A Stroll Around Chinatown and Little Italy
Morning
Take the No. 6 train to Spring Street, walk past Lafayette, and turn down Mulberry Street
for a stroll through Little Italy. Don’t miss the old-fashioned food
shops on Grand Street, such as cheese specialist Alleva Dairy (188 Mulberry Street at Grand) and Piemonte Co. (190 Grand Street),
where two dozen shapes and varieties of pasta can be bought. At 206
Grand is DiPalo Dairy, where you can watch fresh mozzarella being made.
Take a break at a classic Italian café, like Caffè Roma,385 Broome Street, or Ferrara’s,195–201 Grand Street.
Take Grand Street west to Centre Street, then turn left and you’ll find an introduction to what’s ahead, the
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
. Walk east back to Mott Street, the center of Chinatown. Enjoy a dim sum lunch at Jing Fong or the
Golden Unicorn
.
Food shopping
Afternoon
Remaining on Mott
Street, spend some time browsing the many shops, exotic food stores,
markets, and galleries that line the street. Step into Teariffic,
51 Mott Street
, to sample a current fad imported from Taiwan: tall glasses of flavored teas served with “pearls” of tapioca in the bottom.
End the afternoon with a visit to the golden Buddhas of the Eastern States Buddhist Temple and have your fortune read.
Chinatown Food Shops
-
Street Markets
Canal
Street and Hester Street are among the many blocks crowded with outdoor
stands selling exotic Chinese vegetables, fruits, and dried foods.
Street market
-
Mark’s Wine & Spirits
Authentic Chinese alcohol, such as mei kuei lu chiew with its rosewater scent, and Shaohsing wine, can be purchased here.
-
Kamwo Herb and Tea
One
of the better-known shops offering Chinese herbs said to cure anything
from arthritis to impotence. Ginseng is available in teas or supplement
form.
-
Fay Da Bakery
Sample
a delicious soft bun filled with roasted pork or beef for less than $1,
then try almond cookies, red bean cakes, custard tarts, or cream buns
for dessert.
-
Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng Company
An
array of golden canisters holds many varieties of Chinese teas;
knowledgeable clerks will explain the properties of each and how to brew
them properly.
Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng Company
-
Kam Man Food Products
One
of the largest food emporiums in Chinatown stocks tonics, teas,
jellies, ginseng, vegetables of every shape, and row upon row of sauces.
-
Chinatown Food Market
This
cramped store offers all manner of dried seafood, imported goods,
noodles, watermelon seeds and counterfeit toothpaste. Try one of the
inexpensive, wrapped hard candies.
-
Deluxe Food Market
The Chinese come here for prepared foods, marinated meats and the fully stocked meat and fish counters.
-
May May Gourmet Chinese Bakery
On one of the streets of old Chinatown is this cheerful, modern shop best known for dim sum, to be enjoyed on the spot or to go.
-
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Ginger,
lychee, pumpkin, mango, and red bean are among the flavors that can be
sampled at this popular dessert stop, a favorite with young visitors.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory