Wing Hop Fung

Business CLOSED!!! Now I have to drive further to Monterey Park to get my Teas!!!
NO GOOD!!!

I came across this place when looking for cool spots in Chinatown. Unfortunately it looks like it is closing very soon. I came mostly because I read it was a great place to buy tea which we were excited about since we went to China earlier this year. This is definitely a great place to buy tea as I had never seen such a selection. We arrived about 10 minutes before closing and my head was spinning with probably over 100 chooses of loose leaf tea. It is in the range of $ 20 ish per pound to well over $ 100. We ended up with a fruit tea and a jasmine. You could easily rack up serious $ so maybe a time limit was good. The tea was nicely packaged to take home. Thankfully it looks like they have other locations so I hope to check them out in the near future.

Wing Hop Fung has been an anchor, business wise and culturally here in Los Angeles Chinatown since the 80s. That it is closing is a shame and makes me wonder about the future of Chinatown’s cultural identity and integrity.
It has been the best place to go for tea and accessories, herbs and medicine, ginseng (bar none), Chinese delicacies and a large variety of home goods. The lower floor held a wonderful variety of alcohol (top label brands, particularly in whiskey), and the ginseng and delicacies.
You can find these things in their stores in Alhambra and Santa Anita. so if you are looking for these sorts of items, or just want visually a neat experience, this is where to go. They aren’t going away complete… just in Chinatown. But that last part sucks.

Just got a good deal on a Tea kettle, tea cups, and tea. Everything was discounted once I went to the register so what I thought was already a pretty good deal was even better. The staff was friendly and helped me with what I needed.

Gone downhill. Very sad. It’s never been all that user-​friendly, but a couple weeks ago I went to replenish my «pot marigold» which is a dried flower tea used for getting rid of internal infections like sore throats. Granted, I would have been better off taking the empty package with me, but I didn’t expect it to be as difficult as it was to replace it (as I’ve done several times over the years). Long story short, I roamed downstairs, asked a few clerks who were marginally bilingual. Even asked for an English-​Chinese Medical Dictionary which they usually have behind the counter. No luck. True, I’d forgotten to say «Pot» and simply asked for «Marigold.» Then upstairs things got worse. This older Caucasian (?) man who spoke English kind of started following me around. He kept asking me what I wanted. I kept telling him. He kept saying he never heard of it. Was I sure? Yes. Sure. Thanks. But he persisted. I looked in every bin. Or almost every bin. I asked everyone – the clerk in the tea section, the clerk at the checkout. And the guy kept following me around saying, «I never heard of it. They’ve never carried it. I’ve been coming to this store for years!» In frustration, I left and went to other herb shops in Chinatown. No luck. Looked up the Chinese word on my cellphone. Returned to Wing Hop Fung and asked for it by the Chinese name (this time to the Herb Man downstairs):
«No we don’t have.»
I trudged upstairs and this time stayed in the tea area. At last! Eureka! I found it in a different package (much smaller) on a lower bin just above the floor. Very happy. Oh. And the White Stalking Guy? I think he works there. Or something. During the first round, after he was done rolling his eyes, he pushed some boxes somewhere.

Used to come here as a child with my grandma. Glad it’s still here.
Just got some chrysanthemum tea, $ 19 /​lb (maybe???) was on the big glass jar, the lady helped me fill the small bag up and it was about $ 6, nice!
The line to pay took a while, only one lady doing the tills.
Would return.

Walking into this place may seem like it’s like every other shop along Broadway, but give it just a few more minutes to sink in.
The downstairs walls are lined with various things that quite frankly, I have yet to learn about, to give an accurate report on.
There’s usually a kind medicine man at the counter in front of these walls, or nearby.
You may even catch him figuring out a concoction for some interested parties.
Around the area, there is a multitude of medicinal herbs that can help you if you’re knowledgeable.
If not… I have a feeling the man behind the counter would gladly be of service.
Upstairs, is pure heaven.
Nearly every type of tea your heart could desire is here.
The main type of tea provided is loose, but there are a few blossom teas, and the classic prepackaged bag ones.
But the loose ones!
Don’t let the price per lb scare you, you can actually get quite a bit considering.
There’s a sweet old lady upstairs, and she’ll assist you with your selection.
There are random other things dispersed about the store such as snacks, cookware, vitamins, etc.
I feel like this place has more going for it however. ;)

Wing Hop Fung Ginseng is a tea lover’s dream. This two level market has a variety of tea sold both in packages and bulk. Downstairs, you’ll find ginseng sold by the bulk as well as other remedy type items. You’ll also find a selection of cognac, whisky, tequila some of vintage age. During the holidays, prices for spirits come down quite a bit for discounted prices.
Upstairs is where you’ll find a great selection of teas that range in price. Many Asian tea varieties from jasmine, green, black, white, etc sold in bulk and other loose or boxes. They also have blossoming flower teas and carry Bird Pick Tea branded by Wing Hop Fung. Along with teas, they also have snacks, housewares, and house decorations. This place is a must visit if you’re in Chinatown.

