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!

American beef jerky is a convenient and well-loved snack. But many other appetizing preserved meats are enjoyed around the world. Among them is the jerky known as bak kwa in Malaysia and Singapore.

Unlike American jerky, which is salty, bak kua is seasoned with sugar to give it a caramel-like flavor. The sweetness is addictive! Malaysian-style jerky is also usually made with ground and not sliced meat. This means that each piece is tender and juicy. It can be bitten through easily and is not as dry and fibrous as American jerky.

You can try some of the most tempting Malaysian meat jerky in Manhattan’s Chinatown at Malaysia Beef Jerky Inc. The shop, which is located on Elizabeth Street, near Grand Street, carries a range of beef, chicken and pork jerky. They also offer spicy versions. All varieties are made in-store, without preservatives.

Most of the jerky costs about $17 for a pound and $4.20 for a quarter pound. You get about five large squares of jerky in a quarter pound. With its intense flavor, this generous amount can feed a few people. Or you can buy extra to take home and make some tasty sandwiches.

While the shop name suggests that beef is the most common variety, in Asia, pork is the most popular flavor. The name was chosen because Americans are more familiar with beef jerky. But if you want to order like a local, go for the pork! It is the original.

For more delicious Asian meat jerky, join New York Food Tours for the Tastes of Chinatown Tour or Exotic Southeast Asian Food Tour. You’ll get to sample Hong Kong-style jerky which is equally moist and full of flavor!

As New Yorkers, we are always looking for a quick tasty bite to eat. Sandwiches are a staple and recently there has been an insurgence of the Vietnamese Sandwich known as the Bánh Mì (pronounced BUN-mee). This is usually comprised of thinly sliced carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, daikon, chili peppers, and different meats combined with mayonnaise and butter. The most popular types of bánh mì sandwiches are roasted pork, chicken, and Vietnamese sausage. With Vietnamese, Chinese, and French influences, this sandwich appeals to the masses. Even Food Network featured chefs, Aaron Sanchez & Anne Burrell, love eating this dish as evidenced in the episode of “The Best Thing I Ever Ate – Between Bread”.

Taken by Plate of the Day

It is important to note that this dish is meant to highlight the meat and the freshness of the bread. Taking a bite into this sandwich you experience salty, crunchy flavors with the warmth of the meat and bread.

This is one of the items you taste on the Exotic Southeast Asian & Chinese Food Tour. And remember, a stale breaded sandwich is a sad sandwich so be sure to stay with our recommendations at New York Food Tours!

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

New York is not all about eating pizza or burgers, but it also has a wide variety of foods from many cuisines. At New York Food Tours we can help you understand the food you’re eating, and bring you to the tastiest places for eating these unique treats. Since every culture uses different ingredients in their cuisine, it is important to recognize that these “weird” unique foods have been eaten for many years. This is a city full of exciting cuisines and foods to try so by keeping an open mind, you can experience delicious and tasty dishes from all over the world.

Some dishes you can get in New York are:

• Durian – Known as “king of fruit” and shown in the above image, it has a particular odor that has most people reel in fright. However, it has the consistency of a rich, smooth custard and actually tastes like almonds.
• Sweetbreads –  It is the thymus gland or pancreas of a lamb. It is found in Italian restaurants such as Crispo and Landmarc, and listed as an appetizer. It is rich and fatty, particularly good eating it with bread.
• Thousand-year-old Egg – Widely eaten in Chinese cuisine, these are eggs that have been fermented for a week up to a month. It is often paired off with tofu or rice. On the inside the yolk looks dark green and the white is dark brown with a jelly-like texture. These eggs are considered a common ingredient and used often.
• Frog Porridge – A common delicacy to the Chinese, you can find this dish at restaurants that have several different types of rice porridges in Chinatown. According to many people, frogs tastes similar to chicken.
• Live Squid Sashimi – In Korean cuisine they prepare the squid in front of you and eaten on spot.

If you consider yourself an adventurous eater, you should try participating in our Freaky and Funniest Food Tour. Not only will you sample some of these unique foods, but you get to see other peoples’ reactions and perspectives towards the dishes you will try. It is definitely a fun, tasty, and unique experience!