Ming Lee Trading

Lots of snacks for any Asian craving you might have! It’s filled from floor to ceiling with lots of goods, but you *do* have to hunt down items. Prices are better than most other stores outside of Chinatown, but you should know your prices before visiting.

When I worked in the financial district I’d walk over to this shop. So many great things to be had. Seaweed snacks, candied anchovies, sausages, candies of all sorts, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce. I could go on and on and on. Bring bags and cash! If you walk you need not worry for parking.

It’s like junk food heaven when you walk into this place. Almost any Asian candy or snack you can think of is in this store upstairs or downstairs.

Truly «underground» place for all your Asian snack and packaged dried good needs (note: no fresh produce). Stop fighting with all the Asian grandmas on the street and come down here. From Asian spices to noodles to drink mixes, this place will carry them at cheap prices.
Unsurprisingly, it’s cash only, so come prepared.

It’s back! So happy to walk down every single aisle. Love that I was able to find my favorite sauces and noodles again.

Open again! I walked by today and the sign was out and doors open! Was so nice to go in and get my favorite hot sauce as well as other goodies. I was so bummed when I thought they were gone for good. Welcome back

I would like to visit this business, but they’re consistently closed during their «trading hours». so I’ve never got in the door.

I really love this one! Its so cheap and convenient! I bought pineapple buns, instant noodles and lao gan ma here!!! Bad thing about Chinese stores here was cash only lol

Ming Lee has pretty much everything you could want and didn’t know you wanted.
The small entrance hides a huge store packed with snacks, teas, and all the Asian goods you can think of. I like the packaged dried fruits on the ground floor near the entrance. I got the dried lemon and lemon kumquat as sweet snacks when I was sick and craved lemon. Also on the same floor is a huge variety of tea, including tea cookies! Tie guan yin («Iron Goddess») tea is my favorite. I even saw tourists trying to buy it who needed my boyfriend’s help in communicating so. Definitely get it!
Don’t miss out on the underground as well with even more snacks. I saw the lychee jelly cups I used to love snacking on as a kid, as well a ton of other childhood snacks. I usually go here to get my black sesame paste, a sweet and healthy dessert I’d highly recommend.
Everything is super cheap. That’s why we all shop at Chinatown anyways, right?
Definitely come here if you’re looking for snacks and more!

RAMEN GALORE!!! This is the go to spot for stocking up all essential Asian supplies! Every time I take a trip to Chinatown, I make sure to bring extra grocery bags to load up on drinks, snacks, and ramen!
This is a two story market with every single Asian childhood option, dreams, desires, that fulfill your hungry taste buds! I like to take my time here though, don’t rush, and try EVERYTHING.

I love this place! It took me a while to find this place cause I kept getting lost, you just really have to read every single sign to spot it. They have a lot of asian snacks and dry goods and its so cheap. The hidden treasures of this place is downstairs! You have to go down, above is mostly just candies. Highly recommend checking this place out.

Looking for a place to buy Asian snacks in San Francisco’s Chinatown? Go to Ming Lee for a decent selection. I usually come here to get my snacks, noodles, sauces and spices, tea, and Pocky. People tend to only notice the store on top but there is a floor underground where they have any kind of dry Asian goods you can think of. Compared to all the other stores in Chinatown, Ming Lee is probably one of the cheapest as the rent is really cheap for the basement which brings savings to the customers. The downsides is that they are cash only so be sure to go to the bank before coming.

An oasis of relatively hassle-​free grocery-​shopping for those of us who prefer not to be bumped, elbowed or inadvertently groped by the sea of humanity that has flooded Chinatown on a Monday morning.
The prices are reasonable, and because the store has a larger capacity than most with a semi-​downstairs expansion, the selection is decent. I had hit three stores prior looking for a specific item and only found it here. Their plastic bags are also very sturdy and reusable – I am definitely getting my ten cents’ worth!

AWESOME & CHEAP!
Holy shit this place is huge. Ming carries pretty much every Asian snack/​food there is. Snacks, teas, noodles, sauces, spices galore! I wish I lived in SF so I could come here everyday…
I bought green tea kit kat ($ 5…best price I’ve ever seen in the U.S.), taro rolls, wafers, vermicilli noodles, sauces, and spices. Did I mention this place is cheap? It’s because they are the supplier. No middle man!
Tips:
bring cash
bring your own bag

My 5-​year-​old self would have had cried tears of joy if she’d been able to go into Ming Lee Trading. Asian snacks galore! Literally every Asian snack I’d ever had as a child. Oh my geez, it makes me emotional just thinking about it. Prices are really reasonable, too!
I limited myself and only got a pack of the matcha green tea Pocky & a pack of dried mangoes, and my total came out to be about $ 4. Not bad at all. Definitely coming back, although can’t promise that I’ll be able to limit myself this time…

These old school Chinese shops really bring a tear to my eye.
The place smells like funky dried random animals and herbs, the interior is completely cramped and probably fails most modern safety regulations, and the staff will hassle you over 5 cents, but the selection (for those who know what to look for) can’t be beat. All those (likely banned) goods you grew up eating as an Asian can be found here. So beautiful.

On my 3^rd day after moving to SF, some friends and I went on an adventure in Chinatown and came across Ming Lee Trading. Its name is not very descriptive, but it sure was a pleasant surprise. This store appears to be a little hole in the wall from the outside, but when you get inside, you realize there are multiple floors, and entrances/​exits.
It’s basically a market full of (Non-​perishable) Asian goods (mostly Chinese)…snacks, noodles, crackers, cookies, candies, canned goods, teas, bottled drinks, dried goods, galore!
Prices are cheap and selection is wide!
Tips:
— Bring cash
— Bring your own bags
— Staff speak minimal english
— Be prepared to be rushed at the checkout counter.
— Staff aren’t very friendly, but with any asian place, don’t take it personal ;)

I am glad that I found this place because the price is very reasonable. There is a coffee bean candy that I purchased here, and I wish I bought more of it. It is a very nice store. I will most certainly be back to shop again.
Like the previous most mentioned, don’t forget to bring cash!

I’ve died and gone to Asian market heaven. Ever miss all those rows and rows of Asian drinks that you can only find in a 7 – 11 in Asia? Well apparently this place has it too (albeit, a bit smaller, but still!) Walk downstairs and it’s like the BEST grocery store that has all your asian food needs. Seriously, I almost squealed with joy and I never squeal (ask my friends).
It’s off Jackson near Stockton street and it’s REALLY easy to walk right past it. Please note that the store upstairs IS SEPARATE from the store downstairs, even though there’s stairs leading downstairs. They’ll even tell you when you try to take anything you carry. But both are equally great and awesome.

This place is the BEST!!!
Everything you want and more. They have an underground area with tons of things. It’s packed with snacks from Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, HK and more. The prices are extremely low.
This is a must visit if youre in Chinatown. Cash only