They allow customers to try their tea. And the price listed is per pound so don’t be so shocked when you see a high price tag.

HANDS DOWN!
Best place in L. A to find numerous flavors of Chinese/​Taiwanese teas!
The lady who works the tea station is rather friendly, always willing to make us hot samples!
VIP card gets you 20% off!

Pretty cool assortments of tea. You can also find a lot of tea accessories. I even ended up buying some Asian knives and a pot from them.

Ginseng has many uses. If you are in need of one those many uses, then this shop is for you.
WHFG has more than just ginseng; it also has an array of teas that are also at various price levels.
It was close to Chinese New Year and this shop had all my New Year’s decorative needs including the lucky money envelopes.

Upstairs has some great varieties of tea, but they are on the pricey side. I can get rare imports online for a fraction of the price. The teaware is pretty nice and the staff is helpful.

The second floor is tea heaven. I have been a fan of green tea for a long time and this place carries a huge selection. My personal green tea favorites include the Organic Mao Feng, Royal Spring Snail, and Tai Ping Hou Kui. If you want a stronger green tea with more caffeine try the Japanese Gyokuro. Whether you like green, yellow, white, oolong, black, or fruit tea you will be able to find what you need here. They also carry a lot of teaware and tea accessories. If you like tea be sure to check out Wing Hop Fung.

i went here to get a genuine yi-​xing clay teapot. I say genuine because fakes are abound, and here is how to tell a fake one from a real one:
1) price, real yixing clay teapots start at around $ 20 for a tiny one, if its cheaper it is NOT made from real zisha clay thus it is not a real yixing tea pot
2) real Yixing clay tea pots have a sligthy grainy texture and are not so shiny if they are very shiny and have no slightly grainy texture it is not made from zisha clay.
3) when water is poured onto a real yi-​xing clay pot it will form a film on the clay and the smell will be like burnt clay. pretty much wet clay. remember yur ceramics class what clay smelled like. thats the smell your looking for. if it does not absorb and just beads off, then it is not made from zisha clay.
I loved how Wing Hop fung had a testing and tasting area set up gong fu style really helped and i highly recommend it. the rest of the store i did not explore because i did not want to go into debt. sooooo many authentic amazing stuff. truly a tea aficionados wet dream. I am giving one star less (thus 4 stars) because i was mislead that ALL the yixing tea pots were made from zisha clay which they were not, and i almost bought a cheap $ 10 one and would of ruined my $ 20/​oz Wui yi oolong on it.
the other reason i gave four stars is that the bathroom. requires a dam quarter to open it and i put in two and didnt work until someone opened it for me! other than that i wil be coming back for more :)

Such a hidden treasure for tea enthusiasts! I’ve been in this store many times long before, however for some reason I didn’t notice the tea section until this time around. If you walk upstairs to the 2^nd floor, there’s a large selection of loose leaf teas. There’s lots of snacks and such but my focus on this review is the tea. Not only can you see and smell the teas, you can ask the tea lady for a sampling. This was helpful before making a purchase. I really enjoyed the experience and learning more about the different types of tea. She’s very knowlegable. I love their tropical passion fruit tea. She warned it is a bit sour and to add honey, but I think it was perfect the way it is. We all walked out with something. I’ll definitely be back to try out more teas and reasonably priced. They have a large selection Bird Pick tea as well. Just as an FYI, there’s a nice gift selection of alcohol downstairs and herbs/​natural medicine downstairs that they can create for different ailments (my next stop).

I’m going to start this review by stating that I spent 4 weeks shooting a film in China town back in 2000. That experience birthed my passion for the area and Wing Hop Fung later inspired an entire screenplay that revolved around this very store.
So yeah, I guess you could say I fell in love it with it.
Any chance to visit was like Christmas Day, every time. The earthy smell of teas and ginseng everywhere, the fancy delicate dishes, the mysterious candies and home accessories you could spend an afternoon with just guessing what they were for… and that amazing sculpture of stampeding horses which is no longer to be found.
My love for WHF, however, has flat-​lined.
Since 2000, I’m guessing the economy hit WHF hard and they’ve never fully recovered. They’ve dropped their clothing section, the lamp section is paltry (compared to surrounding stores) and with every visit, it always appears as if its clambering to the sky with erratic breaths to say ‘please let me go on just one more day’.
To add insult to injury, the store requires a 20 $ purchase to get validation for the free 2 hours to park below, and other stores in the complex charge 10 (20 minimum if you’re using your credit card). The parking downstairs maxs out at 6 bucks so don’t fall for these tricksters.
It’s like shopping in a deserted warehouse now, run by crabs instead of smiling angels. Good luck finding help to continue onward, and using customers to scrape the last few coins from their pockets just to park there, isn’t going to save you.
Good bye Wing Hop Fung. Coming back now feels like visiting a grave yard. I can’t do it anymore.
I’m burning my useless defunct discount membership card to get closure over this relationship.

