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!

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!