The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
A family-run Chinatown scoop shop since 1978 famous for black sesame, lychee and other Chinese-inspired flavors.
Example
The menu inverts the usual list: green tea and black sesame sit among the regular flavors while vanilla and chocolate are labeled exotic.
Related terms
Neighborhoods
Chinatown
Manhattan's dense, working Chinese neighborhood of markets, dumpling counters and a century and a half of history.
Restaurants
Wo Hop
The basement Cantonese restaurant at 17 Mott Street since 1938, a late-night Chinatown legend and James Beard...
Ice cream
Malai
A Carroll Gardens shop churning South Asian flavors like masala chai and rose with cinnamon almonds.
Ice cream
Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream
Nicholas Morgenstern's texture-obsessed ice cream parlor, reopened on the Lower East Side after its Village flagship...
Frequently asked questions
What flavor is the reason to come here?
Black sesame for depth, lychee for refreshment. The almond cookie flavor is the sleeper hit regulars order.
Is the original location still open?
Yes, the Manhattan Chinatown original on Bayard Street is the one to visit.
Is it kid friendly or too adventurous?
Kid friendly. The counter gives tastes, and familiar flavors sit on the same board as black sesame, so cautious eaters and curious ones both leave happy.
