The best souvenirs to buy in Yokohama Chinatown. A selection of dim sum, Chinese sweets, and seasonings

*Prices include tax.

Turn your home dinner table into authentic Chinese cuisine! 5 souvenirs you'll want to buy for yourself

It would be nice to be able to enjoy the "taste" of Chinatown at home. First, we will introduce some special gourmet foods that you can choose for yourself. The afterglow of your trip will add spice to your home dinner table.

The original Chinatown gourmet food that is filling and juicy

When you think of Chinatown, many people will think of steaming hot Chinese buns. The most representative of these is Edosei's Butaman. It is said to be the origin of food to eat while walking around Yokohama's Chinatown. With a diameter of about 11 cm, height of about 7 cm, and weight of 250 g, it feels heavy in the hand and extremely satisfying to eat.

Made with plenty of high-quality domestic pork, the juicy meat overflows with every bite. The delicious seafood, the crispness of the fresh vegetables, and the fluffy, finely textured skin all go perfectly together.

The flavor is loved by many people and is of course perfect as a souvenir. The frozen "Butaman" is packaged with the same flavor and volume as the Chinatown version. Enjoy a freshly steamed piping hot bun at home anytime.

Edosei Chinatown Main Branch

An addictive dish made with a secret sauce and traditional techniques

"Dohatsu" continues to uphold the traditions of the good old Chinatown. Since its establishment in the Meiji era, its specialty has been grilled dishes made with a secret sauce and a special pot. The symbol of this restaurant is the rows of perfectly grilled whole chickens and roast pork hanging in the display window.

The specially made pork slices are moist and tender, with a subtle hint of spice and the delicious taste of fat that will leave you wanting more. Combined with the sweet and spicy soy sauce that comes with it, you'll be able to eat as much as you want. Cut it to your desired thickness and eat it as is, or combine it with rice to make a pork slice rice bowl. It's also recommended as an ingredient in fried rice or ramen.

Purchases can be made by weight, starting from a single block. The sense of realism that can only be experienced in Chinatown is one of the best parts of traveling here.

Chinese Restaurant Dohatsu Main Building

Condiments that allow you to easily recreate authentic Chinese cuisine in the microwave

Kyokarou is a place where you can enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine. The chef, who is originally from Sichuan province, uses plenty of local spices to prepare the dishes. The popular signature dish is Sichuan Mapo Tofu. The strong spiciness of the chili peppers and the numbing taste of the Sichuan peppercorns, combined with the rich flavor of the fermented black beans, will definitely make you want to eat more rice. This dish is irresistible for those who love spicy food.

Kyokaro offers a wide variety of authentic seasonings for souvenirs. One of the most recommended is the "Authentic Sichuan Mapo Tofu Base," which allows you to easily make their signature dish at home. It's quick and easy to prepare, just pour it over tofu and heat it in the microwave, but the taste is authentic. This is because the seasonings for souvenirs are made with care by the chef.

It is filled with plenty of minced meat and is very satisfying. You can also make other dishes such as mapo eggplant or mapo vermicelli depending on your ideas.

Kyokaro Main Building (center of Guandi Temple Street)

The two-tone color is cute and makes you happy.

The adorable panda logo of the pudding specialty shop "Yokohama Pudding 96 Fukupun" catches your eye. The puddings, which combine fresh ingredients from Kanagawa Prefecture with Chinese recipes, are carefully handmade every day.

One of the most eye-catching items is the "Shiro96 Pudding - Black Sesame". It is a two-layered pudding consisting of the standard "Plain" and the flavorful "Black Sesame Pudding", and its two-tone white and black design is as cute as a panda. The "Fukubun Pudding" is also popular for its auspicious red and white colors, and is made up of two layers of "Almond Pudding" that is typical of Chinatown, and a red jelly with the scent of peach and strawberry. The gold flakes that peek out when you open the lid are also gorgeous. Both are smooth to the touch, and you will be soothed by their gentle and refined sweetness.

"Fukufun" means "happiness" in Chinese. It is a sweet that will make you feel warm and happy during your relaxing time or after-meal dessert time.

Yokohama Pudding 96 Fukupun

Perfect for a coffee break. Traditional Chinese sweets with a unique twist

Chongqing Restaurant is a long-established Sichuan restaurant operated by Ryumon Shoji Co., Ltd. In addition to serving authentic Sichuan cuisine, the restaurant also focuses on traditional Chinese sweets. The most popular item is the "Banbin," an original product that can only be purchased here and is a unique arrangement of the traditional sweets of the Chinese Banjin tribe. The sophisticated packaging was designed by Hong Kong designer Alan Chan.

The moist dough made with eggs and milk is wrapped around a generous amount of smooth bean paste, and the surface is topped with fragrant roasted walnuts. Despite its heavy appearance, it has a subtle and refined sweetness. The crunchy texture of the walnuts adds an extra touch to this sweet treat, and you'll find yourself reaching for it again and again.

They go well with Chinese and Japanese tea, as well as coffee and black tea. They come in two sizes, large and small, but we recommend the large one, which allows you to cut up the whole piece and eat as much as you like. Cut them to your desired thickness and enjoy.

