Liquor Store

Cool. They’ve got more than 50 different kinds of sake in stock, as well as Japanese beers, plum wines, and spirits.

I wish Mitsuwa and Liquor Store were closer to the city! The selection of Sake is larger here than anywhere else I’ve been to in Chicago. You’ll also find Sochu, Plum Wine, an assortment of Japanese beers and other varieties of rice wine.
I bought a bottle of sake a few months ago and was completely confused… lots of brands and lots of varieties. However, I did know what grade I was looking for and asked one of the gentlemen working for help picking a bottle. He was really helpful and narrowed my selection down to two different bottles… and then I just chose the prettier one ;)
Prices seem to be better here than the city as well.
Grab a bowl of miso ramen next door while you’re visiting. YUM.

I trust no other source for Sake and Soju (shouchuu) as much as I trust the Liquor Store at Mitsuwa. Sure there the usual complement of big name blended whiskies (Suntory et al) and draft beers (thanks to the liquor monopolies in Illinois, you can find these just about everywhere). There’s also a good selection of Japanese craft beef Hitachino — try the red rice beer for a nice change from the ordinary.
But the Sake and Shouchuu — especially the shouchuu — is worth the drive out to Arlington Heights. Yes, there’s the usual selection from The Jizake
(that name always makes me giggle) — an importer of 22 different distillers’ branded Sakes. But there are also some standouts that you won’t find at Sam’s or your local.
Don’t come here for the prices — come here for the selection.