A Day in Chinatown with Actress, Singer, and Drag Queen, Yuhua Hamasaki (@yuhuahamasaki)
Welcome to the latest installment of our “A Day in Chinatown with…” series, where our fellow New Yorkers (or NYC fanatics) share their favorite Chinatown spots with us. For Pride Month, these spots are selected by our friends in the AAPI LGBTQ+ community.
Our next guest is Chinese-born American drag queen, Yuhua Hamasaki. An actor, singer, and television personality, she became an international sensation with her appearance on the tenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. “I was 7 years old when I moved to Chinatown. Although there was culture shock of being in a different country, Chinatown made the transition a lot easier. From the food to the parks, the schools, libraries, stores, community centers, and even subway stations – they all hold special memories for me. My heart will always have space for the neighborhood.”
Before we get into your favorite places, what does Chinatown mean to you as a Queer Asian-American?
“It means being home. It means that I need to continue to live my life authentically, because there are many people who share similar stories as mine.”
Getting Ready
MessLook I (104 Bowery Street) - This hair salon does color, style, cut, wash, and I've been coming here for years. They recently did my hair color and cut, and I love it!
Noon & Nostalgia
Teado Tea Shop (145D Hester Street) - This tea shop serves delicious bubble tea no like no other. The tea is fresh, and so are their boba. Their variety of drinks are not too sugary and sweet, so it still has the tea flavor with a twist of bobas. During the summer when you get to sit down with the AC indoors, drinking their bubble tea, it is quite nice. I usually prefer my drinks with less sugar, less ice, and either green or oolong tea with bubbles. I love trying different drink flavors every time I come here.
Tai Pan Bakery (194 Canal Street) - This is another one of those places that bring back nostalgic memories of when my parents would buy Chinese bread for me and my sister. Nowadays there are lot of more varieties, but I still go for the staples like pineapple buns (bolo bao) and egg tarts (daan taat).
Night on the Town
Great NY Noodletown (28 Bowery Street) - The food here is delicious! It opens till late night and attracts a lot of party-goers during pre-pandemic. It is best to go during the afternoon when and there are less people. Try the Squid & Pickled Vegetable - that's my to go-to order, always.
Hometown Hot Pot & BBQ (194 Grand Street) - All you can eat hot pot for 2 hours! It does get busy here during dinner time, so it's best if you come earlier in the day. Also, if you come earlier, you can get a discount deal! I'm a pescatarian, and they have plenty of options for me!
New Kim Tuong Restaurant (83 Chrystie Street) - The food here is delicious and affordable! If you're hungry when you get out of the Grand Street train station, this is where I usually go to because it's right there. I always get takeout before I leave Chinatown so I can eat it later for dinner.
Halcyon Days in Chinatown
Hong Kong Supermarket (158 Hester Street) - This supermarket is large enough that it has a huge variety of Chinese food on two floors. I always get my vegetables here just because it has more variety than most supermarkets in NYC. They also have a variety of noodles on the basement level.
P.S. I check the snack aisle from time to time if I ever get nostalgic for my childhood in China.
212 Grand Food Corp/Kong Kee (212 Grand Street) - Tofu hua! (Tofu pudding) My love for this dessert! They have it hot and freshly made, and also cold ones you can take home. As a kid, my parents and grandparents in China would buy it for me. After moving to NYC, we could barely find them anymore. This is one of the few places that still makes tofu hua, as well as a variety of other foods made from tofu. If you're vegetarian, you must visit this place.