Chungking Chinese Restaurant Main Building Shop

Share your memories of Chinatown with others. 5 souvenirs you'll want to give to someone

If you want to give a souvenir from Yokohama Chinatown, choose something that conveys the "Chinatown-ness" of the area. Since it's a souvenir from a city of gourmet food, you'll want to be particular about the taste. We've picked out five unique items that are easy to give as gifts because they last a long time.

A fortune slip appears from inside! A fun candy with a gimmick

If you're looking for a souvenir to take to the workplace, why not try some "Fortune Cookies"? They come individually wrapped, making them perfect for handing out to others.

This is a fun snack that is a half-moon cookie that when you break it open reveals a fortune slip inside. The thought-provoking messages are sure to make you stand up straight.

The soft sweetness of the coconut flavor is reminiscent of a nostalgic, gentle taste. It has a crispy, crunchy texture that makes it a delicious snack. It is also a surprisingly low-calorie snack, with only 22 kcal per 100g.

Chungking Chinese Restaurant Main Building Shop

Enjoy comparing the taste of the different flavors. Packed with "anko" that brings out the flavor of the ingredients.

Yokohama Daihanten is a long-established restaurant located near Zenrinmon Gate on the main street of Yokohama Chinatown. It is a famous restaurant that covers the four major Chinese cuisines of Cantonese, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Beijing. The shop on the first floor also sells a wide variety of souvenirs unique to Chinatown, including original dim sum, seasonings, and sweets.

There are also about 20 varieties of mooncakes, a classic Chinese confectionery. The moist dough is filled with a rich, carefully kneaded filling. The delicate texture allows the flavor of the ingredients to come through without feeling heavy.

If you can't decide, choose "Hua Yue Cake," where you can enjoy comparing mini mooncakes. You can enjoy standard flavors such as red bean, as well as rare flavors such as mango and yuzu. The gorgeous patterns are beautiful to look at, and would make a great gift.

Yokohama Grand Hotel

A versatile recipe seasoning that you'll want to give to someone who loves to cook

Founded in 1892, Manchinrou is a long-established Cantonese restaurant that uses plenty of seasonal ingredients. Next to the main store is a shop that sells dim sum, Chinese sweets, seasonings, and other items carefully made by artisans.

"Xianglazi", a special chili oil carefully prepared from chili peppers, is a masterpiece that represents Manchinrou. It is also called "the original edible chili oil" and has plenty of crunchy ingredients at the bottom of the bottle. The rich aroma of chili peppers and Sichuan pepper, the depth of ginger, fermented black beans, and a slight touch of sugar make it a taste that stands out from other chili oils. The spiciness is surprisingly mild, and it warms the body afterwards.

Just pour it over dumplings, hotpots, or cold tofu to enjoy the luxurious taste of a long-established restaurant. It is also a versatile seasoning for cooking, and goes well with meat, seafood, and vegetables to elevate your cooking. It also comes with authentic Chinese recipes, which will be especially appreciated by those who love to cook.

Manchinro Shop, Chinatown Odori Branch

A must-try! Enjoy high-end Chinese cuisine at home

"Yokohama Daisekai" is an all-weather entertainment facility that offers everything from shopping to various experiences and relaxation spots. The market on the first floor has about 3,000 souvenirs.

There are many items that can only be purchased here, but one that you should definitely check out is the "Yokohama Daisekai Original Shark Fin Soup." Shark fin is a rare and indispensable ingredient at Chinese banquets since ancient times. It is now available in a retort pouch so that you can easily enjoy its rich flavor.

Just boil the contents of the pouch with water and finish by adding beaten eggs, and it's ready in just a few minutes. It uses 100% domestic shark fin and is packed with ingredients such as bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms. The thick soup made from chicken and pork bones is a perfect fit for Japanese tastes, and will be enjoyed by everyone.

You can eat it as it is as a soup, but other recommended ways to eat it are to add rice to make rice porridge, or to use it as a sauce for thick udon noodles.

Yokohama Daisekai Market

Perfect for relaxing. Highly fragrant authentic Chinese tea.

China is said to be the birthplace of tea, and there are hundreds of different kinds of tea. High-quality Chinese tea is also a popular souvenir that can only be found in Chinatown. If you want to choose authentic Chinese tea, head to Goku Chaso, a Chinese tea specialty store. They stock about 100 kinds of high-quality tea leaves, and you can enjoy Chinese tea with special food at the teahouse on the second floor.

For gifts, we especially recommend the easy-to-use tea bag type. The popular "Black Oolong Tea" is a blend of oolong tea and pu-erh tea, and the rich aroma unique to green tea is soothing. The clean, unobtrusive taste goes well with meals or as an after-meal drink.

It has a refreshing taste when freshly brewed, and a mellow taste when cooled a little. It's a great product to have on hand when you want to relax during a break from work.

Goku Tea House

Yokohama Chinatown offers a wide range of high-quality food, which is unique to a city of gourmet food. The carefully selected products that can only be found in a place where foreign cultures and the Japanese climate blend together are appealing. Whether you want to treat yourself or show your appreciation to those around you, we hope you will use this as a reference when choosing souvenirs.

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