Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC

Had the opportunity to spend a few hours walking around Manhattan's Chinatown last month; here are some photos from my trip:

Easy access from Midtown on the subway; exit on Canal Street. 

The district has been steadily growing west and north - I saw signs in Chinese for blocks beyond the traditional boundary! 

Last time I was down here was in 2000; passing through to dinner in Little Italy. I distinctly remember this fishmonger's shop! Glad to see it's still there and doing well!

The vibrancy on the street and of course the signage reminds me so much of Hong Kong...

I had dinner at the Great N.Y. Noodletown on Bowery - just a come-in-sit-down place; family run for sure.  In Hong Kong style, sat at a table with three other groups!

I wanted something simple but authentic - ordered the Beef Chow Fun.  Excellent chewy rice noodles, the beef was nice and tender. Nutty smoky flavor.  Far more than I could finish and no fridge in my hotel room so no leftovers for breakfast :(

Scalding hot glass of tea in the upper left corner, just like in HK.  Plastic cup that almost burnt my hand the stuff was so hot ... but I knew the drill, hot drinks cool you off on a summer's day.  And once it cooled off a little, was a nice flavor complement to the noodles.

Try getting a giant plate of food for THAT price anywhere else on the island!

Was wishing I could have had several more dinners that night...

Shot of Starbucks taken from the front door of a Chatime - yes the corporations and franchises are all over the place but then so they are back in Asia. That makes them just as culturally appropriate as anything else!

Sadly, no NYC Chinatown insulated tumblers at Starbucks - so I didn't buy anything there.

Great family-travel destination whether you have a couple hours or a whole day; there were plenty of shops I'd have loved to look around in but most specialty stores close around 7 pm.  Groceries & eateries of course open much later.