Bayard Street, New York

Sliding into Bayard Street, you’ll notice right away—it doesn’t try to hide its identity but leans boldly into its Chinese roots. With steam, aromas, and neon drifting through the air, the whole place feels like someone picked up a Hong Kong side street and gently placed it in Lower Manhattan. Down at street level, fish markets, bakeries, and tiny restaurants compete for your attention; above them, walk-up apartments house multi-generation families whose stories stretch back to southern China and Hong Kong.

Keep moving, and you’ll eventually spot a small crowd doing the universal sign for “this is the place”—eating ice cream directly on the sidewalk. That’s your cue: you’ve reached the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. This family-run shop has been scooping happiness for more than three decades, offering flavors that are creamy, silky, and just adventurous enough to make you wonder why you ever settled for vanilla. Arrive before the big rush, and you might snag samples of Ginger, Durian, Green Tea, Egg Custard, Black Sesame, or the ever-beloved Lychee. Choose wisely—or do what most people do and pretend you’ll only try one...

Once you escape the gravitational pull of the ice cream line, glance across the street at Mei Li Wah, the kingdom of steamed buns. They churn out warm, fluffy pockets filled with pork, chicken, pineapple, egg yolk—you name it. Most customers grab a bag and eat as they wander, but you can also sit down and point at the gigantic wall photos if decision-making isn’t your strong suit. Be patient if the trays are empty; locals sometimes buy buns in bulk, and the staff works at a pace that means business.

Before you leave the area behind, pause at the corner of Bayard and Mott. Here, Sun’s Organic Garden offers shelves of fragrant teas, with shopkeepers happy to steer you toward something soothing, energizing, or simply intriguing. Whether you’re after a gentle jasmine or a bold oolong, they’ll help you find your perfect cup before you continue your Chinatown adventure.