad to know that he has passed on, and the restaurant is no longer, but clearly he has loved ones who are preserving his legacy there. Take care.
DeleteGood morning! I was thinking about cooking some Japanese food just yesterday and remembered that I had my old Mingei-Ya cookbook, out in the garage. As I looked at the picture of the entrance, I thought I could smell the wonderful cooking. My family lived in Japan for a couple of years when I was 1 (yes, ONE, in 1951) and fell in love with the food, people and culture. Fast forward to 1964+ and friends took them to Mingei-Ya, knowing their love for Japanese cooking. My sister and I had our first experience soon after. Mingei-Ya quickly became my go to favorite for special celebrations. Later when I was dating my wife, we had the chance to introduce her to Mingei-Ya. Believe it or not, the last time we ate at Mingei was on our wedding night, December 1972. We had an afternoon wedding on Treasure Island and stayed overnight near the airport, awaiting a honeymoon flight the next morning. What better way for the ultimate celebration than O-Mizu-Take at Mingei-Ya. We never realized it would be our last time to enjoy this amazing treasure. I can't begin to keep track of how often we talk about Mingei-Ya and our wonderful memories there. Perhaps our kids are the most disappointed, as they love Japanese cuisine, but only have our stories to dream about what they missed. Unfortunately, we have NEVER found another treasure like Mingei-Ya. We're still in the SF/Bay Area and down in LA regularly - if anyone knows of a great true Japanese restaurant, please post it. The typical and overplayed sushi world just doesn't cut it, after enjoying something as unique as Mingei-Ya. Thank you again for this blog, great memories! Kanpai! Brad: btjnet@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHow amazing! I used to eat at the Mingei-Ya every week, was bereft when they folded.
ReplyDeletePlease do send me a copy of the menu. Arigato!
Mingei Ya was our favorite restaurant back in the 1960's. A friend who'd lived in Japan introduced us to it, saying that this was the way he had known Japan and the Japanese people. So sad when we returned to the Bay Area to find that it had closed. I just found that used copies of the cookbook are available through Amazon and have bought one.
ReplyDeleteYes! I bought two, one for a friend, then immediately made Omizutaki. Life shines again!
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the recipe in the cookbook does not replicate the orignal sauce from the restaurant. You need to add a few things.
DeleteLinnea J -- It has now been two years since your entry, but I have just discovered it while writing up a story about my most memorable meal. Have you figured out what are the few things you need to add to the sauce recipe? If so, I would love to have a copy of your recipe, Thanks.
ReplyDelete