Where to Shop in Chinatown and Little Italy
“Where can we shop in Chinatown and Little Italy?” This is a question that we are often asked on our food walking tours NYC. Chinatown and Little Italy are sometimes neighborhoods that are underrated as shopping destinations but we want to clear the air and share with you some great shopping gems. These neighborhoods have quite a few unique shops (beyond food markets) that you can’t find anywhere else in New York City. So with that in mind, here is our guide on where to shop in Chinatown and Little Italy. We also have some of the greatest food walking tours NYC has on offer to visit these shops
Yunhong Chopsticks – 50 Mott St
Yunhong Chopsticks is a great place to look for interesting gifts and souvenirs. It is an unusual store in the heart of Chinatown that of course specializes in chopsticks. There are so many chopsticks with different designs and materials that there is bound to be one that will be a conversation starter with your friends and family!
Ten Ren Tea & Ginseng Co – 75 Mott St
If you love tea, Ten Ren is an absolute must. They have probably one of the largest selections of teas in Manhattan. If it gets overwhelming, Ten Ren would be more than happy you help you pick out the perfect tea for you.
Aji Ichiban USA – 37 Mott St
Also on Mott Street is Aji Ichiban and it is probably unlike any other candy store that you been to before. They are best known for having more unusual candies for sale like a durian fruit candy. In addition, they also have treats like dried fruits, jerky and wasabi peas (which we highly recommend). It is really a lot of fun shopping here—the best part is that you can sample the goodies as you shop!
Pearl River Mart – 477 Broadway
Pearl River Mart moved to a location closer to Soho a couple of years ago but it is still the premier Chinese department store. It has a cool, fun vibe and the store is huge. Whether you are look for a new tea set or looking for an Asian themed lampshade, it really feels like they have everything.
Jewelry Stores on Canal St and Bowery
There is a large cluster of jewelry stores around Bowery and Canal St so you can spend all day shopping around for that perfect gift for yourself or for your significant other (or it’s always fun just to window shop).
Rossi E & Co – 193 Grand St
Rossi E & Co is the oldest gift shop Little Italy. If you are looking for souvenirs in Little Italy, they have quite the eclectic mix and shopping here truly feels like a treasure hunt.
