Looking for a one-stop shop for all your Asian cooking needs? Head down to Hong Kong Supermarket on Hester Street. Hong Kong Supermarket opened at its current location in 2008. The supermarket sells everything from Filipino banana ketchup to green tea-flavored soy milk. There are sauces, condiments and candy from all over Asia. Most items have English language labels so it is a lot easier to shop here than at the little stands in Chinatown.

There are two levels to the store. On the ground floor, where the entrance is, you’ll see fresh produce and sushi. Further in the store, aisles are neatly categorized by the food products’ country of origin. There is a Southeast Asian aisle where you can get jars of spicy sambal oelek (chilli sauce) and tubs of authentic curry pastes. On the Japanese/Korean aisle there is a wide selection of teriyaki and soy sauces. You’ll find mainstream Asian staples like soy sauce far cheaper here than at regular supermarkets! Downstairs, there is an amazing array of dried noodles in every flavor, shape and form. Just think of all the exotic dishes you can prepare after a shopping trip here!

For the really adventurous, there are sometimes whole durians sold at $1.29 a pound and durian popsicles in the back freezer section at $4.67 for a box of four. The pungent fruit, which is creamy and rich, is an acquired taste. But it is definitely worth trying!

There are so many fascinating Asian foods that without guidance, it can be overwhelming. That’s where New York Food Tours comes in. We’re here to help. You can choose the Freakiest and Funniest Food Tour that includes tastes of unusual foods like the durian. But we also have the Tastes of Chinatown Tour, the Exotic Southeast Asian and Chinese Food Tour and the Asian Vegetarian Food and Culture Tour. No matter what you pick, you’ll leave confident and able to enjoy all Chinatown has to offer!

Photo By: J Blough

The Chinatown, located in downtown Manhattan, has one of the largest populations of Chinese people outside of Asia. With its history rested upon multiple rounds of Chinese immigrants, Chinatown has a strong link to its culture that can be experienced by the delicious authentic cuisines found in restaurants, specialty shops, and food markets. This area has grown and diversified to include other Asian populations such as Vietnamese and Malaysians, as they also have a number of establishments in Chinatown.

One of the best ways to explore the diverse culinary treasures in this area is to go on a food tour! At New York Food Tours, they have a Tastes of Chinatown tour led by an expert who knows all of the premier, authentic eateries. This tour explores Taiwanese, Shanghainese, Pekingese, and Cantonese cuisines.

You will be able to try Cantonese BBQ and jerky, Peking dumplings, Shanghai scallion pancakes, Taiwanese teas, and dim sum. They also feature an Exotic Southeast Asian Tour that explores Malaysian and Vietnamese cuisines.  This eclectic tour includes tastes of Chinese pastries, dumplings, and jerky; Malaysian satay and curry; and Vietnamese sandwiches.

With all the unique and different foods you can taste in Chinatown, it will be a mistake to miss out on visiting and experiencing what this area has to offer.

Photos by J Blough and Derrick Chen