Sadly, this place has been going downhill over the last few years, getting less and less of the yummy snacks and treats I grew up eating since first coming to Chinatown. But that isn’t to say the things they do carry aren’t worth making a trip here for. Especially if you’re a sweet little old Chinese Grandma shopping for some dried Ginseng and Mushrooms to make a delicious old-​fashioned stew for your grandkids, (and can read my review in English).
While this place has a bunch of different packaged goodies that vary from week to week, on their second floor they have plenty of old favorites from unique cookies from France, to old-​fashioned Chinese Pineapple cakes, rice crackers, dried fruits, mochi variety packs, instant coffees up the wazoo, and of course, Pocky… and Pocky knock-​offs. On top of that, they have an extensive tea section where you can find enough high quality teas, and tea-​making accessories & serving dishes, to create your very own Tea Ceremony. You can even sample some of their teas at the counter.
Want some Asian booze? They have that, too. These guys have the most popular Japanese sake and Korean fruit wines around, decked out in gorgeous bottles, complete with sake drinking sets located nearby.
And if you’ve broken every Chinese dish you have at home, (happened to me once; don’t ask), this Chinese Walmart-​wannabe has a large selection of beautiful plates, bowls, and eating utensils, as well as rice-​makers, cooking pots, and even gaudy Chinese decorations.
No, really. These guys have everything. Much of it is also acceptable quality. If you have any questions, though, you’re on your own. I’ve yet to meet an employee who speaks fluent English in all my years of shopping here.

Great selection of teas and spices. Check out the second floor.
Or just come in for a visual treat.

My store for stocking up on reasonably priced Asian products when returning to the NW because there is such a variety of products in one location. Downstairs offers primarily dried Chinese herbs but upstairs has some of everything else. I stock up when I see my favorite packaged mochi (less than $ 2/​pkg of 6 asst sm pcs) that keeps well and are soft, not too chewy, and snack pack, roasted, ready-​to-​eat chestnuts. Stock of snack foods seem to be inconsistent so grab what you want when you see it. A nice selection of loose leaf teas are available. Ask if you don’t see the tray featuring free samples of some featured teas brewed for tasting. Others have mentioned the tea paraphernalia, gifts, and furnishings for sale. There is a Chinese medications area and a selection of kitchen gadgets. I bought some of the durable and light weight stainless steel that come in a variety of shapes and sizes great for camping and poochies). The layout of merchandise is almost utilitarian but you can easily see most everything as you glance about. It looks like this is the anchor store in this small, two-​story shopping center.

Now, that’s what I call an Emporium! This shop has soooo many things! You can find anything from 100’s different loose leaf teas to housewares to food to medicine!
I love just looking at everything! We usually buy snacks like beef jerky, macadamia nut chocolates, candies, etc.
We bought a rice cooker/​steamer here, but I don’t like it. I think I just needed a simple rice cooker.
We joined their rewards club thingy and we got a New Year’s calendar. It is big and really very nice!
Whenever we come to Chinatown, we make it a point to walk in and take a look around. I always see something I hadn’t seen before. A new adventure!

AMEN.
Wing Hop Fung (btw, this is such a FUNG name to say!) is located in the heart of Chinatown. My man and I were passing by after eating dim sum in the plaza next door when we noticed a wall of liquor in the window display.
Seeing that they had a decent selection, we stopped in our tracks and decided to take a look. …and OH MY HOLY CHINESE JESUS! We were completely mesmerized by the ridiculous selection of fine Scotch Whiskey and Cognac. There were so many names that we’ve never heard of or seen and they also haVE all the well known names as well. The prices were also really amazing… a few dollars cheaper than other liquor stores. The shelves are a little dusty, the store is a little ancient, and the smell of ginseng may not be that pleasant if you aren’t familiar with it, but BOYYY… this store has it going on!
They also have a RIDICULOUS vintage selection! It almost feels like a museum when you see how dinosaur some of these bottles are… and the price tags will shock you! All the bottles that were housed in glass cases were beyyyyond expensive. You have to be seriously ballin’ to afford that stuff.
This is our new go-​to liquor store. It’s a little bit of drive from K-​town, but the selection and prices are worth the visit. Don’t forget to get validated. The first 2 hours are FREEE with validation.
Note: They only have the HARD stuff here. No beer.

This place is absolutely amazing! My wife received a consultation from their Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor and was prescribed an herbal remedy for her Heat. TCM work on healing the body very differently then traditional western medicine. Consultation cost $ 15.
The prescription included about 30 herbs, received 3 large bags for 9 days of cleansing for an extremely reasonable price of $ 39. I couldn’t believe how much we received for that price. My wife started the cleansing today and we’ll see how it goes.
This store has all sorts of amazing import items from China. A lot of which is already mentioned in the reviews here so I wont repeat.
I highly recommend you come here and speak to their TCM doctor and get a prescription that balances your energetic flows, the yin and yang.